Conclusion from Peru and Mexico

email from Randall Easter | 25 January 2008 | Randall Easter

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

January 25, 2008

ESV Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

In recent days I have spent time in Lima and Sullana Peru and Mexico City and I have discovered that people by nature are the same. Man has a heart that is inclined to selfishness and idolatry. Sin abounds in the remotest parts of the land because the heart is desperately wicked. Thousands bow before statues of Mary and pray to her hoping for answers. I have seen these people stare hopelessly at Mary icons, Jesus icons, and a host of dead saints who will do nothing for them. I have talked with people who pray to the pope and say that they love him. I talked with one lady who said that she knew that Jesus was the Savior, but she loved the pope. Thousands bow before Santa Muerte (holy death angel) in hopes that she will do whatever they ask her. I have seen people bring money, burning cigarettes, beer, whiskey, chocolate, plants, and flowers to Santa Muerte in hopes of her answers. I have seen these people bowing on their knees on the concrete in the middle of public places to worship their idol. Millions of people come into the Basilica in Mexico City and pay their money, confess their sins, and stare hopelessly at relics in hope that their sins will be pardoned. In America countless thousands are chained to baseball games, football games, material possessions, and whatever else their heart of idols can produce to worship.

My heart has broken in these last weeks because the God of heaven is not honored as he ought to be honored. People worship the things that are created rather than worshiping the Creator. God has been gracious to all mankind and yet mankind has hardened their hearts against a loving God. God brings the rain on the just and unjust. God brings the beautiful sunrises and sunsets upon the just and unjust. God gives good gifts unto all and above all things he has given his Son that those who would believe in him would be saved. However, man has taken the good things of God and perverted them unto idols and turned their attention away from God. I get a feel for Jesus as he overlooked Jerusalem or Paul as he beseeched for God to save Israel. When you accept the reality of the truth of the glory of God is breaks your heart that people would turn away from the great and awesome God of heaven to serve lesser things. Moses was outraged by the golden calf, the prophets passionately preached against idolatry, Jesus was angered that the temple was changed in an idolatrous business, and Paul preached to the idolaters of Mars Hill by telling them of the unknown God.

I arrived back at home wondering how I should respond to all the idolatry that I have beheld in these last three weeks. I wondered how our church here in the states should respond to all of the idolatry in the world. What are the options? First, I suppose we could sit around and hope that people chose to get their life together and stop being idolaters. However, I do not know how that could ever happen apart from them hearing the truth. Second, I suppose we could spend a lifetime studying cultural issues and customs in hope that we could somehow learn to relate to the people of other countries. However, the bible is quite clear that all men are the same. Men are dead in sin, shaped in iniquity, and by nature are the enemies of God. Thirdly, we could pay other people or other agencies to go and do a work for us while we remain comfortably in the states. However, there is no way to insure that there will be doctrinal accuracy or integrity. If we only pay other people to take the gospel we will miss out on all of the benefits of being obedient to the mission of God. Lastly, we could seek where God would have us to do a lasting work and then invest our lives there for the glory of God. The gospel has the power to raise the dead in any culture and we must be willing to take the gospel wherever God would have us take it. It is for sure that our church cannot go to every country and reach every people group, so we must determine where God would have us work and seek to be obedient wherever that is.

It seems that some doors are opening in the Spanish speaking countries below us and perhaps God is beginning to reveal where we are to work. There are some options for work to be partnered with in Peru and there could be a couple of options in Mexico. The need is greater than I can express upon this paper for a biblical gospel to be proclaimed in Peru and Mexico. Oh, that God would glorify his great name in Peru and Mexico by using a small little church in a town that does not exist to proclaim his great gospel amongst a people who desperately need the truth.

I give thanks to the LORD for allowing me the privilege of going to these countries and broadening my horizons. The things that I have seen will be forever engraved upon my heart. I will long remember the pastors that I spent time with in Peru and I will never forget Adolfo who translated for me in Mexico. I will relish the time that I spent with Paul Washer and the others. When I think of church I will forever remember being on top of that mountain in Sullana at that church which had no electricity and no roof. I am convinced that heaven was looking down on that little church on top of that mountain and very few people on earth even know that it exist. Oh, God I pray that the things of this world will continue to grow dim and that God’s people will be caught up in his glorious presence.

