"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

An Open Letter to Christians Regarding the Election of Barack Obama

Dear Christian,

The election of Barack Obama as our 44^th President will undoubtedly have a profound impact upon Christian Pastors, Leaders, Evangelists, Missionaries, and Lay people at large. While Obama isn’t the first liberal elected to the office – He is quite possibly the MOST liberal ever elected, and potentially the most opposed to Biblical Christianity. Many don’t seem to understand this because they look at him and see a friendly, handsome, articulate man who seems to be quite decent. But his stated views are antithetical to Scripture…some of his record is downright evil (i.e., partial birth abortion/ infanticide), his associations are leftist to the point of being Marxist (a claim he admits in his autobiography), and many of his advisors are clearly outspoken in their contempt of Biblical Christianity.

As a Pastor…and as an American, I’m currently prayerfully analyzing what changes may take place on the American landscape during an Obama administration…and how we as Christian leaders should respond. Here are some thoughts:

1. Pray. Pray for Obama and other leaders. This may be pride swallowing and difficult to do. But Scripture commands us to do it. (see 1 Timothy 2:1-2) As I study God’s Word, I realize that God is sovereign over all things…both good and evil. Consequently, that also assures me that God is more than able to change the heart of any world leader; no matter how entrenched he is in his views.

In the Old Testament, Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar was so vile and wicked that he repeatedly persecuted God’s people and put them do death. He demanded worship, as though he were God…and he got away with it, until the REAL God said, “No More!” Nebuchadnezzar’s mental faculties were impaired to the point that he behaved like a cow for 7 years, until his wicked heart became a repentant heart and he praised the true God of Heaven. (see Daniel 4:4-37)

The point of this story is not to wish for God to turn Obama into a cow…but to wish that God would turn Obama into a Christian. You may flinch at this and say he’s already a Christian…but no one who’s heard the infamous Jeremiah Wright preach could rightly assume that Wright even knows the gospel…much less preaches it. And one cannot look at Obama’s views and conclude he is born again….If he was, the conviction of opposing, something like the Born Alive Infant Protection Act would eat him up.

Therefore we must pray for Obama’s salvation…and we must pray that he would truly govern in a way that pleases God. Of course in order for this to happen, he will have to buck the advice of some of his closest advisors…or he’ll have to replace them with other advisors. Both are worthy prayer considerations.

2. Prophesy against the Nation’s Sins. When I say to prophesy, I’m not referring to predictive prophesy whereby we seek to foresee specific events. Nor am I referring to prophecy in terms of “new revelation” from God. The canon of Scripture is complete, and God has spoken clearly. Our job as 21^st century “prophets” is to proclaim that written word, in power, in completeness, and in love. Unapologetic Apologists (defenders) for the truth of God’s Word. I believe it is impossible to look at our current political landscape and not see that our ministries will have to take on a clearly prophetic and confrontational tone. And we find no greater example in Scripture than that of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s world was eerily similar to ours. Israel/Judah had once been godly, but in his day they were rebellious, relativistic, severely depraved, and apostate. God would judge the nation unless they repented. And Jeremiah would proclaim this message to a nation that closed its ears and mocked the messenger. Sound familiar? Jeremiah’s calling is the calling of all Christians in 21^st century America. Nobody wants to hear the message: “Repent or perish!” But it’s the only message that is faithful to God, and it’s the only message that will save man. Christian pastors will have to “gird up their loins” and prepare for spiritual battle. They will have to toss aside the silly, self-help, psychobabble that permeates American Christianity…and take up the prophet’s mantle to call a nation of sinners to repentance. And those who don’t have the backbone for it will need to find a new line of work in Obama’s promised booming economy. Any pastor who doesn’t have the courage to speak out against the sins of the people in his church, nation, or government is Biblically unqualified for the office he holds and should remove himself, lest he force God to remove him by other means.

I’m currently teaching through Jeremiah on Wednesday nights…and I’m amazed at the similarities between then and now. Furthermore, my good friend Scott Tibbetts, missionary to Thailand, recommended I read Francis Schaeffer’s Death in the City, which is a penetrating analysis of how American culture in our day mimics that of Israel in Jeremiah’s day. Schaeffer rightly observes that America was once a nation that largely knew and respected God’s Word. But that America no longer does. Ironically, Schaeffer originally wrote this book in 1969….if he could only see what America has become today, (he died in 1984) he would know just how accurate his analysis was.

