Is He Lord?

   I am going to quote all of what Josh wrote on this subject because he says it so well.
   "I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was (is) the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed.
   When I discuss this with most Jewish people, it's interesting how they respond. They usually tell me that Jesus was a moral, upright, religious leader, a good man, or some kind of prophet. I then share with them the claims Jesus made about Himself and then the material in this chapter on the trilemma (liar, lunatic, or Lord). When I ask if they believe Jesus was a liar, there is a sharp 'No!' Then I ask, 'Do you believe He was a lunatic?' The reply is 'Of course not.' 'Do you believe He is God?' Before I can get a breath in edgewise, there is a resounding 'Absolutely not.' Yet one has only so many choices.
   The issue with these three alternatives is not which is possible, for it is obvious that all three are possible. But rather, the question is 'Which is more probable?' Who you decide Jesus Christ is must not be an idle intellectual exercise. You cannot put Him on the shelf as a great moral teacher. That is not a valid option. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and God. You must make a choice. 'But', as the Apostle John wrote, 'these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and'--more important--'That believing you might have life in His name' (John 20:31).
   The evidence is clearly in favor of Jesus as Lord. Some people, however, reject this clear evidence because of (the) moral implications involved. They don't want to face up to the responsibility or implications of calling Him Lord."
   Josh isn't real clear on what he means by the last paragraph, but I believe it's clear that most folks don't want Jesus telling them they can't have "free sex" so called which is not free. A high price is paid for it in the many marital, murder, and fighting problems we see in our society. Think about it. If all were faithful to only 1 person and only had relations after marriage much destruction of lives would cease! In John 10:10 Jesus said, "The thief (Satan and his workers) comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." The abundant life is a life full of happiness and joy obeying the Word of God.

Sincerely,
Rick

Was Jesus a lunatic?!?!

   Josh, next, looked into the thought that Jesus couldn't have been a lunatic. I quote his first paragraph. "If it is inconceivable for Jesus to be a liar, then couldn't He actually have thought Himself to be God, but been mistaken? After all, it's possible to be both sincere and wrong. But we must remember that for someone to think himself God, especially in a fiercely monotheistic culture, and then to tell others that their eternal destiny depended on believing in Him, is no slight flight of fantasy but the thoughts of a lunatic in the fullest sense. Was Jesus Christ such a person?"
   Josh, then compared such a condition with one today who believes he's Napoleon. Such a person would be self-deceived and probably locked up for his and others sake. But in Jesus there wasn't any of the "abnormalities and imbalance that usually go along with being deranged." Jesus' actions would be "amazing if He were insane".
   Josh gave a synopsis of the description of a schizophrenic from a medical text by Noyes and Kolb in summary - He wants to escape from reality. Claiming deity would be that, but the life of Christ doesn't allow such a conclusion. His words cause freedom for many people to face reality!
   Josh quoted Clark H. Pinnock who stated, "Again, the skill and depth of His teachings support the case only for His total mental soundness. If only we were as sane as He!" Josh, then mentioned that a California University student had told him that his psychology professor had said in class that 'all he has to do is pick up the Bible and read portions of Christ's teachings to many of his patients. That's all the counseling they need."
   Josh, then quoted Psychiatrist J.T. Fisher as saying, in essence, Add up all the authoritative articles written by the best psychologists and psychiatrists, take out the verbage, and the unnecessary and ineffective, have the most capable of poets to write it down. It would be awkward and incomplete compared to the Sermon on the Mount!
   He went on to quote C.S. Lewis saying that the non-Christian groups haven't been able to explain Jesus' statements and that's why they keep changing their explanations. He, also, quoted Philip Schaff reasoning, "Is such an intellect--clear as the sky, bracing as the mountain air, sharp and penetrating as a sword, thoroughly healthy and vigorous, always ready and always self possessed--liable to a radical and most serious delusion concerning His own character and mission? Preposterous imagination!"
   I believe those who feel that Jesus was delusional are simply looking for a way to make His words of no effect in their own lives. To admit the truth would mean that they would--must bow before Him in humble admiration which they refuse to do even though they know His words are true!

Sincerely,
Rick