"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

God's Sovereignty & Man's Action: Paul's Journey to Rome

By Shane Kastler

The Apostle Paul was preordained to proclaim the gospel in Rome. This was not in doubt; because the Lord Himself appeared to Paul and told him this would be so. The book of Acts records, “But on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “Be courageous! For as you have testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.” (Acts 23:11 NASB)
Paul's circumstances at this time were extremely rough, yet they were ordained of God. He was a prisoner, in what appeared to be imminent threat of death. The Jewish leaders were set to assassinate him, with several having taken a vow to not eat or drink until they had killed him. He was being held in Roman custody, albeit as a prisoner of the Jews. It was a very unique situation, in that Paul had a direct summons from the Lord saying he would testify in Rome. Yet from a human perspective it's hard to see how he will escape Jerusalem alive. And in this seemingly impossible situation, we see both the sovereignty of God and the actions of Paul transpiring. With the ultimate result being his testimony at Rome. Just as the Lord had said.

God's sovereignty and man's action are not equal in their certainty or power. God is always supreme to man. Yet doesn't always (or even often) “miracle” things into being. Typically he uses the course of human events to bring about His divine will. Such is the case here.

Paul's nephew gets wind of the plot to kill Paul and tells him. At this point, Paul could have just played the “sovereignty card” and ignored the plot, surmising that the Lord told him he would appear in Rome, so the plot against him was destined to fail. But this is not what Paul does. He has his nephew report the plot to the Roman commander. Who in turn orders a large detachment of soldiers to transfer Paul to Caesarea for his safety. The commander is not purposely trying to fulfill God's will; but fulfill it he does. Caesarea is not Rome; but it is the next step in Paul's ultimate destination.

In Caesarea, Paul is questioned by the governor and accused by the Jewish leaders. Once again, he asserts his innocence and once again the Jews hatch a plot to kill him. They request his trial be moved back to Jerusalem, since the charge against him is essentially a religious one. And the governor is willing to consider this; but Paul is not. “If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” (Acts 25:11 NASB) The governor, Festus confers with his advisors and then declares, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.” (Acts 25:12) The die was cast. The decision was made. The Lord's will would be fulfilled. Paul was going to Rome.

Anywhere along the way, Paul could have refused to act; knowing that the Lord told him he would appear in Rome. When his nephew told him of the plot to kill him; he might have blown it off and said, “They can't kill me because God says so.” He could have waited for his miracle. But instead he used “human means” to accomplish God's will. Indeed, it is usually through human means that God accomplishes His will.

When faced with the prospect of returning to Jerusalem (to be killed) or appeal to Caesar (and go to Rome); Paul used his status as a Roman citizen; both to spare his life and to set his sights on Rome. He wouldn't be coming to Rome as a conquering Christian hero; but as a prisoner of the Jews. Nevertheless he would do exactly as the Lord told him he would do and he would testify in Rome.

Sometimes God uses means we know nothing about to accomplish His will. But sometimes we are very aware and active in the outworking of God's will. Our job is not to passively wait for God to “miracle” us into His will; but rather to purposely seek His will and act accordingly. Sometimes His will is hidden from us and we're uncertain how to proceed. During such times we prayerfully trust that God will “work all things for good.” (Rom. 8:28) Other times, God shows us clearly what we are to do and we are faced with a decision of obedience or disobedience. Ultimately, God is big enough to accomplish His purpose with or without our obedience. He is not reliant upon us. But what a privilege it is to be used of God in such a way that we can boldly yet humbly say, “The will of the Lord be done.” And rest in the knowledge that this is so.

Fear Not. I Am

By Shane Kastler

Mark's gospel records a time in which Jesus's disciples were trying to row across the Sea of Galilee in a fierce storm. In one of the most famous scenes from scripture, Jesus comes to them in the midst of the storm, walking on the water. Initially, they were terrified, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus reassured them, encouraged them, and saved them. What Jesus said to them was both simple and extraordinarily profound.

