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Originating in Topeka, Kansas in the 1890’s, the phrase/acronym WWJD – What Would Jesus Do became popular amongst the parishioners of the Central Congregational Church following a sermon series by their Pastor Charles Sheldon. Again in the 1990’s it rose to popularity again with wrist bands, t-shirts and caps displaying the acronym.
It was a great way of making people aware of their actions, even if only pausing momentarily without changing their way. Other questions I have heard asked include “Would you say/do that in front of your mother”? “Would you speak of them like that if they were here”?
Whilst many would still question their choice of behaviour and vocabulary in front of their mother, WWJD no longer forms part of the wider vocabulary of christian-ese. Asking the question of Jesus response to your words and actions is not living a life of holiness. Simply asking the question does not qualify the asker as walking in the answer or even agreeing with it anymore than someone not caring about their actions in their mothers absence.
You might have heard about Jesus getting angry or weeping, but do you know why these emotions were expressed as such? The first was as a result of market traders dishonouring the word of God and desecrating the temple (see Matthew 21:12-13 or Mark 11:15-17), the later were tears for a friend who had died (see John 11:35).
If we were to understand the deeper meaning behind these incidents, we may or may not do as Jesus did. Have you heard the overturning of tables used as an excuse for bad behaviour, or using tears to manipulate a situation. Actions that Jesus did being used out of context is no closer to living a life of holiness than asking what Jesus would do in a particular situation.
Let me be clear, I am not saying that there is no benefit from modelling our lives (behaviour and thoughts) after Jesus, I am saying that motives are important as too is not only knowing of Jesus example but applying it to your life journey.
Jesus life modelled a life of holiness. His example lived out the values and qualities that can guide us in a pursuit of a life of holiness. Just like knowing what Jesus would do in a particular instance requires actions to be more than knowledge, a life of holiness needs to be lived out in the day to day.
Holiness, in its proper setting is always an integral part of the redemptive purpose of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 states that it ‘is the will of God…’
Put differently, it is the only way Christians can translate the spirit of Jesus to a recognisable pattern of Christian behaviour.
In the New Testament, it spoke to a state of grace that was intended to be universal in availability, to everyone from a slave to the Apostle’s, even today that includes the resource poor communities struggling to survive in developing nations to the rich elite members of society. After his missionary journey’s to Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of that town charging his converts to pursue a life of holiness. He stressed that being babes in Christ, was not an excuse for living hedonistic lifestyles of their region. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 reads:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”
If only knowledge of holiness or desire alone was able to transform mankind to pursue God’s heart, we would have become that way a longtime ago. Yet in our weaknesses, our shame causes us to retreat into our inner thoughts and prefer that no one knows what state our hearts are in pursuit of God’s heart. One who has never known the graces of God may regularly visit this place of inner shame. However, the Christian whose eyes have been opened, and have tasted the heavenly gift of grace should be dissatisfied of their old behaviours and lifestyles.
One of the attributes of holiness is that once seen, and experienced it cannot be unseen. Our souls forgiven cannot remain content with just being forgiven.
Recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31 and Luke 18:18-30) Jesus responded to this mans heart felt plea, desiring to inherit eternal life. Knowing this man knew scripture as he addressed Jesus as the Good Teacher, Jesus reiterated that despite following the scripture since his youth, he lacked one thing. That was to sell all his possessions (denying himself) and following Jesus. We read that he had many great possessions which was too much for him to part with, departing Jesus sorrowfully. This truth might lead to wondering what happened to the rich young ruler after he parted ways with Jesus.
Having personally encountered Jesus, his lifes priorities meant that the keys to eternal life he sought were out of his reach. Was his future haunted by the homeless Messiah who lacked for nothing yet possessed immeasurable beauty and riches – that no earthly possessions could purchase. His encounter with Jesus gave him an insight into holiness that could not be unseen.
Humanity’s worldly desires have legitimate sources of satisfaction:
- For hunger, there is food;
- For thirst, there is drink,
- For social interaction, there are friends.
It has also been said of holiness that each of us has a hidden predisposition of the spirit. That is there is a hunger for holiness within us that craves satisfaction.
This internal desire for holy satisfaction can overcome any of the hedonistic and fleshly desires that the world can tempt mankind with. The Apostle Paul’s first visit to Thessalonica (recorded in 1 Thessalonians) was short lived, scripture indicates that the rioting he encountered forced him to depart earlier than he desired. Concerned for the Christians who had a brief encounter with him, a snippet into the Gospel truths, he sent his assistant, Timothy back to Thessalonica. What Timothy subsequently found there brought Paul great joy. Despite the wildest excesses of heathenism, the Christians he left behind had grown stronger in their faith. The ability of the Thessalonians to withstand societies woes, vices and excesses, should serve as an encouragement to our generations (and those to come). Despite the attempts of the enemy to thwart God’s plans for each of our lives, we can live victoriously, taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).
Paul did not teach those converts he witnessed to be holy because he was holy, but as scripture instructs us, we are to be Holy because God is Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
This is still relevant today.
We can fall in the trap of following the teachings of a certain preacher/pastor, or becoming insular regarding styles of music, limiting God to move freely in our lives. For it is the will of God in our lives that we should be Holy, not because of any denominational biases but biblical truths.
If we have free will, then how does God’s will influence our engagement with a holy lifestyle.
Firstly, is our intentions or purpose.
General Albert Osborne of The Salvation Army wrote ‘God wills for His people an uttermost salvation.’ God’s will has always been for His people to be saved. All the way back to the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, we are told that God is jealous for us, He is a jealous God, showing mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments (Exodus 20:5-6).
This word holy was deepened by the prophets of the Old Testament, transformed by the coming of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the Old Testament command to be Holy because the phrase “God is Holy” is often quoted. Clearly a demonstration throughout the time and the Bible that God’s purpose is for ‘all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of truth’(1 Timothy 2:4).
The root word for holiness translates as ‘to be separated’. The Israelites were to keep themselves seperate from their neighbours in both faith and practice. Followers of Jesus Christ are still required today to be separated from the worldly habits in both faith and practice as those who have received salvation have received a new heart.
Secondly, the word will refers to power and ability.
Saying you will attend a particular engagement with friends means both that you intend to attend, and you are able to attend. We might know what Jesus would do but don’t follow through with our actions. These two concepts do not always coincide with our lifestyles. We may not know how to follow through with our actions, or truly desire to. For God, it is axiomatic (definition: obviously true and therefore not needing to be proved) that what He wills He can perform. It is only by yielding ourselves to God (Romans 12:1-21, Romans 8:7) that our salvation and sanctification, indeed that all things can become possible. (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27, Proverbs 3:6).
Personal desire and Scriptural teaching coincide to provide grace an opened door to enter our lives. The experience of holiness is not merely something to know about, to long for, nor is it something that we can be counselled into by our pastors and church leaders. The experience of a life of holiness is that which God wills and by which with our yielding, our active consent can be fulfilled in our lives.
