Month: September 2025

Revival!

In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, there have been reports of a massive revival taking place in the U.S. and even in other countries around the world. Testimonies are of people buying their first Bibles, returning to church – or going for the first time, openly professing their faith, and of huge crowds of mourners gathering for prayer and candlelight vigils. At Charlie’s memorial service, over 200,000 people gathered to hear open proclamations of the Gospel, sing hymns, and cheer when his widow, Erika Kirk, announced forgiveness for her husband’s murderer – in the name of Jesus who forgave his own killers because, “they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Many people stood to announce, for the first time, that they believe in Jesus Christ. What was especially heartening was that, unlike me, many of those professing faith were young adults, those to whom Charlie directed much of his efforts.

What was, and is, happening? What is causing this massive wave of faith, this revival of Christian faith? Is this a fulfillment of the promise of Romans 8:28, “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”? Is it because people clearly heard the message of the Gospel and were convinced for the first time? Is it just a social phenomenon, a result of “social” media?Is it just an emotional reaction to a young family losing their husband and father? Is it a political movement of people tired of their “side” being targeted – this time, literally – by their opponents? Or is it a genuine move of the Holy Spirit, convicting people of sin (John 8:46) and calling them to faith in Christ?

As with most things in life, the reasons are probably mixed. Some have been deeply touched, and are looking for answers.  Some have been searching for God, and found a path to him. Others feel called to pick up Charlie’s torch to continue his work.

The same questions and answers can be asked of us, as well. What is our motive to believe in Christ and hold to that faith in spite of opposition and personal struggles? Is it because we were brought up in the Christian faith by godly parents, or heard a preacher in church, on TV, or on the internet? Did we find consolation in the Gospel during a time of loss? Or did the Gospel just finally make sense in a chaotic world?

Most importantly, is this revival, whether in society or in us personally, a human action, or a divine one? Are revivals man-made, or God-made?

This question has long been debated among Christians. There is a tension between God’s sovereignty over his creation (including us), and our responsibility to believe and follow God. The debate is between free will and determinism; does God choose us, or do we choose God?

On one side is Calvinism (named after the 16th century theologian, John Calvin). The other side is Arminianism (named after another 16th century theologian, Jacob Arminius).

    • Calvinism stresses the sovereignty of God and God’s will, saying that God predestined, before creation, to create some people to be saved, and some to be condemned, apart from anything they would do. If someone would believe in Christ and be saved, it is because God made them believe. They can’t resist or fall away.
    • On the other hand, Arminianism teaches that everyone can choose to believe.  If God judged and condemned people for not believing, even though he prevented them from having faith in the first place, how is that just? Without free agency, how can people be punished for what they do?

Both views have led to extremes:

    • Calvinists have said every dust particle falls where God has determined where it should land; that God has created certain people (the reprobate) for the purpose of condemning them; and even that missions are pointless, since God will save whom he will, in spite of our efforts. A true believer cannot fall away, which is proof they were the chosen..
    • Arminians say that God’s hands are tied, that the Holy Spirit is “too much a gentleman” to make anyone believe. He can “woo” a person, but the decision is up to the person. Ultimately, the only free being is the person, not God. In fact, God is in the process of learning from his interactions with humanity, how to be God.

While these are the extremes of the two viewpoints, they are real. And for those who argue for either viewpoint, the two opinions are mutually exclusive; it is logically impossible to be a “Cal-minian.”

Well, you can tell I don’t agree with either theology. I am, after all, a Lutheran.

So, how did Martin Luther (yet another 16th century theologian), address the issue of God’s sovereignty vs free will? Luther wrote a book titled, “On the Bondage of the Will.” He said that in matters of life “below us,” such as choosing what to wear, what to eat, and what tools to use, we have free will. In other words, we are not robots. However, in matters “above us,” such as our relations with God. we are not free. He argued that people can achieve salvation or redemption only through God’s grace, and cannot choose between good and evil through their own willpower. Indeed, our will is in “bondage to sin,” and cannot by itself do what is righteous.

He also wrote in his Small Catechism, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Luther thus affirmed that unless God calls and empowers us with saving grace, we cannot believe and be saved.

Lutherans hold to the distinction between Law and Gospel. Law is what God expects from us, and because we break it, we are condemned. We cannot do any action to save ourselves or be good enough. On the other hand, the Gospel saves us; it tells us what God has done for us. He has saved us in spite of our inability to save ourselves. It is the promise of salvation through faith apart from works. Romans 3:28 teaches, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Righteousness comes not from our efforts, but is given to us by Christ. Our own righteousness is like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6); Christ gives us his true righteousness through the Gospel.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” This passage stresses that our faith comes from God, pointing to God’s sovereignty. But other passages point to our responsibility to believe, and to hold to the faith, such as 2 Peter 3:9, which says, “[God]  is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Even Jesus warned, through the Parable of the Sower, that some people will believe the word of God, some will not, and others will start strong and then fall away (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-33).

Whether we believe or not, the responsibility is ours. Christ provides salvation through what he did on the Cross. Without that, we would all be lost. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and of the truth of the Gospel; without his work, we would be lost. Without the Father’s forgiveness, we would not be adopted as his children (John 1:12).

