Posted on 08/15/2015 6:07:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Christianity is booming in communist-ruled Cuba, and one indication of this is the continuing inflow of tens of thousands of Bibles which are distributed to the faithful in the country's more than 1,000 churches.
Last month, some 83,000 copies of the Bible poured into the country courtesy of the International Missions Board. The copies of the Bible are distributed by the Baptist Convention in Cuba.
The American Bible Society, which claims to have "strong relations with Cuban churches, both Catholic and Protestant," also started its "Million Bible Mission" last year. About 60,000 Bibles were imported and distributed to the faithful last year with the permission of the Cuban government.
"With a population of 11 million, a literacy rate of nearly 100 percent and an unprecedented growth in Christianity thanks to social, economic and political reforms, many Cubans are seeking guidance and hope found in God's Word," the American Bible Society said in a statement. "As a result of this unprecedented spiritual and cultural shift, demand for Bibles has outpaced supply. In addition, many Cubans cannot afford to import high-quality Bibles."
Bibles have been off the shelves in Cuban bookstores for more than half a century. They can only be accessed by people at churches.
Churches, in turn, depend on donations of Bibles. Church sources they have been having difficulty in meeting the demand given the increasing number of believers.
The number of traditional churches in Cuba broke the 1,000-mark this year while house churches increased to nearly 8,000.
This year also saw the restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States, brokered by Pope Francis himself, BBC wrote.
The secret negotiations, carried out in the Vatican, ended more than five decades of enmity between the two countries.
Pope Francis is set to visit Cuba on his way to the US in September.
Last March, more than 6,000 Cubans visited the first week of a 21-day exhibition in Havana showing Bible manuscripts and artefacts like the Dead Sea scrolls and Jewish Torah scrolls.
"There are some really exciting artefacts here that tell not only the history of how we got the Bible, but the impact that Spain and Latin America had on the history of the Bible," said Norman Conrad, co-curator of the Christian Heritage Museum.
Fred Hayek,
You spoke of ‘House Churches’, you MUST READ ‘The Heavenly Man’ by Paul Hattaway. It’s about ‘Brother Yun’, a pastor of China’s House Church movement.
Yun has suffered immensely, and he has a message that will greatly inspire every Christian.
Today Chinese missionaries are the ones involved in the ‘Back to Jerusalem’ movement, in which they are carrying the Good News back to it’s source. Naturally, their path will take them thru Islam. Such courage...
The “Hmmmm” posts are a recurring theme since the Great Purge of Roman Catholic versus Protestant debate threads. As we cannot read minds, we can only guess, but my guess is that the intent is to “warn Catholics” of a potential Protestant spin on an open thread. The “Hmmmm” tactic appears to be designed to poke the bear “safely,” by innuendo, but really is just transparent silliness, and unnecessarily inflammatory, IMHO.
However, where the questions raised by the “Hmmmm” can be answered, why not try to give them a useful answer? Most of the time it is easy enough, as here with the Bibles. The Gospel of God’s grace can be found in any of these translations. God will use His word as He sees fit. So be it.
Peace,
SR
amen.
We’ll send ‘em Bibles, they can send us cigars and Rum. Fair trade.
.....And will they listen.......NO.
That was exactly my thought too.
Implying that there is something nefarious going on and trying to cast doubt about the source, in this case, the American Bible Society.
Well nobody says that they are obligated to provide Catholic version Bibles and they are not suspect of ANYTHING if they don’t.
This technique smacks of being truly desperate in that the best one can do is cast suspicion on others because they can’t support their own position on its own merit.
Hinting at groundless suspicions and accusations backfires. People see through it and it does not damage the reputation of the American Bible Society in this case, as much as it does the person doing the *Hmmm*ing.
Especially when it’s been a regular occurrence on these threads.
So......
Salvation. If you have any issues with unscrupulous behavior or motivations of the person whom you are apparently suspect of, why don’t you just have the guts to come right out and say what you’re suggesting?
Then let your church step up to the plate and provide the Bibles to Cuba themselves that they think are adequate.
But don’t imply that others have to bow to Catholic demands to do things the way your church wants them done.
If they think something needs to be done *right*, let your church do it themselves at their own expense and leave others alone.
Nobody but Catholics are obligated to follow Catholicism.
In times past, in the 1500’s, the Council of Trent that the Catholic church held added some books to the canon of Scripture.
Catholics claim that only their version is the *correct* or *complete* version because it includes all the books they decided to add at that time.
A Bible is a Bible. Maybe they will read it. Some of y’all complain about the weirdest things.
So true. Thanks.
The ABS is one of my favorite organizations. They manufacture very special Bibles for our troops overseas. Small and compact, they fit nicely in a pocket or knapsack and have a very cool cammo cover. It is totally fitting that they be the first to be sending the Word of God to Cuba.
I have very limited funds and have to choose my charities carefully.
FR, ABS, and the USO. And that’s about it.
My best friend and spiritual mentor (the one who died in my arms in a helicopter) was involved with smuggling Bibles into the old Soviet Union. After the regimes fell, she shifted her focus to muslim countries. You can fit a LOT of Bibles under a burka!
No one was saying anything about Catholics until you complained about the kinds of Bibles. Quit complaining about what a group does freely. If y’all want different ones, then do it. No one is stopping y’all.
bump
Yep.
I agree.
Nobody even MENTIONED Catholicism until you came on this thread and started it.
Don’t play the martyr.
It doesn’t wear well when you do the provoking.
BTW, quit your Protestant bashing with your *Hmmmm.....* innuendos.
That's funny, because the Council of Florence that the Catholic church held about 80 years *before* Trent "added" exactly the same books to the canon. The people who translated the KJV, about 60 years *after* Trent, included them (albeit in separate section) as well.
Coincidence? I think not.
Yes, a memorable occasion. And your point is?
Peace,
SR
Catholics claim that only their version is the *correct* or *complete* version because it includes all the books they decided to add at that time.
There is nothing in those extra books that contributes to Christianity or salvation...Every bit of information need for salvation is provided in the (Protestant) Bible...
American Baptists have been sending out bibles for more years than I can count...And millions of those are free...A Christian would not criticize that important work for God...
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