Do we understand what we say when we call upon our "Lord"

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"So why do you keep calling me "Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? -- Luke 6: 46 (NLT)

"Not everyone who calls out to me, "Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, "Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' -- Matthew 7: 21-23 (NLT)

Throughout the Old Testament we see Israel lapse into states of falling away from God. The Prophet Amos lived during such a time and God sent Him to prophesy to the ten northern tribes about how they lived versus how they worshipped. In modern terms, how they behaved during the week versus how they behaved on Sundays. What their religion said versus what their lives said. The wealthy in the days of Amos were making their money off of the backs of the poor and oppressed; a theme we see alive and well today in America. The difference is the Israelites should have known better. Yet despite the dishonesty and corruption that marked their lives they still showed up each week to play church (temple). The hypocrisy was not lost on a just God:

"I hate all your show and pretense--the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.  I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.   I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.  Away with your noisy hymns of praise!   I will not listen to the music of your harps.  Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,   an endless river of righteous living.   - Amos 5: 21-24 (NLT)

While our worship and church activities are crucial in our walk, they must line up with how we live our lives. The words we speak must be reflected in the lives we lead. I never understand when I see people raising their hands on Sunday with no repentance in their hearts for the things they have done wrong in the kingdom. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! Or churches that have the best talent but no heart for the lost. Bullying members without the love of Christ and then holding prayer vigils. Leaving the pen door open so they can throw sheep out and then preaching on the 99 and the one. I won't even notice your offerings! Sharing the holy altar of Almighty God with pagan idols and secular influence during the week and thinking that the Holy Spirit will move on Sunday upon the same altar. I will not even listen to your music!

This is the backdrop for the set of key verses for today. Interesting that these represent two different situations, recorded by two different Gospel writers, showing that Jesus used the same exact terminology dealing with two different matters. In the account from Luke, Jesus is delivering His Sermon on the Mount. As an entrée into His discussion on building our lives upon the right foundation, He asks this very sad question to His listeners that should still resound today. Why? Why do you keep calling me "Lord Lord" when you don't do what I say? I say sad because I can almost hear the disappointment in the words from my Lord and Savior. He pours out His life for us, taking the punishment we deserved, yet has to endure the lip service from religious people who claim His name with their mouths but not their lives.

With the rise of seeker friendly, purpose driven and emergent theories of church growth we have seen a shift in what is emphasized from the pulpit. We have seen even a shift in the worship music today as people are more interested in selling a compromised Jesus than the actual article. Grace alone doctrine skews the view mankind should have of God. Everyone wants to sing Friend of God but not so many want to realize they are the wretch from Amazing Grace. Instead of singing about how great thou art, we sing about how much He loves us. It may seem subtle but the worship matches the preaching, which is designed to make congregants -- not disciples. A bloodless, cross-less, useless religiosity replacing the absolute necessity of a frank realization of sin and repentance. But if enough people come back it is deemed a success -- or even worse -- a move of the Holy Spirit. Carnal metrics are used to measure spiritual success. The result are mega churches with waterfalls in the lobby, rock stars in the pulpit, and Jesus Christ in the parking lot trying to get in. does anyone else realize the profound sadness of the following statement from Jesus to the church at Laodicea?

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. -- Revelation 3: 20 (NLT)

Why is Jesus on the outside of a closed church door? Take a good look around the Pentecostal landscape today and you will see the same thing. But they sound right because they know the church-speak. They sound right because they know when to say amen and when to say hallelujah. They sound right because they wrap everything they do, from one heresy to the next, with the words -- "Lord Lord." Why call Him Lord Lord when we refuse to do what He says? Do we even understand what the word means?

Lord - "A person who has authority, control and power over others"

Beloved. God wants to be friends with us but first He must be our Lord. It is true that Abraham was considered a friend of God but not until God was the Lord of his life. It doesn't happen because we sing it. Look at that definition. Is that who God is in our lives? In the lives of our church? Do we concede authority to the Holy Scriptures -- which is the inspired Word of God? Or do we trot out our Bibles to play church on Sundays and then pitch our tents towards Sodom the rest of the week. Please, I am not speaking about perfection but there is a stark difference between occasionally sinning while trying to do what God wants and occasionally trying to do what God wants while sinning. What is Lord over our lives? The modern church tries too hard to fit Christianity into the lives of people instead of making their lives to be about Christ. David was a man after the very heart of God yet he was also a man. He sinned greatly. He was a murderer and an adulterer. Yet read the Psalms which he penned and you will have no doubt that God was the Lord of his life despite his human failings.