It’s never popular to preach against sin in a roomful of sinners. But we cannot preach the gospel of salvation, unless we point out that there is something to be saved from. A Savior is of no use to someone who doesn’t understand they need saved. And the good news of the gospel cannot be properly shared, without the bad news of sin. Jeremiah was called to speak out against the specific sins of his day…so must we. Abortion is the intentional murder of a defenseless child…and we must thunder that from our pulpits. Homosexuality is a bizarre perversion of God’s intended design…and we must thunder that from our pulpits. Gay marriage is a mockery of the family and a brazen attempt to nullify all marriage as hokey and meaningless…and we must thunder that from our pulpits. Some may say that “thundering” is the wrong approach. But “thundering in love” is the Biblical approach. We cannot deny how passionately we feel about these vital truths and be sincere to the culture that already often accuses us of hypocrisy.

These things may seem easy to speak against for some preachers…but let’s see how easy it is if Obama’s ilk succeeds in having such proclamations classified as “hate speech” that is illegal under new “hate crimes” legislation. How many preachers will have the nerve of Peter and John and say, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20 NASB) My prayer is that many will boldly speak God’s Truth, by God’s grace and in God’s power…regardless of the consequences. Will this make us popular with society? No. Will it make us faithful to the God whom we serve? Yes. And that’s all that matters. Schaeffer rightly said: “Christianity is not romantic and soft. It is tough-fibered and realistic. And the Bible gives us the realistic message that Jeremiah preached into his own days, a message I am convinced the church today must preach if it is to be any help in the world. Let us not be surprised at the world’s reaction. The Bible makes it plain that this message is going to be poorly received by a church in revolt and by a culture in revolt…So if you are a Christian looking for an easy ministry in a post-Christian culture, you are unrealistic in your outlook. It was not to be so in Jeremiah’s day, and it cannot be so in a day like our own.” (Death in the City, By Francis Schaeffer, Volume 4 of Compete Works, pg. 226)

3. Politics won’t save America…and politicians certainly won’t. Politics by its very nature is the art of making compromises to get things accomplished…but some things must be off the negotiating table when it comes to political deals…and as Christians we must make this clear to our elected representatives.

I’ve heard many Republicans say in recent days that the party needs to become more liberal, so as to include more people. This is a colossal mistake. John McCain didn’t lose because he was too conservative. He lost because he was a middle of the road, left-leaning Republican who seemed much more comfortable placating Democrats than he did inspiring Republicans. Conservatives embraced him begrudgingly, at best. And for good reason.

But the calling of the Christian is not to sell out God’s truth for the sake of political expediency. The calling of the Christian is to stand for God’s Truth come Hell or high water. Some are saying that Conservatives need to soften their stand on social issues like abortion and gay marriage so the Republican Party can “expand its base.” But this will only serve to obliterate the base and turn the party into a slightly less liberal version of the Democrat party. So future elections will be between two nearly identical versions of the same political hacks who have gotten our country into the mess it’s in today. Though politics will never save America, we should use the governmental system we’ve been placed in to fight for the moral decency of God’s Truth.

Take Daniel as an example. Though placed in a pagan Babylonian culture, Daniel refused to bend in his allegiance to God; while at the same time serving within the government of the wicked nation. By so doing, he was a Godly voice in an un-Godly society…and he didn’t do it by going soft on his beliefs. He did it by staying true, and speaking out at the peril of his life. Too many of our political leaders today are only concerned with lining their pockets and expanding their power. The thought of taking an unpopular moral stand for the sake of truth is foreign to them. We need more Daniels.

It is my sincere conviction that Christians must answer the call during such perilous times as these. Our nation has lurched left, but we must stand for what is “right.” As Christians, we can truthfully say that “Our God Reigns” – and His Sovereign power trumps all politicians, parties, nations, organizations, armies, and people. Ultimate power doesn’t reside with the government, nor with the people. Ultimate power belongs to God. So it is with full confidence and faith in the power of God to protect, embolden, and save that we as Christians must commit to courageously living and speaking the truth of God. It won’t be easy, but it will be necessary, if we are to be obedient to our God, and a witness to our culture. Prayer, Prophesy, and Politics in the way that I have defined them, is what we must commit ourselves to. We stand on the precipice of potentially dramatic changes to our country and our freedom. Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Good and Godly men (and women) must act. We must be courageous. We cannot be cowards. Our country has enough of those already. The coming days in America could be very interesting. I wonder aloud, how the people of God will respond. I wonder how Pastors will respond. I wonder how YOU will respond.

