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."

[MarkBsnr]

You said what you said. And no amount of vehemence will possibly blur your words. They are there and they are clear. You said what you said.

You do not clarify here. You are stating something that is easily refuted by going back to the original post. Reformed theology is a man made sham and your posts support that view.

Reformed theology is evil and of the devil. It divides men and blurs the words of Jesus. Think of all the posts that the Reformed include the words of other than Jesus.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Not Calvin. And not any of the Reformers.

Reformed theology is not Christianity. We Christians understand that non Christians who do not believe in the Christian God will not attain everlasting life.

Repent and believe. Faith is not Gnostic knowledge. It is belief. Repent and believe and foresake the idiotic idea of a Gnostic elected elite that gets a limousine ride to Heaven.

[MarkBsnr]

***The reformers had no problem with doing it.. why not the RC church with all its resources..***

Gutenberg had just arrived.

The overriding impetus was the power struggle that the German nobles felt that they could suddenly win. It had nothing to do with theology.

[MarkBsnr]

***Mark, the word Gnostic touches Portestant’s nerves. In proving that they “know” they can only quote St. Paul. Wnich is why they like him so much and which is why the Gnostics liked Paul so much. And, let’s not forget, his was Marcion’s only Apostle whose works were good enough to keep in their entirety.
You see, without the knowledge, their whole belief falls apart. Yet when challeneged to porve what they know they can’t. That’s the point when they say “you don’t have eyes and ears...” Very convincing...LOL.***

When one rejects God’s church, one has to have a really big lie to replace it.

Falling apart? You bet. It gets really irritating when they get accused of creating God in their own image.

[MarkBsnr]

Thank you for adding evidence to my posts, sir.

God love us all and has freely given His Grace to all. I agree very much and thank you for opening this thread.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

You said what you said. And no amount of vehemence will possibly blur your words. They are there and they are clear. You said what you said.

Mark, sometimes these discussions are really tedious.

Just what is it I was supposed to have said that you don't understand or you have misinterpreted.

As noted, you tend to yell "gotcha! when no one is around to hear you.

Reformed theology is evil and of the devil

Just lol.

[MarkBsnr]

***While I strongly disagree with their views and believe it is heretical in nature, there is a consistent pattern of how they arrived at it. However, their view is built upon Cassian’s point of view that was considered heresy by the Roman Catholics at one time.***

What is the basis of your judgement on what is heretical and what is not?

***It is an idolatry nonsensical doctrine that Catholics can’t even keep straight; raising Mary and the Church far higher than our Lord Jesus.***

No it is not. You have no proof nor do you have sufficient evidence.

***Catholics can’t even define what it means to venerate something**

We can and we do.

*** It doesn’t surprise me to see the Roman Catholics slowing moving back towards the erroneous teachings of the Orthodox because they can’t figure out simple concepts like “a chosen nation”.***

Huh? Can we pull together a coherant post please?

[Quix]

Amen Amen!

Here’s some more from the Gaithers . . .

CHILD YOU’RE FORGIVEN —GAITHER VOCAL BAND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA1BMCMWxE8

CHURCH TRIUMPHANT —GAITHERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y0MstLEdT4

COMEDY—GAITHERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQkeNv5lBLI

EAGLE SONG —GAITHER SOUND ASIAN TEENS? LIP SINKING TO SOUND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bEcWzSiyd8

GIVE IT AWAY —GAITHER VOCAL BAND (PROMO VID)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYPlV3NiM9U

HEAVEN’S JOY AWAITS —GAITHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7KNF6lilU

HE SET ME FREE by Russ Taff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ0QC9LCkMU&feature=related

HE TOUCHED ME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEqUnEo10kw&feature=related

HE’S A PERSONAL SAVIOR —GAITHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfGQJ6otObc

HIDE THOU ME GAITHER VOCAL BAND (FULL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev5tqgvYlEA&feature=related

HIS LOVE IS LIKE A RIVER —GAITHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hous229DsXo

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY by DAVID PHELPS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSB82oD9qYg

[MarkBsnr]

***Your tag line says it all. Have a day.***

My tag line is a quote from St. Augustine (who in his heretical days was a darling of the Reformed). I intend to have a day, and perhaps, God willing, another day after that.

[Quix]

Reformed theology is not Christianity.

= = =

Oh, Really?

