This statue of Swiss reformer, William Farel, in Neuchâtel, Swizerland is one of my favorite images to represent what the Christian life is about in relation to God’s words and instructions in the Bible. The reformer holds the Bible above his own head to make a statement: all people, no matter their state, are under the word of God and no one is above it. No matter whether someone is rich or poor; king or peasant; pastor, priest, or layman; leader or follower; believer or non: each individual is measured under the Bible and no one is above it.

The other point with this image—the main point that brings it into this WWJD discussion—is this: The Bible speaks to the individual and it is the individual who must be under it. You will notice that the reformer is not pointing the words outwardly for the world to see, or hitting anyone with it, or having primarily an outward focus to it, bur rather, the Bible is first and foremost having its effect upon the individual under these words.

For us to make a difference in the world, we must see this as the crucial point. We must measure ourselves by the words of the Bible, not us measuring the words of the Bible by ourselves. IF we live our lives in a WWJD way, then we will be able to make an impact on society. If all we do is measure everyone else by the Bible, pointing out how they need to be more like Jesus (oftentimes to people who don’t even believe in Him or have interest in the Bible), without having the Bible have its full impact on our own lives, then we will only be fooling ourselves and not having the impact on the world we wish to.

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
    apply your heart to what I teach,

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.

Proverbs 22: 17-19