Best Wishes,

Shane Kastler, Pleasanton, KS

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” Psalms 91:1-2 (NASB)

Like Sheep To The Slaughter................... They Go After Obama

I believe in the separation of church and state as the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution describes it – and as it was intended by our nation’s founders.  The entire principle can be boiled down to this idea:  “The government does not have the right to tell churches what they CAN and CANNOT do.”  The full text of the amendment reads: 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

God-haters all over America have taken this seemingly clear statement on religious freedom to ban everything from prayer in schools, Scripture reading, Ten Commandments monuments, assault on the Pledge of Allegiance, and on and on and on.  Just last week, I received a letter in the mail from Barry Lynn, Executive Director of the Americans United for Separation of Church & State, threatening me with potential legal action if I made my political views known regarding the upcoming Presidential election.  The law is very interesting.  As a Pastor, I am in violation of American law if I endorse, or SPEAK AGAINST a political candidate at any church function.  Even if I preface the statement by saying it is my PERSONAL position and not necessarily the church’s position.  When the Pastor speaks at any church gathering, the United States government considers him to be a spokesman for the church at large.  And will prosecute the church for what the Pastor says.
    When you hear this, you might be prone to say that this sounds much more like Soviet Russia, or Nazi Germany, or Fascist Italy in the 20th century.  Yet, sadly, this unconstitutional law is vigorously enforced in 21st century America.  (So much for the part about free speech!)  
    Or, perhaps you go in the other direction and are tempted to say that pastors should be concerned with spiritual/moral issues and leave political/governmental issues alone.  Therein lies the greatest misconception on the issue of Church and State relations.  Church and State CANNOT be separated because Spiritual and moral issues CAN NEVER be separated from the political and governmental entities that pass the laws.  Though some erroneously say, “you cannot legislate morality” the fact is that ALL LAWS are an attempt to legislate morality.  We have laws against murder because our society believes murder is immoral (unless it’s a baby in the womb then we mysteriously say it’s OK).  We have laws against rape because we believe rape is immoral.  We have laws against stealing because…..(you get the point). 
    Church and State cannot be separated because morality cannot be separated from the law.  Any attempt to do so will either create churches that are secular and worthless….or laws that are immoral and dangerous.  Both of these absurdities exist in our country today, espoused by liberal organizations and the Democrat party, they have pulled America further and further down the slippery slope to immorality, and the inevitable judgment of God.  You see, GOD isn’t really intimidated by the ACLU.  Their threats don’t scare Him.  He’s not afraid of losing His tax-exempt status.  God calls nations and people to follow Him and His ways.  And when they arrogantly thumb their nose at Him, He continues to show them grace….until He decides enough is enough.  And His judgment falls on the un-Godly.
    We are currently studying the book of Jeremiah in our Wednesday night Bible Study, and the similarities between Old Testament Israel/Judah….and modern day America are shocking.  Israel thought their greatest problems were political and military.  So they made alliances with the world powers of their day Assyria and Egypt.  They turned from Yahweh, the One True God with whom they had a covenantal relationship with…and they turned to pagan nations for protection.  God offered them “fountains of living water”…but they rejected it for “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)  When pagan kings ordered them to desecrate the Temple they willingly obliged.  When pagan nations worshipped idols, Yahweh’s people joined in.  Israel took money from the Temple treasury and gave it to pagan kings as a gift.  They thought they were appeasing the powerful….but in reality, they were mocking the ALL-POWERFUL.  God makes it very clear, through the prophet Jeremiah, that though they were offered blessings --  they chose worldliness -- and they would receive Divine judgment.  The same is true of America today.
    Morality cannot be separated from Law.  Christians cannot be banned from the Political process.  And Church CANNOT be separated from State….NOR SHOULD IT BE!  When you eliminate the true Church, redeemed by Christ, from matters of State, you remove the influence of the One True God from the laws of the people.  And Divine Judgment always follows.  The First Amendment is supposed to protect, rather than silence, churches.
    This year, our Presidential election is the most dangerous we’ve seen in our lifetime.  Barack Hussein Obama has no interest in hearing what the Bible says about morality, in fact he openly mocks it.  Obama favors Hate Speech legislation that silences those who speak out on moral issues such as homosexuality.  Obama embraces homosexuality as a “civil right” and will ultimately push for gay marriage.  Obama opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, and was the only Senator to actually give a speech opposing this bill which would have outlawed the murder of newborn children who survived a botched abortion.  Obama favors re-instituting the “Fairness Doctrine” which requires radio stations to have as many liberal shows as conservative.  Should the government have the right to monitor political and religious speech in a free society?  No.  But Obama doesn’t favor a free society.  He favors a far, left-leaning dictatorship where the Government is God…and He serves as King.  Don’t let the smooth speeches and pretty smile fool you.  His record speaks loud and clear…and he has surrounded himself with some very vicious people.  Yet, like sheep to the slaughter, the masses go after Obama.  Not realizing the danger of what they’re doing.
    America’s greatest problems ARE NOT Economic.  Nor are they Military.  Nor are they Educational.  Nor are they Health Care related.  America’s greatest problems are Spiritual and Moral.  America has repeatedly thumbed its nose at God and mocked Jesus Christ and the slide to judgment has picked up steam in the last several years.  A booming economy does no good, when it exists in a nation full of people who are slaves to the government…and are told to look to it for their survival.  God, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, warned the nation of Judah:  “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your rebellions will rebuke you….For you forsake the LORD your God, and the fear of me is not in you…. And you will be put to shame…” (Jeremiah 2:19, 36)
    I don’t know exactly how God might choose to judge America.  But an Obama presidency could certainly bring much of it about.  I speak now, because I still can.  Obama, and others like him who may very soon be in power, will seek to silence the voice of opposition.  In the style of a dictator, all dissenters will be “tarred and feathered” and laws passed in the name of fighting “hate” will only serve to remove the true and loving voice of God and His people.  As a Pastor, I’m already banned from endorsing political candidates.  Obama will try to ban me from making other “moral” arguments as well…..but we must obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19-20).  Obama and his goons….or some future president and his goons may one day pass laws to silence, imprison, or even execute those that disagree with them.  You say it could never happen here?  That’s the same thing Germany once said, prior to Hitler.  Anything is possible…even in America.  Especially in America….where people are more concerned with their 401 K’s than they are their standing before God.  Yes, I may be one day silenced by liberal goons calling themselves the “hate crimes police”…..but if so, I plan to die happy.  I’ll be with Jesus, who died the same way…..and I’ll be in Heaven where God’s judgment won’t be necessary anymore.
    Jeremiah was aghast at what was transpiring in his nation, and as God said through the prophet:  “Be appalled O Heavens at this, and shudder….for my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and made for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:12-13) Listen up America!  Jesus is the fountain of living waters.  Obama is a broken cistern that can hold no water.  McCain falls WAY SHORT of Christ….but is MUCH BETTER than Obama.  And on Tuesday, November 4…the ball will be in your court.  Will you choose to reject the immoral policies of Obama?  Or will you embrace Obama and reject the living waters of Almighty God?  Your judgment hangs in the balance.

