5 Razones para orar por otras iglesias.

Una de las practicas que ha sido de bendición para mi vida y he visto que sido de bendición para otros es cuando oramos por otras iglesias en el culto principal. Esta practica me ha ayudado a ver la hermosura de la novia de Cristo la cual es la iglesia, compuesta de personas redimidas de toda tribu y de toda nación. Y de los santos los cuales también pertenecen a diferentes iglesias locales pero son parte de un solo cuerpo.

Si eres pastor o estas encargado de la programación del culto me gustaría animarte y darte razones de como seria una bendición para los miembros de tu congregación el orar por otras iglesias. Lo que escribiré son cosas que he testificado acerca del orar por otros. 

Debemos orar por otros porque:

1. Anima la madurez bíblica: He visto cómo el orar por otras iglesias estimula la madurez bíblica en que no hace todo acerca de nosotros, nuestra denominación, o nuestra iglesia a la que pertenecemos. A veces hay cierta inmadurez de pensar que el evangelio se a propagar correctamente duplicando iglesias como las nuestras. La realidad es que Dios va a expandir su reino a través de su palabra y usando hombres fieles quienes vean la importancia de predicar la palabra fielmente. Orar por otras iglesias nos hace recordar eso, que Dios no necesita de nosotros pero nos usa a nosotros y a otros hermanos de diferentes congregaciones para cumplir sus propósitos Soberanamente.

Necesitamos esa sobriedad en nuestras cabezas para poder madurar al ver lo que creemos como importante pero simpatizar sabiamente con aquellos hermanos con los cuales tenemos diferencias. Entendiendo que aprender a amarlos en nuestras diferencias es más importante que ganar un debate en contra de ellos. Romanos 14:9 Así que, sigamos lo que contribuye a la paz y a la mutua edificación. 

2. Estimula la mentalidad evangelista: El orar por otras iglesias estimula la mentalidad de hacer todo para el Reino de Dios, apreciando como Dios obra en otras iglesias locales. Él ver a Dios obrar en otras iglesias nos va a llenar de gozo, como también nos va a animar en estar envueltos en obrar en nuestra propia iglesia local. Dios va a expandir su reino a través de otras iglesias como también a través de la nuestra, pero para eso debemos predicar el evangelio y hacer discípulos en todas las naciones para la Gloria de Dios.

Filipenses 1:15-18  A decir verdad, algunos predican a Cristo por envidia y por pelear; pero otros lo hacen de buena voluntad. Unos anuncian a Cristo por pelear, y no con sinceridad, pues creen que así añaden aflicción a mis prisiones; pero otros lo hacen por amor, y saben que estoy aquí para defender al evangelio. ¿Qué diré, entonces? Pues que a pesar de todo, y de todas maneras, sea por pretexto o por verdad, Cristo es anunciado. Y en esto me gozo, y me gozaré aún.

3. Es una practica bíblica: Efesios 6:18 “orando en todo tiempo con toda oración y súplica en el Espíritu, y velando en ello con toda perseverancia y súplica por todos los santos.”  Las escrituras nos animan a orar por todos los santos, y debemos reconocer primero que hay santos en otras iglesias quienes obran fielmente en la labor de expandir el evangelio. Podemos orar por aquellas iglesias que estan siendo perseguidas en lugares que estan cerrados al evangelio como también podemos orar por aquellas iglesias que aun necesitan madurar doctrinalmente en las cuales hay creyentes congregando. 

Debemos orar por otras iglesias porque es una practica bíblica que embellece la iglesia local considerando la importancia de la iglesia universal. 

          4. Recordamos que Dios no solo obra a través de nuestra denominación: La expansion del evangelio no se trata de una denominación en particular, sino de ser bíblicamente fieles a lo que Dios dice en su palabra. Estar afiliados con una denominación no significa que somos automáticamente bíblicos, aun ser bíblicamente fiel quiere decir que estarás en desacuerdo con practicas de tu denominación pero que veras de forma madura.  

Debemos señalar que las diferencias denominaciones son reales, pero debemos enfatizar el evangelio que tenemos en común, respetando las diferencias doctrinales para la gloria de Dios aun así estando en desacuerdo. Pero enfatizando la gloriosa Cruz de Cristo por la cual podemos tener vida eternal.

