Whenever I see the acronym "WWJD" ("What Would Jesus Do?"), an answer pops into my head: Jesus would be creative. He would find a surprising, inventive answer, in line with Gospel principles yet often unexpected. For example, when the scribes and Pharisees tried to snare him by asking how they should deal with an adulteress, he could have reacted several ways:

• Tell me what evidence you have.
• Give her time to repent.
• Stone her according to the law.
• Let the Romans deal with her.

These are all reasonable reactions, but the simple answer he gave achieved many goals at once: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." He escaped the trap, saved the woman, and put the accusers in their place all with a single statement. Other examples abound.

This idea shapes my view of what Christ is like--among other things, he's smart as a whip. It must be a Gospel principle to interact intelligently, finding words that peacefully support and defend your goals. That's what Jesus would do.