Grandma's Bible

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God shall stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

There’s an old expression that says: “People who have Bibles that are falling apart, usually have lives that aren’t.” The message of this saying is that when people are devoted to reading, studying, and living what the Scriptures say, then their lives show the rewards of it. Though they face trials like everyone else, their relationship with the Lord, and their reliance upon His Word carries them through everything.

We have a Bible in our house that belonged to my wife’s grandmother. Frequently, I will use this Bible when I’m doing a devotional, or preparing a sermon; and I’ve always been amazed at how many notes she wrote in it. All sixty-six books of the Bible have hand written notes in the margins, underlines, and highlights. In fact, almost every page of every book shows evidence of deep study. What’s even more remarkable about this Bible, and its obvious use is that when you open to the front, you see that she received this Bible as a gift in 1982. She died of a brain tumor in 1985. In three short years, she had devoured this copy of the Scriptures. Reading, studying, and taking comfort from the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

In the front of the Bible, she had written another saying: “Dust on the Bible, means a Drought in the Heart.” As evidenced by how worn out her 3-year old Bible was, she truly believed and lived this maxim. She wasn’t blessed with a long and healthy life. She died in her mid-50’s. But when her time came, she was ready to go. She faced death without fear, because she knew what awaited her on the other side. Because her well worn Bible was falling apart, her life never did. Can you say the same?

God’s Word shows us God’s grace through the gospel. As sinners in need of forgiveness, we are called to turn in repentance from our sin, and place our faith in Jesus as Lord of our life. As committed followers, we are to look to Him daily for direction, comfort, and protection. And the best way to do that is by spending time in God’s Word. Is your life falling apart? Is there a drought in your heart? If so, then turn to the Lord and find comfort, rest, and salvation in His perfect and glorious Word.

Seeking God In Times of Trial

“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.” (Psalm 77:1-2 NASB)

Trials and tribulations are a part of living in this world. No one escapes them, though we do everything within our power to try. Hard times come for various reasons. Sometimes they come as a test of faith to see if we will trust in the Lord, or our own devices. Sometimes they come to strengthen us for even greater trials that will occur down the road. And sometimes, the trial itself is God’s way of drawing someone to Himself, and forever changing their life for the good.

