This is one of those topics where pastors get themselves into trouble with their congregation, or Christian bloggers get into trouble with their audience. The subject is one of those aching sores in Christian circles and has to do with the very center of our faith. It helps us define what it means to be “saved” and even discussing it threatens our sense of security, making us feel uncertain or angry. As part of the Church Universal, we all affirm that Jesus is both our Lord and Savior; the trouble begins when we ask where “Lordship” fits into salvation.

There is a disagreement in Christian circles about the requirements of salvation. Some believe that we must make Jesus the Lord of our life before we can consider ourselves “redeemed”, while others argue that such a necessity places conditions on salvation – or worse, makes salvation a work we earn rather than a gift we receive. A myriad of questions arise, not the least of which is, is it possible to receive the Christ as savior and not lord? Does that make us only half a Christian?

My problem with the “Lordship salvation” position is that making Jesus lord of your life – your whole life – is impossible. Though I’ve been a Christ-follower for over 40 years I am still uncovering parts of my life that I’ve not ceded control over. As I mature in my relationship with God his Spirit reveals the next area I need to work on; sometimes it’s something I need to give up, sometimes it’s something I need to do, and other times it’s something I need to stop holding onto so tightly. The point is, some of the things God is working with me on are things I never considered were issues a few years ago; I imagine my days will end before I have completely identified every way I can make God the Lord of my life.

On many occasions the apostle Paul painstakingly argued that we are to add nothing to the gospel message, that we are saved by grace through faith alone. That is what I believe. However, I also believe that when we come to Jesus in faith the intension is that we are supposed to trust him not with our salvation only, but for all things in this life and the one to come. That sounds a lot like Lordship salvation, but there is a distinction. In my thinking making Jesus the Lord of one’s life is part of a process theologians call sanctification. In layman’s terms, it is the process of becoming more like God the longer we follow him. This is not a requirement, but a benefit of salvation.

Why am I getting into all this? Because I was confronted with a twist on this topic within the last few weeks. A friend of mine informed me that he is going to pursue certain activities even though he knows they are sinful. He is quick to make Jesus his savior, but is reluctant to make Jesus his Lord. I understand struggling to give up a sinful habit once one comes to Jesus, but to blatantly determine that God is not going to have authority in all areas of one’s life and still expect to be saved surprised me. It surprised me so much that it brought me back to Bible college and our late night discussion of Lordship Salvation.

Again, I understand as well as anyone the difficulty of overcoming sin, but to not even try…? And in this case it’s not even a sin my friend has been caught up in yet; it is a sin he plans to commit when the opportunity comes about. I confess this level of disobedience calls into question the validity of the person’s saving faith, no matter how uncomfortable that makes me.

“…because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.” – Romans 10.9-10