The text records Jesus as saying, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:50) It is hard to translate this phrase into English from the original Greek. But when you see it in Greek, something jumps off the page at you. What Jesus literally said, as recorded in the original Greek text was this: “Be courageous. I AM. Fear not.”(emphasis added) There is no mistaking what Jesus meant by using the phrase “I AM.” This is a clear reference to His divine nature and the fact that He was indeed the Son of God. Even the disciples, who were often slow to catch things, understood what Jesus meant. “I Am” was how God identified Himself to Moses in the Old Testament. Matthew's account records the disciples reaction, “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'You are certainly God’s Son!” (Matthew 14:33)

You and I should remember this life-changing truth when we are facing the fierce storms of life. Jesus offers a positive statement (Be courageous). Then He reminds of His divine nature and control over all things, including the storm we are facing (I AM). And then He presents a statement in the negative sense (Don't be afraid). While these admonitions may be easier said than done; at least when you're in the midst of a storm; they should be taken to heart and applied nonetheless.

In the disciples' case, Jesus not only declared His deity; He also calmed the storm. Their lives were saved and they gained a deeper understanding of who He was and is. You and I must do the same. No matter what you face in life, remember “the Great I AM.” And remember that as a disciple of Christ, He loves you and will take care of you. Then live your life in unabashed fearlessness. As David said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?” (Psalm 27:1) Trust in Jesus. Fear no one. And remember who IS the Great I AM!

Absolute Sovereignty

By Shane Kastler

God and Satan are not equal forces. While God is clearly the perfect standard of all things good; and Satan is the opposite of that; they are not equal and opposite forces. God is sovereign over all things, including Satan. Therefore Satan cannot inflict damage unless God so allows it. We see this in several places throughout scripture.

One of the most righteous men described in the Old Testament was a man named Job. Satan inflicted horrendous suffering on Job in an effort to get him to “curse God.” But many would be surprised to know that Satan was not allowed to do anything to Job without God's permission. And in fact, it was actually God who brought Job's name up to Satan. The Bible says, “The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” (Job 1:8-12)

Satan was allowed to wreak havoc in Job's life. But Job ultimately survived and stayed faithful to God through it all. You and I can do the same thing when trials befall us. And we can do it the same way Job did. Job knew that God was sovereign over Satan and that while Satan bore responsibility for his cruelty, that God ruled over Satan and had a purpose in mind that neither Job nor Satan could understand. The fact is that we don't always understand what God is doing, but we do know that we can always trust in Him and be mindful that He knows best.

Job's wife questioned why he didn't just “curse God and die” since his suffering was so massive. But Job's answer to her is very telling about where his heart was. He responded, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10) Job had been blessed in many ways, and he knew the blessings came from God. Now, he was suffering in many ways, and he knew that this too came from God.

Our greatest understanding, and deepest spiritual growth will most likely occur when we fully embrace the Biblical reality of God's absolute and supreme sovereignty. When blessings come, we thank Him. When trials come, we trust in Him. And, by knowing Christ Jesus as Lord, when the end comes, we will go to Him. No matter what you face today, trust in God to see you through. He is in control. Rest in this reality.

Answering an E-Mail in Response To My Belief in God's Sovereignty, Man's Responsibility, & Eternal Security

By Shane Kastler

Recently I received an anonymous e-mail that took issue with my belief that God is sovereign over salvation and that those who are saved cannot lose their salvation.  While I have not published the writer's original e-mail, I am publishing my response to it below.  Hopefully it will be helpful to others who might want to explore these topics.

Hi,

Thanks for the email. By the way, my name is Shane. What's yours? I noticed the email wasn't signed, so perhaps you wish to remain anonymous. But I thought I'd try to be neighborly nonetheless.

You said in your email that if God chooses to save some while sending others to Hell – this would make God “unrighteous and unjust.” With all due respect, you and I do not get to judge what is righteous and just. That is God's domain. And if God, as our Creator, were to set a standard of holiness; He is completely within His rights to do so. And if any person falls short of the standard, God (as our Creator) has every right to condemn such a person to Hell. And if EVERY PERSON sins and fails to live by God's standard, then God would be just in sending EVERY PERSON to Hell. And finally, if God so chose to send SOME people to the Hell that they deserve, and chose to SAVE OTHERS of His own choosing, then that would be an example of God's grace. Not an example of God being unjust. Interestingly enough, your position is the very same one the Bible refutes in Romans 9, a chapter that is very germane to this question. God is not required to be gracious to all, nor is He required to be gracious to any. But He chooses to be gracious to some.

I believe many people make the mistake of not beginning with the idea of all people being spiritually “dead in their trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1); and thus all people deserving condemnation. If we STARTED with this truth, then the idea of God's electing grace makes a lot more sense. Most people start with the idea of man being basically good, and having free will. And when you start with the wrong premise, you will invariably be led to the wrong conclusion.

