Where Would Jesus Get His Oil Changed?

Saw this in the local paper:

What would Jesus read? If you're looking for beach reading with purpose, here's a guide to what's hot at religious bookstores.

I have always been a little bemused at the "What Would Jesus (Do/Wear/Drive/Drink/Think/Watch/Read)" business.

Probably not news to anyone, but we are not Jesus - we aren't the only begotten Son of God.

Doesn't it seem kind of presumptious to try and put oneself in the place of a being who was both man and God? What does that say about the people who make up these lists?

I think the question is actually - what would Jesus *want you* - you as a person, as someone Jesus has known all of your life, not whatever group you're a member of, not Republicans, not Democrats, not your Facebook friend circle, but you, to read? Or not read?

When Peter struck the slave in the garden with his sword, Jesus didn't say "Whoa there, that's not what I'd do.". He said put your sword away, because Peter was the one with the sword, not Jesus. Jesus would have never drawn a sword in the first place.

And so it is with all of us - we've all drawn swords of various kinds and asking what Jesus would do with that sword is missing the point in a very fundamental way.

What would Jesus tell you to put away? Or pick up? That seems to me the real question.

And the answer? When I figure it out, I promise I will share. But it's probably going to be a while; I only have the student copy of the Bible, not the teacher's copy with all of the answers in the back.