Posted on 01/27/2008 7:56:14 PM PST by 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."
AMEN!!!
In addition, Apostolics don't generally "like" the OT because they think it portrays a God that doesn't fit the Church's model. "God is love and nothing more" (by human definition) and that sort of thing. So, to illustrate the FULL revelation of God to man, we quote from the OT. Now, if you observed Reformers practicing apologetics with atheists, then you would see us quoting from the Gospels every bit as much as you ever would yourselves.
ALL scripture is God's TRUTH.
AMEN, FK!
"Love rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." [I Corinthians 13:6]
A Christian's love rejoices in the truth.
Amen. Well said!
LOL. Then stop criticizing the Reformers for quoting Paul since we do so not to the exclusion of the words of Christ, but in tandem with them.
Wow. An entire Sunday school lesson in one post. Thank you!
Since you keep repeating this over and over and over, please back up your assertions by telling us some of the "elements of Catholic doctrine" you "disagree" with.
And because you're very quick with criticism, and because you continually tell us you "are not a Catholic," please enlighten us as to what faith you practice or what church you belong to.
cosmetic differences
I've never met a Protestant who believed the differences between Bible-believing Christians and the RCC were "cosmetic."
Far from it.
There is the view of the Catholic Church, a view espoused more and more by Protestants: Justification is making a man righteous in his own person. It is by faith and works that a man is transformed in the righteous person that is justified before God.
And, there is Sola Fide, by faith alone that a man is justified. This is the view of Luther and the Reformers. Justification is forensic. We are declared righteous through the imputation of the "alien" righteousness of Christ to us.
AMEN!
Rome is wrong. Let her repent of her vain attempts to become righteous and her blasphemies against Christ. Let her discard her filthy rags and embrace the righteousness from God. Let her take up the message of outreach: God sees men righteous solely because of the blood of Christ. Simul Iustus et Peccator. Your contribution to your salvation: your sin. God's contribution to your salvation: the grace of God which was shed. God justifies the ungodly. This is the message of salvation. This is the message of the Reformers.
Preach it, brother!!!
I made a simple observation (so I thought) question on another site, in response to a news report of the pope condemning the distribution of condemns at the festival in Brazil in the near future.
My observation: “Pity the pope doesn’t get angry about people worshiping idols and men, or about people trusting in works and dead women to save their souls.”
Lots more, here - http://www.haloscan.com/comments/americanpapist/3487308426837623122/?src=hsn
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." -- 1 Corinthians 3:6
When I first began posting to the RF, a FRiend advised me to simply rely on the word of God because it is best rebuke, rebuttal and resource on earth.
If the Holy Spirit decides to open someone's eyes, praise God. If not, we've still done as He commanded us to do -- preach the word in truth in season and out.
What??? You think a Protestant should research a Catholic problem and offer up Church discipline? I'd be laughed out of the Vatican. There are a number of posts of Catholic misdeeds. Nothing is ever acted upon. It is nice to see that they are taking some steps to address the pedophile issue but it comes after billions of dollars in judgments.
Again, such a broad statement.
This is simply a diversion.
If I was to point out this specific article as an example, undoubtedly I would hear this is an isolated instance. However, if I speak in generalities you say it's too broad. So let's focus on the email. Do you honestly think the archbishop is doing anything to discourage the pagan customs listed in this email? Do you think there is any Church discipline that is going to be exercised?
"...our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum." -- A.W. Tozer
AMEN!
(Be careful on the bike)
8~)
Funny, I don't believe Paul ever said Jesus was wrong.
L.A. Cardinal Mahoney's blind eye and ugly indifference while he's being deposed are terrifying to watch, which in turn led to the L.A. Archdiocese paying out $660 million in one day alone!
I'd even recommend watching this documentary with your children (older than 12 perhaps.) It's important to teach children that even men who tell the world they are "another Christ" can commit terrible, life-destroying sins and then lie about them.
And the RCC will stand mute for as long as it can to protect them.
"We consider Paul to be pretty well on a par with Peter as the greatest of the Apostles, with all the others as lessers."
So there's no pleasing some people.
Many thanks. Yes, I ride with the counsel of one of my favorite theologians, Dirty Harry: “A man’s gotta know his limitations” - and those of his bike. And that he’s invisible to all the cars and trucks, etc.
As Martin Luther put it - “Peace if possible, Truth at all costs.”
I just rec’d an email from 9Marks - a wonderful ministry focused on helping churches be Biblical. The first 2 pages of this report - http://involve.9marks.org/site/DocServer/2007_Report_Card.pdf?docID=281
are devastating to the man-pleasing churches in our midst.
Thanks for the heads up.
“And the RCC will stand mute for as long as it can to protect them.”
That’s a good point. I wonder what our own “Dr Phil” thinks of this phenomenon?
Don't be intimidated by those with the seminary degrees, or the long wordy answers. It's real simple. If something is being stated as a fact ask where is it understandable in the Bible. If you can't find it in the Bible, guess what it's probably not good.
What a frightening thought.
Amen!
It is an inner desire that changes. As you mature in your Christian walk the desire grows to do good things and the desire to do bad things diminishes. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
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