OK – I know what you’re thinking: “The year 2000 called and they want their bad Christian acronym back”. But whether you’re still wearing the wristband or not, it’s well ingrained into the Christian mindset that we need to be considering in any decision making process – how Christ himself would act.
Continuing on from my last post though – I wonder how much asking that question allows for individual personalities. (So that we’re only tackling one thing at a time, we’ll lay the “culture” question aside for one moment). Jesus was God incarnate, but he was also a man – a man who had a personality and his own nuances. So I guess what I’m wondering is whether or not the question of always seeking to do exactly what Jesus did offers enough room for us to be the people we are – with the strengths, weaknesses and inclinations that are inherent to our person.
But likewise, I’m certain that there are occasions when I personally (so I’m kinda hoping by extension – other people too) have used my personality as an excuse for why I haven’t done something. “Ah, we’ll leave proclaiming good news to the evangelists.” So I guess what I’m trying to get around to (in a convoluted way) is working out how valid acting out of our own personality traits are – and where those things are worth investing effort into changing, and which times we should just accept things as part of “who we are”.
It’s not a very clear post I’m afraid, and I don’t have any conclusions, but tomorrows thoughts will be a little clearer 
Geoff is a 25 year old Database Administrator Consultant. He was a volunteer youth leader at Yarra Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship for 6 years, but doesn't do that any more. He is cursed with barracking for Richmond. His favourite number is 17 and his favourite song is Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley
You raise some great questions there. I like Paul’s instruction to Timothy (which I’m too lazy to look up before I’ve had a morning coffee) that while he might have a gift or calling in one area, he still has a responsibility to all. I think his exact words included, “do the work of an evangelist” (sorry, that’s sounds more pointed than I intended!!)
While I agree that Jesus had his own personality traits, I don’t think they limited or (in a negative sense) defined Him the way mine do me. I’m too often defined by the things I get wrong, the things I won’t do, or the things I suck at, and I shape my actions through or around those things.
For Jesus, his sense of humour was not a front, his anger was not an outlet for unfinished business with his mother, and his passion for others did not come from his own need to be needed. Ironically, he didn’t have a messiah complex, either.
It’s interesting to me that the phrase “How Would Jesus Do It” never took off…