Everywhere we look, there are WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)bracelets, hats, shirts, bumper stickers, etc. It is the latest "christian" fad. But what dangers lurk behind such cliches? Are they biblical?

Just ask a teenager what this cliche means and most will answer, "Well, we face things today which are not clearly dealt with in the Bible, so 'WWJD' makes us stop and ask ourselves, just what would Jesus do in this situation." Sounds good doesn't it? Or does it? The above verse (1 cor. 10:11) quite clearly tells us that we are not facing anything that isn't common to man. Ecclesiastes 1:9,10 says,

"...THERE IS NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN...IS THERE ANY THING WHEREOF IT MAY BE SAID, SEE, THIS IS NEW...", which brings us to the conclusion that there are no new temptations, we face today the same snares that were faced in bible times.

Why do you think God left us all the examples that He did in His precious word? Examples of men with whom "God was not well pleased"? (1 Cor. 10:1-12) Verse 6 tells us:

"NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED."

James takes it a little further by explaining to us all about temptation and how it can become sin.

"BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM TAHT LOVE HIM. LET NO MAN SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN: BUT EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED, WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS OWN LUST, AND ENTICED. THEN WHEN LUST HATH CONCEIVED, IT BRINGETH FORTH SIN: AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH."

It seems that the proper question should be...What DID Jesus do? For one thing, He didn't leave us clueless! He left us His word and His Holy Spirit by which if we study and pray, we will be taught and guided. He is faithful. (James 1:5,6)

There is no need to add to the word of God! To ask "what would Jesus do" is to imply that He did not leave us ALL that we need to be overcomers. But we know that is not true. He did not give us half the answers and leave the rest up to our own opinion of what He would have done! The glorious word of God is complete. As a matter of fact, the bible forbids us to add to or take from the word of the Lord. For a further study, see Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:5,6, and Revelation 22:18.

Jesus knows how hard it is to be surrounded by evil. How difficult it is to live in an ungodly world filled with temptations and snares.

"FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN."

Hebrews 4:15. Yes, He understands, He faced the same things we do.

Jesus went even further for us, He shows us how to avoid temptation.

"WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK." (Mat. 26:41) Be on guard, be alert! If you see the temptation coming, you can avoid it by prayer. Once you are face-to-face with a temptation though, then what? Jesus, once again, gave us the answer. In every instance where Jesus was faced with temptation, such as in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) or in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46) Jesus answered the temptation with the word of God! James reinforces this in chapter 4, verse 7, "SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU."

So, no longer ask yourself "what would Jesus do?" but rather, read your bible and find out what Jesus DID do!!

Diane M. Schoeppner