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.

Sheep and goats: This is my favorite. When Jesus was teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, he used a series of parables. The final one he used described the judgement at the end of our lives where they come before a King and the King separates them into two groups. Matthew 25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Jesus did not say that the righteous are the ones that saw him hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothing, sick, or in prison and then said to him, “SORRY, BUT ALL LIVES MATTER” and so I will not show mercy on only those in need. The righteous did not say, I will walk on by. I will turn my back. Black people can continue to be beaten and killed and we will walk on by... in all of our righteousness and splendor. Not much more commentary is needed here. This parable really speaks for itself. I just hope that Jesus’ teachings still matter today. 

Prodigal Son: In Luke 15: 11-32 we find the parable of the prodigal son

and the jealous brother. A quick summary is that a man that was quite rich had two sons. One is a faithful, dutiful son and the “other one,” not so much. The other one demanded to get his inheritance so he could go “sow his wild oats.” And off he went frivolously spending money for the fun of it. In the meantime, his faithful brother was jealously being dutiful at home. After the prodigal son got too hungry and had spent all of his money, he sheepishly crept back home hoping his father would accept him again and take him in. The father saw him a long way off and ran to meet him welcoming his son with open arms beyond anything that son imagined. He even threw a party for him. Imagine the jealousy of the dutiful son. Jesus describes that in the parable too. So how does this illustrate the basic teachings of Jesus in today’s world? 1) the father did not say, All Sons Matter! 2) the jealous brother in a sense was whining in the corner saying, All Sons Matter so why don’t I get a party? Why isn’t my father treating me special too? And the father said so very simply, "My son was lost and now he is found." There are more details in the story that make it even more relevant to today. Check it out here, Luke 15: 11-32.

Lost sheep: In response again to the religious hypocrites that had

gathered around him while he was sitting with his friends that are sinners and the despised. Noticing their judgmental looks and self-righteousness, he said this.

Matthew 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Notice that Jesus did not say, “Oh well. One sheep is lost. But because ALL SHEEP MATTER I will stay here with the 99 sheep and let the lost sheep perish. His implication is that the religious hypocrites are the ones that would do that. Not a good shepherd.

The sick need a doctor, not the healthy. A more subtle teaching here is that Jesus came, not for the healthy but for the sick. Therefore, he wanted the religious hypocrites to see him being a "friend to sinners" by sitting and eating with them. By doing that he set the context for the parable of the lost sheep. He could have decided that All Lives Matter so I will not be a "friend of sinners." But again, would he would have violated his own teachings by not setting an example for all to follow?

A Friend of Sinners 
Mark 2:15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." 

Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Orphans and widows: Through the Old and New Testaments, it is emphasized that we are to pay special attention to the orphans and widows, those people in that culture that have no money and no food. It is those that are in need that we show mercy, thereby fulfilling the great commandment to love each other as I have loved you for this is how they will know you are Christians. So, again, we show that All Lives Matter by paying attention and showing mercy to those in need.

The Most Vulnerable and The Least of These: There is very clear teaching throughout the Bible that says that the most important people among you are the most vulnerable. We can never understand the Bible or any religion or any nonreligion unless we see its history and stories “from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and reviled, in short, from the perspective of the suffering.”

The way we love all people is by focusing on those in need. Not only are the orphans and widows the most important people that we must keep near us, watch out for their need, and show mercy to but there are many others specifically mentioned throughout the whole Bible. Here are a few: 

Poor and needy

Aliens and strangers

Oppressed and marginalized

Fatherless and homeless  

Prisoners and downtrodden

The crippled, the lame, the blind

"’He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not

what it means to know me?’ declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

 Jesus said, "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

 Apparently, Evangelical Christians have forgotten; putting politics over religion, pride over mercy, fear over love. Based on Jesus’ teachings, maybe the question is not just What Would Jesus Do? But What Would Jesus NOT Do?

Where I stand. No matter what.

All means All beginning with the most vulnerable among us.

For me, this is the measure of my ideals, my morals, my character, and my identity

“It remains an experience of incomparable value that we have for once

learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and reviled, in short, from the perspective of the suffering.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“The fact that people became heroes and sheroes can be credited to their ability to identify and empathize with the ‘other.’ These men and women could continue to live quite comfortably with their slow temperament but they chose not to. They made the decision to be conscious of the other –the homeless, the downtrodden and the oppressed. Heroism has nothing to do with skin color or social status. It is a state of mind and a willingness to act for what is right and just.” (Maya Angelou)

Mahatma Gandhi has been credited with this: 'the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members'.

At the Hubert Humphrey Building dedication, Nov. 1, 1977, in Washington, D.C., former vice president Humphrey spoke about the treatment of the weakest members of society as a reflection of a government: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

Elie Wiesel (/ˈɛli ˌviːˈzɛl/, born Eliezer Wiesel Hebrew: אֱלִיעֶזֶר וִיזֶל‎ ʾĔlîʿezer Vîzel; September 30, 1928 – July 2, 2016) was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor.

From Elie Wiesel's play, The Trial of God: "Men and women are being beaten, tortured, and killed — how can one not be afraid of God? True, they are victims of men. But the killers kill in God’s name. Not all? True, but numbers are unimportant. Let one killer kill for God’s glory, and God is guilty. Every person who suffers or causes suffering, every woman who is raped, every child who is tormented implicates Him. What, you need more? A hundred or a thousand? Listen: Either He is responsible or He is not. If He is, let’s judge Him; if He is not, let Him stop judging us."

"The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” was given from the summit of one of the mountains here in Palestine, and we were the only ones to obey it. But that’s all over. We must be like everybody else. Murder will be not our profession, but our duty. In the days and weeks and months to come, you will have only one purpose: to kill those who have made us killers. We shall kill in order that once more we may be men."
(A passage from Elie Wiesel’s novel Dawn)