And so the choices are liar, lunatic, lord, or legend. Practice leading this activity with energy and enthusiasm. Mere christianity liar, lunatic, or lord youversion event. It is sometimes described as the lunatic, liar, or lord, or mad, bad, or god argument. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. The problem with liar, lunatic, or lord the bart ehrman blog. This may be a guide to jesus, but for christians, fuller is guiding us toward a deeper understanding of god. Those talks were then compiled into a book called mere christianity. Feb 03, 2019 lord, liar, lunatic, or when it comes to his argument that jesus must necessarily be the lord, there are other possibilities which lewis does not effectively eliminate. He would either be a lunaticon a level with the man who says he is a. In recent times, however, the argument has been complicated by the fact that some add a fourth possibility. Jan 24, 2012 author lifecoach4god posted on january 24, 2012 september 14, 20 categories book excerpts, c.
Even a number of theologians have pointed out that the liar, lunatic or lord argument is unsound. In other words, the argument implies that if you find it difficult to call jesus a liar or a lunatic, you are being led, therefore, to see him as lord. Many people want to regard jesus not as god but as a. If he was a liar or a lunatic, then he cant qualify as a great moral teacher. It helps to make a simple sketch as you go for this one. Lord, liar, lunatic illustration next steps when youre sharing the gospel its pretty important that you be able to make a compelling case that jesus is god. It approaches the issue of gods existence indirectly. Lewis formulated the argument as a trilemma, which is often referred to as the liar, lunatic, or lord argument. Aug 15, 2011 liar, lunatic, or lord christian apologist c.
May 31, 2017 probably one of the most commonly used arguments for the deity of jesus is the lord, liar, lunatic trilemma. Theres a fourth option that people prefer because it makes him nice and safe. Insightful and suspenseful, this unique and highly unusual novel weaves within a context of both reality and doubt the perception individuals have about religion. Well, on the other hand, finally the testimony of the holy spirit down in verse 29, of course, is implied, and the testimony of the holy spirit is that he is lord. A man who said the things jesus said was either a liar, a lunatic or he was and is the lord from heaven. Perhaps jesus was a legend or a new age pantheistic mystic. Many try to claim that jesus was merely a great teacher or a. One version was popularised by university of oxford literary scholar and writer c. He is the author of several books for private and home schools. Mere christianity liar, lunatic, or lord in mere christianity by c. Lewis, he defends christianity by building a logical foundation for belief and constructing an entire theology upon that foundation.
He was either god, like he said, a liar who has scammed the world, or a raving lunatic. Jan 09, 2008 funny thing is that we can accept that, but cant accept books that were written 1030 years later that were based on letters and information that was produced within 310 years after his death. Lewis popularized the argument that jesus was either a liar or a lunatic or the lord. I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him that is, christ. Many christians who attempt to provide themselves with some understanding or defense of their beliefs eventually run into the liar, lunatic, or lord argument provided by c. Lewis, christology the study of jesus christ, quotes tags a liar, c.
Some answers are much nearer being right than others october 21 september 24 august 26. Lewis originally coined the argument in radio broadcasts and later in his book mere christianity. So, the options are either lord, liar, or lunatic never simply a man. Moreover, aquinas tell us in his prologue to his commentary that the evangelist john himself shared the same concern as lewis and aquinas, and that was the reason for writing his gospel. The book in our bibles we call the gospel of john is truly unique because it is devoted to proving only one thing the deity of jesus christ. If one does not wish to call jesus a liar and they refuse to say he is a lunatic, the only option left is god. He thinks its good news good news about a god who is so invested in the world that god refuses to be god without us.
Who do you say that jesus is liar, lunatic or lord. He has authored numerous books, including a 500page equipping manual titled the disciple makingminister, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. Lord, liar, or lunatic is a chapter in josh mcdowells book, more than a carpenter. Write truth on the back of the one with lord already written on it. Chesterton used something similar to the trilemma in his book, the everlasting man 1925.
Jesus was either a liar, he was a lunatic or he was lord. God has landed on this enemyoccupied world in human form. Well, on the other hand, finally the testimony of the holy spirit down in verse 29, of course, is implied, and the testimony of the holy spirit is that he is lord of all. Aug 03, 2017 refuting liar, lunatic or lord trilemma. Lewis makes this statement, a man who was merely a man and said the sort of things jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. So viewing jesus as a lunatic is our second ridiculous option. But if he is the lord from heaven, then you dare not remain neutral. The gospel of john as the greatest evidence for or against jesus claim to be i am who i am.
I tried to give some of those reasons in my book what jesus. Simply reading this book in its entirety will define you if you c. And if he was a great moral teacher, then he is much more as well he is either a liar, a lunatic, or. Giving you solid reasons to believe is a huge reason god gave you his book. Jesus was not a crazed lunatic, a self promoting liar, or merely a legend created over time. I thought that this was going to be a discussion of the positions of liar, lunatic, or lord as the only three possibilities and how that rolls out in the book of john. Lewis argued that its unacceptable to say jesus was just a great teacher, since he made clear he is the son of god. Lunatic, liar, or lord posted on april 1, 2018 april 1, 2018 by emerson green the christian apologist c. From the first chapter of his gospel record to the last, the apostle john boldly proclaims that jesus is.
