by Micah » August 3rd, 2004, 9:49 pm
Hi, Jo...
As some of the others here have said, the LLL argument kicks into gear once you have accepted the assumption that Christ did indeed claim to be the Son of God. Of course, if you haven't arrived there yet, and don't believe He claimed it in the Gospels or that the Gospels are trustworthy sources, then you're not at the point at which LLL makes sense.
First of all, let me add to some of the other arguments made here already, regarding Christ's claims to be the Son of God (all quotes NKJV):
Matthew 26:63, 64 - "And the high priest answered and said to Him, 'I put you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!' Jesus said to him, "It is as you said..."
During the Crucifixion, the group mocking him said, "He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" - Matthew 27:43
Christ speaking: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:17, 18
One of the more stunning passages, where Christ accepts Thomas' recognition of Him as God: "Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" - John 20:27-29
There are many more examples from the Scriptures that provide similar support, and I think an honest reflection on these things will show beyond reasonable doubt that Christ did indeed claim to be the Son of God, an equal with God, God Himself. The Pharisees saw straightaway what He was claiming--and they picked up stones to kill Him because He was making Himself out to be equal with God.
So, it is clear that, according to the Gospels, Christ DID claim these things. This only leaves two options: agree that the Gospels are a trustworthy source of what Christ actually said or not. It is a whole separate argument when it comes to demonstrating why the Gospels are indeed more historically trustworthy then any other ancient documents; but once you are willing to accept them as accurate recordings of Christ's words, then and only then are you on the threshold of the 'Lord, Liar, Lunatic' question.
So, if you accept that Christ DID claim to be the Son of God, God Himself in the Gospels AND that the text is accurate, there indeed are only three possibilities:
1) Christ was telling the truth (Lord)
2) Christ was not telling the truth
a) He was knowingly not telling the truth (Liar: evil, possibly a devil)
b) He did not realize He was not telling the truth (Lunatic: madman...like your average deranged cult leader, etc.)
Anyway, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts in reply.
Take care,
Micah
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" ~ Micah 6:8 (NKJV)