Posted: 11/19/08

Acquiescing to Ignorance
Paul Shelby Lewis

Before beginning, all who read this ought to know that I have a great deal of respect for Lee Strobel and the work that he has done to spread the gospel and defend the Faith.  Furthermore, I in no way believe myself to be smarter, a better Christian, or any other audacious adjective that one might ascribe to me after reading this rather critical article.  Strobel has been a leader in the field of Christian apologetics for many years, and I am grateful for his labor.

But leaders of Christianity are as apt to slip up as the rest of us, and Strobel's subtle use of noun-swapping is setting a dangerous precedence that, until recently, I thought was to be found almost exclusively among emergent-leaning pastors. 

Speaking at the Southern Evangelical Seminary Apologetics Conference the last two years, Strobel has repeatedly referred to Jesus Christ as "my forgiver and leader."  I didn't think much the first time I heard it, but repetition of the term "leader" in places where "Lord" has traditionally been used has piqued the curiosity of many.   

So, we sought an answer.  Asked directly by a good friend of mine why he uses the term "leader" rather than "Lord," Strobel said that people do not understand what "Lord" means.  An associate of Strobel's has noted that the term "Lord" conjures up images of knights and swords and castles, and that isn't culturally relative. 

Therefore, they use the term "leader" in order to help people have a clear image of Christ's place in the Christian life.  This is part of normal cultural development, right?  For example, when was the last time you heard someone call a donkey an "ass?"  They mean the same thing, so let's use the term that makes sense to people.

Now, I will be the first to admit that apologetics and sharing of gospel must be culturally relevant.  But making something culturally relevant should never involve changing of meaning.  And there is a huge problem with calling Jesus "leader" instead of "Lord;" those two words do not mean the same thing. 

Basketball teams have leaders; kingdoms have lords.  A leader sets an example of the path that I should follow; a lord demands that I must follow his path.  Leaders have teammates; lords have slaves.  Leaders can be fired or voted out; lords are removed only by death. 

Stroble should also take note of the fact that the title "Lord Jesus" can be found over 100 times in the New Testament.  Jesus is called "Lord" in roughly 50 other instances.  On the other hand, Christ is referred to as "Leader" exactly once (Matt. 23:10), and even that term can be translated as something else (master, teacher, or guide).   

There is a reason that the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture in the way He did; words have specific meanings, and if He meant for us to think of Jesus primarily as our Leader rather than our Lord, He would have inspired the writers of Scripture to say so.  Words also have very specific meanings for those on the other side of the relationship.  If Jesus is "Lord," we are His slaves, dead to our own selves, and alive only in Him.    

If people don't like slave imagery, if they find it offensive, if they can't stomach its implications .  .  . then one might venture to say they have a problem with being a Christian.  And if people don't understand what the term "Lord" means, then it's high time that we educate them.  Isn't that the role of a pastor/teacher anyway?  Removing "Lord" from the Christian vocabulary isn't helping people get a more culturally relevant idea of the Christ/Christian relationship; it is making people dumber.

Lee Strobel has been a great teacher and communicator to Christians and non-Christians alike for many years, and of all people, he should have no problem communicating this essential truth of Scripture.

By Paul Shelby Lewis Click here for bio and archived articles