You also objected to my belief that faith is a gift from God. Your exact words were, “Salvation is a gift of God, available by his goodness to all mankind via Christ – to those who will believe his message and receive it.” While I agree with you that salvation is a gift of God. And I agree that the message of salvation should be proclaimed to all. I would ask a deeper question of you and say, “Who are those that believe and receive this message?” If man is truly “dead in his trespasses and sins” then man, by nature, will reject Christ. Of course, Jesus himself taught that sinners will not come to him by nature. But that “all that the Father gives Me, will come to Me.” (John 6:37) He furthermore, told a baffled Nicodemus that to see the kingdom he must be “born again” (John 3:3). Which is to say that the Spirit must grant life to one who is dead. And the Spirit clearly doesn't do this for everyone. Which was why Jesus told Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) I fear that your argument puts you on the side of Nicodemus in John 3, and opposite Jesus in John 6; which is not a good place to be. When a sinner is “born again” they are granted faith to embrace Christ for who He is. They turn from sin, and they come to Him. The Apostle Paul reiterates that faith is a gift in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (emphasis added)

Moving on now, to your complaint that I believe that those who are saved cannot lose their salvation. What some refer to as “eternal security” or the more accurate description of “perseverance of the saints.” My belief that those saved will never be lost is based on the teaching of Jesus, and goes “hand-in-hand” with my belief that salvation is a work of God and not man. While you pointed out verses that teach that some will fall away, I would contend that those who fall away were false converts who were not born again. We have all known people who professed Christ, then after a season they “fell away.” I don't see this as a loss of salvation, but rather as evidence that they never were truly converted. I base this on Jesus's words, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

Several arguments could be made to defend my position from this passage alone. Not the least of which would be to say that if Jesus promises “ETERNAL” life then it cannot be lost. How can you temporarily possess something that is ETERNAL? If this were possible, then Jesus's use of the word ETERNAL has lost all meaning. Furthermore, Jesus's clear teaching in this passage is that no one can pluck a believer out of HIS HAND, nor the FATHER'S HAND. They are secure. You stated that there are many passages in the Bible that warn about falling away, and that if believers are truly secure then these warnings would be “hot air.” To the contrary, I believe that such warnings are some of the very ways that God uses to keep His sheep secure. Those who are truly His, will respond to the warnings and those who are not His, will ultimately reject the warnings. God doesn't need these admonitions in order to see who are His, but we need the admonitions, and the resulting responses of obedient faith to bolster our assurance. The warnings help us, not God. Since God needs no help.

As for your statement that when the Lord threatens to blot names out of the book of life in Revelation 3:5, this is teaching the loss of salvation... I disagree. I think you are confusing a general reference to “life” with what is sometimes called the “Lamb's Book of Life” as recorded in Revelation 13:8. Incidentally, this passage would also further bolster my argument that salvation is a gift of God to His elect, since Revelation 13:8 says the names were written, “BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” This ties in directly with what Ephesians teaches, that we were “chosen in Him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” (Ephesians 1:4 emphasis added)

To have one's name blotted out of the “book of life” is used frequently in Scripture to describe someone's death at the hand of God. It speaks of the temporal judgment of dying, not the loss of salvation. With all of this said, I will concede one point to you. If indeed salvation is attained by a free act of man's will, then it would also stand to reason that man could change his mind or change his ways and thus lose the salvation he chose. I believe that many Baptists are in error when they teach that salvation is an act of man's free will, but that once attained man can never lose this salvation. This teaching would be both unbiblical and illogical. Which is why I believe that the sinner's security is bound up in the fact that salvation is a sovereign act of God, and not an act of man. Since man is spiritually dead, desperately wicked, hopelessly confused, and endlessly fickle.

As for the last text you cited from Genesis 4, “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7) You say this is evidence in Cain's (and thus man's) free will. I disagree. To the contrary, Cain is clearly enslaved to sin, as all people are. And both WOULD NOT and COULD NOT obey of his own volition. No one can or does, unless God grants it. Cain could only "master" sin by God's grace changing him.  Which is the only way any of us can master sin.  If God commands us to change, then our response should not be, "I can change on my own."  But rather, "God, I can change if you CHANGE ME!  Please be merciful to me, the sinner!" (see Luke 18:13) 

While I understand the difficulty in trying to reconcile God demanding something that is impossible for us to naturally do, I would argue that this is exactly what the gospel does. It commands spiritually dead sinners to come to life and follow Him. And this they will not do, unless He grants them life. This then, is what gives God the utmost glory. That He would demand something that we cannot do. He would supernaturally change us, so that we DO what He commands. And then, amazingly, He rewards us for doing what ultimately was HIS WORK in us (see Eph. 2:10). To me, this is what is so AMAZING about GRACE.

