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."
What makes you think there's a general failure to realize?
Thanks thanks.
Just seems obvious to this sociologist.
Sorry, I don’t see any good reason to answer that. Seriously. I’m studying, not conversing.
LOL.
I don’t consider that a cancer . . . though anything can be turned into one.
It has been my observation that few disciples carry on very well in the clothes & shoes of the founder.
I think Kenneth Hagin’s son is a very poor example of his dad’s values and priorities.
If I recall correctly, Quix came out of the closet on the occasion of someone making an analogy (no pun intended) of his intransigence resembling that of the Sodomites, or modern homosexuals...I can't remember which.
technically “reference”. We all do it somewhat.
Doesn’t get talked about often.
And behaviors consistent with the opposite seem to be well over lots of lines in lots of contexts in all groups of all flavors virtually all the time.
I know you've probably gotten ten posts by now that "they're really not dead", but I wonder if this is as big in the EOC? I know they aren't as militant about adoring Mary.
don’t forget - this is where my learning runs out - to note the persistence in incorrect spelling.
Really?
LOL.
I don’t recall that.
But I suppose I should clear it up.
Yeah, I had a few childhood experiences. Thankfully, has not been my choice or lifestyle.
Does that help?
Come on! I think one owes it to the people on this thread to define an abbreviation or other obscure reference one brings in. Is it pejorative to non-RCC folk?
BTW, here’s a post from Randall that doesn’t mention Catholics! - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1961570/posts
Nothing's perfect but Christ.
However, the closer a church adheres to the written word of God, the more confidence that church and its members may have that it is being led by the will and purpose of God by the gift the Holy Spirit.
(Please note the chapter on "the church" is listed 25th out of 33)
II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;[2] and of their children:[3] and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,[4] the house and family of God,[5] out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.[6] III. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ has given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and does, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.[7] IV. This catholic Church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.[8] And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.[9] V. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;[10] and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.[11] Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to His will.[12] VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.[14]
Of the Church
I. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all.[1]
As usual, all footnotes denotes Scriptural proofs found at the provided site.
Those saints in heaven - except for Enoch & Elijah - have died the first death. That’s what’s meant by the reference to “praying to dead human beings”. Saints in heaven are alive in spirit, awaiting the glorious resurrection of their new bodies.
I believe that the RC reps are well aware of that.
They just like some shred of a balsa wood toothpic to build another edifice of rationalizations on.
Wow, isn't he the guy that wrote "Godliness is Profitable?"
That kid MUST be a real piece of work.
Dr.E: Christ said, "Be not afraid; only believe." (Mark 5:36)
FWIW, the answer is YES a thousand times YES any assembly that teaches otherwise run away from as fast as you can.
John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned...
You may be a perfectly irenic and reasonable brother in the Lord. I don't know one way or the other and truly do not have an opinion.
But I've seen enough really awful stuff here to discourage anything like frank participation on my part. I am simply no longer interested in discussing anything with anybody whose opening conversational move is to call me an idolater. But people who think that's a great conversation starter ARE worthy of study.
That the person who does that says something nasty -- or nice, for that matter -- about anybody else doesn't mitigate the problem.
Anyone with half a wit to rub together knows that idolatry is the root and fruit of pride and, since it involves breaking the first commandment is rightly considered the first sin. That in itself does not provide a justification for picking fights.
That somebody has an obsession about my faith does not impose a moral obligation on me to make myself his victim.
YMMV
Incidentally, I can’t help noting that we have the same last name. You think we might be cousins?
He probably does an above average job for a son.
I just think that his humility doesn’t approach that of his Dad’s. consequently . . .
Believing the chair will hold you up is one thing, actually sitting in it is yet another, do both and you have real belief in the seating power of the chair:)
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