Because of the truth: Pastor: J. Randall Easter II Timothy 2:19 "Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases."(Ps. 115:3) "He predestined us according to the good pleasure of His will."(Eph. 1:5) Those who have been saved have been saved for His glory and they are being made holy for this is the will of God. Are you being made holy? Spurgeon says, "If your religion does not make you holy it will damn you to hell."

[Religion Moderator]

I’ve noticed that you have lied

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

The word "lie" attributes motive to the other poster, an intent to deceive.

[Mad Dawg]

The word "lie" attributes motive to the other poster, an intent to deceive.

Please view post # 49

Could you please say what you mean by "ecumenic"?

[Religion Moderator]

That post has already been reviewed. The term "lie" was directed to the establishment religious authority, attributing motives to it or them not the Freeper.

Ecumenic = concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions; "ecumenical thinking"; "ecumenical activities"; "the ecumenical movement" Princeton wordnet

[Between the Lines]

if you read the entire post by Randall you would see that he is distressed by what he sees in his own life and in the church he pastors.

I have read it and reread it and you are seeing something I am not. What caught my attention about the article was the fact that it appeared Randall was starting to get introspective about idolatry in his own church, but he stops just short of it and then goes back to what we can do to help those idolaters.

One would have to be delusional to deny that such things take place.

I did not deny that such things happen, just that we cannot know for sure what is in the hearts of the worshiper and therefor cannot determine if it is truly idolatry.

To the degree that the people doing such are affiliated with the RCC, the RCC ought to discipline them rather than defend them.

I think it would be wise to clean up our own house before concerning ourselves with what the Catholics should or should not do. Idolatry is just as rampant in our churches as it is the Catholic church, it is just not as visible.

[Quix]

Good points, imho.

[MarkBsnr]

***Soooo, what Romanist Council did Jesus and the Apostles fall back on to know what was Scripture?

is “Romanist” the preferred term now? What ever happened to “Papist”?***

You forget, my friend, that many of these folks believe that the KJV was complete, read by Jesus and the Apostles (in English), and hundreds of millions of them were kept in locked warehouses by the Church until liberated by the theological giants Luther and Calvin.

Further, they believe that the mutilated and vandalized versions of the Bible that they quote from were written as is, commanded by Jesus to have the content that they have, and the Catholic Church is the entity that added the Deuterocanonicals in reponse to the holy interventions of the Reformers. And the Restorationists. And every other brand spanking new theological giant who can put a different twist on a different set of out of context Biblical verse and hang out a shingle to con the rubes.

[Gamecock]

The OPC (to which she claims that she belongs)

DOC! When did you go OPC???

[the_conscience]

***is “Romanist” the preferred term now? What ever happened to “Papist”?***

Papist is still applicable. Romanists is a broader term that encompasses all the idolatries such as Papism, Mariology, the Mass, worshipping of Saints, etc.

***The rest of your question, like you tag line is silly***

I’d much rather be silly than blasphemously believe the Word of God only gains effectiveness with approval of man.

[Between the Lines]

Thanks, but when it comes to searching our own hearts and being introspective in our own church, I know that with you, I am preaching to the choir.

[Mad Dawg]

The term "lie" was directed to the establishment religious authority, attributing motives to it or them not the Freeper.

The post concluded:

Try another lie.

Rithup to that, the permitted restriction to characterization of one's opponent's religious authorities as liars is preserved. But "try another lie," poisons the well and characterizes the poster as lying.

[Religion Moderator]

"Try another lie" did not change the ownership of the alleged lie, which was previously claimed in the same post. It therefore does not characterize the poster as lying.

It does however "poison the well" - but posters should always remember that lurkers weigh such behavior against the one pouring the poison, not the one he is trying to administer it to.

It always backfires.

Or as some say, posters only use spitwads when they have no ammunition.

[Quix]

Trying to bring tears to my eyes

may or may not earn extra points. LOL.

Thanks for your kind words . . . and you succeeded, not that

that was your goal.

[papertyger]

...but posters should always remember that lurkers weigh such behavior against the one pouring the poison, not the one he is trying to administer it to.

See that Mad Dawg, cheaters NEVER prosper.

[papertyger]

I'd much rather be silly than blasphemously believe the Word of God only gains effectiveness with approval of man.

You're right. Who'd be dopey enough to believe that?

[MarkBsnr]

***I’m not about to concede that the RC edifice has a monopoly on “catholic.” ***

It’s not about you. It’s about God.

***I don’t think the whole edifice any longer qualifies as a bonafide Christian Church. ***

You are entitled to your opinion. But it’s just an opinion.

***That’s the REALITY from my perspective***

It’s your perspective.

***This is NOT some mutually flattering context of a cozy Parish hall or friendly BINGO game.

DEAL WITH IT. ***

Some of us are.

***This is a somewhat moderated free-for all of RELIGIOUS ideas, convictions, perspectives, realities etc. ***

There is only one Triune God. Jesus came down from Heaven, was made man, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, He rose again. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

And He established a teaching group known as the Apostles in order to bring His Good News of Salvation to all the world. You can either follow it, or else you proclaim to follow one of its documents, but not it, or follow something else entirely.

That’s it. An individual that believes different than the Church of Jesus Christ teaches does not follow Him. You are welcome to all the opinions that you may formulate, yet Christian is a description of those who follow Christ and His commands. That’s it.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Mark is again confusing what was said with what he says.

There is not an OPC anywhere near us, but when asked which denomination this baptized as an infant and life-long Presbyterian feels most comfortable with, I have always answered, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

While church affiliation is important, it is not the means of our salvation or the reason for our salvation which some misguided RCs believe. The Holy Spirit is the deliverer of God's gift of faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice to the fallen sinner.

Some churches perceive God's grace more clearly than others, as these threads attest. Some churches very nearly obliterate God's word by the trappings of empty rituals and magical incantations and wooden statues and prayers to dead people.

I've sent Mark to the Westminster Confession of Faith, but sadly, he does not see the splendor of its Scriptural foundation.

I've also told Mark I'd probably feel comfortable worshiping in any Presbyterian church, any Reformed church, and most likely, almost any Protestant church where the word of God is preeminent.

Any church that adheres to the Bible cannot go too far astray. Any church that relegates the Bible to second place behind men and magisteriums is heading in the wrong direction.

So we preach the Gospel as God has commanded. It's up to God to open eyes and ears and to give the new heart.

Such a relief, eh, Gamecock? 8~)

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Missler? Do you mean Church Missler? As I recall, he’s a dispensationalist and I put little stock in that theological construct. If another Missler, please help me understand of whom ye speak.

[Quix]

That’s it. An individual that believes different than the Church of Jesus Christ teaches does not follow Him.

We on this side of things do not, for a microsecond, believe that the 400 year-johnny-come-lately theological political power mongers in Rome founded THE Church that Jesus founded--at all. The solid historically accurate evidence indicates wholesale otherwise.

Jesus Himself said that those WHO LOVED HIM, WHO DID THE WILL OF THE FATHER were His disciples. That slices through a lot of the walls of the RC edifice 144 ways to Sunday and beyond. The New Testament is clear about those who believe that Jesus came in the flesh . . . etc. are in concorde with Holy Spirit. . . .

Given

HOLY SPIRIT ENLIVENED SIGNS FOLLOWING

MANY OTHER CLUSTERS OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE JESUS EARNESTLY AS FULLY AS THEY KNOW HOW . . .

God seems to disagree with that perspective.

I'll trust God's judgment in the matter over that of the RC magicsterical any day, week, month, year, decade, century, millenium.

[Quix]

Well said.

Thx.

[the_conscience]

***Who’d be dopey enough to believe that?***

Ask MarkBsnr.

“(I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)”