The Real Reason for Rejection
People don’t reject Jesus because they lack information. In our age of unprecedented access to knowledge, ignorance isn’t the issue. The real barrier is fear—specifically, fear of where obedience might lead.
What if Jesus really is who He says He is? What if following Him costs something? What if obedience disrupts the life I’ve carefully constructed? These “what ifs” keep people at arm’s length from genuine faith.
The Consultant vs. Lord Problem
Timothy Keller identified a crucial truth: if Jesus is really Lord, we don’t get to keep Him as just a consultant. Many people are comfortable with “Consultant Jesus”—someone they check in with occasionally for advice but who doesn’t interfere with their actual decision-making.
But Jesus doesn’t offer consultant services. He claims total authority over every area of life—your relationships, your finances, your career, your sexuality, your ambitions, your daily schedule. That’s a big “what if” that understandably scares people.
The Authority Question We Dodge
When religious leaders questioned Jesus’s authority, He responded by exposing their avoidance. They didn’t want a real answer; they wanted an escape route. Jesus wouldn’t give them one.
We do the same thing today. We dodge the authority question by staying perpetually “open-minded,” by treating faith as one option among many, by keeping Jesus at a comfortable distance where He can inspire us without commanding us.
Real life with Jesus begins when we stop dodging this authority question. The issue isn’t whether Jesus has authority—Scripture is clear that He does. The issue is whether we’ll submit to it.
Submission Is the Sticking Point
Authority isn’t the problem; submission is. We live in a culture that celebrates autonomy and personal freedom above almost everything else. The idea of submitting to anyone’s authority—even God’s—feels restrictive, outdated, even oppressive.
But here’s the paradox: true freedom comes through submission to the right authority. Submitting to Jesus isn’t slavery; it’s liberation from the tyranny of self, sin, and meaninglessness. His authority isn’t arbitrary or capricious—it flows from perfect love and wisdom.
What Total Authority Looks Like
When Jesus becomes Lord rather than consultant, everything changes. He doesn’t just influence your decisions; He determines your direction. He doesn’t just offer suggestions; He issues commands. He doesn’t just provide comfort; He calls you to costly obedience.
This sounds overwhelming because it is. Following Jesus isn’t a minor lifestyle adjustment—it’s a complete reorientation of life around His authority. No wonder people hesitate.
The Fear Behind the Hesitation
The fear is understandable. What will Jesus ask of me? Will I have to give up relationships, ambitions, or comforts I value? Will following Him make my life harder? Will people think I’m strange or judgmental?
These fears are real, but they’re based on a misunderstanding. Jesus’s authority isn’t about making you miserable—it’s about making you whole. His commands aren’t arbitrary restrictions but pathways to flourishing. When He asks you to surrender something, it’s because He’s offering something infinitely better.
Moving Past the “What Ifs”
The “what ifs” that keep us from full surrender are ultimately questions of trust. What if Jesus isn’t good? What if His way doesn’t work? What if I’m better off in control?
But these questions ignore the evidence. Jesus proved His love at the cross. He demonstrated His wisdom through His teaching. He validated His authority through His resurrection. The real “what if” should be: what if I miss out on the abundant life He offers because I insisted on staying in control?
The Invitation to Surrender
Jesus doesn’t force His authority on anyone. He invites submission, knowing that genuine lordship can only be freely given. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to open.
The invitation is clear: stop treating Jesus as a consultant you check in with when convenient. Stop dodging the authority question. Stop letting fear of obedience keep you from the One who loves you most.
Making the Shift
Moving from “Consultant Jesus” to “Lord Jesus” starts with honest acknowledgment. Admit that you’ve been holding back, keeping areas of your life off-limits to His authority. Confess that submission scares you and that you’ve preferred control.
Then take the step of faith: surrender specific areas to His lordship. Your relationships—let Him define what’s healthy. Your finances—let Him determine generosity. Your time—let Him set priorities. Your future—let Him direct your path.
The Freedom in Surrender
Here’s what you’ll discover: submitting to Jesus’s total authority is the most liberating decision you’ll ever make. When He’s truly Lord, you’re free from the exhausting burden of being your own god. You’re free from the anxiety of figuring everything out alone. You’re free to rest in His wisdom, trust His goodness, and follow His lead.
Authority isn’t the problem. Submission is—until you experience the joy of submitting to the One who gave everything for you. Then submission becomes not a burden but a gift, not a restriction but the path to true freedom.
Your Next Step
If you’ve been keeping Jesus as a consultant, today is the day to make Him Lord. Stop dodging the authority question. Face your fears about obedience. And discover that the “what if” you should have been asking all along is this: what if surrendering everything to Jesus is the best decision I could ever make?
Real life with Jesus begins when we stop negotiating and start surrendering, when we move from consultation to complete submission, when we finally let Him be who He’s always claimed to be—Lord of all.
