Thursday; January 30


          Have you ever heard of the term, “trilemma”?  While it isn’t necessarily a religious word, it can be used to challenge us in Christian understanding and discipleship.  The term was used by a 19th Century religious teacher by the name of John Duncan who stated that Jesus was either a lunatic, liar or Lord.  According to Duncan and others, when Jesus made the claims He did He could not merely be seen as a “righteous man” or a “good teacher” He was either deranged, deceptive or Deity.  C. S. Lewis may have the most quoted writings on this subject, but I came across another by the Chinese Christian, Watchman Nee, who noted, “First, if He claims to be God and yet in fact is not, He has to be a madman or a lunatic.  Second, if He is neither God nor a lunatic, He has to be a liar, deceiving others by his lie. Third, if He is neither of these, He must be God.”
          A proper understanding of the nature of Jesus is not something that was decided by modern Christian writers, it was stated simply in the Bible.  Jesus said of Himself, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) while Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form ...” (Colossians 2:8-9).  While the true nature of Jesus will always and forever be proven at the Day of Judgement it is up to each and every Christian to take a stand.  Let’s not allow a world dedicated to accepting the credo of tolerance take away our conviction to the truth.  Jesus is God!
          Think About It!

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