Questions

Sometimes I wonder what Jesus would be like if he were to come to earth today as a human. I know his basic character would be the same as it was over 2000 years ago (and still is today), but how would it look in the world we live in today? Where would he live anyway? Would he be more likely to live in America or Syria? Would Jesus choose a country of wealth, prosperity, and power, or would he choose a desperate country in turmoil? If Jesus were born in Mexico, would he come to the United States legally? How would he cross the border? Would he bother becoming a U. S. citizen? Would he want to come to the United States at all?

For the sake of argument, and for the sake of perspective, let’s suppose Jesus did come to live on earth in America. What if we took the tired cliche question, “what would Jesus do?” and asked it in some complicated situations? This is where my mind goes when I peruse the news of the day and the trending Facebook tirades. These are the kinds of questions that come to mind for me when Christians go on rants about the world we live in. Sometimes I wonder if we really know much about Jesus - who he was and who he is. 

Would Jesus vote? Could he possibly find a candidate worthy of his vote? Would Jesus endorse any candidate? Would a politician want his endorsement?

Would Jesus pledge allegiance to the flag? Could he pledge allegiance to anyone or anything other than his Father? Would he be excited to see Christians pledging allegiance to the flag or would he be disappointed? Would he care whether or not the Pledge of Allegiance said “under God”?

Would Jesus pack a gun? Would he encourage his followers to pack a gun? If he did pack a gun, would he ever use it?

Would Jesus  join the military? Would Jesus go to war or would he be too busy helping those suffering from the fallout of war? Could Jesus ever find a war that justified the loss of innocent lives, especially the lives of children?

Would Jesus differentiate between forms of humans killing other humans - murder, abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, war - and find justification for some and condemn the others or would he be appalled in all cases that humans took it upon themselves to decide who should live and who should die?

Would Jesus say America is blessed by its wealth, or cursed?

Would Jesus lobby Congress? If he did, would he be more likely to lobby for a Biblical definition of marriage or for spending money on the poor?

Would Jesus agree with the Bill of Rights or would he keep reminding us that we have no rights? 

Would Jesus speak poorly about our governmental leaders? Would he condone such behavior? Would he laugh at parodies of them? Would he call them names? Would he give them much thought at all?

Would Jesus join a union? 

Would Jesus have a retirement plan?

Would Jesus give 10%?

Would Jesus own a house?

Would Jesus go to a football game? Would he pay to go to a football game?

Would Jesus support Tim Tebow or would he tell him to pray in a closet?

What would Jesus do for entertainment? Would he only go to “Christian” concerts? Would he wonder why we are so consumed with being entertained?

Would Jesus go to a “Christian” school, a public school or be homeschooled? Would he be a good student? 

Would Jesus do fundraisers to raise support? Would he write letters? Would he try to raise support at all or just be annoyed at how tightly all of us clung to our money? 

Would Jesus feel comfortable in our Worship Service? Would that be a good thing? Would he complain about the drums? Would he complain about the hymns? Would he wonder why the service was so short? Would he wonder why we spent so much money on the building and all the stuff in it? Would he come back?

Would Jesus think the way we do communion is weird?

Would Jesus wonder why so many people felt comfortable going to a worship service, but uncomfortable going to help the homeless?

Would Jesus hang out at the church coffee bar?

Would Jesus go to Worship services on Sundays (twice?) and a small group on Monday and a church meeting on Tuesday and a Bible Study on Wednesday and a Breakfast Bible Study on Saturday? Would he wonder why we did so much reading and listening and so little living and being?

Would Jesus be excited about a singles group? Would Jesus feel awkward around seniors? Around youth? Around children? Would he wonder why we have so many segregated groups?

Would Jesus volunteer for nursery duty? Would he change a diaper?

Would Jesus be patient with us while we tried to figure out our "spiritual giftedness" before serving? 

Would Jesus wear a cross around his neck? Or a fish? 

Would Jesus get a tattoo? Would he pierce his ears? Or his eyebrows? Or his lip? Would he have long hair?

Would Jesus hunt and fish? Would he join a “manly” men’s group to try to reach men? Would we be disappointed in the “manliness” of Jesus?

Would Jesus like the questions we ask? 

Would we like the questions that Jesus asked us?