Many people today, who are Christians, became Christians during a severe trial in their life. Whatever the trial might have been, it was a God-ordained moment in which the person didn’t know where else to turn…and so they turned to God. If you have experienced a trial like this, then you can attest to the fact that though the trial was hard…it was also infinitely glorious because it drove you to the Lord and His salvation. Or maybe you haven’t experienced that in your life…but are going through a fierce trial right now. If so, then heed the Psalmist’s counsel and seek the Lord in your “day of trouble.”

Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Not only from daily troubles, but more importantly from eternal judgment. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and gone astray. Therefore all need a Savior. And according to Scripture, the only One who can save is Jesus Christ the Lord. Do you belong to Him? If not, then you can trust in Him today and find eternal salvation. Scripture call on us to repent, or turn from our life of sin. And believe, or place our faith in Jesus as Lord of our life. A lifetime commitment to Christ is called for. And a lifetime relationship with God is given. But it’s not given to everyone. The hard-hearted, unrepentant, and arrogant will not find salvation. But the humble and broken sinner, who truly seeks the Lord…will always find Jesus awaiting them with open arms. He alone will deliver. He alone will protect. And He alone will save. Trust in Him during your trial. And find in Him the strength you need to endure it.

The Financial Crisis, God's Judgment, & Eternal Blessings

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about a financial crisis that is affecting our country. Many have watched the news with nervous apprehension as they see the stock market plummet, home values fall, and jobs get eliminated. Many people are worried; but rest assured God isn’t. The God who spoke the world into existence is the same God who reigns upon His throne today. He is still in complete control. He always has been and He always will be. You might be tempted to ask the question: so why doesn’t God fix our economy? To which I would answer, why do you think he should? Are we a nation that is deserving of God’s blessings?

Increasingly we have become a nation that thumbs its nose at Almighty God. We have banned God from our public schools. We have legalized the slaughter of unborn children. And we have celebrated rampant sin in the name of tolerance. Many in our country seek to ratchet up the assault on God, Holiness, and Moral decency. Some seek to have the Name of God completely eliminated from any government forum. Some seek to legalize gay marriage, which God describes as an abomination. And anyone who dares speak out against such things is sure to be branded a radical, a zealot, or a lunatic. All too often, in our society today, sin is praised and God is mocked. And then we expect God to pour blessings out upon our nation, when what we deserve is judgment.

I know that we are deserving of judgment because all people are deserving of judgment. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet, in spite of our sin and selfishness, God repeatedly shows us grace. The greatest grace came through Jesus Christ, the Son of God; who came and lived a perfect life on our behalf. Then died an atoning death to pay the eternal price for those who would seek His forgiveness and commit their lives to Him.

God might choose to bless America with great prosperity; or He might judge us with severe hardships. Either way, the Lord is righteous and just. And we have nothing to complain about; for He has already given us more than we deserve.

So how are you handling the trials of life on Earth? Are you daily trusting and following Jesus Christ? Are you looking to the government to solve your problems? Are you clinging to financial security for your salvation? Are you scared of what the future holds? If Jesus is Lord of your life you needn’t be. He is in complete control and He will take care of you. But if Jesus is not Lord of your life, then your fear is understandable. In fact my hope is that your fear will drive you to the cross, where you can lay it down, along with your sin. And place your trust in the only One who can truly save, comfort, and bless. None of us deserve God’s favor. Yet it’s offered to us through Jesus Christ. Follow Him, stop worrying, and remember that He is still in control….and always will be.

Christian Singer Ray Boltz Is Gay (& Obviously Very Confused)

This week, Christian singer Ray Boltz publicly "came out of the closet" by granting an interview to the Washington Blade newspaper announcing he was gay.  Boltz achieved worldwide fame in the Christian music industry during the 1980s and 1990s for such hits as "Thank You For Giving to the Lord"; "The Anchor Holds"; "Heaven Is Counting on You"; and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb" -- Boltz now says that he has known he was gay his entire life and that since God made him that way, he should accept it and not "live a lie" any longer.  When he announced it to his wife and children, they ultimately "accepted him in love" and have been largely supportive of him.  He and his wife Carol divorced earlier this year, and Ray is now living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he "dates and lives a normal gay life."  Carol is now an advocate for Soulforce, a pro-gay group that fights for gay rights.  To say the least, the level of depravity in the Boltz family has plummeted to a shockingly low level.  So what's to be said about Boltz's Christian faith?

If you want to experience something truly nauseating, go back and listen to Boltz's bestselling live album "Concert of a Lifetime" where you will hear him singing of his deep love for Jesus and his commitment to God's Word and his faithfulness to the truth, even when the world is against you.  And if that's not enough, listen to his "testimonies" between the songs of how much he loves Jesus, etc., etc.  Only one of two conclusions can be reached.  Either, he was lying.  Or he was deceived about what Jesus taught.  Both conclusions lead to disaster for Ray Boltz.

