What is WWJDNow?

I've had this film inside of me for a long time. How can anyone be a follower of Jesus and not cringe to see the church sliding into cultural irrelevance? You tell a new acquaintance you're a Christian and they back off a few steps.

Few young people in the US culture understand religion as anything more than supernatural myths, judgement, heaven and hell, and lots of rules.

The value of life ordered by spiritual practice and commitment to each other in community has become lost.

I'm an Episcopal Christian, but this film is meant for anyone who sees the church circling the drain in a culture that couldn't care less.

The church is the human endeavour to carry forth the faith. Unfortunately, many feel Christianity fell into the wrong hands. It fell into the hands of humans, some with the best of intentions. The evil and corruption done by persons in the name of the church is vivldly recorded in history. But the church's dark chapters do not hold us to its past.

What does being a follower of Jesus mean today? What is the essential Christian experience without additives?

"What would Jesus do?" became cliché a long time ago, and then the answer was acceptance of a particular view of Christian doctrine and interpretation of scripture.

What Would Jesus Do NOW ?

Jesus was counter-cultural as were his followers. So, how did Christianity come to mean an “institution” instead of Jesus’ way of life?

This film is meant to be a catalyst for conversation. It offers no solutions to the church's crisis of relevance, or tell others how they should experience God. This film shows what myself and others have discovered. And, I may be wrong.

Time is limited. Jesus' teachings will live on, whether the church does or not. Are we alive and dying? Or alive and living?

It is worth noting that streaming of WWJDNow on this site began on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012.

In peace,

Rick
filmmaker

About the film

WWJDN was produced as a commission from the Episcopal Diocese of California. I was not charged to document the present as much as to show where church is finding new directions and being transformed.

Bishop Marc Andrus, then-director of communications Sean McConnell and myself met to discuss the film content. I was never told what to write, or how to interpret, the diocese’s efforts to build community. The stories in this film come from people who are willing to share their experiences on camera. The opinions expressed in this film are solely those of the persons expressing them.

This film is the work of filmmaker Rick Johnson, Emmy and Webby winning broadcast TV and documentary producer. He made WWJDN to get the word out that following Jesus is more about living your faith than what you say you believe.

Learn more about Rick’s work at rickjohnson.us.