Be careful whom you dine with... kahit paborito mo pa ang ulam

"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11 NIV)

The  Christians at Corinth misunderstood the Apostle's instruction in a previous letter. Paul must then clarify what he meant. He doesn't mean that Christians should not socialize with the unbelievers who are sexually immoral. What he means is that Christians should break the bonds of fellowship with those who confess the Christian faith yet live like unbelievers.

If we will not associate with sinners, we would have to leave this world for everywhere we go, we will always be surrounded with  sinful people. Besides, we were commissioned to saturate the  sinful world with the gospel message.

We however are  mandated to cut off the links of fellowship with the so-called brothers who sin incorrigibly. We are not even allowed to eat with such men. The reason for this was already stated in verse 6-- the principle of sin's yeast effect. Sin, when tolerated never limits itself to the offender. It will surely affect others. Sa mga Pinoy, yan ay ang epekto ng isang bulok na kamatis sa buong kaing. We could see the same principle applied in 1 Timothy 5:20 where Paul instructs the younger pastor to rebuke elders publicly so that it shall serve as a warning to others.

For this reason, we must be cautious. As for me, I will not eat with a so-called brother who is persistent in wickedness... kahit maghain ka pa ng tinolang native manok

photo credit:  http://rapsa.i.ph/blogs/rapsa/index.php?tag=tinolang-manok

---------------------

Absuwelto ba si Mr. Villanueva dahil sa I Corinthians 9?

Kamakailan ay ipinadala ko sa pamamagitan ng email ang mensaheng ito sa JIL:

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

       Grace to you and peace from our God.

       This concerns Bro. Eddie Villanueva's controversial statements over the flock of Apollo Quiboloy. Is there an internal system within JIL by which biblical church discipline as mandated in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 5 could be implemented?

        My concern is not political. My concern is the witness of the evangelical community. The Apostle Paul teaches that sin will not restrict its effect to the offender. Like a little yeast, it will affect the entire batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6).

       Given the prominence of Villanueva within the evangelical community, his sin is no small yeast. The extent of his influence will not be limited to the JIL churches. It threatens to affect us all. JIL should put him under disciplinary action-- not to harm him but to restore him and to fix the damage that has been done to the evangelical churches.

Sincerely yours,

Bro. Manny Ambanloc Rosario

Tumugon naman ang JIL subalit malinaw na wala silang balak isailalim sa disiplina si Mr. Villanueva. Ang kanilang ipinadala sa akin ay yung ipinamamahagi na rin nila sa Internet na transcript ng interview ni Mr. Villanueva sa Roxas city noong Abril 12. Ang transcript ay inyong mababasa sa link na ito.

Nagbigay si Mr. Villanueva ng dalawang dahilan kung bakit niya ginawa yung kanyang ginawa doon sa pagtitipon ng kawan ni Quiboloy. Ang Una ay biblical reason at pangalawa ay tungkol sa pamamalakad ng pamahalaan ng walang diskriminasyon.

1. BIBLICAL REASON:

Ika niya: "Listen carefully please, number one biblical reason, 1 Corinthians 9 if i need to be a Jew, I have to be a Jew. if i need to be a Roman i have to be a Roman, if that is the only way i can gain these people for the kingdom of God."

2. NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY

Ika ulit ni Villanueva: "Number two reason, si John F Kennedy (student po ako ng history nahalukay ko po ito) the first Catholic President of the United States of America when he assumed office in the white house he was visited by a Catholic Cardinal obviously asking a special favor prejudicial against the non-catholics. Anong sabi ni John F Kennedy? "I am sorry Cardinal, my religion is secondary to me. First and foremost I am elected as president of all American people." Kaya sabi ng mga historian at mga political analyst, despite the weaknesses of  John F. Kennedy as a man... president John F. Kennedy was considered by history as one of the great presidents of america because of his non-discriminatory policy."

 Yung kanyang dahilan na non-discriminatory policy ay hindi ko masyadong bibigyan ng diin. Pero nais ko lang sabihin na hindi naman humihingi ng special favor ang mga born again. Puwede namang ibigay ang nararapat ibigay sa lahat ng Pilipino sa ilalim ng batas nang hindi sumasang-ayon sa doktrina ng mga demonyo. Hindi naman plataporma ang ginamit niyang panghikayat sa kanila kundi mga salitang tiyak na kikiliti sa pandinig ng mga taong nais manatili sa kadiliman. "Men loved darkness" ang sabi ni Apostol Juan sa John 3:19-- kung papupurihan mo ang kanilang madilim na paniniwala, tiyak mamahalin ka nila. Kaya naman panay ang sigawan at palakpakan habang nagsasalita si Villanueva sa harap ng Quiboloy crowd.

