Op-Ed: What Would a Christian Do?

What Would a Christian Do?
By: Ronald Barnes

Most of us would agree that we live in challenging times. The Christian population in the United States is decreasing. Young people are misdirected away from Christian influence. Families are becoming broken. Crime is on the rise. These words sound like an evangelist preacher trying to rally support by emphasizing the presence of “negative behaviors” in our society. It is true that our society has many ills, but it is also true that our society has many promising cures. God only created beauty and righteousness in the universe and in mankind. Thanks to Adam and Eve, God constantly challenges man and woman to make decisions in life that prove our worthiness to live in his Kingdom and enjoy the splendor of everlasting life.

In our Christian quest to prove our worthiness to enjoy the splendor of everlasting life with God and to serve society, we will encounter many challenging situations. For example, walking past a hungry man on the street; watching children without parents experience insecurity, especially about their future; listening to senior citizens worry about the quality of their remaining life; and seeing parents without work struggle to figure out how to take care of their families. Congregations are in dire need of Christian and spiritual healing. “What would Jesus do?” That is the question. For the answer, we have the biblical examples of Jesus feeding the hungry, curing the sick, giving direction to the misdirected and speaking words of salvation and redemption and more. Many today find more comfort in not becoming involved than they do in becoming involved. Often we prefer to play it safe. When we “play it safe.” society’s ills develop unchecked. As long as we are not affected, it is not “our problem” and the problems we choose to become involved are easy, more fitting to our reluctance to address life’s difficulties, unchallenging and safe. Even as theologians, it is easy for us to fall victim to a superficial role of service by not addressing the difficult issues of religious servitude and following the easy path of submission to the status quo, insensitive to the plight of the less fortunate.

It makes no sense to argue who is the better Christian. Frankly, our Christian role is an individual decision for each person to make. What would Jesus do if he saw a hungry person on the street? What would Jesus do if he saw someone homeless? What would Jesus do if he saw an old person suffering? What would Jesus do if he encountered a misdirected youth? What would Jesus do? Actually this is a very unfair question because we would be challenged beyond our abilities to respond to life exactly like Jesus. We do not have his power, spirit, or his sole life purpose to sacrifice himself for our sins. To expect us to respond as Jesus would is not practical A better question to ask in response to these issues is, “What would a true Christian do”? There have been times in my life when I am challenged to give a dollar to a person on the street asking for money to eat. I would have mixed feelings whether the money will go for food, alcohol or drugs. My second thought is “who am I to judge?” If I give, it should be freely with a spirit to give and without judgment. Making judgment gives a present to my selfish and judgmental nature. I believe Jesus would give freely without judgment and respect the person’s free will to make the choice what to do with the gift. Where we as Christians constantly ponder over our will to give or not to give, I believe Jesus does not self-debate his will to give. A true Christian would overcome the self-debate issues and seek to help someone in need.

Note: The views in articles, blog posts, and opinion pieces are specific to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of McCormick Theological Seminary or The Herald.