Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Conclusion from Peru and Mexico
email from Randall Easter | 25 January 2008 | Randall Easter

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."


TOPICS: Apologetics; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: evangelism; mexico; peru; reformed; truth
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 3,781-3,8003,801-3,8203,821-3,840 ... 6,821-6,833 next last
To: Mad Dawg
William the Conqueror won (I hear tell) by feigning retreat. Harold's army followed in disorder and was cut to pieces.

To yield is not always to yield, it may be simply to engage on more favorable ground.

3,801 posted on 03/10/2008 6:25:04 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3798 | View Replies]

To: Mad Dawg
[ So in my exploratory conjecture, the difference is indicated less in "real" than in "there". I trust I make myself obscure. ]

LoL... What a concept.. Spiritual break dancing..
When you go beyond scripture you're courting "problems"..
i.e. Sola Scriptura...

Not only do the RCC and EO do spiritual break dancing but the prosties do too..
To RAP yet.. Semantical dialectic with segues of "If'n"...

3,802 posted on 03/10/2008 6:33:30 AM PDT by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3800 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg; Forest Keeper; wmfights; HarleyD; irishtenor; Marysecretary
Ah, but we've just made a giant leap forward because you now admit the Holy Spirit does indwell God's children

No, I said "provided." Read it again, carefully.

Nothing speculative or questionable

Just because you say so, it must be true?

Again, I'm happy to see you in agreement with us Bible-believers when you admit that some people actually do have new eyes from God and new ears from God

Wrong, again, Dr. E. I said "everyone...claims" to have (some sort of spiritual) eyes and ears.

What we do with those gifts says...who we are. They identify us

Actions speak louder than the words, Dr. E.

They are the result of God's favor

That is pure speculation on your part. First you are assuming that what we do, what defines us, is divine in origin and, second, you are assuming that it is a favor.

That's about as credible as saying there are pink unicorns on Jupiter.

3,803 posted on 03/10/2008 6:38:05 AM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3792 | View Replies]

To: stfassisi; Mad Dawg
The devil and his minions know they cannot achieve victory over those who have the faith of the Saints in His Eucharistic presence

I agree. Imagine if Christ decided to be "fair" and become (no pun intended) the devil's advocate in this case, and consider his arguments as potentially right—for academic reasons! Part of satanic relativism is precisely in the assumption that all religions have some truth and therefore must be treated as equal.

Satan convinced Eve that God is a liar. He also convinced many throughout the history that Christ and His Church were a lie, and ultimately, that the Eucharist is a dead "symbol," a"memory." He did that by changing theology! That's why we have a crop of cultists and heretics all over the place.

3,804 posted on 03/10/2008 6:51:47 AM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3799 | View Replies]

To: kosta50; stfassisi; hosepipe; HarleyD
Obviously I disagree.

(See above which I mean to address to stfassisi.)

I think neither of you has thought enough about Regensberg, about reason and faith.

I trust the Truth to be, self-disclosing. I trust the Logos, the Word.

Look at Popepipus the First's response. He reasserts Sola Scriptura and then pretty much throws out the entire enterprise of trying to understand one another's doctrines before disagreeing with them.

It seems to me that such a response offers a couple of lines of approach, one good, one bad.

The bad one is the "HOGWASH!" approach. This reminds me of a pro-Mao demonstration years ago in Honk Kong. The Maoists brandished their :little red books", the Sayings of Chairman Mao", and the Hong Kong police retorted by brandishing their manuals of the rules and regulations and yelling the name of the Police Cmmissioner. Well THAT brought peace and understanding, didn't it? We already know we disagree.

The good one is to try to present a sincere good will and to try to understand and to explain.

So shall we just yell, "Are too!", "Are not!" at each other? You think Dominic would hqve converted the innkeeper if he'd just said, "You're wrong -- wrongitty wrong wrong!" Don't you see that the Albigensians had a legitimate complaint about the luxurious clergy and the neglect of askesis -- even though they took it to disastrous extremes? You think he never said, "Well, you've got a point there ...."