The truly sad part is that Boltz has bought into the modern gay lie that says anyone that says your perversion is sinful must be a bigot or hate-monger.  He's already spouting the line of how "accepting and affirming" his gay friends are and how "judgmental" Christians are.  Of course this is quite a coup for the gay community  "Christian Singer Comes Out of Closet" makes for a tantalizing headline in the gay newspapers.  But the damage Boltz is doing to himself and the cause of Christ is incalculable.  Boltz claims he's been living a lie...indeed he has, but the lie is not what he thinks it is.  He says he's gay and spent 30 years dishonestly denying it.  But the real lie comes in his statement that he is a Christian, when the obvious fruit of his life says otherwise.  Immediately, blood pressures will rise as people will say I have no right to judge him.  True enough -- but God's Word does. 

"Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate , nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. " (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NASB)

But Scripture is the last thing Ray Boltz is interested in discussing today.  As he said in his interview: 

“If you were to hold up the rule book and go, ‘Here are all the rules Christians must live by,’ did I follow every one of those rules all that time? Not at all, you know, because I kind of rejected a lot of things, but I’ve grown some even since then. I guess I felt that the church, that they had it wrong about how I felt with being gay all these years, so maybe they had it wrong about a lot of other things.”

Does that sound like the words of a believer, or a very confused man?  He says that he's "grown some" -- Indeed he has, he's "grown" more like the world.  He's set himself up as judge over God's Word; declared "the church" to be wrong on homosexuality; and given in to a sin he struggles with by deciding its not sinful,  since he enjoys it.  And rest assured, this will only be the beginning of his spiritual descent.  Having come to the conclusion that "the church has it wrong about a lot of things" he will undoubtedly soon deny all of the basic tenets of Christianity (if he hasn't already)....yet still claim to be a Christian.  Of course he'll claim to be a liberated, modern, left wing "Christian" who conveniently rejects everything Christ himself taught.  But a "Christian" who doesn't follow "Christ" is no Christian at all.  Yet, Boltz isn't worried about eternal, spiritual matters.  Stating: 

“If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell."

And yet the words of Jesus hold frighteningly true for those who claim Him, yet don't follow Him:  "Depart from me, I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)

Ray Boltz is obviously in great need of prayer.  He "struggled" with homosexuality for years; but has now accepted it as "who he is."  When we re-define our sins as "acceptable" and embrace them, we have simply made a deal with the Devil that will lead to destruction.  Yet, we know that the power of God can overcome anything the kingdom of darkness devises.  We should pray that Ray Boltz will feel intense conviction and have a true, life-altering, change of heart.  And we know that only God will be able to do that in his heart.  The scary part is, that Boltz has bought into a sinful  worldview regarding homosexuality that doesn't just affect the way he lives, it also affects the way he thinks. 

We've seen other Christian singers "fall" into sin.  In 1994 Michael English, formerly of the Gaither Vocal Band,  had an affair with Marybeth Jordan.  Amy Grant and Gary Chapman, a Christian music duo, divorced in the 1990's when Grant left him for country singer Vince Gill.  Sandi Patty, divorced her husband in 1993, after she had an affair; and eventually married again in 1995.  All of these scandals are tragic, and in most cases should be "career-ending." Our hearts break anytime we hear of someone "falling" into sin in this way.  But a key difference between these and Boltz is that none of the above mentioned names ever denied the reality that their sexual escapades were in fact sinful.  They KNEW adultery was a sin; and though excuses might have been made they KNEW that no excuse justified what they did.  Boltz, on the other hand, no longer believes his sin is really a "sin."  He has become the epitome of Romans 1 where God says "their foolish heart was darkened" (v.21)  and  goes on to say:

"the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper." (Romans 1:27-28 NASB)

Therefore, truly and sadly, it can be said....Ray Boltz hasn't simply fallen into sin.  Ray Boltz has lost his mind.  The thought processes that tell you what is rational and irrational have been short-circuited by sin's debilitating influence.  The God-given conscience that screams to you "THIS IS WRONG!" has been suppressed to the point that God is now, "giving him over to his depravity."  To witness this taking place in someone's life is truly frightening.  To see how someone can "fake" Christianity for so many years is astonishing.  But there are some "signs" you can probably detect in retrospect. 

