Who do you say that I am?
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 16:13-17 ESV)
Lots of people claim to be Christians based on the confession "I believe in Jesus". But what is often forgotten is just who is that Jesus that they claim to believe in?
Dr. Albert Mohler referenced an article ('Lord" is fading at some churches) in the Arizona Daily Star about the removal of "Lord" references in "church" services and hymns. A sampling of the statements made...
"The way our service reads, the theology is that God is love, period," St. Philip's deacon Thomas Lindell added. "Our service has done everything it can to get rid of power imagery. We do not pray as though we expect the big guy in the sky to come and fix everything."
"We do still use the word 'Lord' on occasion, but we are suspicious of it," First Congregational pastor Briget Nicholson said. "Inclusive language is important. Our United Church of Christ hymnal does have hymns that will say 'Father' and 'God.' but the next verse will always then say 'Mother' and 'God.' It's gender-balanced."
A lifelong Episcopalian, retired middle school teacher Jane Chilcott calls the reduction of "Lord" usage she's heard at the Come & See service "refreshing." She also likes the references to a genderless God, because that's how she's always viewed the divine. "I'm a great advocate of change, but not just for change's sake," said Chilcott, 78. "A lot of people are turned off by traditional liturgy because it sounds like they have to literally believe these credal statements. I don't think that's necessarily true. Faith is very personal."
"We don't stress the blood and gore of the crucifixion and the so-called sacrifice of the Mass," he said. "I think that calls attention to Jesus' death but it doesn't call attention to why we are Christians. It seems to me, being a Christian isn't just about the birth and death of Jesus. It's about living in the world with his life as an example."
Jesus is apparently a mix of hippie peace activist, wise teacher, an example to follow in these churches. Anything but who He truly is.
What these all point to are churches that have no Lord and no room for Christ as He is revealed in His Word, as the Sovereign, omnipotent Lord and Creator of the heavens and the earth, as the Good Shepherd, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. These churches have no more recognition of the truth of Christ than cult groups like Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses.
How you respond to the question set before Peter "Who do you say that I am?" tells it all. A Jesus who is not Lord is a Jesus not worth believing in, because all that sort of Jesus can do is set forth an example of how to live in this life. As for me, I follow the Christ of the Bible, and gladly and joyfully bend my knee and call Him Lord, because He has done for me what no one else could, redeemed me and claimed me for His own.
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