Lunatic, Liar, or Lord?

Every so often, I come across an idea that stops me in my tracks—not because it’s new, but because it’s so powerfully true that it demands fresh attention. This week, I was reminded of C.S. Lewis’ famous “trilemma” from Mere Christianity. In simple terms, Lewis argued that when we consider Jesus and His claims, we only have three real options: either He was a lunatic, a liar, or He truly is the Lord.

Lewis puts it this way: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.”

This is a challenging thought. Many people are comfortable calling Jesus a great teacher, a wise moral leader, or an inspirational figure. But Lewis makes it clear that Jesus never left that option open to us. If Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, then He was either deceived (a lunatic), deceptive (a liar), or telling the truth (Lord).

Let’s consider these options:

– If Jesus was a lunatic, then He was deeply deluded, believing Himself to be God when He was not. But nothing about His life—His wisdom, compassion, and the profound impact He had on the world—suggests insanity.

– If Jesus was a liar, He knowingly misled people about His identity. But why would a liar live a life of self-sacrifice, endure rejection, and willingly die for a lie? A liar seeks personal gain, but Jesus’ life was marked by humility and love.

– That leaves the third option: Jesus is Lord. If this is true, then it changes everything. It means His words carry ultimate authority, His promises are trustworthy, and His love for us is boundless.

Lewis concludes: “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

So, what do we do with this? If Jesus is Lord, then our response should be more than admiration—it should be devotion. This week, I invite you to consider: What does it mean for you to truly live as though Jesus is Lord? How does it shape your choices, your priorities, and your faith? The trilemma is not just a theological argument—it’s a question that demands a personal answer. What’s yours?

May God hold you,

Rev Chris Hester