I’m convinced God has a different perspective.

But . . . again . . . as I noted in post 41 of whatever thread . . . it’s the practice that IS and that communicates Christianity . . .

—not the doctrinal pedigree;
—not the organizational history—rubber or otherwise;
—not the theological pontifical intellectual lineage;
—not a long list of things . . .

Christ and Him crucified and what His priorities are for that individual, family, group at that point in time . . . that is Christianity regardless of a long, long list of other chaff.

[Quix]

I realize your FREEPMAIL was likely tag team . . . something or other given your buddy was bowing out for whatever reasons . . .

However, your . . . presentations on this thread against Protty’s . . . are as . . . whatever as anything Dr E or I have ever written regarding the RC edifice.

I shall yet again thicken my hide and laugh uproariously when next the wailing and whining starts over some of our posts.

Prissy fierceness, theoretically, to me, is not a microgram’s worth more saintly than the rough and tumble kind.

[irishtenor]

Pot, Kettle?

Mark, you are so far off the mark it isn’t funny. Reformed theology brings people BACK to God, not the church. We worship a risen savior, Christ Jesus. That is ALL we worship. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE REFORMED ON THIS THREAD WILL SAY THE SAME THING.

***Think of all the posts that the Reformed include the words of other than Jesus.***

This one really kills me. We post scripture after scripture and you guys post the old church fathers. You constantly ignore scripture to see what Augustine or whosit or whatever have to say.

***Reformed theology is not Christianity.***

What would you say Christianity is OTHER than belief in Jesus Christ as your savior? I believe in Jesus. I am a Christian. Anyone who says otherwise is of the devil, trying to confuse people.

Just because you have some weird, confused idea of what we believe doesn’t make you right. I dare you to look at any post of Gamecock, xzins, Dr.E, etc. etc and show me one post where they do not believe in Jesus as their savior.

Deny it all you want, we are believers, we love God, we love Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us.

Jealosy will get you no where. Repent of your childish ways, turn to Christ and be saved.

[MarkBsnr]

***Just what is it I was supposed to have said that you don’t understand or you have misinterpreted.***

This is not the first time that you have claimed ignorance of the content of your posts. Is it wilfull ignorance, or is a ploy to try to deny posting content?

I very clearly quoted you when you posted two ludicrously opposite thoughts in adjoining paragraphs. If you do not remember, perhaps a reminder of the posting might be in order.

***As noted, you tend to yell “gotcha! when no one is around to hear you.***

I speak the truth and I do not lie. Can you say the same?

***Reformed theology is evil and of the devil

Just lol.***

Try that lol on the Judge of all. Some of us take our theology seriously; we also take the source of our theology seriously. We pick Jesus over Calvin.

[irishtenor]

You pick the church over everything.

[MarkBsnr]

***I’m convinced God has a different perspective.***

So does every Tom, Dick and Charles. It doesn’t make it right, though.

[MarkBsnr]

***Mark, you are so far off the mark it isn’t funny. Reformed theology brings people BACK to God, not the church. We worship a risen savior, Christ Jesus. That is ALL we worship. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE REFORMED ON THIS THREAD WILL SAY THE SAME THING.***

Very fine attempt. You worship an elite saviour that has elected a few to Heaven and condemns the bulk of His creation to hell.

***We post scripture after scripture and you guys post the old church fathers. You constantly ignore scripture to see what Augustine or whosit or whatever have to say.***

You post misinterpretation after misinterpretation of St. Paul in opposition to the words of Jesus. You do not consider the message of the Messiah to be worth anything other than what will support the words of Calvin.

***I dare you to look at any post of Gamecock, xzins, Dr.E, etc. etc and show me one post where they do not believe in Jesus as their savior.***

I don’t believe that their understanding of Jesus amounts to anything more accurate than that of the LDS.

***Deny it all you want, we are believers, we love God, we love Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us.***

I don’t believe that the love of God is the ultimate impetus. I think that the belief is that of an elitist Gnostic self-satisfied cult that smirks in its elitism and its own unworthy elevation over everyone else.

[hosepipe]

[ When one rejects God’s church, one has to have a really big lie to replace it. ]

Not according to the book of Revelation..
Which is the "Vision" of Jesus..(Rev ch 1:1)

[MarkBsnr]

***You pick the church over everything.***

If Jesus has given us the Church, then why would one reject it?