What Would Jesus Do?

Based on Dissident Discipleship, David Augsburger
Brazos Press, 2006

Disciples in a believing community follow Jesus in different ways. Our experiences have been diverse. We are loyal to different traditions, or different interpretations of the same tradition. We ask different questions.

In its simplest form, discipleship is expressed by asking, "What would Jesus do?" The question is inspired by Charles M. Sheldon's 1896 novel, In His Steps. It fosters an imitation of Christ in personal life according to whatever image of Jesus the follower may have. Ethical and relational decisions are linked to particular teachings or actions of Jesus. If the disciple becomes stuck, she may reflect on a more basic question.

"What did Jesus do?" This question pushes us back to the Gospels to re-explore the actual behavior of Jesus. His story is affirmed as the revelation of ultimate goodness which judges all human values by enduring values. The disciple may then have the tools to explore the subsequent question.

"What would Jesus have me do?" This is the question of theology, or faith seeking understanding. It introduces new dimensions into the simple desire to imitate Jesus. What Jesus embodied in the ancient Near East is reformulated into the language of contemporary culture. In the process, Jesus inevitably gets translated, usually adjusted, often adapted, and sometimes co-opted to face the "hard realities" and bless what we consider necessary and inescapable. Sometimes the disciple is moved to look for the presence of Jesus in the present moment and ask the next question.

"What is Jesus doing here and now among us?" Now the disciple seeks Jesus as a contemporary presence in a believing community. He looks to the liturgy, to mystical experience, to ethical discernment, and to outreach to the least, the last and the lost. Every encounter with human need is re-visualized into an opportunity to serve Christ himself. In those moments we may discover a deeper question.

"What do I do with Jesus?" a question which offers the privilege of reaching out and touching Jesus in those we encounter in daily life, not just the needy. Instead of seeing those encounters as irritations in our important schedules, we see them as divine interruptions. Instead of being preoccupied with ourselves as followers, we shift our focus to concern for the other. Then we ask the question of Paul when he realized he was in the presence of Christ.

"Jesus, what do you want me to do?" We become the ones doing the listening, not the questioning. We let go of control of the conversation. All of the previous questions have been helpful, of course, but we cannot walk away until Jesus has a chance to speak for himself, to our circumstances, according to our spiritual maturity and our ability to truly listen.