WWJD – What Would Jesus Do – was an incredibly popular theme during the 1990s. Jodi Detrick, recently shared that she has been thinking about a modification created by adding the letter N: WWJND – What Would Jesus Not Do.
She explored the idea more fully in a chapter in her recently published book: The Jesus-Hearted Woman (2013). In that context she offers a list of things Jesus would not do, including
- He did not seek human popularity. (John 8:50)
- He did not pander to the rich and ignore the poor. (Luke 21:1-4)
- He did not send away the children who were brought to him. (Mark 10:13-16)
- He did not exclude his society’s outcasts: the lepers, prostitutes and foreigners. (See the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for many examples.)
So What?
Detrick suggests:
Maybe it’s time to create a “what not to do” list. It’s one way to do kindness. And I think Jesus would approve.
Questions to Ponder:
- What would you place on your WWJND list?
- Do you think approaching life from this framework is helpful to those who follow the way of Jesus? Why or why not?