Do we give the control of our lives over to God or are we still hanging on to the steering wheel? If God is your co-pilot beloved then you are in His seat! When faced with a life decision is God the advisor or the decider? You see, this cuts to the heart of what is wrong with the "God is my friend" theology. We do not have to take the advice of our friends. Our Lord however should have complete control. I am amazed how easily we dismiss what God wants in favor of what we want despite the fact that the Bible insists that He is working all things out for our good. This is yet another by-product of the bless me theologies that are corrupting the Body of Christ. The answer "no" is also a blessing from God. We may not be able to see it yet but it is a blessing nonetheless. I understand this is difficult. We live in a world that despises dependency. It is not surprising that the devil would create systems that are diametrically opposed to God! But we can't go saying "Lord Lord" if we insist that we are the potter. God is the Author and we need to stop trying to take the pen out of His hand. I am always amazed that He chosen to write me in at all. I must resist the urge to take the pen and write a bigger piece for me than He intends. Lastly from the definition, do we allow God to have power over us?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;   do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do,   and he will show you which path to take. -- Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NLT)

Allowing God to have the power in our lives is to seek His will in all we do. It grates against our human nature of rebellion and against the world system we live in which caters to the strong willed independent types. The truth is we lean far too much to our own understanding while wrapping up our poor choices in "Lord Lord." Jesus is saying here -- stop saying I am your Lord -- make me your Lord!

I don't want to gloss over this beloved. There are real eternal stakes involved. How real is this to Jesus? The second set of key verses from the Gospel of Matthew indicates that our very salvation hinges upon it. Not everyone who says "Lord Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven! And just look at what these folks did in the name of Jesus! They cast out demons! They performed many miracles! Some will get there and say --

Didn't we put on a Christmas play in Your Name?

Didn't we hold an Easter egg hunt in Your Name?

Didn't I tithe correctly, serve in ministry and carry my Bible in Your name?

Didn't we say "Lord Lord" enough?

Beloved the name has no power without the relationship. In the Book of Acts we encounter the seven sons of Sceva, who was a local priest. As such, these sons knew all about religion. They knew all about the pomp and circumstance. They knew all about what the right things to say. They went around using the name of Jesus and Paul to try and cast out demons. But without the relationship they were in deep trouble.

But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?"  Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. -- Acts 19: 15-16 (NLT)

We see this today as well. Churches filled with the seven sons of Sceva. Filled with religion but short on relationship. Plenty of ability to say "Lord Lord" but without Him truly being their Lord. The single most important decision in our lives is to make Jesus the Lord of it. Not to come back to a church building. When you strip out the sin and repentance then you strip out the power to save. You have to realize the need to be saved in order for Jesus to be your Savior. I know the bar He found me in. I remember my purposeless existence and even though I am not yet where He would like me to be -- thank God I am not where I was!

Perhaps a personal illustration will help. In 1998 I was facing a vast desert experience in my unsaved life. The type of times when we either push God away or draw Him closer. I chose to draw closer to Him. I remember one night watching an infomercial starring Andy Pettitte, who was pitching for the Houston Astros back then. In desperate need I cried out "Lord Lord" and said the Sinner's Prayer along with Andy. They sent me a Bible which I promptly put on a shelf. You see I was sorry for the state my life was in but I was not repentant for who I was. I knew I had made a deal with God but I did not understand it. The church today is filled with such people. Filled with people who said a simple prayer and are genuinely sorry without being genuinely repentant. The difference is this. I had no one around me to tell me I was saved and thank God for that because I was not. The churchgoer however is not only assured of a salvation they do not possess but is then pushed through baptism and into membership so they can be plugged into ministry. They go to church. They serve in ministry. They tithe faithfully. And when the last day comes and they stand before Jesus they will say "Lord Lord" and be turned away.

In 2002, God sent someone into my life to cash in the marker He had established four years earlier. This person witnessed to me not only about the God of blessings but the God of forgiveness of sins. Eventually I went to a Bible believing church where the preacher gave the familiar Pentecostal altar call. The weight of my sin, which I had been carrying around my entire life finally become too much to bear alone and I knew the only place I could get rid of it was that altar. I crawled there spiritually and gave my life to Jesus. I said the Sinner's Prayer again but this time I was saved because my heart had been regenerated. I knew I was a different person the next day I woke up. Not anywhere near perfect. Nothing anyone else could probably tell the difference of. But no question different. Suddenly, my life decisions mattered to God! Suddenly I had to consider what He wanted instead of what I wanted! Instead of saying "Lord Lord" -- He was my Lord. Not that I did not fail and fall all the time -- I still do. But now it mattered to me because it mattered to my Lord. Can you see the difference?

Words are just words without actions. People and churches can wrap up the most ungodly things in the name of Jesus but that does not make them holy. That does not make them righteous. Like Israel before us, so many churches are playing religious games. Saying all the right things, singing the right songs, and dancing the right dances - while blurring the lines and drowning in leaven. That is bad enough for the church but it can be a dire cost for the goat that sits in the congregation believing they are a sheep. Deadly eternal consequences indeed. Stop playing church today and make Him the Lord of your life.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- April 4, 2013

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.