Ang bibigyang diin ko ay ang sinasabi ni Villanueva na biblical reason Ito ay ang  1 Corinthians 9:19-23: " Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (NIV)

Ang mga tinutukoy diyan ng Apostol ay mga adjustments within scriptural limits. Halimbawa na lang ay yung pagpapatuli ni Apostol Pablo sa kanyang kasamang si Timoteo alang-alang sa mga Hudyo (Acts 16:3). Bagamat hindi sila nasa ilalim ng kautusan, nagpasailalim sila sa kautusan upang maging madali para sa mga Hudyo ang pakikinig ng ebanghelyo. Minsan ay sumailalim rin siya sa mga purification ceremonies upang burahin ang ipinagkakalat ng iba na iniwan na raw niya ang kautusan ni Moises (Acts 21:20-26). Wala siyang pakinabang sa mga seremonya ng Kautusan pero sumailalim pa rin siya dito alang-alang sa mga kaluluwa ng mga taong inaabot nila.

Pagdating naman sa mga Hentil, within Scriptural bounds ulit, nakibahagi siya sa Gentile customs. Hindi kasali dito yung paggawa at pagsabi ng mga bagay na malinaw na salungat sa bibliya. Kung sa Pilipinas maglilingkod si Pablo, kakain rin siya ng balot maski gaano kalaki ang sisiw; magmamano rin siya sa mga nakakatanda at sasagot ng po at opo; maaaring magsusuot rin siya ng bahag tulad ng mga katutubo-- pero hindi niya kukunsintihin ang pagsamba nila sa mga anito.

Ganito ang komentaryo ni John Macarthur:

 " If a person is offended by God’s Word, that is his problem. If he is offended by biblical doctrine, standards, or church discipline, that is his problem. That person is offended by God. But if he is offended by our unnecessary behavior or practices—no matter how good and acceptable those may be in themselves—his problem becomes our problem. It is not a problem of law but a problem of love, and love always demands more than the law “Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:39-41)." 1 Corinthians, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary

So the adjustments Paul was talking about for the sake of Jews and Gentiles are just on unnecessary behavior or practices which may serve as stumbling blocks in reaching the lost. Its not about giving approval to evil doctrines and deeds. You must not call a person who spreads destructive doctrines as "a preacher of righteousness"; It remains that we should not call as "mga kapwa ko taga-langit" those who embrace abominable doctrines. We should not give our "Amen" to a mission born out of the darkness.

-------------------------------

Mr. Masculado & Mr. Lampayatot

Kararating lang ni misis mula sa tindahan. Iniwanan niya ang tangke ng LPG sa labas upang humingi ng tulong sa kanyang asawa. Pagpasok niya sa bahay ay nakita niya si Mr. Masculado na may hawak na dumbbells sa magkabilang kamay. Gamit ang kanyang malambing na tinig ay kanyang hiniling, “Sweetheart, paki-buhat naman yung tangke ng LPG papasok dito sa bahay para makapagsaing na ako”

Pasigaw ang sagot ni Mr. Masculado, “ANO !!!??? HINDI MO BA NAKIKITA NA NAGWO-WORKOUT AKO !!!??? IKAW NA LANG ANG MAG-BUHAT !!! ISTORBO !!!

Ober da bakod, kararating rin ng isa pang misis. Pagod man siya sinisikap niyang ipasok ang tangke ng LPG sa bahay. Paano naman kasi, nakaratay nanaman sa higaan ng karamdaman ang kanyang asawa na si Mr. Lampayatot. Nang maramdaman ni Mr. Lampayatot ang ginagawa ng kanyang asawa, pinilit niyang bumangon inaapoy man siya ng lagnat. Sinalubong niya ang kanyang asawa at kanyang sinabi, “Honey, magpahinga ka na. Ako na ang bahala diyan”. Tinangka niyang buhatin ang tangke subalit hindi talaga kaya.

Ang problema kay Mr. Masculado, bagamat meron siyang kakayahan na buhatin ang tangke, wala naman siyang pagnanais na gawin ito.

Ang problema kay Mr. Lampayatot, bagamat nais niyang buhatin ang tangke, wala naman siyang kakayahan upang gawin ito.