This particular chapter has stuck with me for years and in my own words i would like to give my opinion on who jesus is. Lewiss trilemma is an apologetic argument traditionally used to argue for the divinity of jesus by arguing that the only alternatives were that he was evil or deluded. Chapter nine lord, liar or lunatic forgive me for waiting so long to tell you this, chapter 9. Provided to youtube by syntax creativeliar, lunatic, lord or legend. From the first chapter of his gospel record to the last, the apostle john boldly proclaims that jesus is the christ, the son of the living god.
A widow shares a series of letters written to her late husband by an. The idea that jesus was selfdeceived or delusional is simply not compatible with the impression he has left on history. Lewis in his book mere christianity, says therefore that then jesus either is a liar or he is a lunatic or he is lord. Lewis and presented over bbc radio and later in his seminal work mere christianity back in the 1940s. Lewis laid out in his book mere christianity an argument that would come to be known as the trilemma. Sep 22, 2020 so, the options are either lord, liar, or lunatic never simply a man.
Lewis has made famous the trilemma that jesus must either be a lunatic, a liar, or the lord of all in his book called mere christianity. If christ isnt a liar or a lunatic, you only have one option. Lewis socalled trilemma, or lord, liar, lunatic argument. Liar, lunatic, lord bible study lessons adult sunday.
Well then, if he was a sage, you can trust him and believe the essential things he says. Lewis and josh mcdowell have been criticized for making a logical fallacy here in their trilemma. The leaders thought he must be a liar or a lunatic. Some also refer to this argument as the mad, bad, or god view. He knows he is not the son of god but he lies and claims to be the son of god. Lewiss infamous liar, lunatic, and lord scheme is no longer intellectually tenable. Thomas aquinas anticipates lewis argument by seven hundred years. Lewis suggested that, when it comes to christ, there are only three logical possibilities. This was the argument that lewis used to prove the divinity of jesus christ. Lord, liar, lunatic logically, then there are only three possibilities for jesus identity. Christ was if you go down to npo or easons youll see shelves of books about who christ was.
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon. The liar, lunatic or lordargument attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that jesus christ must have been god. Lewis is remembered for a great many things, one of those being a clever argument he gave for jesus divinity. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached eggor else he would be the devil of hell. I hope this book gets you beyond the limits of lewiss saying and lets you see jesus as just freaking awesome. Jan 17, 20 and so there is an easy response to the false conclusion that because jesus called himself god, he must be a liar, a lunatic, or the lord. Is jesus christ a legend, lunatic, liar, or lord and god. Lewis gave a series of talks over the bbc at the height of ww2. Mcdowell and sean mcdowell, excerpt of more than a carpenter.
In the midnineteenth century the scottish christian preacher rabbi john duncan 17961870 formulated what he called a trilemma. Mar 16, 2021 he would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached eggor else he would be the devil of hell. In 1936, watchman nee made a similar argument in his book, normal christian faith. He was either a liar, in other words everything he taught, everything he was, everything he did, it was all a pack of lies. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i dont accept his claim to be god. In this inspirational classic mcdowell explores the evidence on who jesus said he was. The world will tell you that jesus christ was a good teachera noble moral leader, but nothing more. Lewis wrote in mere christianity that jesus was either lord, a lunatic, or the devil of hell.
No one who knows the gospels and human beings can seriously entertain the possibility that jesus was a liar or a lunatic, a bad man. And the lord said to me, throw it to the potterthe handsome price at. Lord, liar, or lunatic by martin cothran memoria press. A person who claims to be god must belong to one of three. And if he was a great moral teacher, then he is much more as well he is either a liar, a lunatic, or the lord god. Two of the most obvious examples are that perhaps jesus was simply mistaken and that perhaps we dont have an accurate record of what he truly said if, indeed, he even. Lewiss trilemma is an apologetic argument traditionally used to argue for the divinity of jesus. If the first two alternatives do not suit you, then perhaps you will consider this one.
Mar 21, 2018 no one who knows the gospels and human beings can seriously entertain the possibility that jesus was a liar or a lunatic, a bad man. No, the unbeliever almost always believes that jesus was a good man, a prophet, a sage. The idea that jesus called himself god is not historical. Perhaps you have heard the liar, lunatic, or lord argument about whether. It takes the form of a trilemma a choice among three options, each of which is in some way. He would either be a lunatic on the level with a man who says he is a poached eggor he would be the devil of hell. Introducing the bible story open your bible to the book. It is sometimes described as the lunatic, liar, or lord, or mad, bad, or god argument see also. The differences from the alleged eyewitness testimony for the bo.
No one who knows both the gospels and human beings can seriously entertain the possibility that jesus was a liar or a lunatic, a bad man. This argument is not a straightforward argument for the existence of god. Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from mere christianity. Now it seems to me obvious that he was neither a lunatic nor a fiend. Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from mere. Cs lewis is widely known as the creator of the chronicles of. Lewis introduces the argument by observing how most people who don. Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from. You cannot put him on the shelf merely as a great moral teacher or a prophet. In verse 22, the scribes, the religious leaders, say, hes possessed by beelzebul, and thus they call him a liar who claims to be from god but, in fact, is from satan.
1398 1653 849 1649 576 1757 170 159 344 162 817 980 1378 1034 1519 648 1079 692 1054 196 1267 860 522 805 677 928 48 55 836 872 1145