WWJD

WWJD: relevant or irrelevant today?

Remember WWJD? In Christian circles 40 years ago, it posed the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” I remember it best as a leather bracelet worn as a way of identifying with Jesus and often distinguishing Jesus followers from typical church folk that look more to the ritual and rules and reputation that comes from church membership than to Jesus’ life, teachings, and example for living. Later, a movement called Red Letter Christians was formed to take a stand for very similar reasons. Red Letter refers to how some bibles print Jesus' words in red to make them stand out. Thomas Jefferson even had his own bible that had only Jesus' words and teachings in it.

All Lives Matter is a phrase that I've heard Christians use as a way of protesting against Black Lives Matter. It is very important to look at how both of these are being used so that we stop confusing very different issues and functions.

All Lives Matter is an ideology for life. It is a given. It is the umbrella under which all free societies survive and thrive. It is the cornerstone of the family, church, and any good organization or community. But it must remain the umbrella and not get confused with the targeted need within any society. 

ALM is absolutely true but it misses the point when it comes to protests, human rights, and social injustices. ALM is not a name for any protests or any new legislation. Until a need arises, there is no use in doing that. It is not standing up against police brutality and murder or for justice or equality but rather it stands up for injustice and racism as a counter protest, lately against BLM (incredibly). And if freedom of speech, press, and expression is the backbone of democracy, then where does that leave ALM when it is misused against the voices of We The People in BLM? It can become a way of opposing democracy if we are not careful and aware. And the mind boggling thing about it is that it is mostly perpetrated by white supremacists, Ku Klux Klan, Nazis, and Evangelical Christians.

All it takes to stand against people in need are people with hearts that are closed to the plight of the most vulnerable among us. ALM is an ideology that we must use to guide our families, churches, and communities. Everything has its place. But to use it as a stand against BLM is irresponsible. It is a refusal to try to understand fellow human beings and the pain they experience. Suddenly a social justice protest, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble is politicized and weaponized and nullified, which, as we all know, is unconstitutional.

If all lives really do matter then ALL lives need to matter. ALL means ALL. And if one group is excluded or one person is excluded, then ALL NO LONGER MEANS ALL. And therefore, ALL LIVES DO NOT MATTER. And this is what we are seeing in America today. I’ve been struck and frustrated by the absurdity of the "either … or," dualistic thinking of those that say they stand for All Lives Matter but not Black Lives Matter because somehow they think that by embracing one, then you are nullifying the other. But the truth is, our thinking must be “both … and” in order to be coherent and wise, inclusive and unconditional, Christian and American.

Since ALL means ALL then,

if Black Lives Matter, then All Lives Matter.

BUT

if Black Lives don't Matter then All Lives can't Matter

because ALL no longer means ALL.

Before we assume what Jesus might do in America here today, we must take a look at his words and his teachings, if Christians still believe in any of that. And then draw conclusions based on whether Jesus was serious about his own teachings and therefore would follow them today. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO???

Parables for Today

Jesus taught this very lesson in a number of his parables. I love parables because basically it is using an everyday story to illustrate a truth. And in truth, all of our lives are driven by stories. Some people call them myths or narratives. These organize and motivate people individually and collectively (in religion, culture, politics, etc.). No matter if they are true or untrue, myths are foundational to people all around the world. They define who we are and what we do. There are macro narratives, micro narratives, and then there is the parable, a sort of mini story or mini myth or mini narrative. 

So take the idea that we are talking about here, that there is an overarching narrative for everyone: All Lives Matter. That was a guidepost for the family that raised me and for my own kids. I’m not sure why some refuse to understand this but my kids understood right away when Black Lives Matter started that it is about time we wake up and see the racial inequalities that are happening in America and do something about it. It is shameful. It is immoral. It is unjust. And it must be changed. And one way we do this in America is through protests, the voices of the people, and freedom of expression through speech and the free press. Silence is complicity in racism. Please check out all of the types of protests in the United States over the years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_protests_in_the_United_States

I’ve heard Christians say things like we no longer have a problem with racism today so BLM is a hoax. One prominent person has even called it a hate group. But that person is well known for lying. For further information on racism in America today, here and now, individually, collectively, and structurally; please check out this work in progress: https://livingwithopenhands2.blogspot.com/p/racism.html 

It would be presumptuous for anyone to say definitively that Jesus would be joining the protests but I can say for sure that he would not be opposing them with something like, “No! All Lives Matter!” It would be directly opposed to his own teaching, especially as seen in his parables. Let me remind you by taking a look at his most basic teachings.

Greatest commandment: This is not a parable but it is the heart of Jesus’ teachings. Actually when he was asked by religious leaders of his day what the greatest commandment is, as they were trying to trip him up, he replied, in summary, Love God and Love your neighbor. But when Jesus saw a person in need, he did not respond with a statement like, “All Lives Matter” or “love your neighbor as yourself” and the turn his back on those in need. He used parables to tell us how to love one another.

Who is my neighbor? Jesus answered this with the parable of the

good samaritan. A man had been robbed and beaten, and two religious elites passed by without lending a hand. Then a despised Samaritan man came by and helped the man. When he explained the answer to the question, who is my neighbor, he said it was the one that showed mercy to the man in need, hurt and dying on the road. The religious hypocrites are the ones that said something like, all other lives matter more to us, excusing themselves to walk on by and ignore the great commandment. They decided to let that man die. The Good Samaritan, even though he was despised by all people in the area especially the religious leaders, is the one that saw the need and showed mercy. That is one that acted as a neighbor or as an ally to someone in need. Black Lives Matter is a movement of people that are being oppressed by racism still in America along with allies of this great injustice and inequality. To me, it is really hard to say that Jesus would not be there showing mercy and being an ally to those in need because he would be violating his own teaching and he would show that he is not worthy for anyone to follow him.