Back in 1968, a band named People!, whose members included Larry Norman, the founding father of Christian rock, released its debut album “I Love You.” One of the songs was titled “We Need a Lot More Jesus (And a Lot Less Rock & Roll).” 

In the latest episode of my Cephas Hour podcast, I go for both. Topics covered include the entertainment industry’s latest effort to gin up artificial controversy, how the artists I play in the show help bring me closer to Jesus through their ministry, and how failure is not the end.

You can listen to the new episode at this link (the show’s website is currently on the fritz, but the show itself is available) or wherever you get your podcasts. Except Spotify. They still don't get it. Hope you enjoy it, and thanks.

I was reading RedState earlier today and came across an excellent post by Brandon Morse from February 18 discussing the casting of ‟Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo as Jesus in yet another revival of the musical ‟Jesus Christ Superstar.” Erivo is a black lesbian.

MORE: Hollywood's Attempt to Insult and Infuriate Christians Exposes Their Desperation

As Brandon succinctly pointed out in his post, which is available only for VIP subscribers to RedState (link to subscribe here), the casting is nothing more than a feeble attempt to gin up outrage by Christians and corresponding publicity. It’s all taken place before. Solomon was correct; there is nothing new under the sun.

The question, however, remains regardless of the tired trope once again trotted out by pop culture wannabe shapers attempting to revive the ersatz edgy game yet again. How should Christians react to such?

My suggestion is with a yawn.

Unless you live in a soundproofed bunker from which you never emerge, you hear our Lord’s name taken in vain every day. You see, hear, and read advertisements appealing to humanity’s most base and depraved nature. You and I live in a world diametrically opposed to the Gospel, a world doing everything within its power to deny the Lordship of Jesus and its individual plus collective need for repentance from its sins. This has been humanity’s way since the Fall, and it will continue to be its way until our Lord returns in glory to establish His Kingdom upon the earth.

In the meanwhile, we are best advised to both quietly chuckle and sadly shake our heads at the world’s folly, always mindful that but for God’s grace, we would be engaging in similar, if not even worse, foolishness. ‟In the world, but not of it” is not a mere saying we wearily quote whenever we don’t feel like playing. It’s a way of life.

I primarily do this podcast to remind people how great so much of what can be safely labeled classic Christian rock and pop was and is. I also enjoy playing music by new independent artists who are creating quality stuff.

So often in our lives, God uses a song precisely when we need its message the most. Or, perhaps it’s a particular artist who brings Jesus to mind when we’re wondering where He is at a time when life is hitting us hard, fast, and continuously.

Without going into the details, as I mentioned in a previous podcast, I’ve been going through some heavy weather for quite some time. During that time, which is still ongoing, twice when I’ve been at my lowest, one of this particular artist’s songs has come on the radio. His witness, gift, and ministry have powerfully reminded me that God is still in control and it will be all right. My prayer is that one or more of the songs I’ve played here have done the same for you.

With that, thank you, Richie Furay.

In Luke’s Gospel, after the Last Supper, we find these words from Jesus to Peter:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

There’s a lot here upon which to meditate.

Interestingly, Jesus called Peter by Peter’s given name Simon, for as noted in both the Gospels of Matthew and John He had long ago told Peter that He had named him Peter. As a side note, in John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the Aramaic word Cephas, which, like Peter in Greek, translates into ‟rock.” From whence this podcast’s name comes.

Note that Jesus did not tell Peter that in response to Satan’s request to sift him like wheat, Jesus would supply Peter with a get-out-of-jail card. Instead, Satan would indeed sift Peter. In the case of actual wheat, at that time, as has always been and will always be the case, sifting was in a non-gentle manner shaking the wheat after it had grown to maturity to separate that which is good and useful, namely the seed, from that which had been previously useful, namely the outer shell of the wheat kernels which we call the chaff, which serves as a protective cover for the seed as it grows but is not edible for humans.

Peter failed Jesus. He denied knowing Him three times. Yet Jesus left Peter in charge after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, knowing that Peter would repent and return. This duly noted, the importance of the exchange in John’s Gospel between Jesus and Peter, in which Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Jesus, cannot be overstated. One time, for each time, Peter had denied so much as knowing Jesus.

As King David noted in the Psalms:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

God forgives sin, but He does not let us forget that we are sinners saved by nothing except His grace.