Many times I hear the statement, "What Would Jesus Do?". While I believe this is a good basis for every decision we make I must ask another question.
If WWJD is the only criteria that we use to examine our decisions are we truly doing everything correctly? As Christians the bible tells us to be as Christ like as possible yet we also know that we all fail at the attempt of actually being like Christ. I will set several examples for thought.
At a dinner party with your co-workers, should you have a glass of wine with your meal? In this instance did Jesus drink wine with his meal. Jesus provided wine through a miracle for a wedding party. Would Jesus provide wine for drinking if the simple act of drinking a glass of wine is against God? (This is a drink, not getting drunk)
QUOTE (Gospel of John) |
Joh 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Joh 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. Joh 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Joh 2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Joh 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. Joh 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. Joh 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, Joh 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. |
QUOTE (Gospel of John) |
John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, John 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. |
QUOTE |
Would Jesus provide wine for drinking if the simple act of drinking a glass of wine is against God? (This is a drink, not getting drunk) |
QUOTE |
Can I anger in such a way that I am angry at the sin of a man but not at the man? |
Alcohol has been around since ... well ... since a long time. Dionysus as he was referred to in Greek mythology was the god of wine and chaos. While it was mythology, it was obvious that the secret of wine making you drunk and stupid if overconsumed was known to the world before the birth of Christ. So, it is pretty safe to say that the wine made back then did pack a punch if consumed in excess....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus
The Catholic Religion has had no problem with wine...or...some may say the had a problem, but either way, wine consumption is permitted and it is interpretted that it is the over indulgence (drunkeness) that is frown upon by the Lord. It would be safe to say that those of the Catholic Religion believe that Jesus drank wine...with alcohol...as he shared it at the Last Supper.
QUOTE |
Can I anger in such a way that I am angry at the sin of a man but not at the man? |
I think that partaking of alcohol with a meal is fine. It is when you drink in excess that it becomes a problem. IF you drink a glass of wine with dinner or drink a glass of beer to relax at home you are not hurting anyone and I do not believe that you are going to be punished in the afterlife for those drinks. Now if you drank in excess each night or a few nights a week and did some stupid stuff while you were drunk then I can see it as being a problem. A social drink should not be cause of alarm.
Trying hard to be good and viewing everything in the context of "what would Jesus do" is a way of life that can be extremely hard. We are tempted all the time. THe devil (satan, the evil god or whatever you call him) knows what our weaknesses are and his job is to cause us to stumble and fall to our knees at times. Can we always resist temptation and live the pure life? Most people cannot because the flesh is weak. That is why we pray to get forgiveness for our sins as we are sinners. All we can do is try to be strong and life our lives as well as we can.
QUOTE (AlaskanLDS) |
I have heard before that the wine they drank (at that time) was more like pure grape juice-not fermented? Do you know if there is any truth to this? |
QUOTE (Genesis 9:21 (Refering to Noah)) |
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. |
QUOTE (Ephesians 5:18) |
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; |
QUOTE (Bwren) |
If WWJD is the only criteria that we use to examine our decisions are we truly doing everything correctly? |
That is a great point JB as we know Jesus did drink of the wine but did not drink into public drunkenness. We also know Public drunkenness is a sinful act.
Thus many churches teach do not consume alcohol as if you are of the nature it will consume you and you will be come one of a drunken nature. It is a cautionary that is wise in thought no more no less.
I like that JB "What did Jesus do?" I am going to give that one to my oldest. Second reason I like it as if you do not know it makes you go read the bible!
I like both WWJD and WDJD. I can lead a life that I feel is sin free or mostly sin free but that still does not mean I lead life as christ would have. As a man I know it is hard for me to achieve perfection. Strive as I may to lead the good life and accept that I am flawed and asking myself, Would christ act this way or would Christ do this?, is a way for me to continue down a better path.