The Power of Really Asking "What Would Jesus Do?"
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The phrase "What Would Jesus Do" has become a popular slogan over the last couple of decades. Individuals as well as whole church bodies have used it as a guide for behavior, and held it up as a standard for living well. There's no denying that asking the question, and applying it, can positively impact all areas of our lives.
I first became aware of the acronym WWJD during the 1990s, and wondered what it stood for. Since then, I've noticed it on bumper stickers and heard it explained in messages. But what I didn't know was the rich heritage the phrase has, with roots that reach far back into Christian history.
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Where Did The Phrase What Would Jesus Do Come From?
What Would Jesus Do grew out of the Biblical concept of the "Imitatio Christi," or the "Imitation of Christ," one of the teachings stressed in The Roman Catholic Church. Thomas a Kempis wrote a book with the title Imitation of Christ in the 1400s. John Wesley later built on the foundation of this theme, adding a social welfare component.
Inspired by Kempis' book, the preacher Charles Spurgeon peppered one of his sermons with the phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" in 1881 in London. The Reverend A.B. Simpson composed a hymn that year using that phrase as the name. But Reverend Charles Sheldon was the one who introduced it to a wider audience.
In 1890, Reverend Sheldon was leading the Central Congregational Church of Topeka, Kansas. He had been growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of attendance at the Sunday night services there, and decided to try a new approach to his messages.
Sheldon acknowledged the challenges of imitating Christ while living in modern society. So, he came upon the idea of composing a string of what he called "sermon stories" to address this point in his late Sunday meetings. Each week, he presented an episode that depicted a moral dilemma someone might face. The messages all ended with a cliffhanger, and the question, "What would Jesus do?" Attendance at Central Congregational quickly surged.
Encouraged by the response, Reverend Sheldon wrote a book in 1896 titled, In His Steps, which continued on this theme of making choices in daily life that reflect the values of Jesus. Because of a defective copyright, 70 different publishers in America and beyond ended up publishing the book. A bestseller, it was eventually translated into a number of foreign languages as well.
One of the stories, about how a newspaper editor applied the question, "What Would Jesus Do," inspired the Topeka Daily Capital editor to invite Sheldon to take over his paper for a week. In March of 1900, readers saw, instead of the usual stories, reports about social reforms, missionaries, and fundraising efforts for India. Ads that the Reverend found offensive were taken out or re-worded. The experiment was a great success - many people around the world subscribed for the week.
Garrett W. Sheldon, Reverend Sheldon's great-grandson, published an updated version of the book and called it What Would Jesus Do?: A Contemporary Retelling of Charles M. Sheldon's Classic In His Steps.
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WWJD in the Modern World
"In His Steps" became an instant classic in the 1890s. But about 100 years later the slogan from Reverend Sheldon's sermons would speak to a whole new generation. Janie Tinklenberg, a youth leader in Michigan, read the book, and latched onto the phrase "What Would Jesus Do?"
Searching for an effective way to teach this point to her group, Janie shortened the phrase into an acronym, WWJD. She created bracelets for each student to wear each day as a reminder. Soon, Tinklenberg's idea caught on with other churches, and moved into the mainstream. The acronym has since been printed on T-shirts, mugs and banners, and has even been listed as an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Several film projects were directly connected to Sheldon's messages. In 2010, the movie "WWJD" was released, followed in 2015 with the sequel, "WWJD: The Journey Continues." Another movie called "WWJD II: The Woodcarver" came out in 2012. Like Garrett Sheldon's version of the original, these gave a modern-day application to the Reverend's ideas.
What Does the Phrase What Would Jesus Do Really Mean?
The question "What Would Jesus Do?" is a shorthand way of asking:
- What did Jesus do in situations like this?
- What would Jesus do in a situation like mine?
- How can I emulate Him?
A more complete way of saying the phrase might be, "In light of all that I know about Jesus' character and commands, how would He direct me to respond in this situation?"
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How Is "What Would Jesus Do" Used Today?
As with Janie Tinklenberg's youth group, the phrase serves as a reminder not to respond impulsively. It's a tool we can use to stop, think, and pray about a situation before we react.
We're not perfect like Jesus is, but we can follow His perfect ways. Ideally, if we decide to do what Jesus would do, we'll show more wisdom and experience more peace, whatever the outcome is.
Planning to let the WWJD phrase be our guide is often not the easy path to take. In fact, we need to ask ourselves two further questions before moving forward:
- Are we willing to hear the answer to WWJD? (Do we really want to know God's Will?)
- Are we ready to obey the answer to WWJD? (Will we align ourselves with God?)
Scripture Verses That Support the Phrase
The New Testament abounds with passages that summon us to imitate Jesus. The Apostle Paul considered it to be a believer's highest calling, and directly addressed the principle throughout his letters to churches.
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:3-5).
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh" (Romans 13:14).
Other New Testament writers echo Paul's sentiments:
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6).
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So, What Would Jesus Do?
It sounds simplistic, but to be able to answer the WWJD question correctly, we have to be familiar with what Jesus did during His life and ministry. The books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament are the authoritative sources about how Jesus lived. Reading and studying the four Gospels is the perfect first step toward responding like Jesus.
Though WWJD refers to New Testament history, awareness of Old Testament truths is important for us, too. Jesus often reminded the disciples that He was the Son of God, and that "whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19). God's commands in the Old Testament were the basis for Jesus' teachings in the Gospels - quoting related passages gave context to His listeners. One example is in Matthew 5, during the Sermon on the Mount.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’” (Matthew 5:27).
"You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
Many times, Jesus taught His lessons plainly and directly. But on some occasions, Jesus spoke in parables, or stories such as these, to teach a life principle.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37): We are to show God's love to others, treating them with respect.
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27): We are to use our gifts (time, talent, treasure) to grow God's Kingdom.
The Rich Fool (Luke 16-21): We are to be generous and share our blessings.
While exploring what Jesus would do, it's instructive to take a look at what Jesus wouldn't do as well. In short, Jesus refused to do anything that would dishonor God. So, all of His actions were aimed at bringing glory to His Father.
Several accounts in the Gospels show His unwillingness to tolerate anything that stood against God. He continued to praise God as He was repeatedly tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13, Mark 1:12-13). He openly rebuked the religious leaders for unrighteous practices (Matthew 7:5, 15:7-9, 23:29). Even as Jesus faced crucifixion, He remained obedient to His Father's will (Matthew 26:39).
"What Would Jesus Do?" is so much more than a saying for Christians - it's a habit that encourages right living. But when a phrase is around long enough, it can start to be used casually, or even fade away altogether. Knowing the origins of WWJD and how it has inspired so many before us actually adds to its relevance today.
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Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship based on the writings of King David. Heather's blog, Worship Walk Ministries, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. A native New Englander, Heather is settling into her home in the South, trying out local foods and watching for the alligators that live nearby! You can connect with her on her website: heatheradamsworshipwalk.com