Bago tayo makakilala sa Panginoon at kilusan ng Banal na Espiritu, ang problema kay Mr. Masculado at ang problema kay Mr. Lampayatot at parehong nasa atin.

Tulad ni Mr. Masculado, wala tayong pagnanais na sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos.

Romans 8:7 "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." (NIV)

Tulad ni Mr. Lampayatot, wala tayong kakayahan upang gawin ang kalooban ng Diyos.

Romans 8:7 "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." (NIV)

Subalit ngayon na nasa atin na ang Espiritu Santo:

1. Nagkaroon tayo ng pagnanais na tuparin ang kalooban ng Diyos
2. Nagkaroon tayo ng kakayahan na gawin ito.

Phil. 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (NLT)

An Unusual Birthday Meditation

It's my birthday! In years past, my favorite meditation for this occasion was God's love for me from eternity past to the present. I marveled about how that sperm cell out of millions ever found that egg cell. What a delight to think that God formed me in my mother's womb.

But this year is different. Its NOT because the great truths I wrote in the preceding paragraph are worthless now. Of course not! I still treasure those truths. I just can't shake-off the Villanueva-Quiboloy controversy out of my mind.

For the record: I have already observed Eddie Villanueva's slide to ecumenism a long time ago. During the 25th Anniversary of JIL (2003), he declared: "I don't care what your religion is. What's important is we are all the People of God. We cannot allow the Devil to have a fiesta on our nation." 

What did he mean when he said he doesn't care what your religion is as long as you belong to the people of God? Mine is just a suspicion but it makes sense. By that time he was (perhaps still is) the chairman of God's People Coalition for Righteousness, an umbrella organization of Evangelicals, Catholics, and Muslims (perhaps other groups were also represented). That organization was very visible during Armida Siguion-Reyna's stint as chairman of MTRCB. These religious groups actively opposed obscenity in Philippine movies which was then a trend.

In the past, he has already labeled those who deny the essentials of the evangelical faith as "God's people"  so calling the members of Quiboloy's cult as citizens of heaven is not really a new thing.

Also, in his 2004  Miting d'Avance, there was an interfaith confession of sin among Evangelicals, Catholics and Muslims.

This is an unusual birthday meditation. But it is good to be reminded that ecumenism is a dangerous thing. Let us learn from the mistakes of Bro. Eddie.

---------------------------

My musings about Cindy Jacobs' prophecy on Eddie Villanueva's presidency

I think this is a good follow-up to my earlier post relating to Bill Hamon's prophecy. I have long ceased watching Eddie Villanueva's programs so I was not familiar with the recent prophecy uttered by Cindy Jacobs. Today, I watched it for the first time on Youtube. I transcribed a portion of it and I will state my musings below the video clip.

Starting at 5:34, Jacobs says: "There's a lot of things God wants to make happen in the earth. He wants his will done on the earth as it is in heaven. But his will will always be done but sometimes it can be delayed to another generation because people will not stand up and fight. In 2006, I was at Los Angeles, California in a hotel. I had not seen Bro. Eddie and Sis. Dory for a few years. I came up and asked if I could pray for him. I don't really understand the political climate of the Philippines at that time. And I said to him, "Bro. Eddie God showed me its his will for you to be the president of the Philippines. That is God's will. But when whether.. listen to me. Its not fate. Its going to take a nation of Davids that says we no longer stand for a corrupt nation... Bro. Eddie, you will always love your sheep but God is calling you to go from the priestly anointing to the kingly anointing."

My musings:

1. Cindy Jacobs is playing it safe. If Villanueva fails again, she will put the blame on us because we did not stand up and fight.

2.  There is a possibility that for the third time, Villanueva will run again in 2016. Jacobs says that unfulfilled prophecies are not frustrated, just delayed. 

3.  I now understand why calls for Bro. Eddie to stay with his flock and be faithful to his calling as an evangelist fell on deaf ears. Its because he believes he has received a "kingly anointing" as opposed to "priestly anointing"-- whatever those terms mean.

4.  Some Pro-Eddie Christians are so militant in supporting their candidate because they see themselves as a "nation of Davids".

5.  When other evangelical Christians support other candidates (perhaps Pro-Noynoy or Pro-Villar), some Pro-Eddie Christians see them outside the "nation of Davids". They refuse to say "No" to a corrupt nation. (In effect, they are saying "YES" to corruption).

