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."

[blue-duncan]

Alright, alright, counselor, define and describe “The Church” for the benefit of the court reporter and the record, and keep your voice up.

[hosepipe]

[ This is the standard? We all know the Evil One can quote scripture, hp. ]

I know... but you must deal with "demons" directly..
Know what I mean..

[kosta50]

Doe snot? DOE SNOT??? I am sorry, but I find this extremely funny. Thanks for the laugh, Kosta :>)

It's like that "it looks like candy but it' snot." I know, I am a bad speller, I apologize. That's what happens when you multitask.

[kosta50]

Jesus came to make ALL religion obsolete, and DID.. Christianity according to Jesus is not supposed to be a religion.. And its not, its a family.. that you MUST be born into..

Sounds positively Islamic. You are doing real good, hose.

[hosepipe]

[ "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." But does this mean that every subsequent utterance is similarly inspired? That can hardly be so. ]

Well Dawg.. the inference is that Jesus "IS" that persons LORD, whether they say it or not.. thats even if they dont SAY it, he is.. Of course people can SAY Jesus is lord (of their life) when he ISN'T.. i.e. no Holy Spirit..

The inference being that he was(Lord to them) before they said it, NOT because of saying it.. The word "SAY" in this passage is "pregnant".. as by the way most of Jesus words are, if not all.. I might have missed some..

[hosepipe]

[ Sounds positively Islamic. You are doing real good, hose. ]

I know Islam quite well.. very "tribal".. like all religion.. Im a "flocker" not a mocker so I'll let that go.. Heck I've thrown a few spears myself.. However I know of a "Sufi"(moslem) that is not far from Christ.. he just don't know it yet.. He isn't a very good moslem.. maybe thats why.. The good ones are bad, the bad ones are better(moderate)..

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for your encouragements, dear brother in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for sharing your insights and testimony, dear brother in Christ!

You see... having the Holy Spirit as guide and listening with "both ears" can be tough.. Its wonderful that John was not Luke was not Paul was not Mark was not Matthew was not Moses etc.. We all see darkly as I beleive we are supposed to.. Each of our lives is unique in a thousand individual way.. What a plan that God would test his plan(s) though millions of different iterations.

Indeed, God is like a master artist. He doesn't mix all the colors on His palette into one. If He did, what would His Creation say?

The differences between the Apostles are beautiful as we can also see in the metaphor of gemstones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. – Revelation 21:19-20

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. – Psalms 19:1-3

Praise God!!!

[hosepipe]

[ Indeed, God is like a master artist. He doesn't mix all the colors on His palette into one. If He did, what would His Creation say? ]

Hmmmm.. they/it would say the same thing...

[Kolokotronis]

“Alright, alright, counselor, define and describe “The Church” for the benefit of the court reporter and the record, and keep your voice up.”

It is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as in the Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Church of Rome and those particular churches in communion with it. It is today what was, until the Great Schism and with the exception of the Monophysites, called simply The catholic Church.

There are those who might argue that there are some Lutheran dioceses which would qualify. There used to be some who argued that some dioceses of the Anglican Church also qualified. Whether there still are any or not I don’t know.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for your encouragements, dear brother in Christ!

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. - Revelation 3:7-13

How glorious are the promises to the overcomers in the Church of Philadelphia - those that keep His word and do not deny His Name!

What a blessing to be loved of Jesus, to be pillars in the temple of God with the names of God and the new Jerusalem written on them.

Praise God!!!

[hosepipe]

[ It is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as in the Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Church of Rome and those particular churches in communion with it. It is today what was, until the Great Schism and with the exception of the Monophysites, called simply The catholic Church. ]

Merely Sheep Pens as in John Ch. 10... that you must be called "OUT OF" as in Eklesia(called out of/ones).. Callaed out of what?.. Called out of religion.. i.e. orthodoxy.. All kinds of orthdox religion like Buddism, Hinduism, and Christian and Jewish even Moslem religion..

Upon hearing the voice of the shepard the sheep are glad to get out...... AND Flock up..
He that hears let him hear what the spirit says to the called out ones(church)..

[kosta50]

However, since that falsehood was in no way intended to actually convince ANYONE that Edwards was gay she did not breach any ethics, imo

So, opinions are okay, even if they are defaming?

Well, here is my opinion about Ann Coulter.

First of all, I suspect, she calls herself conservative, Republican, and probably "Christian" in the Reformed sense, proud, arrogant, prejudiced, unkind, unforgiving, "assured," and what not.

I believe she is a perfect extreme example of such a "Christian," where all the characteristics of one are laid bare for everyone to see. No doubt, in my mind, she doesn't hold back because all her sins that she will commit have already been forgiven in her mind. She is the extreme example of the pecca fortiter (sin boldly) abomination of Luther's message.

