Filipinos do not have biblical heritage both in culture as well as in nationhood. This was due to the Spanish oppression of our people in keeping the Bible from its subjects. They punished even priests who violated the religious prohibition of having possession of the banned book. They merely reflected the orders of their superiors in Rome. Thus for more than 350 years our people were in gross spiritual darkness, not seeing the word of God, except for isolated smuggling of the banned book into the country or the very few instances that the old book was brought into the nation’s shores.
So we developed, as a nation, without the benefits of the word of God. We started as a people without the illumination of the inspired word of God. We educated our people without it and its influencing impact. We created government based on principles anchored on humanistic and deeply religious knowledge. So, expectedly, only one dominant religious institution was indirectly allowed both by its national leaders and its subjects. We became the only nation in Asia that is deeply Roman Catholic but not biblical. We became devout religionists committed to Romanism but not Christian in the biblical meaning of the word.
The proponents of this dominant religion “converted” the natives into a worst religion. Thus, they deepened the blindness of the people. The people became outwardly religious yet with empty hearts longing for true scriptural salvation. The “discoverers” of our archipelago sought areas they eventually donated to the king of Spain. While the reformation in Europe was raging and the Romanists was losing, the latter sought the other areas of the world as their future gains for Rome. With this they succeeded. The reformers then battled in Europe for “sola scriptura.”
So what should be the basis of our faith as Filipinos? Must we keep what the Spanish and their successors had taught us for more than four centuries? Or must we reject and discard it into the garbage bin and take the reformers’ battle cry? Consider also our Baptist forefathers’ belief through the centuries (check past issues on Baptist distinctives). Further, look into the predecessors of our Anabaptists ancestors who believed in the same even if they paid it with their blood from the monstrous, murderous, and mean Romanists with the aid of their State cohorts or puppets.
Let us allow the holy Scriptures to speak for itself regarding this issue. Let me use 2 Timothy 3:15-17 as our basis for the study on this issue. The text gives us clear principles about the benefits of the Scriptures to humanity, namely;
First, verse 15 teaches that the holy Scriptures are necessary for people to receive salvation as they express faith in Christ Jesus. The exposition of the holy Scriptures to man’s understanding will lead to man’s salvation (from hell) as he places his faith on Christ. Timothy was taught since childhood by his mother and grandmother with the holy Scriptures. And this habitual act resulted to the young man’s conversion and godly conduct. Today, people give lip service to the Bible. The tide has changed. People could not refuse anymore the validity of existence of the Bible. We are no longer in the days of the oppressive Spanish era. Yet, our general population is still captive to the old thought. Check how the older people treat the young ones within possession of the Bible in the remote areas of the nation. Consider how our politicians and national leaders treat the old book. They put it in many areas only as a decorative object. You will see it in court halls, in congress, in jeepneys, in cars, in offices, in lecture halls, as well as in homes. You will not see its eternal teachings in their hearts and work. If you go to classrooms, teachers or professors of all sorts undermine its principles. They are coward animals who could not expose and explain the word of God and yet claim to be “the teachers of teachers.” So the current morass of our people is only a deserving result of their ill attitude to the word. Try to ask how many Filipinos are truly saved. Or who have found the truth of salvation spoken of in the text by the apostle Paul? I thought the Bible is in many places here!
Secondly, verse 16 teaches that all Scriptures are inspired of God. Every word is God-breathed guaranteeing no error in every word; that all its teachings are divinely given; and that all in all it is perfect. Consequently, it also assures the current readers that s/he has access to the very words inspired and preserved by God through the centuries. If God did not ensure its perfection and preservation, then how else could it be profitable to people. There were four areas the Scriptures are profitable, namely; a) in doctrine, b) in reproof, c) in correction, and d) in instruction. What aspect of man’s life would not be covered by these? How many do you think among our countrymen believe in this teaching? Perhaps, very few because they were not exposed early to such teachings. Even if they were, the influence of ungodly views promoted in many places would give the young ones hardship to survive. So they are ridiculed by professors in the classroom when they project their biblical philosophy and principles. In the halls of congress, Biblicist legislators would surely be laughed at indirectly by his colleagues. Worst, we elected or appointed leaders who are unbiblicist in view.
If indeed the Scriptures is profitable why do we have less people who subscribe and carry its principles to fruition. Why do we have to be diluted and replaced by humanistic views? Let us promote and protect our Biblicist view carried by our institutions. Let us build more organizations that will carry the instructional profit of our Biblicist view. We are to ensure that the existing institutions are strong in this conviction that they may last in the next generation.
