Post by tennesseepete on Mar 26, 2009 1:59:39 GMT -5
For many years my son wore a bracelet with the letters "WWJD"(What would Jesus do?) on it. At the time I thought this was a good thing. Now I wonder. Do Christians in fact follow what Jesus taught when he was on Earth, and should we even try to?
When you speak to others about your faith, who do you speak to? WWJD? According to Matthew 10:5,6, Jesus would have you speaking only to Jews, never to Gentiles. "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel". Jesus said he was sent only to the Jews(Mt 15:24).
What about Jesus' teachings? Tonight I went to Walmart and bought some celery, squash, cheese, green peppers and Diet Dr Pepper. Recently I went to Penny"s and bought some jeans. WWJD? Matthew 6:25 says, " Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" We all plan on what we will be eating and wearing but Jesus taught to not think about that.
That is what Jesus taught while on earth. What did he teach through the Apostle Paul? 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." We need to work so we have the money to buy that which we need. That is different from what Jesus taught in Matthew.
What about Paul? Did he take no thought for the future?( 2 Timothy 4:13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.) Paul, our apostle, planned ahead. He did take thought for the morrow.
So, we need to do what Jesus taught us via Paul, not what Jesus taught those he lived among while on Earth.
The question should not be What would Jesus do? But rather, What does Jesus teach us through the apostle Paul? That will not make as nice a bracelet but is more in tune with what the Bible teaches to the Church.
When you speak to others about your faith, who do you speak to? WWJD? According to Matthew 10:5,6, Jesus would have you speaking only to Jews, never to Gentiles. "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel". Jesus said he was sent only to the Jews(Mt 15:24).
What about Jesus' teachings? Tonight I went to Walmart and bought some celery, squash, cheese, green peppers and Diet Dr Pepper. Recently I went to Penny"s and bought some jeans. WWJD? Matthew 6:25 says, " Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" We all plan on what we will be eating and wearing but Jesus taught to not think about that.
That is what Jesus taught while on earth. What did he teach through the Apostle Paul? 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." We need to work so we have the money to buy that which we need. That is different from what Jesus taught in Matthew.
What about Paul? Did he take no thought for the future?( 2 Timothy 4:13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.) Paul, our apostle, planned ahead. He did take thought for the morrow.
So, we need to do what Jesus taught us via Paul, not what Jesus taught those he lived among while on Earth.
The question should not be What would Jesus do? But rather, What does Jesus teach us through the apostle Paul? That will not make as nice a bracelet but is more in tune with what the Bible teaches to the Church.