I believe that she is the epitome of the Reformed perversion of Christianity in that there is absolutely nothing, no reason whatsoever, for Reformed Christians to not act carnally, sin as much as possible, lie, cheat, defame, steal, even kill, because in their mind all their sins have been forgiven.

And when they add to this God's purpose, convinced that they are not guided by their own will, but by God, then we have what I call a Christian Muslim: a fundamentalist mind with jihadist tendencies using a different God, but the same principle, imo.

All this has been pointed out on FR by Kolo, Mark, StF, myself and other Catholics and Orthodox on these forums. WE all believe to various degrees perhaps that the Reformed theology may not promote that which is carnal, but iyt intrinsically lacks any checks and balances that will make any individual stop and say "am I supposed to be doing this?" In other words, it does not seem to promote repentance (if one's sins have already been forgiven) because it is not needed and "makes no sense." I am firmly convinced that it is an inherently man-made, tailor-made for man inclinations, self-serving religion based on self-rigtheousness.

Her falsehood, in my opinion, is not intended to convince anyone, because it's glaringly false, but it is intended, I think, to smear and defame. I am no lawyer, but even I know that defamation is not just a "joke."

I happen to be on the FR Ann Coulter ping list and have been reading her columns every week for several months now

Fine company you choose, imo.

It is unethical to tell a knowing lie for the purpose of convincing others of the truth of it

A lie is a lie. It is always there for one purpose: to deceive, to hurt.

It is completely different, for the reasons above and also that the businesses are in direct violation of the law

And defamation isn't? Not all speech is protected. Not all opinions are allowed.

If Annie was breaking the law, you don't think there are a million prosecutors out there who would stand in line to get her?

Annie? I see her more like a seven-headed Beast, but that's juts my perception. With millions of illegals in the country, you'd think a lawyer of her character would have prosecuted some businesses for their unethical practices. Lawyers have jobs. They don't go around crusading.

Instead of meeting justice, which is what she went to law school for (I hope), she is much happier "stirring up the pot" as she says, and being in the limelight as one of the favorite conservative attack dogs (no gander insinuated here/s). Prosecuting business for hiring illegal aliens is real work. Who wants that?

I certainly haven't read all of her work, but I do see a pattern from what I have read that is perfectly fine ethically and truthfully.

Bu we already know that our concepts of truth and ethics are like night and day, FK. So, it doesn't surprise me one bit that you would consider "Annie" Coulter truthful and ethical.

[kosta50]

Yes, that's exactly right. When God tests, it is with the EXPECTATION that the person will succeed

Whose expectation? God's? LOL!

1 Cor 10:13...If my above is right, then it looks like all men are tempted, but only the elect are tested

It does not provide the reason for testing. There is no reason for God to test anyone if He knows our hearts and minds.

[hosepipe]

Its ONLY RINOs that detest Ann COulter.. with the liberals shes talking to their hand... they couldnt care less about her..

But the RINOs detest her.. About stirring the pot..?

Thats what her name MEANS..
Coul·ter:a cutting tool (as a knife or sharp disc) that is attached to the beam of a plow, makes a vertical cut in the surface, and permits clean separation and effective covering of the soil and materials being turned unde

[Alamo-Girl]

Christianity according to Jesus is not supposed to be a religion.. And its not, its a family.. that you MUST be born into.. You are either part of the family or NOT..

Indeed. That, I aver, is the meaning of life. It is not "about" this heaven and earth but the next one, where we will live with God as adopted members of His family forevermore.

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.– Colossians 1:15-20

And again,

While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. – Matthew 12:46-50

And again,

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. - John 1:12-13

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. - Romans 8:15

And again,

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. – Revelation 13:8

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: - Ephesians 1:4

And again,

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. – Revelation 21:1-7

To God be the glory!

[hosepipe]

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
1 Cor 2;9

[blue-duncan]

“There is no reason for God to test anyone if He knows our hearts and minds.”

The reason the teacher tests is not to determine what he/she knows, but whether you will do what you have learned or are about to learn.

Many times God gives the test, then the lesson.

[hosepipe]

[ Many times God gives the test, then the lesson. ]

Thats heavy.. very deep.. I know the experience but have never had the words..
Thanks.. and its true..

[betty boop]

Does something need to be “biblical” to be of value to our theosis, bb? Surely you haven’t fallen that far from the Magisterium, have you?

The Bible is one of two essential works, IMHO, the other being the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, brought out in a magisterial new addition in the early '90s by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI. As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger presided over the Magisterium, which is of course biblically based.

My confession of the Faith is summed up in the Nicene Creed. What exactly are we arguing about here, Kolokotronis?