Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

What Would Jesus Do? Column for the week of June 1-7, 2003

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It seemed like a mystery fit for Jessica Fletcher. Just who did put the arsenic in the coffee at the local church? But it wasn’t a script for Murder She Wrote. It really happened recently in the little potato farming community of New Sweden, Maine. One man died and 15 others got sick from drinking deliberately poisoned coffee at the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church. Soon afterward one of the other parishioners committed suicide and left an implicating note. It appears that more than one person was involved in the crime. “Why?” you may ask. Well, looks like a few parishioners were disgruntled over the idea of plans for the church to possibly consolidate with some neighboring congregations. Some people just didn’t want to blend their traditional views with more modern ideas. And then there was possible offense over a Communion table donated by a family that sat unused. What a mess!

As if it isn’t hard enough to get people to come to church! When others see the Christian communities dealing with offenses and church political disagreements this way, no wonder Christianity has a bad name. How can people who profess to be Christians do such a thing? Simple! They profess to be Christians but leave Christ out of the picture. If a parishioner would ask, “What would Jesus Christ do?” in a situation like this, the answer surely wouldn’t be to poison everyone who disagrees with me. However what Jesus would do in some cases might surprise you.

Would Jesus drink beer? Maybe. His first miracle was turning water into wine. I can’t help but think he would have a little taste, too. But drinking an alcoholic beverage and getting drunk are two different things. (John 2:1-10, Matthew 11:19)

Would Jesus be filled with compassion? Would he cry? Maybe. The Bible says he wept when Lazarus died. (John 11:35)

Would Jesus hang around with sinners? Maybe. He did in Biblical times. In fact he was called a friend to sinners. (Matthew 11:19)

Would Jesus get angry? Maybe. Anger in itself is not wrong but wrong use of that anger is. The Bible says, “Be angry and sin not.” (Ephesians 4:26) Jesus turned over the tables of the moneychangers that were outside the temple, which indicates he was a tad bit upset. (Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15)

Would Jesus have apprehension? Maybe. The night before he was crucified he asked God if there was any other way. (Matthew 26:39)

Would Jesus get frustrated? Maybe. He seemed a little irritated with three of the disciples when he took them on the mountain so he could pray and they kept falling asleep. (Matthew 26:40)

Would Jesus confuse the issue? Maybe. He certainly did when he said those who don’t eat my flesh and drink my blood have no part of me. Many left his side that day because they thought he was speaking literally. (John 6:53-66)

Would Jesus have a best friend? Maybe. The Bible alludes to the fact that he was a little closer to John than the other disciples. (John 21:20)

Would Jesus have modern ideas? Maybe. He was certainly progressive for his time. He treated all people, even Samaritans, even women with dignity and respect. That was unheard of in those days. (John 4:7-9)

Would Jesus blend several congregations together even though one had traditional idea and one had progressive ideas? Maybe. I’m not sure he would be in favor of all these denominations anyway. Denominations seem to have their roots in the twigs not the trunk of the tree.

Would Jesus poison people who didn’t agree with Him? I don’t think so! In fact he gives people free choice to disagree with Him. What would Jesus do? If you really want to know, read the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). If you read them without preconceived ideas of what you think or have heard about Jesus, what Jesus would do, might surprise you.

©May 2003

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.