CHRIST, LORD AND SAVIOUR

I read this statement whilst I was trawling the internet and it got me thinking.

“In the same way a biblical Christian has an obligation to warn others that unless they follow God’s directions, and repent, turn from sin, and make Christ lord and saviour, they are heading for a lost eternity.”

The bit that jumped out at me was “make Christ lord and saviour” and I asked myself the question “what does that mean?”

Most churches fall into two categories when it comes to salvation. The first require you to follow the churches teaching and practices for religious observance and if you keep doing that you may go to heaven.

The second requires you to say the sinner’s prayer and attend their meetings and read the bible and pray.

Very few if any follow through on the biblical pattern and ask people to repent and be baptised. Some baptise when you have proved yourself worthy to be baptised and most say it is a symbolic act when it is decidedly not; it is a spiritual death so that a person can be raised in new life in Christ.

Where then does making Jesus your lord and saviour come in?

When I read about Paul in the scriptures and the saints in Hebrews I read about a faith that no one in their right mind would take on board.

Here is your job description….stop lions, quench fire, defeat armies, being put on trial, being mocked, being scourged, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, live in deserts, mountains dens or caves (it’s in Hebrews 11).

Here is Paul’s CV. Been in prison, been flogged five times, exposed to death, beaten by rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, 24 hours in the water, in danger from bandits, from my own countrymen, from Gentiles, in danger in the country, the city, at sea and from false brothers. Gone without sleep, experienced hunger and thirst have been cold and naked. I boast of the things that show my weakness (so much for the prosperity doctrine).

Check your CV and then read this comment from Iona.

“If your faith in Jesus is not causing you some discomfort then I would query your apparent fence sitting. Comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching are the reason our faith makes no impression on anyone; it may cost some of us to lose our lives for what we believe in; perish the thought you say.”

The fact remains that making Jesus Lord for most westernised Christians means comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching. Some of us baulk at the thought of attending two meetings a week to fellowship with other saints. Shouldn’t Sunday morning suffice? If something comes along that demands sacrifice we run a mile. If the church insists, we leave and move to a more comfortable less demanding expression of Christianity.

Essentially Christianity is all about obedience to the will of God (He that does my will is my disciple). Most of us spend our time being obedient to the dictates of ourselves, our denomination or our minister. If any clash with the will of God, sorry God, you lose out.

Making Jesus Lord and Saviour? I don’t think we have any idea what that means.