The fact that Boltz and his ex-wife Carol are now advocates for gay rights seems to indicate that the public persona of Christian faith was not what they truly believed in their hearts.  Boltz humbly bragged on one of his albums that "no one made a marketing decision that I should sing about Jesus.  I sing about Jesus, because there's nothing greater to sing about."  The crowd applauded what sounded like a Christ-exalting proclamation.  But alas, the first part of the statement, was a lie.  As Ray Boltz life has been....and sadly continues to be.  The lies that say "my sin is acceptable" and "God made me this way" and "if you loved me you would accept me."  Indeed, Ray Boltz is not who he has claimed to be.  In "coming out of the closet" he has also "pulled off his Christian mask."  He can claim to be a Christian all he wants.....his actions clearly show otherwise.  He has "exchanged the truth of God for a lie" (Romans 1:25) and contrary to what he thinks....his world has sunken to a level of dark depravity that few people have known.  I pray for Ray Boltz.  May his "spiritual eyes" be opened to see what his confused heart can't seem to grasp.  And may it happen, before it's too late.

Nothing Compares to Knowing Jesus

“I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NASB)

Before he became a Christian, the Apostle Paul was a very prideful man. He had been brought up in the strictest form of Judaism. He had been educated by the greatest rabbi in Jerusalem. And he had excelled, far beyond any of his classmates in knowledge and in zeal for the Lord. From a Jewish perspective, he was a tremendous success. From a worldly perspective, he would have been a tremendous success. But Paul eventually came to the realization that all of his accolades and accomplishments were worthless when viewed from the perspective of eternity.

Paul, as a Jew, hated Jesus Christ. He sought to destroy Christianity and sought to imprison all those who followed Jesus. But while chasing Christians to Damascus, Paul had an encounter with the risen Christ, and his life was forever changed. Humbled, broken, convicted, and repentant—Paul went from being a persecutor of Christians to being their most outspoken leader. Eventually Paul would give his life for the cause of Christ and would die a martyr for the very faith he once tried to destroy. Paul’s eternal destiny was changed. And so were his views on success.

There’s nothing like having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul said that every other treasure in life was “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ. Paul had the finest education, the praises of his colleagues, and was at the top of the ladder in his profession. And he considered it all to be trash, compared to knowing Jesus.

Too many people in our world today judge success from a temporal perspective. You may make a million dollars and live a hundred years---and still spend an eternity in Hell. Or you may be dirt poor and die young, yet spend an eternity experiencing the infinite joys of Heaven. The determining factor will be whether or not you knew Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. The Bible teaches that it isn’t enough to simply know facts about Jesus. You must have a personal relationship with Him. You must turn from sin in repentance and place your faith in Jesus as Lord. You must follow Him on earth, if you want to be with Him in Heaven.

Don’t make the mistake of seeking earthly treasure, while ignoring your eternal destiny. Turn to Christ today, and look forward to being with Him for the next ten million tomorrows….and beyond.

The God-Inspired Word

I once heard a pastor say that he liked the Apostle Paul, but he disagreed with some of Paul’s opinions given in the Bible.  While Paul was a man who could make mistakes like anyone, we must understand that when Paul and others wrote Scripture, no mistakes were made.  The reason for this is because Paul wasn’t simply writing his “opinions” – he was writing God’s eternal Word.  The Bible says:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (1 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)  The word for “inspired” is a word that literally means “God-breathed” and since God is perfect we can rest assured that Scripture is as well.  After all, God doesn’t breathe errors.

            In a world like ours, where there are so many different viewpoints and so much information to sift through; it’s comforting to know that there is a source of truth that is reliable.  Yet sadly, many people reject, distort, and malign Scripture because parts of it conflict with their chosen way of life.  But as Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation said:  “God’s truth abideth still.”  In this world of confusion, we have a moral compass to point us in the right direction.  And that moral compass is the Bible.

            So pick up God’s book and start reading it.  Study it.  Pray though it.  And go to a church where it is faithfully taught and preached.  The power of God’s Word to change lives is infinite.  For in His Word you will find direction, wisdom, comfort, strength, peace, and the way to eternal salvation.  Let the world scoff if they like; but trust in the Bible and the God who inspired every word of it.  As Jesus said:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)

Obedient Faith From the Life of Noah

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household.” Hebrews 11:7 (NASB)

The Bible teaches us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  Without faith it is also impossible to be eternally saved by God.  The writer of Hebrews gives us an excellent example of faith in the person of Noah.

            Noah is one of those rare Bible characters that almost everyone has heard of.  The story of Noah’s Ark is well known to Christians and Non-Christians alike.  A lot of times we simply see it as a “cute” story about a man who took care of animals.  But Noah’s story goes much deeper than that.  The story of Noah’s Ark is a story of God’s judgment against sin – and God’s salvation through faith.  Noah was warned by God that devastation was coming; and he was told to prepare for it by building a massive boat. 