Thirdly, verse 17 teaches that Scriptures are sufficient to equip people in producing beneficial works. If one has experienced genuine salvation (has with it concrete changes in life) and is benefiting from the profits of biblical study exposure then, surely s/he will produce godly works beneficial to others. When professing Christians failed to produce biblical good works it is because they have no Christ or they are selling out their biblical convictions for temporal advantages. The Bible is not an isolated exclusive literature that benefits only the hermit-like communal people group. Rather, as the text says, it positively affects people. In all human endeavors, people will be blessed by its principles. The spiritual and religious matters are not the sole realm of the holy Bible. As this verse says, profitable and beneficial creative works of the saved and sanctified peoples shall affect the people surrounding them. These are works covering many areas of human studies and expertise.
Biblical studies and formulation of scriptural philosophical life views are crucial in human development. What goes on in the human mind will affect his works. The person’s philosophical framework will substantially determine his creation and behavior. Yet, many educators and policy makers have continued to reject the biblical mindset. They usually regard it as mere literature conducive for spiritual upliftment. This is a classic ignorant person if not poorly educated concerning the benefits of biblical studies and its impact in philosophical or behavioral formulation.
In one of the issues of a newspaper, the chief justice of the supreme court challenges lawyers to look into other fields of study such as sociology and economics in their preparation for globalization trend. The highest lawyer of the land, unfortunately never mentioned biblical study or philosophy. Does it mean that the centuries old holy Bible is irrelevant to the lawyer’s preparation towards one world mindset? So are you surprised why legislator-lawyers craft self-serving laws? Why do big nations under the lead of brilliant lawyers oppress the smaller nations in the area of economics? Sociologists under the spell of unbiblical theorists and practitioners continue to reject the biblical premises of man, his behavior, and dealings with community while the holy Scriptures for ages has clearly taught the answers to sociological problems and pursuits.
As Biblicist people let us keep a strong hold onto the old view – sola scriptura not only for soul salvation but in all human life endeavors. So let me encourage people in every profession to seriously study the holy Scriptures so you may know how to make your occupation biblical in framework and pursuit. Consider organizing yourselves to protect your interest and continuity. Refuse mingling with others who would dilute and render your biblical occupational pursuits to powerlessness or nothingness. The Bible is sufficient for us to make all works profitable and beneficial to others. By this we become complete as the text says. In the mean time let us not be deadened by the opium of human pursuits that rejects God’s holy word governing them in all human life endeavor.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Nag CAM ka na ba?
I was eating in a fast-food restaurant once when a young man approached me to offer dried mangoes and macapuno. He told me that the proceeds will go to their scholarship fund. He then continued to say that he was once an out-of-school youth until a religious group took him and sent him to school. In return, he must sell the products of the manufacturer sponsoring their schooling.
I have also heard of other religious groups doing the same – engaging in commerce and trade to advance their cause. One of the more famous groups is the Good Shepherd convent in Baguio City. I suppose anyone who has gone to Baguio and has bought some pasalubong would not miss including Good Shepherd’s ube jam, strawberry jam, peanut brittle, etc. According to this group, their nuns are the ones who make these products, without a pay to advance their cause of spreading the Roman Catholic faith, including sending some children and youth to school. It is by doing these social activities that they are able to win the hearts of men.
Brethren, we might think that what they are doing are all in vain for they do it to gain merit from the Lord and be assured of their place in heaven. But most of us will be embarrassed by their zealousness and their enthusiasm to promote their products and their work. I’m afraid that unless we capture that same zeal and spirit of voluntarism and cooperativism to advance the cause of Christ, it would take much longer time for us to realize our vision of sending missionaries to every province and we would see the cults and communists overtaking us and capturing the hearts of men for their own cause.
Last week, we harvested a portion of our tilapia. I was quite discouraged by the output because the tilapia did not grow and the volume was not as I expected. To recoup some of the losses, we decided to process the tilapia as “tilanggit” to command a better price. Again our Samuels (Jacob, Erwin and Lester) were there to help out to debone the tilapia and marinate them and again some of the brethren were willing to buy and patronize them. Needless to say, they were quite satisfied with the taste!
I remember a sister in Christ who would buy our camote and use it in almost every dish that she would cook. A brother in Christ also called me to tell me that he will entrust his goats to CAM’s care. He and CAM will then divide equally the kids that will be borne. Recently also, a Christian couple in the US (the wife being a former member of CBC) sent money for CAM. And we will never forget the giving of a Christian widow, who despite being recently operated on, continuously gives her weekly support for the CAM. Due thanks also are given to men and women of God who help us with the minute details of the operation and who do not fail to include CAM in their prayers.
For the remaining months of the year, the CAM will embark in the goat-raising project. We now have six goats in our care and we plan to buy more, including one high breed buck to upgrade the size and quality of the herd. The purchase will be done after we have constructed additional housing for them.