 1 Corintios 1:18-19 El mensaje de la cruz es ciertamente una locura para los que se pierden, pero para los que se salvan, es decir, para nosotros, es poder de Dios. Pues está escrito: «Destruiré la sabiduría de los sabios, y desecharé la inteligencia de los inteligentes.»

            5. Glorifica a Dios: Las iglesias son asambleas locales donde personas que han sido salvadas por El evangelio se reúnen. Orar por ellas, es orar por aquellas personas quienes Dios ha salvado y por las cuales ha manifestado el milagro de Salvación. Orar por otras iglesias es glorificar a Dios por su obra redentora en otros hermanos, es exaltar a Dios por su Poder para salvar, es Adorar a Dios por su gracia y misericordia que El muestra a otros hermanos.

Romanos 1:16-17  No me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para la salvación de todo aquel que cree: en primer lugar, para los judíos, y también para los que no lo son. Porque en el evangelio se revela la justicia de Dios, que de principio a fin es por medio de la fe, tal como está escrito: «El justo por la fe vivirá.»

Debemos considerar el beneficio de orar por otras iglesias para nuestras vidas espirituales como también para aquellas vidas que nosotros pastoreamos para la gloria de Dios. Que Dios nos ayude en este ejercicio para darnos una mentalidad saludable al ver otras iglesias y al tener comunión con otros hermanos de aquellas iglesias. 

The need in the USA: A growing mission field

Hello brothers and sisters, I want to state the purpose of this blog before I go on to the subject. I have often heard American missionaries state the needs of other countries and even mine, and I want to clarify that many of these things were true. But this time I want to state the needs of the mission field in the states. I don't want to unnecessarily offend you, but if the Lord uses this post to convict you of something so that you may be molded into the image of Christ, then praise the Lord.

Most of the things that you are going to read come from my job as an interpreter, me living in the USA for 2 years, and my interactions with Americans. I want to start with my admiration for the Christian heritage that is in the states. There are so many good theological books, seminaries, good churches, and preachers. God has blessed you, being a wealthy country and known for its dedication to serving justice.

My concern is this, that even though the USA has all this rich theological heritage in books, teachers, preachers and churches, it is going downhill theologically, affecting the view of serious matters such as salvation, evangelism, and the preaching of the truth. I will explain more in detail but I want to say this: 1. IM NOT SAYING THIS IS THE REALITY OF ALL THE CHURCHES. IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE REALITY OF YOURS, BUT IM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS MAY BE AROUND YOU.

Salvation: we live in a time where you are applauded for assuming salvation in people but you are persecuted by questioning someone's salvation. And we have forgotten the scriptures' parameters for both: fruits of salvation (Matt 7:16-20). It seems that someone's profession is more important that the ongoing fruit in their lives, and you can't be proud enough to tell them that they may be wrong. To deceitfully assume salvation in someone who clearly doesn't bear fruit only proves coldness and no love for a person made in the image of God. The reality of salvation must be determined by the new life not by the profession of faith. We need to study, learn, pray, and go to the scriptures to identify the marks of conduct and the evidences of a converted soul. We need to stop making affirmations based on emotions and bad theology. If we are dealing with a soul, we must be careful enough to search the word of God and not rely our assumptions. The question is not have you made a profession of faith like the sinner's prayer or raised your hand ? The question is have you become a new person? Have you experienced the new birth? Because unless you are born again you won't see the kingdom of God. (John 3) May our view of salvation be based on the word of God and not just the profession of sinful man. May we love souls in such a way that we don't hurry to affirm someone's salvation but cautiously encourage them to pursue God.