In conclusion, while you and I have clear theological disagreements; I think they partially stem from how we view the Scriptures. You have cited several verses that might seem to defend your position. I have cited verses that defend my position. Yet, hopefully we can agree that ALL of these verses are God-inspired and true. The questions then become, How do we reconcile such verses? Do they contradict each other? Are they compatible in some way? Or are they merely beyond our capacity to comprehend? While there is much about God that is beyond us, it behooves us to try as we might to understand all of His Word that we can. We may conclude that some passages are too difficult for us. But hopefully we will never conclude that our verses are right, while someone else's verses are wrong. All of Scripture is Divine truth, to the extent that it is interpreted correctly, taken in context, and applied accurately to our life.

Hopefully this email clarifies my views somewhat.

Blessings to you,

Shane Kastler

 

Is Salvation Really a Free Gift?

By Shane Kastler

Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned, yet we are required to repent and believe in Christ in order to be saved. How can these two seemingly contrary ideas be reconciled? Is salvation a gift, or is it a reward for having repentant faith? The answer can be seen by asking a deeper question. The surface question is: Do you believe (have faith in) Jesus? The deeper question that solves this mystery is: How did you come to believe in Jesus? And therein lies the answer to the question. Salvation is a free gift that requires repentant faith. And the reason it is still a “free gift” is because repentance and faith are granted as gifts from God, rather than emotional decisions conjured up be spiritually dead sinners.

The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) The Bible also describes all people by nature as “dead in our trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) Spiritually speaking, we will not submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ in a loving manner because it simply isn't our nature to do so. People can be trained to obey, but they cannot be forced to do so out of love. And people may have some sentimental feelings toward Christ, but sentimentality alone will not lead to true lasting obedience. For sinners to turn from sin and lovingly submit to Christ, something supernatural must happen. Jesus called it being “born again.” (John 3:3) And when this happens, God grants spiritual life to the spiritually dead. He grants repentance and faith, with the result being not only an initial coming to Christ, but also an ongoing, lifetime commitment to him.

The early church, made up primarily of Jewish believers, rejoiced that “God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) Likewise, the Apostle Paul urged Christians to gently refute those in opposition with the hope that, “God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:24)

Have you turned from your sin in repentance and trusted in Christ for salvation? Is God convicting your heart of sin right now? If so, perhaps He is granting you the very gift of which I speak. Believe in Jesus and be saved. Submit your life to His Lordship and rejoice in His grace. Then spend the rest of your days on earth thanking Him for freely giving you what you could never earn in a million years, nor buy with a million dollars. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

BOOK REVIEW - "Grace-Focused Optimism: Learning To Live the Grace-Governed Life of Optimism About God" - By C.L. Chase (Reviewed By Shane Kastler)

Dr. C.L. Chase, author of Grace-Focused Optimism, was once a frustrated and embittered pastor. Theologically speaking, he could define “grace” and understood it's meaning well. Experientially, he knew God's grace through conversion. But the grace that saved him, seemed to be ineffective in governing his daily life; and in giving him the consistent joy that a believer should possess. Chase described himself as an “emotionally fragile” person (pg. 26). He was easily discouraged and disheartened. Then he had a “paradigm shift.”

What Dr. Chase came to discover was that grace is not only what saves the Christian; it is also what sees them through every day of their life. And that Biblical notion is the thesis of this book. From the beginning, Chase gives the reader the point of the book: “It's about you and grace.” (pg. 11) He then proceeds to unpack this premise in the following twenty-two chapters. With a belief system firmly rooted in the sovereignty of God, Chase reminds us, “Being a Christian isn't first and foremost about you and your salvation. It's first and foremost about God and how He is determined to get glory from you.” (pg. 23) Thankfully, the concepts of God's glory and our joy are not mutually exclusive. Indeed they go “hand-in-hand.” But sadly, all too often, Christians fail to see the joy they should have in God's constant grace and goodness toward them. While life is filled with plenty of trials, Christians have the capacity for joy, even in the midst of them. Knowing that even the trials are ordained by God, for our good and His glory. This book reminds the believer of that truth.