The bananas will be due for harvest November-December. We have recently harvested eggplants and sweet corn. These vegetables we just tried to see if they will thrive and yield a good harvest. This being the case, we intend to plant corn and peanuts when in season.
The fishponds are currently being restructured (deepened and widened) and nets will be placed to prevent predators from eating the fingerlings. We also plan to buy sex-reversed tilapia fingerlings instead in our next round. The pigs are also due for selling and I have instructed Nonoy to catch some young roosters for the consumption of our church workers.
Last August 25, the Samuels plus some of our ladies and men planted rice. Lord willing this will be harvested by the end of the year. It was such a blessing to see the brethren allowing their hands to be dirtied and their feet buried in mud as they subject themselves to a task that they are not used to doing. If only all of us can capture that spirit of cooperation, the ministry of CAM will go a long way! I know not all of us will be able to physically go to Laiban but everyone can help express support by some other way. As an example, one couple who can not join sent food for the brethren that day.
Little by little, we are capturing the spirit of voluntarism and cooperativism. Our earlier vision of our bahay kubo and of bringing only salt and kerosene whenever we go down to Laiban are slowly materializing. I pray that this will gain momentum.
Cornerstone, nag-CAM (cooperate, assist, minister) ka na ba? Mag-CAM na!
I have also heard of other religious groups doing the same – engaging in commerce and trade to advance their cause. One of the more famous groups is the Good Shepherd convent in Baguio City. I suppose anyone who has gone to Baguio and has bought some pasalubong would not miss including Good Shepherd’s ube jam, strawberry jam, peanut brittle, etc. According to this group, their nuns are the ones who make these products, without a pay to advance their cause of spreading the Roman Catholic faith, including sending some children and youth to school. It is by doing these social activities that they are able to win the hearts of men.
Brethren, we might think that what they are doing are all in vain for they do it to gain merit from the Lord and be assured of their place in heaven. But most of us will be embarrassed by their zealousness and their enthusiasm to promote their products and their work. I’m afraid that unless we capture that same zeal and spirit of voluntarism and cooperativism to advance the cause of Christ, it would take much longer time for us to realize our vision of sending missionaries to every province and we would see the cults and communists overtaking us and capturing the hearts of men for their own cause.
Last week, we harvested a portion of our tilapia. I was quite discouraged by the output because the tilapia did not grow and the volume was not as I expected. To recoup some of the losses, we decided to process the tilapia as “tilanggit” to command a better price. Again our Samuels (Jacob, Erwin and Lester) were there to help out to debone the tilapia and marinate them and again some of the brethren were willing to buy and patronize them. Needless to say, they were quite satisfied with the taste!
I remember a sister in Christ who would buy our camote and use it in almost every dish that she would cook. A brother in Christ also called me to tell me that he will entrust his goats to CAM’s care. He and CAM will then divide equally the kids that will be borne. Recently also, a Christian couple in the US (the wife being a former member of CBC) sent money for CAM. And we will never forget the giving of a Christian widow, who despite being recently operated on, continuously gives her weekly support for the CAM. Due thanks also are given to men and women of God who help us with the minute details of the operation and who do not fail to include CAM in their prayers.
For the remaining months of the year, the CAM will embark in the goat-raising project. We now have six goats in our care and we plan to buy more, including one high breed buck to upgrade the size and quality of the herd. The purchase will be done after we have constructed additional housing for them.
The bananas will be due for harvest November-December. We have recently harvested eggplants and sweet corn. These vegetables we just tried to see if they will thrive and yield a good harvest. This being the case, we intend to plant corn and peanuts when in season.
The fishponds are currently being restructured (deepened and widened) and nets will be placed to prevent predators from eating the fingerlings. We also plan to buy sex-reversed tilapia fingerlings instead in our next round. The pigs are also due for selling and I have instructed Nonoy to catch some young roosters for the consumption of our church workers.
Last August 25, the Samuels plus some of our ladies and men planted rice. Lord willing this will be harvested by the end of the year. It was such a blessing to see the brethren allowing their hands to be dirtied and their feet buried in mud as they subject themselves to a task that they are not used to doing. If only all of us can capture that spirit of cooperation, the ministry of CAM will go a long way! I know not all of us will be able to physically go to Laiban but everyone can help express support by some other way. As an example, one couple who can not join sent food for the brethren that day.
Little by little, we are capturing the spirit of voluntarism and cooperativism. Our earlier vision of our bahay kubo and of bringing only salt and kerosene whenever we go down to Laiban are slowly materializing. I pray that this will gain momentum.
Cornerstone, nag-CAM (cooperate, assist, minister) ka na ba? Mag-CAM na!