Evangelism: a distorted view of salvation brings a wrong emphasis in evangelism. I know that culturally, Americans are task oriented and that's ok, but my concern is that you are taking this mentality to evangelism and in the with men's souls. If evangelism is a task you want to get done, then you will want to get the job (gospel presentation) done as fast as possible and professions of faith will be the fulfillment of your work. Is that not the logical conclusion of exalting professions over fruit? We need to read the book of Acts to see how our brothers and sisters had a passion to share the Gospel in a way that would be understood by their hearers. Most of our contemporary zeal for evangelism rejoices in numbers rather than love for God and people. If we have a certain number of professions then has our evangelism been successful? NO, evangelism isn't successful because people raise their hands or make commitments to God. Evangelism is successful when we are faithful to the scriptures in preaching the deadliness of sin, the attributes of God, and the nature of Christ in such way that people feel as Martin Luther described, "They end repenting of their sins and trusting Christ or they end hating your preaching because it is so offensive to their love for sin." A passion for evangelism and a clear exposition of this essential truth comes from a love for God and a diligent study of the

scriptures concerning this matter. We need to go back to biblical preaching, not just what fits people but what glorifies God. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”Lets take with contentment the exhortation to preach with carefulness the word of God, and this will be done as we examine and discern what the scriptures say about God and man.

Preaching the truth: rightly a preacher said: “We hypocritically applaud men for seeking the truth but call for the public execution of anyone arrogant enough to believe he has found it.”I really believe that despite America's rich theological heritage, zeal for truth has become just zeal. To actually speak the truth would mean that I'm pridefully saying that something is right. To say that someone is wrong while expounding the truth is unacceptable, because to preach the truth in love in our contemporary minds means to not preach the truth at all. Intelligent exposition of a verse with an explanation of a word in Greek (I have nothing against explaining the Greek, but sometimes preachers are caught in a word in Greek to explain the context but there is nothing more) will be applauded because it's smart, even if doesn't confront our lives or help us to live more like Christ. As long it's intelligent, we like it because that's why we tithe. Don't forget the jokes because that's what most people remember from the sermon.

Sound doctrinal preaching is appreciated by some but despised by many. You will hear people disagreeing with sermons not because they weren't true but because they didn't like it. Greek and cute jokes aside, how much do we care that the sermons be doctrinally sound because it's the word of God, even if it offends us.The person who loves you will tell you the truth. Why? Because Christ did. Let me ask you a question. Do you want your pastor to entertain you or be faithful to God? Why do I ask this? Because the issue with preaching mostly revolves around the pressure of what the audience wants. And if the majority wants entertainment over biblical teaching then the majority dictates what the church will be like, even if there is a minority that truly wants to know God. To diminish or undermine faithful exposition of the word of God is to not take into serious consideration what God has already said about eternity. Shall we take the word of God and do what we want and not consider all its content? Sound preaching will be reborn when we lay self preservation and peer pressure aside and we take seriously the high calling of being the voice of the Lord to His people.

STOP HERE: I bet you are disagreeing with me right now, and questioning me but ask yourself this... Is this truth or not? I don't share this because I think I'm better, I share this because I see people falling into error and I love them. I just can't think to myself and remain silent because of what you think about me after reading this... because what concerns me the most is what you may think about God. I think I have a call to do ministry because of the reasons explained in this post, which I expect God to confirm.

You may say:

But we have a lot of churches here: yes, but that should mean something? Fruit as I said before is the indicator of a saved soul. Your country is the greatest exporter of pornography to the world and your only argument is we have a lot of churches? If a local church hasn't impacted the people around, then it has become worldly.

But people have already heard this and have rejected it.

Isaiah was called to people who had ears but didn't hear. I can't give up a call because of people's responses. If I do then I wouldn't be faithful to what God has called me to do but people would determine my office and not God.

You say,

But your people in Peru need to hear the gospel: yes and there is a lot of need, and I'm working here right now. My people are influenced by a lot of Christianity that comes from your country....which most times looks like what I've mentioned above. Do you really want that kind of Christianity to grow?

I always heard people talking about going out and reaching people but when it comes to the matter of illegal immigrants I just hear Christians say lets kick them out and you are in your right. Don't take me wrong, they have broken your law, but rethink that and what if you reach them with the Gospel. The fact that they are illegal doesn't give you the right to denigrate their need for Christ. They are internationals in your country. I know you think they are taking your money and probably they are....but really? That's all you care about? May your law be fulfilled but let your priority be your call as a believer to love and share the Love of Christ with others.

PLEASE, church in the USA awake!!! Please brothers and sisters lets see before us the great privilege we have of being stewards of the Gospel. I love you, I really do and I know this will cost me some friendships and will bring critiques, but if this is the price I have to pay to be like my Savior then let it be done. Y’all are in my prayers as well your country.