The sentiment is no doubt a noble one. The idea behind the wristlets was to give the teens a physical reminder to view all their actions in the light of their faith. But it was also purposefully cryptic to encourage others to ask about what it meant without making the Christian teens feel preachy. Most of all, the wrist bands looked really cool. Today, WWJD is as much icon as mantra.
Athletes wear it and claim a divine assist to their game.
Golfer Payne Stewart, who was killed last year in a plane crash, is memorialized on the cover of a new book wearing his WWJD wristlet. But most of all, WWJD is a money machine, one that has reaped untold millions in profits for various entrepreneurs, many of them professed Christians. It all went to distributors and marketers. Part of the reason for that is that Tinklenberg practiced what she preached. That wasn't me.