Imitating Christ: What Would Jesus Really Do?

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:6 NASB)

WWJD. One acronym, many marketing opportunities. Children and adults alike have donned bracelets and clothing and bought bumper stickers and pencils imprinted with these four letters. What would Jesus do? This is a core question for any follower of Christ, yet in the midst of our commodification of this concept, many have forgotten the simplicity of this question and the necessity of its contemplation.

What would Jesus do if he were once again here on earth in physical form? I began to think through this question the other day. One need only to look at the life of Jesus to imagine the answer. We know from Scripture that Jesus would draw strength from time with God and spend his life serving, teaching, and being present with people. We also know he would bring hope, redemption, healing, and reconciliation to the masses.

Perhaps less talked are these things: he would upset religious systems, disrupt rampant consumerism, call out religious hypocrisy, and stand against corrupt governments. He would likely refuse the invitations of the elite and powerful and sit instead with the spiritually and physically diseased, dining among drug addicts and prostitutes.

If we are called to be disciples of Christ, the question we must ask ourselves is, How am I reflecting Jesus in my life?

If Jesus were here in full physical form today, I wonder where he would travel and with whom he would spend his time. Would he rejoice in the political gains of one nation over another? What would he think of the church in the United States? Would he advocate for our comfort as Christians and rejoice in “religious freedom”?

Would Jesus join one denomination over another? Would he look at a particular theology and believe that humanity had finally grasped the fullness of God? Would Jesus take joy that we can comfortably say “Merry Christmas” in public, have prayer gatherings in schools, or refuse to do business with people based on our religious convictions?

What would Jesus really do?

Many in the wider church lament what they see as growing division, a decrease in physical church attendance, and a steep “moral decline” in our culture. But what if their assessment, diagnosis, and assumptions about the cause are incorrect? What if we stopped lamenting those perceptions and clinging to an idolized past and instead focused on being the hands and feet of Jesus in our relationships, interactions, and the communities around us?

I don’t know if moral decline or the selfish pursuits of our hearts are any greater today than they were 60, 150, or 1,000 years ago. I do know, however, that we’re suffering from deep division and confusion as a result of what some have coined culture-war Christianity. This mix of politics, religion, tribalism, and othering has resulted in a divisive atmosphere. Entire denominations are more concerned with making public proclamations about the proper positioning on social justice than they are with sharing the good news of the gospel. Some people believe Jesus would align with one political party over another, others withhold the love of Christ from people with whom they disagree, and still more refuse to acknowledge and celebrate the Imago Dei in every individual.

What would Jesus really do?

This is an important question for every person who endeavors to imitate Christ. Furthermore, what do our lives reveal about who or what we’re serving? One way to determine this is to look at how our thoughts, lives, and actions line up with the life of Jesus. What do our priorities reveal about us? Am I a better representative of my political party or the kingdom? A better representative of my denominational doctrine or of Christ, who walked the earth healing the sick and bringing wholeness to the broken?

What would it look like if we took, literally, the teachings of Jesus that tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves? How might our lives, families, and communities change for the better?

These questions may make us uncomfortable, but they give us an opportunity to see where we’re out of sync with Jesus so we can recalibrate. Regardless of what happens on a larger political stage, our call to imitate Christ remains. Let us, then, focus on being the hands and feet of Jesus here and now, that we may bear witness to the beauty and connectedness of creation, the movement of God, and the heart of the Father for the whole of creation.

Jen Kinney is a writer and anti-trafficking activist. Her twin sons and passion for social justice make her a prime candidate for therapy. Humor and sarcasm fuel her, along with copious amounts of coffee. You can find her writings at The Mighty, HuffPost and her blog jenkinney.com.