How the two truths, God’s sovereignty and our responsibility, interact, is very important to our understanding of both personal faith and revivals. I will have more to say, but for now, this blog has lasted long enough! So, turn in to “Revival! Part 2” next week! In the meantime, be sure to read the suggested Bible verse at the bottom of this page.

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Ephesians 1:11-14.

 

 

Shedding the Blood

This week, a young man with a rifle assassinated Charlie Kirk while Mr. Kirk was holding a public discussion/debate on the campus of a university in Utah. In the followup to this tragic event, the Governor of Utah offered condolences to the Kirk family, expressed outrage at the murder, vowed that the murderer would be found, and reminded everyone that the State of Utah still has the death penalty.

As I heard his comments, I was silently glad to hear that, and thought, “Good! The assassin deserves to die. I’m glad this didn’t happen in a state like California, where there has not been an execution since January of 2006.” Even though there are currently 587 inmates on “death row,” lawyers, the courts, and the governor have appealed, delayed, and stopped all executions of any condemned prisoners.

You must think I am a cold, compassionless person, and wonder how I could ever have been a pastor. After all, doesn’t the Bible tell me to forgive, turn the other cheek, and show mercy to those who sin? Since Charlie Kirk was himself a devout Christian, doesn’t the principle apply even more in this case?

Well, since Charlie was murdered, he is no longer able to forgive or turn the other cheek. So should we, in his stead, forgive for him? Does the death penalty, as some people argue, violate the commandment against killing? Does taking the assassin’s life make us no better than him?

As a person, and yes as a pastor, I believe that the death penalty is not only biblically warranted, but at times even required to be carried out. I base this on both Scriptural and practical grounds.

1. The first reference to the death penalty appears in Genesis 9:5-6. Following the Great Flood, God gave this command to Noah and his descendants (i.e., all of us): “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” Note that there is no reference to the death penalty as either a punishment or a deterrent; the penalty is because man or beast has killed someone made in God’s image. To kill a human, man or woman, is to strike against God himself.

2. The commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” is often used against the death penalty, but the word translated “kill” (ratsach) is actually a verb that means to murder, literally “to lie in wait, to commit premeditated murder.” Scripture makes a distinction between executing criminals and personal revenge killing or murder. When God condemned King Manasseh, it was because he had shed innocent blood (2 Kings 24:3-5).

3. God gave guidelines for preventing abuse of the death penalty. In Numbers 35, he established cities of refuge, to which anyone who killed someone “without intent” (accidentally) could flee for protection until the congregation shall hear his case and judge what should happen to him. In other words, a fair trial. In the case of someone who intentionally kills another, “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” (35:30). The passage ends with the requirement that the murderer be put to death, because his evil action has defiled the land, and that no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. (35:33).

4. Even in the New Testament, the government (not the individual) is given the power to punish evil, even to the extent of putting those who do evil to death. Romans 13:3-4 warns, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer (ESV).” As I have mentioned previously, a number of Sacramento sheriff’s deputies bought t-shirts with “be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain” and wore them under their uniforms. Governments are charged by God with securing the peace and restraining evil; that is government’s primary responsibility, and to do so it “bears the sword.”

5. Unfortunately, throughout history, governments have used executions as a political tool to hold onto power and oppress their enemies. Therefore, there must be guards against that power being misused. The US Constitution gives the death penalty as the punishment for treason, but like the Bible, requires “No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act” (Article III: Section 3, Clause 2). Then, the Fourteenth Amendment states: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” State laws provide jury trials, appeals processes, and limitations on death sentences to especially horrid crimes, such as multiple victims. An important limit on potentially wrongful convictions is the improvement of forensic evidence, such as DNA, to convict or clear suspects. To execute the wrong person would be as grievous as was the original crime.

6. Practically, there are crimes, such as killing children and first responders, and serial murders, that are so evil, they demand the ultimate punishment. Not only are the costs of incarcerating someone for life (50-plus years) a burden on society, but when justice is swift and deadly, criminals are forced to hesitate before killing in the first place.

A number of years ago, I watched the 1957 film, “12 Angry Men.” In it, a jury of men is deliberating the fate of a teenager charged with murder. At first, they all vote for conviction – except for one juror – who rightfully says that with the defendant’s life on the line, their decision shouldn’t be too hasty. So far so good. But then during their arguing over the case, they get into matters of society’s guilt for the conditions that led to the crime. Finally, they all voted for acquittal, based on society’s failures. This was my first experience with the view that “the perpetrator is the real victim” mentality, which in recent years has set criminals free and increased crime and danger to society.

When God gave his commandments, he knew what restrictions we needed to live at peace with each other. He forbade the things that turn us against each other: “Do not lie, cheat, commit adultery, steal, or kill.” If we break those laws, it is right that we are punished for doing so – in this life. But thanks be to God,  we know that in Christ, there is forgiveness in the life to come. For Christ has taken our divine punishment upon himself, so if we recognize our sin and repent of it, he will forgive us.

Regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassin, I don’t know where he will spend eternity. Will he truly repent of his sins and ask for God’s forgiveness in Christ? We should pray for his repentance, just as we pray for consolation for Charlie Kirk’s family. But that’s a separate issue; for he has murdered a man created in God’s image, and for that, God requires his blood. But for us, let us not resort to hate or vengeance, lest we also become evil in our hearts.

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Matthew 5:21-22.