The book is easy to read and understand, at roughly 240 pages. Chase weaves personal narrative with numerous Biblical references and pertinent illustrations to strongly make the case for “Grace-Focused Optimism.” His writing style is clear and cogent, yet not overly simplistic. It is a book that any lay person should be able to read without getting bogged down in technical minutiae that is “over their heads.” Yet, Chase manages to clearly make his case, without watering down the meat and marrow of the truth being presented. The fact is this: Grace is a concept that is both so deeply profound the most mature Christian doesn't understand it in totality. Yet so clearly understood that the newest believer can grasp it on some level. This book goes a long way in deepening the believer's understanding of the riches that God bestows upon His sheep, through grace.

The subtitle of the book is a good summation: “Learning to Live the Grace-Governed Life of Optimism About God.” By “optimism” the author is not presenting a “rose-colored glasses” view of life that is blind to genuine suffering. But rather a rock-solid belief that God is up to our good, even in the trials. The focus of the book is not our comfort, but God's glory. Yet the believer should be extremely comforted by the fact that God is using our lives for His glory. Ultimately, Dr. Chase does not point us to “optimism” that is grounded in ourselves, but rather “optimism about God.” For any optimism we have that finds it's resting place anywhere other than the Lord, is a phony optimism rooted in fantasy anyway. Our faith has found a resting place, and that resting place is the Lord Himself.

Grace-Focused Optimism makes for a good read for both the new Christian and the mature believer. Furthermore, it can be read and enjoyed in solitary fashion, or as part of a group study. With this book, Dr. Chase makes an important contribution to a Biblical understanding of God's grace and the reality of it, for the Christian, throughout their entire life. The reader would be wise to heed the author's warnings about looking to self, being distracted by life's trials, and failing to trust completely in the Lord. Dr. Chase has experienced the darkness of taking His eyes off of the Lord and personally knows the perils therein. This book provides the peaceful fruit of his experience and his lessons learned from that experience. Read this book and understand grace on a deeper level. Then apply what you've learned in your own life. You will be the better for it.

Finding God's Will (Pt. 2): Have You Sought the Lord?

By Shane Kastler

When trying to find God's will in a specific matter there are several questions that should be asked. In a previous article I addressed the question, “Is it Biblical?” In other words, is the decision you are considering making condemned by the Bible, either explicitly or in principle. The second question to ask is, “Have I adequately sought the Lord in this matter?”

Strangely enough, even though we may wish to know God's will, we don't always spend adequate time in prayer to Him in seeking it. Sometimes God reveals His will quickly, but sometimes we must persevere in prayer before we know. Have you done this?

The church at Antioch came to the conclusion that God wanted them to send Barnabas and Paul (also known as Saul) on their first missionary journey, after devoting a considerable amount of time to prayer and fasting. The Bible says, “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3)

Likewise, Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who came repeatedly to a judge seeking justice. Eventually the judge granted her request because of her persistence. This should not be misinterpreted to mean that we can badger God into giving us what we want. But rather that we should patiently and persistently seek the Lord's will and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

Are you facing a decision in life? Have you considered whether or not all of your options are Biblical? And have you truly sought the Lord persistently in the matter? If you are still uncertain as to what you should do, then perhaps you need to continue to prayerfully seek God's will in the matter. Or perhaps you should ask the next question: Has God ordained circumstances that are pointing me in this direction? This is the question that I plan to address in the next article. Until then, pray on.

Celebrating the Death of Jesus

By Shane Kastler

Sometimes, funerals are referred to as a celebration of life. This is a very fitting and appropriate way to remember the happy times and good aspects of the person who has departed. While funerals are often sad occasions, they can also be marked by joy when this is done. Especially if the the person was a follower of Christ and is now at peace with him.

Interestingly enough, Christians actually celebrate the death of Jesus. While it might seem odd to an unbeliever that we would celebrate the brutal crucifixion of our Lord; the fact is that apart from his death we would have no reason for hope. The death of Christ was not merely a case of jealous Jewish leaders conspiring against him, or of heavy-handed Roman leaders carrying out the deed. The death of Christ was a pre-ordained event, with eternal theological implications. In Acts 2, Peter preached to the Jewish people of his day saying, "This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (Acts 2:23-24)

Those who killed Jesus were responsible for their actions. Yet at the same time, his death was ordained for a divine and redemptive purpose. Christ's death was a sacrifice to pay the eternal price for all of those who trust in him. His death atoned for the sins of his people. It was ordained by the Father. And it was accepted by the Father. Furthermore, it was also the will of Jesus that he die, as he stated, “No one takes my life, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:18)

Jesus's death was unique in many ways. It was his death alone that paid the price for sinners like you and me. And it is through him alone that we can have forgiveness and eternal life. And in this fact, we rejoice. We rejoice that Christ died so that we might live. We don't glory in our sin that made it necessary, nor do we glory in the sinners who nailed him to the cross. But we do glory in a grace so profound that it would willingly die to pay the price for those who would kill him.

