Monday, August 16, 2010

WWJD? Oh yeah!

You remember the craze a few years ago, unless you are currently in the youth ministry and you probably have heard about it, WWJD, What Would Jesus Do? It was a time about 10 years ago, or so, when there were tee-shirts, bracelets, bumper stickers, book marks, hats, Bible covers, posters, etc. that had the letters WWJD plastered across them.

Really WWJD is not something that was new but a resurgence of a book that was written so long ago where the small community started basing all their decisions by asking that question first, "What would Jesus Do?" in this situation? The book is a great read and I recommend it to all students in any youth ministry. There are twists and turns and you have to do some soul searching to see exactly what Jesus would do in any given situation.

I was thinking about this today as I read a story where a group of "church ladies" in Lexington, Kentucky have been going to the strip bars in that fair city. The story says that when they get out of the van they are there with food home cooked meals for the dancers and the staff, that the bouncers announce here comes the Church Ladies! They listen to the people that they talk to and show them kindness as fellow human beings. Why do this and become exposed, not pun intended, to all the ridicule from others for being there?

"We go because Jesus went.
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders” (Matthew 9:10-13, The Message).

We are continually amazed by the openness of the women and men we serve, and have seen many lives changed through the unconditional love and grace the team shows each week."
(link to the article is http://www.christianstandard.com/articledisplay.asp?id=1564 )

To think of a way to have a place in your life where you "Passion and your burden" collide to make a difference in the lives of others has to be awesome.

What is your passion? What are you consumed with in ministering to others over? Is there a place in your life where you can turn your burden into something beyond yourself and affect others? It is your opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Not everyone is gifted, called, or burdened to do what these "church ladies" are doing but Jesus has given you a gift to impact someone for the kingdom.

Thinking about this ministry one last time about the "church ladies" do you think Jesus would really minister to these people? I mean do you think Christ would touch those that many church folks run away from? For me when I think about this in this scenario; WWJD? Oh yeah!

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