Review: A Layman's Guide to the Lordship Controversy, by Richard P. Belcher

A Layman's Guide to the Lordship Controversy, by Richard P. Belcher; 1990, 106 pp., Richbarry Press, Columbia, SC.

Reviewed by Rev. Ted D. Manby, BA, M-Div, Th.M.

Are you too busy to keep up with the current debate in American Christianity? Scores of Christian radio stations have dropped programs that stand on one side of this issue. Certain Christian conference centers have replaced the speakers they invite because of their views on this matter. Church boards have shifted their support from one ministry to another in response to this contention: the place of the Lordship of Christ in the salvation of sinners. Indeed, Christians should be concerned. For, as Richard Belcher has stated, "the nature of the gospel itself is at stake."

In this book, Dr. Belcher has simplified and defined this Lordship debate for busy pastors and laymen in the local church. This comes as no surprise, for he had also clarified and expounded the inerrancy issue in two of his earlier books back in the 1980's. Because this debate affects the decisions they make and the ones that are made for them, Christians need readable accounts such as this in order to understand the current theological shuffling and realignment in Christian ministries, organizations, and churches.

This short book clarifies the two sides of the Lordship issue into basic principles taken from two books that kicked off the present controversy: John MacArthur's The Gospel According to Jesus which teaches Lordship salvation and Zane Hodges' Absolutely Free which defends non-Lordship salvation. Each chapter ends with a summary of each side's principles for an easy comparison by the reader. In a short time, the reader will understand the key differences between the two schools of thought. Furthermore, these two positions are compared in the areas of theology and in their handling of Scripture. In the remaining chapters, Dr. Belcher critiques the theological straw men built on logical fallacies, the theological weaknesses, and the Scripture-twisting of the non-Lordship position.

The structure of this work could hardly be improved. It is a well-written, fair, and gracious handling of a difficult issue. Nevertheless, this kind and fair approach does not prevent Dr. Belcher from clearly defending the historic Christian faith. Jesus is Lord and His Person cannot be divided to make salvation more attractive to men and women who are still in love with their sins. Likewise, the author's fairness does not prevent his wit from surfacing at times, and this adds significantly to the flow of the book.

However, there is one warning in regards to this work. It will whet your appetite to read the aforementioned book by John MacArthur--an excellent work on this subject. The gospel is truly at stake. Make sure your gospel is the same as Christ's, Peter's, Paul's and all those who have followed the Word of God for the last 2,000 years.