I greatly appreciated Charlie Shedd’s book, “In His Steps,” from which the whole “WWJD” movement started.  Quite frankly, though, I am now almost as disgusted with the WWJD hype as I am with other Jesus memorabilia.  I’m surprised no one has tried to auction off genuine, original (fine print: replicas of) splinters from the actual cross that Jesus died on.  (With blood stains, only $15 extra.) Hey, maybe I can fund my new ministry....

Why didn’t Jesus build his own stadium (mega-church)?  Think of how many He could have reached!  Why didn’t he write books and sell them to raise money for the ministry?  He didn’t even write anything in the Bible!

What paper would Jesus write for?  He probably wouldn’t write (he didn’t back in the day), but if he did, he might start his own.
What channel would Jesus anchor for?  He probably wouldn’t anchor, but if he did, he might start his own station.
What would Jesus suggest as an appropriate minimum wage?  The love, care, respect and involvement of the employer--which would always include food, shelter, and fellowship.
Who would Jesus vote for?  Himself! (I’m not just being punny--I mean it--in God’s economy, He reigns--no one else)
Who would Jesus date?  Two catchy answers: either no one, or, the Church.
What would Jesus call his blog?  thekingdomishere.com?
Would Jesus wear turtle neck sweaters?  definitely!  but only in the winter.
Would Jesus advocate sex education or abstinence-only programs?  Jesus doesn’t strike me as any kind of program advocate.  He’d probably say something sassy like “if parents would be good parents, and if mentors would be good mentors, and if the Church were the Church, it wouldn’t matter what the public school was saying...”
Would Jesus wear $200 jeans and designer glasses?  ummm… no.  Would you?
What would Jesus have on his ipod?  the sermon on the mount!
Would Jesus care if we use the KJV or NIV?  yes!  he’d say use the NIV (ok--mostly kidding--but I couldn’t help it… don’t you love how ‘Jesus’ becomes an outlet for my own views?)
Would Jesus own a Mac or a Dell?  he owns everything so… neither and both?
If Jesus had a choice, would he attend John MacArthur’s church or Granger?  Jesus would understand that the Church is one.  He’d be getting the praise, not giving it--and he’d be giving the teaching.  I’d go to HIS church!

Ok--so I skipped the harder question.  Although since they were obviously asked tongue-in-cheek, I don’t feel too bad.  Never before have I felt a stronger urge to say ‘wrong question!’--so much of what is wrong with the Church has to do with how we allow the world to frame the issues we think about… so then it has to do with what program should we endorse, who should we vote for, what should we make illegal?  etc. etc. ad nauseam…
From my reading of the Gospels, Jesus is constantly reframing things in a way that really doesn’t please anyone (but the Father, of course).  Would that we were more like him!

Bernie,

Jesus also didn’t have a tv show or a podcast.  Not sure what your point is (other than to step up on your high horse again).

Jesus did, by the way, write a book.  It still does quite well from what I understand.

TOdd

BeHim,

I just glanced back through Malachi, what a great book!  One verse that expecially popped out at me was 3:6.  The Lord does not change, as much as we may want him to, to make it more pleasant for our flesh.

Think about all your brothers and sisters who you hear talking about listening to this or watching that who really think that the Lord doesn’t care because of what they’ve been taught or not taught.

About the jeans and the bracelet...that’s too easy.  About the mess in my hometown of Albuquerque, he’d weep.  About the minimum wage...he told this great story about workers in a vinyard and how they should be paid a living wage for a day’s work...even if they had not been able to work all day!  But that’s waaaaay too radical.

Todd, not to pick a fight, but I’ll agree with Bernie and say that Jesus didn’t write anything (other the sand art that Jeff pointed out...).  Viewing the Bible as the words of Jesus really messes up our understanding of Scripture… if Jesus did ‘write’ the Bible, which one did he write?  The Catholic Bible, the Protestant Bible?  The answer, of course, is neither.  But we have various writings which point us to the Word, Christ (the Word made flesh--not paper).
Kent, I’m not sure I like your picture of Jesus as a ‘thus saith the Word’ kind of guy… he strikes me more as a ‘I am the Word’ kind of guy… but that’s just me.
Cheers!

Todd, if you read my post, carefully, you’ll see that I didn’t put down megachurches or ministries that sell books to make money.  Rather, I asked a question.  Why didn’t Jesus do this? Well, why didn’t He?  Others did during His time, so why didn’t He?  Can you answer it?  I contemplate these things, and it affects my ministry.

He not only didn’t write the Bible or any part of it, but today we don’t even have the originals of any of the New Testament.  That’s a fact, that’s often obfuscated by many.  Not a problem for me, as I worship God, not the Bible.  It has always been about faith, not fact.

I do have a TV ministry.  Guess how much the airtime is.  Nope, less, try again.  Nope, less. It’s free.

The webcast is what actually costs me money, but not bad considering it has worldwide reach ($300 per month).  Most of my ministry is self-financed, like the way the Apostle Paul did it.

Not bragging, just giving you some insight into my costs.  I have no problem with big ministries, either.  In fact, in many ways, my role-model is James Dobson and his “Focus on the Family” ministry.  Another very good one is “Coral Ridge Ministries.” I’ve studied Dobson’s finances and ministry operations, as well as others. 

I’m not putting down ministries that sell books… but why didn’t Jesus do it??? Who could write better than Him, or have something more important to say than Him???

...Bernie

First observation: Daniel pretty well nailed it. That was well done.

Second observation: Reading the posts reminds me why I never wear or acknowledge the WWJD paraphenalia. In many instances, we flat out don’t know what Jesus would do (re: podcasts, broadcasts, and turtlenecks). If He WOULD HAVE used technology, why didn’t He incarnate at a time when mass communication/technology was available? Just think, the sermon on the mount DVD series. Then again, maybe that’s why He didn’t come in this age.

Third observation: Jesus’ mission/ministry was never focused on building a local ministry; His primary focus (after the Cross) would have been building the 12 cause that’s how He spent His time. WWJD? He would build a team of misfits into a movement that survived betrayl, incompetence, cowardliness, and countless other scandels. For some reason, the t-shirts never communicate that. Ergo, He wouldn’t have built anything that wouldn’t last for centuries.

Also, re: minimum wage; the parable of the guy who hired some who wound up working 11 hours and others who worked one hour and all got the same pay--the point of that parable was the lord (Lord) has the right to compensate however he (He) chooses. See, we can take the same passages and draw completely opposite conclusions as to what Jesus would have done. We are never commanded to ask, “What would Jesus do”, but we are commanded to, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1.

Todd, I understood that. It was a fun article. As I said, Daniel’s response was a fun read. I really do get most of the humorous posts.

Start a fun game with prizes, Todd. Take any 4 postings from a thread, and we have to guess what the article was that started that discussion. Do it. Next week.

It is fun to think about . . . and my guess is that Jesus would be watching American Idol with the 12.  They’d probably go watch it at Cornelius’ house cause, as a Roman official, he’d have a big screen plasma TV.  And I think He’d vote for that nice family man Chris who works at Home Depot or some place like that.  And Jesus would have loved that rock number he sang last night.  Might have gotten up and danced a little.  What was that song???

Wendi

The vast majority of you are ignoring the most important question?

Mac or Dell?

That’s easy.  Jesus was a rebel.  He’d be Mac all the way.  Although I’m sure he’d have something to say about Apple watering down its central processor by switching over to Intel chips.  Intel does make those worldy chips, after all...found in all the “popular” machines, like Dells (although for the life of me I can’t see what all the fuss is about them).

He’s use Firefox too.