LIAR, LUNATIC OR LORD?

Funny, I was sure the title originated with me. However, after I had “put pen to paper,” I discovered the 20^th century author and apologist, C.S. Lewis, used the exact same words in his splendid volume, “Mere Christianity.”

During this holiday season believers, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and atheists, alike set aside a little time to enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Some, among non-believers, and adherents of other religions, most I expect, embrace Jesus as a prophet, albeit not as the Savior and Messiah whom He claimed to be. Why, even the governments of the world affirm His birth since virtually all nations use the Gregorian calendar; which attests that it has been 2,017 years since Jesus’ advent on the earth.

A prophet? Yes, and more. For if Jesus was only a prophet, he would also be a liar; since He claimed to be the Son of God. Some have referred to Him as a good man, but only a good man. But would a good man lie about his divinity, (or the lack thereof)?

“But about the Son, God said,…

In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;

 like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)

Jesus WAS NOT politically correct, as He claimed to be “The Way, The Truth, and The Life” and admonished His believers and infidels, alike that no man, woman, boy or girl would see God; unless they chose the plan of salvation which He won for us on the cross.

I have often watched those ecumenical services on television in which Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, Jewish rabbis, Muslim clerics, and Hindu holy men grace the stage, and one by one they stand and offer a message or a prayer. As I recall, the National Cathedral, a Protestant church, hosted one of these gatherings during the inauguration of President Trump. Were Jesus walking and talking among us today, there can be no doubt that He would wade through such an austere group of clerics with His whip flailing.

Pt. 2

“Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” (Mark 3:20-22)

Adherents of other religions, and secularists cannot assign morality and goodness to Jesus, but continue to deny His claim to the heavenly throne. He is either both a good man and God, or neither; since Jesus claimed to be the God of the ages.

He was either the supreme ruler of the universe, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the great ‘I AM’ of holy scripture, our Lord, Savior and Messiah, or He was a raving lunatic. And if He was the latter, He possessed nothing at all to be desired.

In spite of any persuasion to the contrary, Jesus has left the compromisers and naysayers with little or no wiggle room. Christ simply will not share His throne or His glory with an imposter. And He has assured us that all others who lay claim to His throne, whether Mohammed, Buddha, Sun Myung Moon, or David Koresh are imposters.

And He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

Pt. 3

No, my friend, Jesus Christ has left us no wiggle room, whatsoever. And contrary to popular belief, He refuses any and all ‘opportunities’ for the holy faith which He promoted to an ignominious death on the cross to be lumped in with all the others.

As a mentor of men and women preparing for ministry, I have experienced moments of elation and moments of disillusionment. Some into whose lives I have fed have gone on to make me extraordinarily proud. Others in whom I have trusted, and believed have let me down. A few have slipped into immorality, and at least one has returned to the religion from whence he or she sprang.

It has been good for me to remember that the servant is not above his Master. For there were those in Christ’ outer circle who grew disillusioned with Him, His words, and His agenda, and returned to the life from whence they had come.

Fifty years ago, this year, I came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have never regretted having done so, and I have never been tempted to turn away from Him.

Every man, woman, boy and girl who has, currently does, or who is yet to inhabit this planet must answer the question,

“Who, when all is said and done, is this person who has made such an audacious claim to divinity?”

It has been said that Jesus Christ is the anvil over which many hammers have been broken. He is the man, the God-man, who has never tolerated political correctness, and who refuses to share His throne with another.

“Blessed is the man who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:6)

Liar, Lunatic, or LORD?

I’ve chosen the latter of the three possibilities, and I’ve never regretted it.

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright Pending

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