How do you experience the Cross?

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by JJ

“What would Jesus do?” is lampooned as “Fallen Christianity” in TLR when a good dose of that is exactly what is needed.

WWJD is usually just an attempt to outwardly act out what someone thinks the historic Jesus would do in that situation. But the proper model and application of WWJD for us, is that Jesus would seek the Father in the situation, to know and do the Father's will and to die to His own will.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

WWJD is usually just an attempt to outwardly act out what someone thinks the historic Jesus would do in that situation. But the proper model and application of WWJD for us, is that Jesus would seek the Father in the situation, to know and do the Father's will and to die to His own will.

Sorry, that's an awful big generalization STG

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by JJ

Sorry, that's an awful big generalization STG

Okay . . . what's your definition of WWJD? Wasn't He always about His Fathers will and work? In my understanding, Jesus was constantly looking at the Father in a living and constant interaction with the Father, in order to do nothing out from Himself, but only what He saw His Father doing, right?

WWJD always seemed to me to be a human-contrived way to do what we read about Jesus doing in the gospels, by trying to superficially apply those examples to our own situations. In my mind this is just an outwardly religious effort, rather than something coming from an inner life relationship with Christ. Sure, the Lord's example of human living is the perfect model, but to apply it takes a moment by moment relationship with Him in spirit . . . it's via His life in us, not something we produce by our own effort.

Does that make sense?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Okay . . . what's your definition of WWJD? Wasn't He always about His Fathers will and work? In my understanding, Jesus was constantly looking at the Father in a living and constant interaction with the Father, in order to do nothing out from Himself, but only what He saw His Father doing, right?

WWJD always seemed to me to be a human-contrived way to do what we read about Jesus doing in the gospels, by trying to superficially apply those examples to our own situations. In my mind this is just an outwardly religious effort, rather than something coming from an inner life relationship with Christ. [Sure, the Lord's example of human living is the perfect model, but to apply it takes a moment by moment relationship with Him in spirit . . . it's via His life in us, not something we produce by our own effort[/u].

Does that make sense?

Your first paragraph is a good summary, I don't take issue with. The second paragraph is consistent with what I was taught in TLR, and I too had made the same sort of generalizations (underlined by me) and had dismissed WWJD as having any value whatsoever.

As you admit (, in bold, Jesus is the perfect model, as the gospels and apostles' testimonies documented. Therefore WWJD has value as one is considering the myriad options life presents us and to check on what comes out of the moment by moment relationship with Him in spirit.

For example. Do you recall Jesus ever turning someone down who asked for His help/ "Sorry, I just don't feel that is the Father's leading"? I sure don't.

[byHismercy]

Regarding WWJD, I also remember a time when I looked down my nose at that "christianities' version".....but contemplating this conversation now, the Lord led me to consider again

Proverbs 3:6....In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

How precious the faith displayed by those, His children, holding forth this idea (WWJD), and how precious this acknowledgement of Him.

And likewise how precious the faith of ones seeking to intimately receive His personal leading....

I cannot find fault with either. But I think it folly to pretend the Christian with WWJD as their concept somehow falls short of this interpersonal and real experience of the Lord. If they received Jesus as their Lord, He already has that direct line to their hearts and minds same as He does in me, and the lie we believed from Lee was that there was some kind of difference in the connect to their savior, vs. the All Superior connect we had with our savior in the LC.

Can anybody hear exactly how ridiculous that sounds now? Total folly, total foolishness. LC put too much emphasis on our part, somehow. That concept of exercising our human spirit to open the channel between us and God....there is something true in that and something so disturbing to me.....something niggling my brain, that wants to call that works. Vain, dead??? works. I don't know. I have been thinking about it for a long time and I haven't quite worked it all out. So far, in my experience, my effort is not worth much....really pitiful....but the Lord brings me on, as He is doing in all His children. He will finish what He began in all of us, He said so, right?

I hope I don't speak too prematurely, here. I'll let you know if He gives me any more clarity on the matter.

[Sons to Glory!]

What do y-all think of this statement:

The Christian life is impossible without the life of Christ within us.

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

What do y-all think of this statement:

The Christian life is impossible without the life of Christ within us.

The answer is simple. It is definitially impossible.

The problem is that there are so many trying to define what it means to have the life of Christ within us. Some try to say that you need to have had your morning watch to have the life of Christ within you (or within you sufficiently) to actually live the Christian life. Or be "calling on the Lord" somewhat regularly. Or thinking spiritual thoughts.

But Peter said we had all we needed for life and Godliness. And though never as directly stated, Paul did also when he declared various aspects of our union with Christ as facts, not things needed to be undertaken or worked-up.

Yet, while I understand the meaning of the statement you quoted when its source is presumed to be from a leader of the LC, it is a true statement. Those who are not believers cannot be said to have the life of Christ within them. And no matter how much they may seem to live a life that is like that of a Christian, they can never be said to live the Christian life.

So, as a statement without context, it is entirely true. But when understood in the way it was intended, it is nothing short of slander on the status of non-LC Christians.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

WWJD is usually just an attempt to outwardly act out what someone thinks the historic Jesus would do in that situation. But the proper model and application of WWJD for us, is that Jesus would seek the Father in the situation, to know and do the Father's will and to die to His own will.

Shouldn't we allow young people their catchy slogans and movements to help them "stop and think," setting their hearts and minds on the Savior?

It was always so characteristic of WL to condemn all things not originating with him. Should not we now consider ourselves recovering judgaholics, and give others a little liberty?

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Shouldn't we allow young people their catchy slogans and movements to help them "stop and think," setting their hearts and minds on the Savior?

It was always so characteristic of WL to condemn all things not originating with him. Should not we now consider ourselves recovering judgaholics, and give others a little liberty?

Well, then, let's stop judging all things WL and LC!

I get your point, and don't want to labor it too much. Just my opinion.

To me, the outward model of WWJD? is like the law. The Christian life is impossible without the life of Christ within us. So we may think about how Jesus would handle a situation and want to do that, but it's only possible by turning to Him and (for instance) saying, "Lord I really want to love this person and care for them, but it's just not in me to do that properly. Lord, you are my real life, so please live and do this through me!" Therefore, WWJD? is like the law: a child-conductor to lead us to the reality of His life within!

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Well, then, let's stop judging all things WL and LC!

I get your point, and don't want to labor it too much. Just my opinion.

To me, the outward model of WWJD? is like the law. The Christian life is impossible without the life of Christ within us. So we may think about how Jesus would handle a situation and want to do that, but it's only possible by turning to Him and (for instance) saying, "Lord I really want to love this person and care for them, but it's just not in me to do that properly. Lord, you are my real life, so please live and do this through me!" Therefore, WWJD? is like the law: a child-conductor to lead us to the reality of His life within!

It's not a law, it's a reminder, by wearing a bracelet.

Did you ever write a "to do" list or were you ever given a "honey-do" list?

Stop! Tear them all up! You just put yourself under the Law!

I have the mind of Christ! I don't need no list.