Why Are Christians Called Christians?

By Shane Kastler

According to the Bible, the term “Christian” was first used in Antioch (Acts 11:26).  Likely it was a term of derision used by the opponents of the church, given the that the term means “little Christs” or “imitators of Christ.”  Yet this term, in God’s providence, came to be the predominant term to describe followers of Jesus.  Regardless of what denomination you might hold to; as a believer you would no doubt wish to be called a “Christian” above any other thing.

It is interesting to note that most religious groups are named after the leader of their sect.  For example, Lutherans are Protestant Christians who align themselves with the teachings of Martin Luther.  If you follow Jacob Arminius’s view of salvation you are called an “Arminian”; just as if you follow John Calvin’s view you are called a “Calvinist.”  In these examples, the adherents are called by the actual name of the leader.  But this is not true with Christians, because “Christ” was not Jesus’s name, but rather one of his titles.  So why are we not called “Jesus-ians” or maybe “Jesusites”?

I believe the answer to this can be seen in the fact that Jesus was no ordinary man, like Luther, Arminius, or Calvin.  Jesus was the very Son of God.  Being divine, he “became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) While the opponents of Christianity might see it as a cultic offshoot of Judaism, the New Testament teaches that Christianity is, in fact, the fulfillment of Judaism.  Jesus of Nazareth was not originally from Nazareth, but rather Heaven.  And he was no mere carpenter, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

To be called a “Jesusite” might imply adherence to an earthly leader from Galilee.  But the term Christian applies allegiance to the one who called himself, “The way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) By encompassing the title “Christ” into the name “Christian” we embrace not only the teachings of Jesus himself, but everything Jesus fulfilled as well.  He is the promised Christ.  He is the Messiah.  He is Lord and Savior of his people.  He is the Prince of Peace.  He is God incarnate.

Christians are those who recognize Jesus for who he claims to be and is.  But true Christians are much more than this.  We adhere to his teachings, but we also have hearts that have been changed and lives that have been transformed from spiritual darkness to spiritual light.  To be a Christian is more than intellectual agreement with the facts of Christ.  To be a Christian is to be internally and eternally changed by these facts.  We are followers of Jesus.  Who is the Christ.  Who lived a sinless life.  Who died for our sins.  Who was raised again.  Who ascended on high.  And who will one day come again.  There is no greater name for a person to be called than “Christian.”  Does this name describe you?  Turn from your sins and trust in Jesus.  Submit to the Christ and become a Christian.

Piper & Lecrae’s Liberal Slide Continues

By Shane Kastler

John Piper was once a bastion of Biblical orthodoxy.  In years past, his preaching and writing ministry opened the eyes of many to the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Christ.  I can remember in the mid-1990s being amazed at his deeply doctrinal preaching, in the midst of an American evangelicalism that was largely devoted to sugary tripe.  Then in 2010, Piper invited seeker-sensitive pragmatist Rick Warren to speak at his Bible conference; and a red flag was raised as to what Piper could possibly be thinking.  The problem, so obvious to many, was why Piper would link himself with someone who had devoted his entire ministry to doing the very opposite of what Piper himself was preaching.  While Piper railed about the importance of taking God and the gospel seriously, Warren had largely turned preaching into a pathetic combination of psychobabble and amateurish stand-up comedy.  Piper had either exposed himself as someone with more liberal tendencies than most knew of.  Or he was duped by Warren famously chameleon-like “charm.”  Many of us hoped that Piper was simply duped, but that doesn’t appear to be the case as the years have shown him sliding further and further into progressive and liberal ideology. 