Hosepipe, I think, demonstrates that he doesn't understand either what we teach about the Eucharist or what we think about the role of the persons of the Trinity in it. But I suspect that, like HarleyD, he doesn't get that a big part of the problem is what a "thing" "is" in the first case, and that if he wants his rebuttals to hit their target, it would help if he knew where the target was.

I think if he really knew where the target was, he might not want to shoot at it so much. So I think time spent on establishing communication and common vocabulary is time not wasted.

And, while it grieves me when the Protestant/Ockhamist/Voluntarianist ideas that God is utterly unreasonable (that there is no way human reason can "get" anything important about God) and that all we can do, once we are given Faith in Him, is try to work out (with the aid of the Spirit, to be sure) His incomprehensible rules and follow them, I think it's important and worthwhile if the disagreement is clearly seen to rest in questions about the Transcendence of God and the role of Reason -- about what it means to call IHS the Logos.

Gotta run.

3,805 posted on 03/10/2008 7:17:21 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3804 | View Replies]

To: hosepipe; Kolokotronis; MarkBsnr; stfassisi; Dr. Eckleburg; Alamo-Girl; betty boop
Nope I said Christ flesh died but not his Spirit

Christians believe that Christ is fully God and fully Human. That means He also has a human spirit. When Christ died, as a human being, he died and let out His spirit (according to the scriptures). If He didn't die, like the rest of us, and did not resurrect, as you seem to claim, then His death and resurrection are a lie.

I am including my friends here, to call their attention to your denial here, but I also include your friends as well, who call themselves Christian, and who so enthusiastically agree with you, to shed some light on this denial of Christ's death and resurrection.

It has to do with what you mean by die.. Which also has to do with what is life

Is there life in a flatworm? If you say yes, then you know the answer.

Science has no idea what life is, even now.. I have/wear flesh but the flesh is not me

What you are is a sum-total of your experiences and genetic makup, all of which is carnal. You eat what "tastes good." You sleep when you are "tired." You dress up when yo are "cold." You avoid "pain" (or maybe you are one of those who "likes" pain, I don't know!). You drink when you are "thirsty," you read with your "eyes." Everything you do, feel and need, is carnal. You have no proof that there is anything else "living" without substance inside of you.

Tell me, how does one "imprison" (oh Gnosticts!) a spirit in a body? What is a spirit, hosepipe? Is it circumscribed, like the angels, or is it limitless like God? Get real.

I am not a christian..

Well, that's obvious.

What is a chistian, Kosta?..Come on be bold..

Everything you are not. Is that bold enough?

But there are still many sheep in the pen(s).. afraid to come out.. Come on OUT Kosta, what do I have to come in there and drag you out?..

Maybe you (and others who share your views) nee, hosepipe, to come IN, hospeipe, or do we have to come out there and drag you in? Get my drift?

3,806 posted on 03/10/2008 7:21:27 AM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3788 | View Replies]

To: Mad Dawg
[ I think if he really knew where the target was, he might not want to shoot at it so much. So I think time spent on establishing communication and common vocabulary is time not wasted. ]

I hear you.. Why cant we just get along?..
Because sheep in the sheep pen(s) are not sheep in the flock(John ch 10).. They hear different voices.. He that has ears to hear, let him hear what Popepipus says to the sheep pens..

3,807 posted on 03/10/2008 7:35:19 AM PDT by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3805 | View Replies]

To: Marysecretary

***He had a body of believers who were in a number of churches after Christ was resurrected.***

Name them.


3,808 posted on 03/10/2008 7:50:52 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3725 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg; kosta50

***If you agree with Mark now that Christ was Only addressing the apostles and not the eager throngs who were assembled to hear Him as Scripture tells us, then that makes two of you who believe that.***

He was speaking primarily to the Apostles; the crowds nearby would have overheard.


3,809 posted on 03/10/2008 7:52:48 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3729 | View Replies]

To: Forest Keeper

***I think the Catechism reads stronger than that, but nevertheless, if you’ll agree that God’s “true truth” is fully revealed in the scriptures, to the extent God desired, then I think we are in agreement.***

The key phrase here is - to the extent God desired - which is neither a claim that everything has been revealed nor that further revelation is disallowed.