Tungkulin ng Asawa’t Ina
Ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, isang dalagang Kristiyanong malapit nang ikasal ang humingi ng payo sa akin kung dapat ba siyang magpatuloy sa pagtatrabaho pagkatapos ng kasal, o tumigil na at manatili na lamang sa bahay. Sinabi ko sa kanya na walang nilalabag sa Bibliya ang mga babaeng may asawa na patuloy pa ring nagtatrabaho sa labas ng tahanan basta hindi nila kinaliligtaan ang kanilang pangunahing tungkulin, at iyon ay sa kanilang asawa at mga anak.
Subalit sinabi ko rin sa kanya na ang sitwasyon niya ay naiiba dahil sa kung siya ay magpapatuloy sa kanyang trabaho ay lalabas na siya ang magtataguyod sa kanyang pamilya dahil sa napakalaki ng agwat ng kanilang kinikita. At dahil sa siya ang bumubuhay sa kanila, malakas ang tukso na siya ang maghari-harian sa kanilang tahanan, na siyang magiging dahilan ng paglabag niya sa Banal na Kasulatan patungkol sa pagpapasakop ng asawang babae (Efeso 5: 22-24; Col. 3: 18).
Nalulungkot akong tingnan ang mga pamilyang ang ina ang naghahanap-buhay at ang ama ang nasa bahay upang gawin ang tungkulin ng ina. Oo nga’t ito na yata ang uso ngunit hindi ito ayon sa Bibliya. Ang ama ng tahanan ang siyang dapat na mangalaga (Efeso 5: 29; 6: 4) ng kanyang pamilya at kasama sa pangangalagang ito ang pagbibigay ng kanilang pisikal na pangangailangan. Siya ang may katungkulang bumuhay ng kanyang pamilya.
Samantala tayong mga asawa o ina ay dapat na siyang abala sa ating mga tahanan (Tit. 2: 5) at tinitiyak natin ang kaayusan nito, ayon sa pamumuno ng ama sa tahanan. Subalit sa panahon ngayon na napakalakas ng batak ng materyalismo, maraming dahilan ang mga ina upang bigyang katwiran ang paghahanap-buhay. Ang problema ay madalas na nagaganap sa mga tahanan na “kung sino ang mas may pera ang mas malakas ang boses.” Siya na ngayon ang mas may otoridad. Hindi natin maitatangging napakaraming mga babae ngayon ang may mataas na katungkulan sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.
Tunay ngang baliktad na ang mundo. Ang lalaki gustong maging babae at ang babae ay gustong maging lalaki. Noon ang tawag sa magulang na nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga anak ay “housewife”; ngayon, “house husband.”
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Subalit sinabi ko rin sa kanya na ang sitwasyon niya ay naiiba dahil sa kung siya ay magpapatuloy sa kanyang trabaho ay lalabas na siya ang magtataguyod sa kanyang pamilya dahil sa napakalaki ng agwat ng kanilang kinikita. At dahil sa siya ang bumubuhay sa kanila, malakas ang tukso na siya ang maghari-harian sa kanilang tahanan, na siyang magiging dahilan ng paglabag niya sa Banal na Kasulatan patungkol sa pagpapasakop ng asawang babae (Efeso 5: 22-24; Col. 3: 18).
Nalulungkot akong tingnan ang mga pamilyang ang ina ang naghahanap-buhay at ang ama ang nasa bahay upang gawin ang tungkulin ng ina. Oo nga’t ito na yata ang uso ngunit hindi ito ayon sa Bibliya. Ang ama ng tahanan ang siyang dapat na mangalaga (Efeso 5: 29; 6: 4) ng kanyang pamilya at kasama sa pangangalagang ito ang pagbibigay ng kanilang pisikal na pangangailangan. Siya ang may katungkulang bumuhay ng kanyang pamilya.
Samantala tayong mga asawa o ina ay dapat na siyang abala sa ating mga tahanan (Tit. 2: 5) at tinitiyak natin ang kaayusan nito, ayon sa pamumuno ng ama sa tahanan. Subalit sa panahon ngayon na napakalakas ng batak ng materyalismo, maraming dahilan ang mga ina upang bigyang katwiran ang paghahanap-buhay. Ang problema ay madalas na nagaganap sa mga tahanan na “kung sino ang mas may pera ang mas malakas ang boses.” Siya na ngayon ang mas may otoridad. Hindi natin maitatangging napakaraming mga babae ngayon ang may mataas na katungkulan sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.
Tunay ngang baliktad na ang mundo. Ang lalaki gustong maging babae at ang babae ay gustong maging lalaki. Noon ang tawag sa magulang na nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga anak ay “housewife”; ngayon, “house husband.”
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
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