            Put yourself in Noah’s place and ask yourself what you would do.  You might have been prone to ignore God’s commandment.  After all, building an ark takes a lot of time and resources.   Furthermore, friends and neighbors might mock you as a fanatic for taking such drastic steps.  But notice what Noah’s response to God was:  “in reverence he prepared an ark.”  In other words, Noah had a healthy reverent and respectful fear of the Lord; and he knew that God would do exactly what he said he would do.  Do you have that same reverent fear of God?  And are you acting accordingly based upon what God has said?

            A day is coming in which Jesus Christ will return to the earth and judge us with eternity hanging in the balance.  And just as Noah was righteous “because of his faith” – so too will we be judged by our faith, or the lack thereof.  But our faith must be in the proper place.   We must place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of our life.  We must turn from our sin and follow Jesus forever.  This is the faith that saves the soul.  It’s a faith that will make you look different than the world at large.  It’s a faith that might get you mocked as Noah undoubtedly was.  And it’s a faith that fears the Lord more than it fears the persecutions that come from men.  Do you possess this faith?

            In Noah’s day, God warned of coming judgment; and everyone except the eight people in Noah’s immediate family ignored the warning.  In our day, Jesus warns us that judgment is coming and the vast majority of people ignore the warning.  Many perished in Noah’s Day.  Many more will perish in our day.  Will you be one of the perishing, or one of the saved?  That depends upon whom you fear; whom you trust; and whom you place your faith in.  Only Jesus has the power to save you.  Trust in Him today and follow Him forever.

Letter to the Editor on Abortion

Below is a Letter to the Editor I wrote regarding some of the abortion positions held by our U.S Congressional candidates.  It appeared in Wednesday's edition of the Linn County News. I know some of you don't live in the area, so you don't take our local paper. But you can get it delivered to your mailbox every week and keep up on the excitment of Linn County politics, which usually makes National politics seem mild and boring by comparison. I also write a weekly religion column for the newspaper called "Seeking Higher Ground"--which would be another good reason to subscribe.  (Click here for details) Now on to the letter...

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Dear Editor,

I was intrigued by some of the answers I read in last week’s primary election supplement on the issue of abortion. Current U.S. Representative Nancy Boyda said, “Abortion is a complex and difficult issue that does not lend itself well to labels.” With all due respect to Rep. Boyda, plunging a needle into a baby’s skull is not really that “complex” of an issue to figure out. If she needs help “labeling” this action, I’ll be glad to oblige her. The words: “barbaric”, “inhumane”, “vile”, and “evil” all come to mind. Boyda went on to say, “I consider every abortion a tragedy.” And yet it’s a “tragedy” that she repeatedly supports with her congressional vote, given her 100% approval rating from the Pro-Choice America Foundation (www.prochoiceamerica.org). Why would she vote to support “tragedies?” It’s an embarrassment for such hypocrisy to represent honest Kansans in Washington. Lynn Jenkins claims to be pro-life, “with exceptions.” Does our society make “exceptions” as to when it’s allowable to murder innocent adults? Then why should we have “exceptions” for murdering innocent children?

The truly sad part is that women should be leading the fight to ban this vicious practice, rather than defending it. Any mother who knows the feeling of an unborn baby’s flutter, or has heard a precious fetal heartbeat, or who has seen the ultrasound images of fingers, toes, eyes, arms, legs, heart, and brain; should succumb to their God-given conscience that cries out to them that abortion is wrong. Sadly, too many women in our society have bought into the radical feminist lie that the “right” to kill your own young should be protected. Instead of protecting the “right” of the young to live, breathe, and grow without threat of a doctor’s needle, or a confused mother’s “choice.”

It’s deeply disturbing that our nation has morally plummeted to the level of actually debating whether it’s alright to kill our children. To varying degrees, the two ladies running for the 2^nd district House seat have both said that it is alright, at least in some cases; and in so doing they have placed political ambition ahead of the innocent, feint throb of the unborn baby’s heart. Both ladies have bought into the lie that a woman’s “right” is more valuable than a child’s life. Shame on them for parroting the rhetoric of “choice” rather than defending the rights of a helpless child.

I’m not a Democrat, nor am I a Republican so I have no political axe to grind. I simply want to see common sense and decency win the day where innocent children are concerned. Quite simply, when I go to the ballot box, I will vote pro-life – without hesitation, regret, or “exception.” My hope is that others across our land will do the same and perhaps we can begin the process of ending the national nightmare of “choosing” to destroy our young.

Shane Kastler

Pleasanton, KS