Monday, May 6, 2013
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ...
THE MIND OF CHRIST
Most of you are probably familiar with the popular neon colored wrist bands etched with the letters WWJD, meaning "What would Jesus do?" I'm not a big fan myself mainly because I have no desire to wear a neon colored plastic wrist band. I assume the intention of the makers was to look beyond the mere outward actions and help people focus on living as Paul calls us to, in the mind of Christ. If the bands thus remind the wearers of this calling they can certainly be a useful tool. However, it is necessary first to know what is the mind of Christ before any such wrist band would be of any use.
I am afraid that for a large majority of people who wear such bands the answer to the question "what would Jesus do?" is based entirely on a false image of Christ which they have put together from a few gospel fragments that impressed them -- and their own idea of what it means to love one another.
In distinction to the false Christs of human imagination, Paul makes it plain for us what that mindset of Christ is. A mind that did not, like a thief, consider it worthwhile to grasp for Himself power and glory and riches, but chose not to use His divine power fully, became a man and a servant, and died on the cross, for sinful men.
Perhaps more appropriate than "What would Jesus do?" would be "What would Jesus Think?" WWJT. This would push us beyond mere outward actions to embrace the mind of Christ -- as Paul calls us to do. Furthermore it would be a constant reminder that despite how sinful and disappointing our own actions are in the eyes of Christ, Christ's thoughts are nevertheless thoughts of mercy, grace and forgiveness. Christ's thoughts are thoughts of His own death for us rather than the one we deserve. Christ's mind is one that gives me forgiveness.
