Friday, January 16, 2009

"Nobody is interested in the Gospel today!"

Have you heard brethren make this statement? Have you yourself made it? Having preached in more than one culture in two languages I have not found this to be true.

I met Antonio Wed. afternoon in the home of a Sister here in the Dominican Republic. He is an old family friend, although they had not really spent time with him in 15-20 years. He came to the capital seeking a visa to travel to the US and needed somewhere to stay for a week or so. Nino began talking with him about the Bible that morning and that night he was baptized. He has been in many churches, seeking the true church. When he finally found it Wed. he didn't delay his obedience.

Last night in a rural village (less than 300 population) 55 were present for a service at the house of one of the members. Around 25 of those were visitors, some of whom regularly visit. Although there had been a death in one family in the village that day, 25 were present to hear the Word of God. The church in El Mamon is growing, primarily because the brethren are working. Many in the village can't read or write, but they can listen to the Word preached or taught.

You may say, "But that's in a foreign country". True, but there are people where you live who are looking for the true church also--they're waiting for you to contact them. Could the difference be, not in the "audience" but rather in us as workers?

Tol

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The conveniences of modern life

I'm in the Dominican Republic and am reminded again of how good we have it in the States.

Water came today--their days are Tues. and Thur. They have a tank on the roof, so if you're careful you have water every day. But house cleaning and washing must be done on one of these 2 days--so much for doing laundry when you want to.

The power has been on most of my time here, although it was off for a couple of hours yesterday. I thought I would have to finish my sermon last night in the dark, but it was only a couple of voltage drops. Tonight I preach in a rural area, where the power goes out almost every night, so they meet at 6 PM.

Santo Domingo is a city of 4 million +, with not enough roads for the ever growing number of cars. Today Nino will travel from the north of the city to downtown, from there to the airport 15 miles south, to the east side to pick me up, to travel even farther north to the "suburbs" for a Bible study, to go even farther east to El Mamon tonight, to return "home" in the north--easily 4-5 hours in the car. He probably left home at 6 AM and will get back at 8:30 or so, depending on if he stays to visit tonight. For those who rely on public transportation it is even more time consuming.

Yet in spite of these difficulties brethren meet together 3 times a week--Sunday, then either Tues/Thur or Wed/Fri.

What about you?

Tol

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

progress or digression??

Here in the Dominican Republic the front page new yesterday was the signing of an agreement with the countries of Central America to work toward a union, much like the European Union, with a common market, a common currency, etc. In these tough economic times such a union may open markets to the Dominican Republic, where there are a number of factories, but in the future I perceive that may reverse itself, as labor costs in most Central American countries are lower than they are here. Is this progress or not? The various political parties will no doubt discuss this ad nauseum, but only time will tell.

There is a movement among churches of Christ to "progress"--to change worship to "what the people want" instead of what God wants. Baptism as a condition of salvation is not taught so much, even by some of those who believe (more and more do not). The question we must ask ourselves though is this: Is this progress or digression? Your answer to that will depend on your view of authority. If you believe God expects us to obey Him in all things, then you view such changes as digression, if you believe God isn't overly concerned if we do exactly what He says, then you probably view these changes as progress.

The Bible consistently teaches that God expects us to obey Him and shows the punishment of those who didn't in the past; even those with good intentions. Nothing in 2 Sam. 6:3-7 indicates that Uzzah had anything but good intentions when he touched the ark of the covenant to keep it from falling, but God struck him dead on the spot.

Why do we still worship the same way we've always worshipped? Could it be that it is what God has authorized, and nothing else? I answer with a resounding yes.

Tol