What would Jesus do? The phrase is everywhere. Plastered on bracelets, cross necklaces, hoodies, stickers, and any other materialistic item one can find on the internet. It’s a phrase that people have almost become numb to. We see it so often that the words have nearly lost their meaning, and not because the phrase itself has lost any value. It holds the same message as it always has, but the people who claim to hold this expression near and dear to their hearts are the same people one can find bringing others down, being mean to strangers, taking from the less fortunate, and so forth. They wear the words with pride as if it suddenly makes them better, but it only makes them more hypocritical of what they claim to live by.
Religion has suddenly become a faction of consumerism, and its message has become more of an aesthetic than a lifestyle. People have bought into this more than ever with social media playing a piece in it as well. Small businesses on TikTok shop, Temu, Etsy, and more are trying to sell their product to anyone willing to hand their money over. It’s easy to get lost in this endless cycle, and it’s not to say that these products and businesses should go away altogether, but the theme behind them doesn’t mean anything if the person wearing them isn’t leading by example to do what Jesus would’ve wanted. If anything, it pushes people farther away from Christianity because they see their peers walking around with Bible verses on their shirts but acting in a completely different way. It’s sometimes impossible to differentiate between those who truly mean the words they wear on their back and those who wear them to fit into a certain aesthetic. Choosing a piece of clothing as a sign to others that one holds certain morals or fits into a certain group doesn’t necessarily mean they actually align with those values and standards.
Obviously, the people wearing these shirts and bracelets can’t be perfect. No one can. But at the same time, the aforementioned excuse can’t be used to justify every mistake and sin one commits. Jesus didn’t die on the cross to give everyone unlimited free passes at sinning against him, however, he did do it to show that he will still accept everyone who seeks him, no matter their past mistakes. It has become extremely hypocritical of the value and standard it holds.
Jesus accepted those who were different from him. He healed the sick, helped those in need, and loved those who had sinned against him. He led by example for people to follow, and that message has been lost in the crossfire of the divide that our world is currently in. We forget that people who look different or act differently are the exact people we are supposed to love, support, and care for as we would want for ourselves. That “what would Jesus do” phrase is not something to slap on a bracelet for the sake of making oneself feel better. It’s there to serve as a constant reminder of how one should treat their neighbor, and it should be treated as nothing less than that.
