But even for Christians in Nepal, Reformed theology will be a hard, slow, long sell, as those believers grow from theological milk to solid food.
“In Nepal we didn’t know about Calvin or Reformed theology or even Pelagius. Christianity in Nepal is naturally very Arminian (without the label). The main reason behind this is that most of the people confuse Calvinism with Hindu fatalism—wrongly thinking everything in life is the consequence of your actions in a previous incarnation. This is man-centered fatalism, not grace-centered predestination. For those with a Hindu background, Calvinism is nonsense.”
The Call to Nepal
Suraj is a realist. It will take a lifetime of labor, and probably more, to see robust Reformed theology take root in Nepal. He is patient. He recently finished his bachelor’s degree, which cost Suraj and his wife all the money they had. He admits his education creates a financial hardship. And he admits pastoral jobs in Scotland are appealing. Why not just make a home in Edinburgh and work for a local church? “But my wife and I are convinced—we are called to return to Nepal. So many people’s lives are being destroyed. Their hearts have been blackened and darkened by sin. The light of the gospel can only expel this. We are called by God to Nepal. We must return.”
This costly commitment to Nepal excites John MacLeod, a professor and the Vice Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary. “Many students come from abroad to study in the UK, and are loathe to go back to serve the Lord in their own country,” he said. “Suraj, by contrast, has a deep longing to engage in mission in Nepal, mission that is rooted in Reformed theology and squarely based on the word of God. That thrills my soul.”
Suraj would prefer to stay in Scotland long enough to finish his master’s degree. Time is not the problem, nor academics. The trouble is finances. The master’s degree comes at a cost of £15,000 ($25,130), which he and his wife cannot yet afford. His bachelor’s degree cost £12,000 ($20,100). He works full-time during the summer months as a hotel room attendant (housekeeper) at The George Hotel, a luxurious 18th-century inn in Edinburgh. Roshani works at the hotel full-time all year. “She really supports me, and wants me to study more. We are happy. Our sacrifices are nothing in comparison to the amazing grace of God.”
Dreams for a Nation
Never before have the people of Nepal more desperately needed trained pastors and robust theology. Current numbers are not easy to find, but it is estimated that nearly 1 million believers now live in Nepal, making it the fastest growing country for Christianity in all of Asia, and quite possibly in the world. It’s a poor country. Pastors are poor. And Christianity comes at a cost. Localized persecution is not uncommon.
But despite the present hardships, and the hardships sure to come in the future, Suraj is eager to return with a vision as real as the brick streets of Bhaktapur. Brick by brick, believer by believer, Suraj is committed to building the church in Nepal.
He dreams of planting his first church in the heart of Nepal’s capital, a mother church to plant and reach the other cities and towns across the country. The church will be explicitly Reformed in its theology. In his words, “There is no church in Nepal that truly understands the Reformed theology of the Westminster Confession.”
He dreams of translating the Westminster Confession of Faith into his native tongue. He dreams of creating a network to financially support young Christians who want to attend good Bible colleges. He dreams of a modern band traveling Nepal to bring the gospel message through God-glorifying music followed by evangelistic preaching from Scripture. He dreams of bringing 600 Reformed books back to Nepal as the seed of a Reformed library for local pastors and seminary students. He dreams of writing books on Christology to combat certain heresies he perceives in the rapidly growing Christian communities in the nation.
He even dreams of a Reformed seminary one day in Nepal.
“All of this will take a very long time, but Reformed theology is biblical, and it must be taught and introduced as Christianity rapidly grows in Nepal. Some people may feel my plans are too big, but it’s all for the glory of God. I hope you understand; there are lots of things to be done in Nepal to win many people in Christ.”
But not yet, not for him. For now Suraj remains in Scotland to study theology. Provided he can find a way to support the financial cost of his master’s degree, his thesis will be devoted to how the body of Jesus is the true Temple where humans meet God (John 1:14; John 2.19″>2:19). This is the message Hindu temple goers in Nepal most need.
No later than November of 2015, Suraj Kasula and his wife plan to bring this hope of the true Temple back to the brick streets of Nepal lined with shrines spilling goat blood. It will be a sweet homecoming for a former thug—the most unlikely church planter in Nepal.
