The Lordship Principle

Sermon by Pastor David Layman

March 11, 2007

Luke 6:46-49
Acts 2:32-47

Michael Slaughter is pastor of the Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, just north of Dayton. In the summer of 1990, he was invited by a group of informal German churches called Gemeindes, born out of the Jesus movement in Germany. These gatherings of believers met in rented buildings, YMCA's, and even in beer gardens. The official state churches of Germany, Lutheran or Catholic, had an older membership, but the Gemeindes gatherings were predominately younger people. Slaughter was speaking to such a group one Sunday evening, and he noted that the German language doesn't have a separate word for "Lord". The word "Herr" in German is used for Lord, but it can also be translated "mister". Slaughter was sharing his frustration with having to refer to Jesus as "Mister Jesus" instead of "Lord Jesus", and said that the word "herr" was totally inadequate for expressing Jesus' true authority and identity. A young German, a master's student in engineering, stood up
from the back of the gathering and called out right in the middle of Slaughter's presentation "We may not have a separate and distinct word for Lord, but you Americans might as well not have. You have forgotten what it means." ("Spiritual Entrepreneurs", p. 36)

Michael Slaughter had to admit the young German was right. Many in the western church today have lost sight of what the word "Lord" means. For many people, to say "Lord Jesus" is simply to say "Mr. Jesus." But in the New Testament, the term "Lord" meant far more. In the Roman empire, a common phrase was "Caesar is Lord." That is, the current head of the Roman empire was the ruler and authority of all. Just as servants on an estate had to be obedient to the lord of the land, and do as he
directed, people had to obey the Roman emperor, or else. To fail to acknowledge Caesar's claim to deity and absolute authority could result in arrest and possible death. The early believers in Jesus began a countercultural movement which proclaimed "Jesus is Lord". The title of "Lord" connected with Jesus' name was far more than a polite title for Jesus, such as "Mister". Early Christians were saying "Jesus, not Caesar, is ruler and Lord. He's the one we'll obey. You can arrest us, you can throw us to the lions, but we will only bend our knees to Jesus!"

New Testament letters were often begun with a reference to Jesus as Lord. James begins with "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." Peter included reference to Jesus as Lord in the first two or three verses of his letters. The same with Paul. Accepting Jesus as Lord meant a practical difference in believers' lives. The book of Acts tells us the early believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (2:42) "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need." (2:45). Since Jesus was Lord, they saw their possessions as something they no longer controlled, but used their possessions and their time as their Lord would direct, to meet the needs of others.

Slaughter goes on to note that "Many Americans have difficulty with the concept of obedience. We are used to a [a way of life] that gives us many different choices and opportunities for input and involvement... At the heart of [the American way of life] lies the concept of freedom of choice. Jesus, however, did not come proclaiming a democracy. He came proclaiming a kingdom. There is a major difference between a kingdom and a democracy....In a kingdom, all rules are determined by the king. Each person is given a responsibility. Kings do not have dues or money making projects--they set tariffs. They do not need to ask for my consent--they command." ("Spiritual Entrepreneurs", Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1995, p. 37) Slaughter notes that, while subjects and servants serve their
lord and king in a kingdom, in America we more commonly think of ourselves as "volunteers". Translated to the life of a church, people pick and choose what they want to do for God. Nominating committees ask potential church officers if they're willing to "help out" in non-costly ways. "Would you help us out by serving on a committee this year?" "Well, I don't know. What's involved?" "Oh, not much at all. You only have to attend one meeting a month."

Michael Slaughter's congregation, the Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, grew from a small rural congregation that had people "help out" at annual chicken dinners to a large suburban mega church where members are not considered to be "volunteers" but "servants of Christ" with
participation and commitment expected! Slaughter notes "Volunteer is the language of the club. Slave (servant) is the language of the kingdom of God." p. 40.

A king or a lord does not ask for consent--he decrees. Jesus reminded his followers of this truth when he said "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit." (John 15:16) It's no secret that what were once considered "mainline" churches are in decline. Across our country, congregations that prospered in the fifties are struggling, sometimes merging or closing, and selling their buildings to other congregations. Why is it that a mainline congregation can't make it, but sells their building to a Baptist or Assemblies of God congregation that moves into the same location and prospers? Even though the Presbyterian congregation may have had members that were
better educated and possessed a higher per capita income? It could have to do with the Lordship principle. Some congregations think of their church more as a club. They volunteer and help out with projects for "Mister Jesus", when other commitments don't interfere. The other group follows the Lordship principle. Jesus is the authority of their life. They give 10% and beyond, they give of their time and talents, they take responsibility for sharing their faith with others and inviting others
in, because Jesus is Lord, and that's what their Lord expects them to do!

The culture in which we live has been seeking to ridicule and de-emphasize the basic principles of the Christian faith for years. The so -called "Jesus Seminar" scholars have publicly expressed their doubts
that Jesus really said and did many of the things the scripture relates, and their skepticism has been widely publicized. Reports of opening a tomb in Jerusalem and the finding the names "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" with bone fragments leads to doubts, regardless of the fact that the names "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" were very common 2,000 years ago. It's hard to accept the Lordship of Jesus when one's faith is shaken by constant skepticism.

Personally, I was blessed and nurtured by Godly believers from my earliest days. When as a young child I saw my father kneeling in prayer, that had an impact on me. My father and mother, the authorities in my young life, were obviously themselves under the authority of a higher power, their Lord and Savior. My parents didn't try to scare me into becoming a believer, threatening me with hell. Their example of obedience to their Lord, through prayer, worship, tithing, asking "What
would God have me do with my time and decisions", had a great influence on me. But not all Presbyterians have followed the Lordship of Christ like my parents!

I once had an interview with a pulpit committee at a church in another state. The head of the committee shared in conversation that some Sundays he spent his time kneeling in his flower garden instead of going to church. I found myself thinking "If the head of the pulpit committee finds kneeling in his flower garden more important some Sunday mornings than kneeling in prayer, why would I want to go to a church like that to engage in ministry? Even if they do have a beautiful building, it's obviously more of a club than a congregation!"

Central to being a vital church today is the Lordship principle: to acknowledge that Jesus is indeed "Lord Jesus", our ruling authority, and not simply "Mister Jesus", a nice man that we can nod to when we're not weeding our garden beds on Sunday morning. And we need to remember that Jesus is the one who is Lord, not the pastor, priest or hierarchy! In spite of decline, controversies, and struggles, our world needs faithful Presbyterian congregations. Have you noticed that with the sad occurrence of clergy abuse scandals, the clergy who are doing the abusing do not tend to be Presbyterian clergy? Some Christian communions appropriately emphasize the Lordship of Christ, but also tend to place too much power and authority in a small number of human leaders. John Calvin wisely perceived the depravity of humankind--that if you give any human being too much power and authority, it will tempt them toward corruption. Jesus is Lord, and deserves our absolute obedience. The clergy who speak in our Lord Jesus' name always need to have checks and balances placed on their authority. Presbyterians have a system of government that, in principle, works! In our Book of Confessions (Scots Confession 3.20, Second Helvetic 5.012-13) we read the acknowledgment
that church councils can err. I agree with that!

Jesus is Lord! Let us not worship prosperity, success, professional sports, (though we may certainly enjoy them.) Let's not fall down and worship Academy Award winners or entertainers. Do we really think Brittney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith are worthy of emulation and so much attention? Jesus is Lord! And we, friends, are called to be faithful servants of our Lord and King! It's not "Mister Jesus", but "Lord Jesus"!

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO THE START OF THE MAIN PAGE OR use the "Back button" on your browser to get back to where you left the main page.