--------------------

Yeast in the Dough

In a way, this is part two of my previous post. As I see it, there is a link between economic improvement and the advancement of the gospel in Eddie Villanueva's thought. Let me explain.

I was an avid viewer of Villanueva's Jesus the Healer TV Program. One of Villanueva's passions way back then is Bill Hamon's prophecy in 1992. Hamon prophesied that within the span of 20 years, God will use three presidents to transform the Philippines into "The America of Asia". There will be so much economic prosperity that the Philippines could afford sending missionaries. The Philippines will be the "launching pad of the gospel" says the (false) prophecy.

Thus, Villanueva has two great dreams:

1. economic glory for the Philippines that will lead to

2. the advancement of the gospel message to the nations with the Philippines as the launching pad.

Let's suppose Villanueva wins and resides in Malacanang for the next six years, will the cause of the gospel be advanced if Villanueva refuses to repent?

Again, I DON'T THINK SO.

On the contrary, I think the witness of God's people will be severely impaired if Villanueva's sin will not be dealt with. The Apostle Paul teaches that sin will not restrict its effect to the offender. Like a little yeast, it will affect the entire batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6).

Given the prominence of Villanueva within the evangelical community, his sin is no small yeast. The extent of his influence will not be limited to the JIL churches. It threatens to affect us all.

Oh God, have mercy on us!

Sometimes, My Opinion Doesn't Matter

JOB 40:4-5 "I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more" (NIV)

I cannot forget that poster posted inside a tricycle of which I was a frequent passenger:
     The image: a bunch of penguins
     The text: I don't remember the exact words but it's point is that these penguins would like to talk to God for the purpose of suggesting a few improvements.

Perhaps they would complain about the way they walk (hindi kaya ayaw nila ng pakendng-kendeng?) or perhaps they  want wings that would make them soar like eagles. Or maybe they just want a colorful appearance.

It's simply ridiculous how a penguin could ever think that there is something lacking in the wisdom of God. Yet that poster wasn't penguin-made; it's man-made. Thus it represents the arrogance of man.

We think we have brilliant opinions and God must hear them so he could fulfill his role as Deity better. We even grumble about the manna and say in our hearts that if God is good and wise, he would have given us meat.

Our Text: Job 40:3-5
We know the background behind our text:
~A righteous man named Job lost his possessions
~a righteous man lost his children
~a righteous man lost his health. A skin disease covered him from the soles of his feet to the crown of his had

Then everybody pontificates about the tragic event: his wife, his friends and even Job himself.

God begins to speak in chapter 38 of that long book. He did not explain why Job is under such circumstances. He just appealed to his wisdom and power:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand." (Job 38:4)

God's first speech consists of chapters 38 & 39; there is more to come but God's first speech was enough for Job's submission

He realized how small he was-- "I am of small account" (ESV). Compared to God, he is reduced to insignificance. After seeing his self compared to God, Job apprehended that his opinions are insignificant too compared to the perfect wisdom of God. He decides that the best thing he could do is to cover his mouth and shut up in humble submission to God.

Job 42:3 ""Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

Isa. 55:9- "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

The thoughts and deeds of the Lord are beyond human comprehension. What he has revealed unto us, we must fully accept. And for the things he has hidden in mystery, we must trust his goodness and wisdom (Deut.29:29)

Thanks be to God for the gifted teachers in the church. We can always go to them whenever we have biblical/theological questions. Yet there are times when those who are most biblically and theologically perceptive among us should say "I'm sorry! I can't answer your question. I really don't know. It's beyond human comprehension. But these I know:
     God is always right
     God is always good
     and we should submit ourselves to his wisdom."
----------------------------------------

Photo credit:  http://www.thelifeaquatic.org

Matthew Henry: Sin's Aggravating Factors

Factors that make our sins
"MORE HEINOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND MORE DANGEROUS TO OURSELVES"
 

1. The more knowledge we have of good and evil, the greater is our sin

2. The greater profession we have made of religion, the greater hath been our sin

3. The more mercies we have received from God, the greater has been our sin.

4. The fairer warning we have had from the word of God, and our consciences, concerning our danger of sin, the greater is the sin if we go on in it.

5. The greater afflictions we have under for sin, the greater is the sin if we go on in it.

6. The more vows and promises we have made of better obedience, the greater has our sin been.

Matthew Henry

A Method For Prayer

cited in The Devoted Life

Eds: Kelly Kapic & Randall Gleason