Caesar Kalinowski has released a new book. The topic? Spiritual transformation. The book is aptly called Transformed. I caught up with Caesar recently to discuss his new book. Enjoy!
Instead of asking, “what is your book about,” I’m going to ask the question that’s behind that question. And that unspoken question is, “how are readers going to benefit from reading your book?”
Caesar Kalinowski: Transformed was written to awaken the hearts of people to their true identity and birthright as Christians. If we are in Christ, then the Bible teaches we have been transformed and given a new identity; we have become part of a family of missionary servants, sent to serve the world and make disciples of Jesus.
This is who we are. This is our new identity. This is the secret to a fulfilled life.
And this is true of us as Christians even if we never knew it. This is our birthright!
Transformed will show readers who they are and how they get to live in light of this amazing truth. The more we understand and believe this to be true, the more our lives will be a living example of who God is and what life in his family here on earth is truly like.
I recorded a short video that helps explain all of this in a simple way; your readers will find it super encouraging.
Tell us a bit about the experiences that shaped the insights in the book.
Caesar: I used to serve as a “missions pastor” at a very, very large church. I began to notice a shift happening in my heart as I compared and contrasted the life of those in the Church in Sudan, Burma, Thailand or other third-world countries to my life back home in the American church. These dear brothers and sisters overseas that suffered so much for their faith had almost no material possessions, and yet they had great joy in Christ. They didn’t do church–they were the church. When I would come home and help pull off one of our many weekend services, the contrast was stark. It seemed that what we did made us the church. And I began to wonder, “Is this it? Is this what Jesus came to die for?” I deeply desired to tap into what my brothers and sisters in war-torn nations knew about Jesus and who they believed themselves to be because of Him.
Now on this journey, our family began to live as an oikos–an extended family living together on God’s mission. As we invited others to join us and started to help them form their own missional communities, we quickly realized that our motivation to live out a gospel-centered life needed to emerge from our true transformed identity–not from completing some sort of “missional to-do list” and then returning to a life lived chasing the American Dream. Since those early formational days in community we have been forming people in their gospel identity and teaching them to live in light of this truth in all of the normal rhythms of daily life.
How is your book different from the many other books on Christian transformation?
Caesar: I’m not too sure how many books have been written on this idea that we were transformed in an instant at our conversion–our new birth. But what I’ve read on sanctification has all primarily focused on sin management and trying hard to live a life pleasing to God. Transformed reminds us that because of the gospel, we are already pleasing in our Father’s eyes and completely accepted by Him because of Jesus. When we believe that the God of the universe is our Daddy, and is crazy about us, everything changes! We’re set free to pursue His glory–not his approval.
The other thing that is unique about Transformed is that it is completely driven by narratives about everyday life. This is really the story, or stories, of how my family and those in my church community have begun to live out our true identity in all the normal stuff of life. I actually break down each of the four aspects of our identity: Family, Missionary, Servant, Disciple and look at how we live these out in six normal, daily rhythms that are true and evident in every person’s life–already. The book tries to help people see their lives lived on God’s mission as something they get to do out of new intentionality rather than something that needs to be added into their already busy lives.
The way of the world is, we do things (perform, serve, work etc.) to have value in the eyes of our family, friends, parents, spouse, siblings, boss, pastor etc. If we do a good enough job and are perceived as valuable, then people will want us around. We will be desired. Out of this activity we often form our identity. What we do has led to who we are. Or at least we think it has. But there is a huge problem with this, it is terribly dangerous, it eventually crushes us, and it goes against how God now sees us.
Don’t believe the DO=BE lies anymore!
Give us two or three insights from the book that would be helpful to Christians.
Caesar: Picture this. When you were born, some long-lost uncle placed a billion dollars into a bank account under your name. He planned to give it to you when you became an adult, but on the way home from the bank that day he was unfortunately killed in an accident, and all records of that money–your money–were lost forever. The deposit has now sat in that bank account accruing interest for twenty, thirty, forty years or more. With interest, this treasure has grown to be worth a zillion dollars.
One day, miraculously, evidence is finally found proving whose money this is that has been available all these years. You can hardly believe it’s true even after being told this mind-blowing news and shown the proof.
You’ve never known it was there and you have lived your life, like a lot of people, working hard to make ends meet. At times you have even done a few things to get by that you were not all that proud of. How different would—could—your life be if you had only known about this amazing, incredible inheritance that was yours all along?
Now imagine this inheritance multiplied in unfathomable ways and given to you, because this is what is now true for you as a child of God. You have become co-heir of all things in the world with Jesus. God’s own Spirit has come to live in you and love you through every step of your life from here on out. It seems too good to be true.
But it is true.
What do you expect to happen when readers finish your book?
Caesar: Well Frank, I really hope that everyone who reads this book will be set free from performance-driven spirituality and guilt, and draw closer to God. I hope they’ll let Him radically change the well-worn rhythms and patterns of their every day life from the inside out as they come to believe who they are and seek to show others the way.
Oh, and I hope they’ll share this book with everyone they know!
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