TIAM

Years ago we used to see “WWJD” bracelets, bumper stickers, hats, rings, and other paraphernalia expressing “What Would Jesus Do.”  Those were great.  We should always follow the example of Jesus and what He would do.  But, I think WWJD often came up short.  Jesus suffered ridicule, torture, and persecution as results of His message.  Eventually he died a horrible death for us.  That’s what Jesus did.  Is that the humility and attitude we see in ourselves today?  Is that what WWJD means to us?

On the grand scale, God’s plan is simple: to make heaven as full as possible and hell as empty as possible.  And, He will use our pain and suffering to accomplish it if needed.  Maybe this Christian thing isn’t so much about us as it is about Him.

I’d like to suggest an additional slogan to WWJD: TIAM (This Isn’t About Me).  Over the years, I’ve seen Christians leave a Bible-teaching, Spirit-filled church for such reasons as they didn’t like the color of the carpet, the pastor’s accent, the sexual orientation of those enter the church doors, the music was too loud, too rock and roll, the people didn’t dress the way they thought they should, and such.

A change of view might be in order.  Maybe the Christian ideal is that church should be a place for us to minister God’s love, not criticize God’s people.  A wise pastor once told me, the soldiers on the front lines are too busy fighting the battles to complain.  If you’re complaining and finding fault, maybe you should move to the front lines.  Get involved.

Years ago, I was thinking of leaving the church we were attending.  The reason was so foolish I don’t even remember why.  I called a friend and pastor, who told me you don’t leave a church unless God is calling you somewhere else.  Just because you’re unhappy where you are doesn’t mean God is telling you to leave.  Good advice.  Maybe we need to get more involved and see if the reasons we’re upset have good planning behind them and are furthering God’s kingdom.

Sometimes it’s not our happiness that brings people to Christ.  During the Roman persecution, thousands came to Christ having seen how Christians died in the Roman Circus.  Most believers stood strongly for their faith and died bravely without denying that faith.  The Roman citizenry saw this and many believed there must be something in it for those brave souls to die both willingly and terribly.  The citizens sought Christ and came to know Him.

The word “happy” appears in only eight verses in the ESV Old Testament, “happiness” only twice, and neither appears in the New Testament.  “Joy” appears in 179 verses spread across the entire Old and New Testaments.  Maybe we’re looking at our place in Christianity wrongly.  Joy in our walk with Christ is important.  Our happiness, not so much.

Our lives are to be given as sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1-3).  That’s what WWJD means.  Let’s work on that and TIAM together.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
¹  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
²  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.