Understanding Christianity and Islam - Part 10 (Jesus is Lord: Why Christians Can’t Compromise)

Jesus is Lord: Why Christians Can’t Compromise

In a pluralistic world, it is tempting for Christians to soften distinctive, to speak of Jesus merely as a prophet, moral teacher, or religious reformer. This is especially the case in interfaith conversations with Muslims, who respect ‘Isa (Jesus) as a prophet but reject His divinity and His role as Savior.

Yet the New Testament does not leave us room for compromise. The earliest Christian confession was short, clear, and revolutionary: “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11). This was not a polite religious statement; it was a bold claim that Jesus shares in the identity, authority, and worship due to God alone.

The Core of the Gospel is Christ Himself

Christianity is not first and foremost a moral code or a set of religious rituals. It is a living relationship with the risen Lord Jesus. His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead are not optional beliefs but the very heart of the faith (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). To deny who He is, the eternal Son of God made flesh, is to deny the Gospel itself.

The Lordship of Jesus is Exclusive

In John 14:6, Jesus declares:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This claim cannot be reconciled with the Islamic view that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets and that salvation is found through submission (Islam) to Allah apart from Christ’s atoning work. To compromise here is to replace the Cross with human effort, and the Savior with a system.

Compromise Erodes Witness

Some argue that emphasizing Christ’s divinity will close doors to dialogue with Muslims. But Scripture calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), not to alter truth for the sake of acceptance. A diluted Christ is no Christ at all, and a powerless gospel cannot save.

The Apostolic Example

In the Book of Acts, the apostles proclaimed Jesus as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), even when speaking to audiences deeply rooted in other religious traditions. They did not hide the offense of the cross, nor did they present Jesus as one prophet among many. Instead, they called all people to repent and believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins.

The Eternal Stakes

If Jesus is truly Lord, then eternity hinges on how we respond to Him. The New Testament warns that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This is not arrogance; it is urgency born from love. To deny the Lordship of Christ is to reject the only One who can reconcile us to God.

A Loving but Unyielding Call

Interfaith engagement requires respect, compassion, and humility, but never compromise on the identity of Jesus. The same love that drives us to build bridges must also compel us to tell the truth: Jesus is Lord, and He alone saves.

For Christians, this is not negotiable. It is the rock upon which our faith stands and the hope we offer to the world. In the end, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).

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