Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Matthew Bridges & Godfrey Thring

I’m writing this between two Sunday morning bible study services. Pastor Robert taught from John Chapter 18 when Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate who asks Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” and the King of Kings replies, “My kingdom is not of this world…” I’m reminded of a time many years ago when a man came to our church and complained of how the police had harrassed him. They had asked him if he had identification and he showed them a card stating his citizenship in heaven. He was furious that they didn’t recognize it as a valid form of ID. For anyone else to assert that they were a king from a world outside this one just doesn’t give you confidence. But the very statement contains implications which every Christian must decide how to respond to. The most important are that: A. He is a king. B. He is the king of the Jews. C. He is King of all who follow Him d. He is the king of heaven and all other worlds. Today I’m only concerned with C), because so many people claim Jesus but don’t live like He is Lord of their life. Recent events in Colorado Springs concerning Ted Haggard, a pastor of a large church, and an influential leader of a group of churches are lead stories in the news this week. Did he have a relationship with a male escort and use methamphetamines in his presence? The story exposes many things including the weakness of the mortal man, even pastors. But what I’m getting at is the world’s perception of what goes on in the church (even if it is unfair). This story is blown up to national importance because Christians are viewed as hypocrites, and whether or not you have a secret life going on or not you are still labeled as a hypocrite. Why? Because by and large so many Christians are not endeavoring to live submitted to the lordship and leading of of this actual king, Jesus Christ. The church as a whole has become lax and indifferent when it comes to lordship and discipleship (which is part of the process of submitting to lordship). I’m talking to myself here and you. Most people look at full pews as the measure of success, not the regeneration of the people in those pews, which is hard to quantify. Therefore, many churches focus on numbers. If a pastor of a large church is caught in a debilitating sin, what does that say about the rest of the church? If the leader is compromised…

As men and women who put Christ as Lord, we must live as if He was - King; and Lord. Therefore, if you accept Him - you must accept His Lordship and live your life as if this were true. To do anything less is compromise. After the Roman Emperor Constantine lifted the state sponsored persecutions of Christians in 313 a.d., one of the challenges of the church was what to do with the ones who denied Christ to save thier lives or evade torture. Eventually mercy was extended to them and reconciliation was granted, but it was hard fought; the church had been purified of noncommital believers. Now those who denied Christ, if they repented were allowed to join in communion again.

Last week Madonna was interviewed about her adoption of a boy from Malawi, in Southern Africa. A question was brought up that since the boy was from a Christian home, would he be raised as a Christian? Her response: “I believe in Jesus and study the Kaballah…” Suprise shouldn’t be our response to her statement which came in the context of her own worldview. Neither should we be suprised that the news media never cried “hypocrite” against her clash of values. What should pain us and bring us to our knees in sorrow is that most of the Sunday/bumper-sticker/Christmas & Easter/cotton-candy Christians aren’t any different. It’s Jesus, and _________ . But remember this, that demons also believe in Jesus, and shudder. (James 2:19)

Look intensely for signs in your life that Jesus is Lord. To the church of Laodicea, which was lukewarm, He said: “I wish you were hot or cold, but since you are neither, I will vomit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15-16) If Christ isn’t in the rightful place of King and Lord in your life, with you living like it, you are lukewarm and you might be spewed out by Christ - as one of the people in the full pews or even the pastor of them.