Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?

[KevinM1]

One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord. To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him. As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense. IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus? Why is this something you desire?

[Catholic_Lady]

One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord. To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him. As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense. IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus? Why is this something you desire?

Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.

[Chad32]

It helps that one person's version of Jesus is not always the same as another person's. Jesus is a standin for their own ego, which is why a lot of people get violent about others not worshiping this supposedly all powerful deity.

[KevinM1]

One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.

But why is surrender necessary?

[RoadRunner79]

One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

I wouldn't say that it was something that I was seeking for when I became a Christian or anything.

I don't have authority issues though (probably good, because there are many authorities over me), so I don't really understand your problem. 

And in retrospect, when I wanted to be my own ruler and go my own way, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  I prefer my life now.

[CapnAwesome]

People don't like contemplating that they have to make decisions for themselves in this life. That this is the only life you get. Because that gives people such a sense of existential dread, it's easier to just surrender the decision making over to someone else, especially if you imagine that person has divide authority.

[KevinM1]

One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

I wouldn't say that it was something that I was seeking for when I became a Christian or anything.

I don't have authority issues though (probably good, because there are many authorities over me), so I don't really understand your problem. 

And in retrospect, when I wanted to be my own ruler and go my own way, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  I prefer my life now.

Well, there's authorities over everyone, but in the most important cases they're elected by the people. Even those that aren't (bosses, parents, whatever) can be ignored/switched once one becomes an adult without much in the way of negative repercussions. People can switch jobs, move away, etc. The relationships aren't just freely entered, but can be freely left (and, in the case of employment, there's sometimes collective bargaining in place).

That's very different, IMO, than being lorded over. I don't bend knee to my mom or my president.

[Catholic_Lady]

Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.

But why is surrender necessary?

When you get married you give up being one person in order to join with and become one with, another. Your life isn't just your own anymore. You share. Everything you do, is with the other in mind. In that way, you surrender your life to them by surrendering your singlehood and whatever you would otherwise have done on your own whim. The surrender is necessary for the marriage. But at the end of the day (assuming the marriage is good and the other person has also done the same for you), that surrender of self to your spouse/marriage brings you a great sense of fulfillment.

And so it is with God. As human beings we have certain natural tendencies which are at odds with goodness and love. We have a natural tendency to be greedy and prideful. So if we want to embrace all that is good, we have to surrender the parts that are bad and selfish. Its a daily, on going battle of course. But this is what I mean when I say "surrender to God," and that's why the surrender part is necessary.

[Neo-Scholastic]

The desired end is a just society. Democracy is only the means to that end and its effectiveness in doing so is contingent on the virtue of its citizenry. Unless the body politic recognizes an authority higher than its own general will it is nothing more than an amoral mob.

[rskovride]

I'm no historian or anthropologist but there might be something to be said about feudalism during the time the books were written. Just like one would be comforted to know that you were a vassal to a strong earthly lord or king, wouldn't one also be comforted knowing he was a vassal or even a child of the ultimate capital K king?