What Exactly Is The Lord
We see it throughout the Bible. Lord this, Lord that, Big “L” little “l” and presumably used to describe God and/or Jesus. But what is this word LORD all about anyway?
From the Greek, we find it to be “Kyrios/Kurios,” a masculine noun meaning master, sir, and properly; a person exercising absolute ownership rights. A title of honour, expressive of respect and reverence with which servants would salute their master. From the Greek Lexicon, we find “to whom a thing or person belongs to, the owner or controller of person or thing.” When we look to the etymology of the word in English we find “master of a household, or ruler, superior.” We see a modern use on terms like “Landlord,” the owner of something that is being rented, etc.
So if we see the use of Lord in a Bible translation in reference to God or Jesus, what we are saying is that “they” own us. They rule us. They are our masters, and that makes us their slaves. We are subjected to their household rule and their rules. So, the question we have to ask is … is this under our own willingness as a decision of our free will, or was it imposed on us with no choice in the matter? In actuality, it is both. Because in those days of early Christianity, Emperors, Priests, and Kings ruled over the people and made the decisions for them. And many of them considered themselves Gods, and even demanded to be worshipped as such. The rabble, or commoners; had no choice in the matters in a literal sense. But just as no one cannot prevent you from thinking, no one can prevent you from making an inner decision between mind and heart and Spirit, even if you must line up among the sheep and follow the shepherd.
We are told by words credited to Jesus in the New Testament, that “you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you FREE.” Yet, having a Lord ruling over you, in no way depicts freedom. Particularly, one who is your master. It, instead, is captive enslavement. So either you are a willing slave, or an unwilling slave. Either way, you’re a slave and far from free. This creates quite the dilemma. So then, how do we find the way to the intended path of some many references to Lord in Biblical scriptures?
We look at one more place. The noun and name of Lord and it’s origins. In pre 7th century Britain, the name actually meant “loaf-keeper.” It referred to a time in which the appointed chief had among his responsibilities, to ensure that his tribe or village was being properly fed. A latter position was “Lord of The Harvest” which was in fact a managerial position of employing harvest workers and negotiating their wage rates. Now we’re getting somewhere. So there is a “Lord” … that is someone who is responsible for making sure all the people are being properly fed. This cab be taken physically, and we can also take it metaphysically as in “The Bread from Heaven”, Bethlehem (which means House of Bread), Virgo (the Virgin), holding a wheat chaffe, the communion of bread and wine - the Eucharist (which means thanks in Greek).
So now we transition now from the modern use of the word Lord as in Master or Owner, and we see there is leadership and responsibility for sustenance both physically and spiritually. So if Jesus, or God, is Lord … then those who follow (or eat) of the teachings are then under the guidance, responsibility, and leadership of this Lord. The same it was for every wise man, sage, hierophant, and shaman throughout history.
Whatever your decision has been in your religious preference, following the works of those who do good, can’t be bad. After all, would you rather work for Superman, or the Joker? Either way, it seems that this word Lord has a direct correlation to one who has influence over us … whether voluntary, or involuntary. Perhaps … that little piece of “curiosity” that makes all of us wonder about the existence or non-existence of a God whether within, or without … sounds awful close to the word Kurios for good reason? Perhaps that “curiosity” (Kurios-ity) within us all, sparks a journey of discovery while we try and seek why we’re here, and who or what put us here. You ever wonder why people say “I really went out on a limb for this” … it’s because that’s where the fruit is.
Just a rambling thought …
~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.
