Protestant Churches in Crisis

            It was not long ago when the whole Protestant world and even the whole Christian world was rocked by the news that the Episcopal Church in the United States has allowed ordaining as ministers openly gays and lesbians. And just recently, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has voted also to do the same. ELCA’s ministers voted in favor of ordaining openly gay and lesbian those that are in monogamous relationship to become ministers. This has sent shockwaves again to the entire Christian community. The controversy has started to lure in the walls of the Presbyterian Church in the United States as well. It is expected that in the coming months election will be held in the Presbyterian church to whether or not gay and lesbian in monogamous relationship  be allowed to serve as minsters. This is not to mention the other big mainline protestent churches which has already allowed the ordination of openly gays and lesbians such as the United Church of Christ (USA) and United Church of Canada.

 All the radical shifts happening on these protestant churches have caused major splits and divisions. The Anglican communion which one of its bodies is the Episcopal Church of United States has been experiencing a crisis of splits and reailgnment among its memeber churches worldwide. Anglican member churches particularly in Africa and Asia has or in the process of realigning themselves away from the gay and lesbian ordaining Anglican churches. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is now confronted with a major split by a new Lutheran church formed out of the former. Exodus of common members from these churches are expected escpecially of those who are faithful with the Biblical truths.

To say today, only the Roman Catholic church, the Evangelicals (Pentecostals, Baptists, Reformed, etc.), the Eastern Orthodox Churches and other smaller denominations remain faithful and steadfast in the midst of liberalism and relativism in human society. However, the Catholic churches (Roman and Eastern) and the Evangelical churches are definitely aware of this issue. They are also affected not only with the painful issue of  homosexuality but with increasing immoralities from pedophilia to prostitution and a lot more. Time can only say how long can the people of God endure. 

Christians however do know for a fact that these things must come to pass. Again, these events among the different churches are not God’s desires, but God will let all of these come to pass, in order for His greater purpose to be fullfilled. This has been foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24. Jesus said that amidst ‘wickedness and cold love’, “¹³ the one who endures to the end will be saved”. Christians know that these things are ought to happen. Wickedness and cold love will become very rampant to name of few of what Jesus said. It is just a matter of staying on ground with your faith in Jesus evidently through prayers, Bible devotion and fellowshiping with other believers. Christians must strengthen themselves in God in order to withstand the waves of attack and temptation regardless of whatever circumstances they are facing.  

There is no perfect church nor perfect person, but we always have a choice to choose the the path of truth or the path of this world. 

“THE WORD OF GOD YESTERDAY IS THE SAME WORD TODAY UNAFFECTED BY HUMAN PROGRESS”

THERE ARE THINGS WE AREN’T OUGHT TO BE!

               Character plays a tremendous role in anybody. The character of a person tells who he is. It tells about his personality and attitude. It even also says what the person’s morals and ethics are. The character of the person is something inherent within him. It is like his name where even if different titles are placed to it, you can still recognize the name distinctly as his. Character can be like that. We all have that inherent character, that no matter what we do or what we have become, it stays there or passively sticks with us. This character could have been develop when we were growing up. It could have been imparted to us by our environment unconsciously over  quite a  long period of time. Our character could be good or bad and it  could be beneficial or destructive. 

              Most if not all people would keep the good characters they have and go away with the bad ones. But this is where the problem lies. Can it be that easy to let go of bad and destructive characteristics? It is actually hard. It is a lifelong battle. And it is also probably impossible to totally let go. Why? It is inherent in us. Our nature is sinful and the tendency for that chararcteristic to surface is just so imminent. Everyday the bad and not-so-good characterstics have the possibility to manifest in us. It is the reality. It is the very essence of our nature.

              How about God’s grace? Yes, we should be able to overcome them  by God’s grace. Truly enough, it is by God’s grace that we are able to overcome ourselves. But it is easier said than done. especially  if  it collides with our nature. What is even worse is that it can even destroy a person’s spiritual life. Bad and destructive characterstic is as much as like a pepper, when you put it in a dish it can certainly affect the taste, and its effect on the dish stays there. It is just like with a person, sadly but true,once the bad character  gets to a person, it stays with him. Even if we live under God’s grace that very nature sticks with us. Any moment it can shatter our spiritual life. It is the entry point of evil in our lives.

              How do we go about with this? It is definitely hard. As a person who lives in God’s grace, it should have been  easy and long ago we should have overcome the bad character. Yet, it is not. It sticks with our very nature. What is even tragic is that this character can even affect our Christian spiritual lives.  We might think we are doing what a Christian should do, but please think twice, our bad character might be there, lingering , disguising and slowly corrupting us. Instead of bringing glory to God, our bad character might be doing otherwise. We might be glorifying ourselves instead of God. We might be doing our will and not God’s will.

              If this character sticks and lingers in a person and not able to overcome  it, the person ought to make a sacrifice. Stop what you are doing may it be in the ministry or mission or whatever you are doing for God. I am saying this not to discourage people, but I am saying this to make you on gaurd because the consequence is destrcutive when that bad character poisoned the ministry or service to God you are doing. We must think that by getting out of ministry we are honoring God. We are humbling ourselves before Him by acknowledging our very nature. We must re-examine ourselves, and see if  we are stable and firmly standing in God’s grace. Only when we have genuinely overcome our bad character and  genuinely able to fight it, should we come back and do public ministry again. We must always be on guard to protect God’s work.

              But how if we are not able to overcome it? Well, you are not ought to be there. Why? It is because you might just destroy the ministry of God. You must think of the ministry of God foremost, not yourself. You must make a sacrifice. We have already seen people whose ministry got destroyed or got corrupted because their characters have poisoned it like that in the case of Jimmy Swaggart.

There are things that we are not ought to become!

"AMAZING GRACE" in 50 Languages

Our God is truly amazing and awesome! The classic gospel song “Amazing Grace” was sung in 50 different languages in the Every Nation conference 2010. A great manifestation of how greatly we honor and glorfiy God. Seeing Darlene Zscech with the other worship singers singing for the Lord is truly a blessing.

 [THE EVERY NATION CONFERENCE  2010 IN SMX CONVENTION CENTER, MALL OF ASIA]

MANILA BETHEL TEMPLE

LIFE TESTIMONY OF RICA PERALEJO

I felt blessed after seeing the life testimony of Rica. A true example of being transformed for Jesus Christ. See how the grace of God worked into the life of Rica as she accepted the Lord as the King of her life.