Yesterday, Piper penned an article in support of “Christian rapper” Lecrae’s admission that he was “leaving white evangelicalism” (whatever that is) to embrace his black heritage, or as Lecrae calls it his "racial identity development."  Lecrae supports a whole host of progressive, black supremacy movements.  And Piper made it clear that he supports Lecrae and is in hearty agreement with him.  Together, they create disunity in the body of Christ by pushing a radical, racial agenda rather than presenting a New Testament view that Christians are “one in Christ.”  It is sad to see how far Piper has fallen.  But he seems to be too proud of his progressive virtues to notice, as he throws other Christians under the bus and kisses up to the leftists of the world.

Piper also has an obvious hatred for Donald Trump.  This he has made clear time and time again, most recently in yesterday’s article where he sneeringly referred to Trump as an “unrepentant lecher” who was unqualified to be president.  Of course, this is the same John Piper who famously and publicly proclaimed that he “wept for joy" and "rejoiced" when Barack Obama was elected.  Apparently in Piper’s mind, “unrepentant lechers” are unqualified, but unrepentant baby-murders are to be celebrated.  Obama was the most radically pro-abortion president in history; but Piper brushed that aside because Obama was black.  And undoubtedly it was Obama's race that made Piper cry for joy.  Forget abortion.  Forget the gospel.  Just be sure you don’t forget black supremacy, cleverly worded as “social justice.” 

This was largely his tone in the self-adoring article he wrote in support of Lecrae.  While Piper implies that MANY white Christians are racist, HE is not. Here are his exact words (strangely speaking of himself in 3^rd person): 

 “The reason I have put “white evangelicalism” in quotation marks throughout this article is that it puts too many whites in bed together.  John Piper and a few million other supposed natives didn’t vote for Donald Trump. We don’t think unrepentant lechers should be president. We don’t think Robert E. Lee is a simple embodiment of nobility. We don’t think the confederate flag can fly with impunity. We don’t think kneeling for justice desecrates the other flag. We are baffled that Philando Castile’s shooter walks free. We are dismayed at the nationwide resurgence of manifest racial antagonism. We don’t think “systemic” is an unintelligible word.”

And there you have Piper’s self-aggrandizing "virtue list" of all the progressive ideals he embraces; as he pours fuel on racial strife by dividing the church between “black” and “white.” That’s not to say some of the issues don’t have merit, and Piper is certainly entitled to his opinion.  But this appears to be nothing more than a laundry list of how liberally enlightened he is, and how any who disagrees with him should be smeared. 

In truth, when Lecrae and Piper use words like “white evangelicalism” they are promoting division and creating categories that the Bible condemns.  Take, for example, Lecrae’s breaking away from "white evangelicals” and Piper’s support of it.  The very same thing happened in the New Testament church when Simon Peter (aka: Cephas) “broke away from Gentiles” to embrace his Jewish heritage (just as Lecrae says he is embracing his “black heritage).  Far from commending Peter for his “social justice” – the Apostle Paul rebuked him openly because he elevated “race” above the gospel.  Here are Paul’s exact words:

“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14 NASB)

The only difference I can see is that Peter was motivated by fear while Lecrae seems to be motivated by pride and anger.  However, the differences between Paul’s response and Piper’s are legion.  Paul and the New Testament give no place for shunning one “race” of Christians to embrace another.  Piper and Lecrae seem to disagree.  And if you think I’m making too much of this, just imagine what the reaction would be if a white, Christian singer said he was going to distance himself from the church because it is “too black.”  Piper would be incensed (and rightly so).  The Southern Baptist Convention would be in overdrive writing resolutions of condemnation.  But they have different rules for black rappers and black presidents.

Over the years I have written letters, emails, and other messages to Piper and his ministry cohorts to address my concerns.  He has never responded personally, nor would I expect him to.  He’s a busy man.  His associates have at times ignored me, and at times ridiculed me for being “insensitive.”  I can only assume they would have given Paul the same rebuke at Antioch?

While there is much theological benefit in reading some of Piper’s books and listening to his past sermons, I could not (in good conscience) recommend his ministry today.  I fear that he hooks many unsuspecting Christians with his powerful message, but then steers them into a leftward ditch, so as to proceed with a progressive agenda that would make the Democrats proud.  Hopefully, others can see through the divisive actions of such virtue-signalers as Piper, Lecrae, and the proudly condemning SBC.  Black people like Lecrae who wish to leave the “white” church; and white people like Piper who stroke their ego for doing so; do nothing but divide Christians along racial lines.  This is not the gospel.  This is not Biblical Christianity.  It is racial strife, disguised as virtue.  Hopefully Christians won’t be fooled, and drink the progressive poison.  Jesus and the gospel deserve better.