Jesus left us His Church - with the authority to carry on His work of bringing the Good News of Salvation to the entire world.


3,810 posted on 03/10/2008 7:59:45 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3731 | View Replies]

To: MarkBsnr

Oh, really now. Name the body of believers? Aren’t you getting ridiculous? There were churches at Corinth for one. Thessalonica, and at least five the other churches named in the Bible. I’ll look them up for you if you can’t. The body of believers is the ONE TRUE CHURCH but no use in telling you that since you believe the heretical Roman church has that distinction. Wrong.


3,811 posted on 03/10/2008 8:30:34 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3808 | View Replies]

To: Forest Keeper

***17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ***

If so be that we suffer with him, that we MAY be also glorified...

If you don’t suffer with Him, then you may NOT be glorified together...

Remember the Judgement and those found to be unworthy based upon their deeds who are cast into the abyss created for the devil and all his minions.


3,812 posted on 03/10/2008 8:31:05 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3789 | View Replies]

To: kosta50

How DARE you say that Hosepipe isn’t a Christian? You have no way of knowing his heart, only God knows that. Sometimes you really go way overboard. Sad.


3,813 posted on 03/10/2008 8:33:25 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3806 | View Replies]

To: Forest Keeper

We are not so bold as to be able to create our own theologies and wave them around.

***Do you do as many works as you can, hoping that they are good enough to get you into Heaven, all the while in fear and trembling? ***

We follow the teachings of Jesus and the Church. We are told that it is the state of our souls that count. Works for good are what is required. Works for evil must be repented from and sins confessed or our souls are in mortal danger. We must repent, confess our sins and receive grace through Penance.

***You are adding your hierarchy to the scriptures where it is totally unsupported by text.***

Jesus created His Church - and that is fully indicated by Scripture.


3,814 posted on 03/10/2008 8:38:02 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3791 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

In my experience . . . discernment is both a gift and a spiritual ‘muscle’ that needs developed, learned.


3,815 posted on 03/10/2008 8:38:41 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3792 | View Replies]

To: Forest Keeper

***But I mean, if you really think of yourself as an adult adopted child of God who can make his own decisions and do whatever he wants, then I wish you the best of luck with that. :) I hope you make good enough decisions and do enough works, etc.***

Yes, your Silliness!!!! :)

It is in the commission of sin that we reject God, in fact, engaging in the process of unadopting us from Him.

***In any manner close to the analogy we are talking about parental rights terminate for the human parent when the child reaches 18 (barring some emancipation kind of action).***

We are not talking about parental rights, we are talking about the reversal of adoption. If I was adopted as a child, my adoptive parents are still my adoptive parents for life unless I (or they) act to undo it.

If I sin, I reject God. I work to undo that adoption.


3,816 posted on 03/10/2008 8:42:41 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3793 | View Replies]

To: wmfights

I agree with YOU, wmfights. Many die practically on their death beds and have no time for good works. My husband actually led a man to the Lord who was in a coma when he went to visit him, the man woke up, asked Jesus into his life, and slipped back into the coma. No works there. Only faith in our dear Lord and Savior. God’s grace is so wonderful.


3,817 posted on 03/10/2008 8:48:05 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3783 | View Replies]

To: kosta50

My point is that the Body of Believers in Christ and his resurrection are the true church. Not the RCC or the OC or any other institution. Only the Body of Christ.


3,818 posted on 03/10/2008 8:53:10 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3774 | View Replies]

To: kosta50

I didn’t say God WAS the cause of my illness, I’m saying I thank God for the illness because he says to thank Him in all circumstances. I know He didn’t cause it. He’s just giving me the grace to go through it all. Period.


3,819 posted on 03/10/2008 8:54:33 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3773 | View Replies]

To: blue-duncan

Actually, the only large print bible I could ever find is the King James, but I did find a New King James and that’s what I’m currently using.


3,820 posted on 03/10/2008 8:57:14 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3737 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 3,781-3,8003,801-3,8203,821-3,840 ... 6,821-6,833 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson