Doctrinal Humility in a Postmodern World

Doctrine is so important that the Bible tell us of those who don't teach according to sound doctrine will be punished in eternal damnation. But also Humility is important because the Bible says in Psalm 138:6 “Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” We live in an age where you cannot be humble and believe in sound doctrine at the same time, or if you are doctrinally outspoken, you are not humble or if you are humble, you won't be that vocal about your beliefs.

Let me explain myself, we live in a postmodern world where something means anything to everybody and that in someone's worldview love can mean that you give a heavy metal serenata to someone who goes to an independent baptist church. So, part of the church is trying to be the cool kid before the world, and it has adopted some postures that has damaged the view of Doctrine and Humility. 

How so? Doctrine is undervalued as a the set of rules, or exclusive pastoral intellect and the only reason for studying it, is because you want to  be super spiritual/phariseic/legalistic. Humility is mistaken by the simple act of shut up, being laid back and accepting everybody opinions even  if they are wrong and heretical sometimes.

The problem is that this is not what the Bible says about it, and we are going to explain this in 3 parts:

1. Doctrine: Is our belief system, is what we believe, when we talk about doctrine it doesn't mean a big theological lecture but it comes down to what we think about God, what we think about Jesus and self. There is only two main doctrines in this world: Christianity and any other form of man made religions that can exist in this world. Our doctrine determines our view about God and also our practical devotion to Him. See, you can talk about your experiences but the question comes down to how much of what you've experienced is biblically grounded.

Being doctrinal is not just being intellectual but is studying the word of the God we love in order to worship Him. There is a lot of warning against those who preach and encourage bad doctrine because to twist the words of the scripture is to twist what God wants to tell us. So doctrine is important because it help us to understand who God is in His Majesty, who we are in light of that Majestic God, what we deserve in light of our sin and how we can come to have fellowship with this amazing God. 

2.    Humility: is our attitude on how we feel about ourselves. How much you think about yourself tells us how important you think you are. In Christianity, there is a great gain to not think about self at all, but to think to be like Jesus. Blessed are the poor in spirit because the absence of self importance is the catalyst to faith in Jesus, a spiritual person who is poor in spirit is filled with Christ. So humility speaks also about our view and our submission to the person of Jesus Christ, because if we are full of self then we won't see our need for Him unless our self dependence is tear down. 

 2.a. Humility  and the outgoing: so humility its reflected by how we treat others, so  sometimes the humble thing to do for the outgoing personality is not to hide his personality but  to renounce to self. Speaking out of humility and love for others and not just because you like to be the center of attention. The sound doctrinal person is called to humility in order to edify others.

2.b. Humility and the introvert: this is the other side, those who don't speak must be humble enough to be bold in order to speak when they ought to speak. For humility in them is not to be lay back since that's their comfort but to step out for the sake of others. They may seem humble if they say nothing at all but it actually may be their flesh finding comfort in their quietness.

3.        Doctrinal Humility: after defining what both of them mean, we can say that doctrinal humility is to see doctrine for the purpose God intended for it. I know that sometimes what we know can take us to think too much of ourselves but we need to be humble and that humility comes by understanding doctrine correctly. What we understand about God in our doctrine will lead us to have a certain way to look at self, so if you doctrine is leading you to pride then you are not understanding it correctly even though you read the right books and hold the right confessions. 

As we study who God let us not waste our time saving our knowledge for a debate battle but use it to worship Him for who He is. You don't put worms next to a big peace of the finest steak so don't put the worms of your pride next to the wisest and finest words of wisdom from God. Because what we learn is not about ourselves but about Him, your worship, your diligence to study the scriptures and prayer is the evidence of how much you believe what you know. 

Let us persevere in being faithful to hold the thoughts of who He say He is, even if we live in a post modern age where the majority of the church makes a big deal of things that don't matter and underestimate those which matter. That's why we will have people complaining about music style for worship but never questioning the soundness of the preaching or of the lyrics of the songs we sing at church.  We will have people counting and boasting on decisions but we won't give attention to how much of them have been truly saved. We carry a lot of fire but little light, a lot of excitement but not much instruction, let us be doctrinal but humble, read your word and pray, know God and worship Him, study Christ and submit to Him.

Disfrutando la diversidad Cristiana

Hola hermanos

Hace un tiempo estuve leyendo un libro llamado Fuego Extraño por John MacArthur (Conocido como Juanito Mac), el libro se dirige a denunciar el fuego extraño creado por iglesias pentecostales y carismaticas. Algo que note en el libro, lo cual no me pareció demasiado saludable is poner a todos los pentecostales y carismáticos en la misma bolsa. ¿Por que? quizás te preguntaras, bueno yo conozco personas dentro de esas denominaciones que se sienten avergonzados e indignados de las enseñanzas de estas personas quienes profesan ser Cristianos bajo la misma denominación.

Para empezar, no soy carismatico o pentecostal, pero creo que lo que MacArthur ha escrito es parte de una tendencia que hay en el circulo evangélico. Esto es que no disfrutamos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas por quienes ellos son. A través de la historia de la iglesia las denominaciones han ayudado a caracterizar un sistema de creencias, lo cual hasta cierto punto creo que es saludable. El problema es la exclusividad que estamos adoptando nos lleva a rechazar personas que son de diferentes denominaciones. No me malinterpretes, tu y yo podremos compartir los mismos desacuerdos que tenemos con Pentecostales, Carismáticos, Luteranos, Presbiterianos, Bautistas y Anglicanos. Pero eso no me da el derecho a dar un juicio final de que tan genuina es la obra de regeneración en la vida de esa persona.

Déjame decirte que yo también siento indignación cuando escucho falsa doctrina, mas que nada en estos tiempos donde todos quieres ser escuchados pero ninguno quiere ser entendido. Muchos van a dar su mejor esfuerzo para escribir frases celebres para que sea citadas o publicadas, lo cual solo cosquillea el oido de muchos, pero solo pocos se tomaran el tiempo para definir lo que quieren decir. Asi que siento tu dolor.

Quizás te preguntaras ¿A que te refieres cuando hablas de disfrutar la diversidad Cristiana? bueno yo me refiero a esto, no todos tienen que estar de acuerdo contigo. Por supuesto que no estoy comprometiendo las doctrinas esenciales de la fe como la maldad del hombre, la salvación solamente por la fe, la naturaleza de Cristo y los atributos de Dios. Estas son doctrinas no negociables, no importa cual sea tu denominación (incluido Bautistas y Presbiterianos). Ahora quizás te preguntes: que hace diferente a una persona bajo cierta denominación (específicamente pentecostales y carismaticos, hay que ser honestos que somos duros con ellos y a veces eso equivocadamente nos gusta ¿no es asi?

Bueno lo que hace la diferencia en personas bajo cierta denominación es lo que la biblia dice acerca de los verdaderos creyentes, así que antes de que corras a dar un juicio final a personas cuales denominaciones se ve raras, hazte estas preguntas:

1. ¿Ha cambiado el corazón de esta persona? Las escrituras dicen que todos quienes están en Cristo son una nueva criatura, y una nueva criatura no solo suprime lo inmoral pero ama, desea y quiere a Dios. Asi que si una persona muestra un deseo de conocer a Dios, no solo de mantenerse moralmente correcto pero un deseo de conocer a Cristo de una manera intima, entonces déjame decirte que estas frente a un creyente. Y por supuesto que veras un comportamiento que evidencie ese deseo, pero lo harán por que ellos se deleitan en conocer a Dios, no porque solamente quieren mantenerse fuera de problemas.

2. Estudio diligente de las escrituras: un deseo por Dios nos llevara a conocer quien Dios es, y lo que El ha hecho y como debemos comportarnos delante de El y todo esto es revelado en las escrituras. Así que si ves una persona yendo a las escrituras regularmente para conocer mas de Dios as el o ella pueda disfrutarlo mas a El, tu deberías animar el deseo por ese conocimiento. Acuérdate que Jesús dijo, Esta es la vida eterna, que te conozcan a ti El Único Dios Verdadero, quizás ahorita tu no estés de acuerdo con ellos pero tomate el tiempo para que ellos puedan conocerte y compartir mas contigo. Yo se que tu estas en lo correcto y el esta equivocado y el mas bien es el que debería escucharte porque tu doctrina esta tan buena pero si tu quien cree esta en lo correcto, no busca conocer la cosmovisión teológica de la persona; entonces, se te hará difícil contextualizar lo que quieres decir. Y para ser sincero, escuchar a personas con diferente posiciones teológicas, reta mi mente  y a veces me hace pensar mas antes de hablar. Pero aun así dudo que cambies de pensar después de leer esto, asi que de todas maneras orare por ti.

3. Oración: por supuesto que toda religión pagana o pseudo cristianos pueden orar. a lo que me refiero es que esa persona ora regularmente y disfruta estar y pasar tiempo con Dios. El no solo usa el cliché de orare por ti pero ora porque ve su necesidad por Dios. Hay que tener cuidado de desanimar a nuestros hermanos a orar, y para ser honesto, los carismáticos son mas intencionales para esto mas que cualquier otra denominación. Si, a veces hay cosas que aprender de personas que regularmente juzgamos.

4.Disfruta la comunión: Quizás tu estés en desacuerdo con ellos pero tu puedes ver el gozo del Señor en ellos, y aun así tu los vuelvas locos, ellos disfrutan tener comunión con los santos. Cristo es aquel quien une a los que por El son redimidos, aun así estés en desacuerdo con un hermano, pasa tiempo con ellos. Porque si tu piensas que ellos son raros, ellos piensan lo mismo acerca de ti pero necesitas darte cuenta de que ustedes han sido comprados por la misma sangre.

5.Un deseo por evangelismo: la realidad de lo eterno es evidente en esta persona, mirando mas arriba que abajo. Un deseo de querer ver personas salvas y que vengan a Cristo, ministrando no sera un trabajo part time sino un estilo de vida. Esta persona disfrutara tu pasión por evangelizar y ver personas confesando a Cristo.

Así que aquí hay unos pasos que quizá quieras considerar, yo se que tu puedes reconocer a un hereje y a alguien que esta en desacuerdo contigo en puntos menores. Antes de finalizar quiero hablar de un tema lo cual no importa tu denominación creo que sera útil.

No juzgues a las personas por tus preferencias personales: Se que hay cosas que algunas personas consideran pecado que necesariamente no sea pecado. Un Ejemplo: tomar un vaso de alcohol, escuchar música rítmica. Hermanos ¿en serio? No uses tus preferencias personales como un estándar de piedad, y por favor no uses la excusa del hermano débil si tu no lo eres, o al menos que veas que un hermano débil ha testificado la imprudencia. Déjame animarte a que examines tus motivaciones al juzgar a alguien quien no llena tus expectativas personales. Tu sabes como distinguir el pecado y los estándares personales, pero si por alguna razón no sabes, por favor usa la biblia, ayuda bastante.

Espero que este blog alimente tu deseo de querer tener comunión con personas de diferentes denominaciones, siempre discerniendo y pensando.

Que el vinculo de la salvación en Cristo sea mas fuerte que tu denominación

February Update

hello yall

The past month has been very refreshing/challenging, the situation at the church in pueblo viejo still almost the same. people are more active to do things collective as sharing meals, but you need to still push them a little bit to do things. even tho it is discouraging situation, im always looking into the Lord sufficiency to give me peace and joy. There has been a decent respond to english classes so thats good,  One things very encouraging has been our saturdays bible studies had been really consistent for the past 3 months and we are about to finish our second book this saturday. so YAY 

God has allowed me to earn the love of the few people who come to the church, they know that im leaving soon and they tell me that they are praying instead for me to not leave, i know thats kind of flattering honestly but cant avoid to aprecciate that because i love them. so transition to leave has begun in less than 60 days i will be leaving and the planing of the future of the church is stressful even tho i know God is in control i must believe it. 

I still trying to encourage men but it seems impossible but there is one man in PV that im begining to meet with, he is from another church but he has asked me to teach him theology, he gave a sermon this past sunday on his church and i helped him with the preparation and we are going to dive into theology pretty soon. pray for it please, his name is junior.

Pray Requests:

1. Character: Pray that i remain faithful to the Lord as i love others and walk in humility and wisdom.

2. Church in Pueblo Viejo: Pray that the people who already are there, be revived into affirming themselves into the word and this can overflow as to encourage others

3. Family: My mom, brother and sister Nicole are beginning again to go to church, pray that they be consistent with it and also pray for the salvation of my dad, his partner Elizabeth, my step brother Ricardo and my other sister Kyara.

4. Pray for other missionaries: Walter and Gabriela Isse, Bud and Laura Lenz, Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald, Dan and Ruthie Nagao, Daniel and Becky Nunez, Scott and Tracy Blackburn, Caleb and Anna Lenz, Jay and Kelly Cross.

5. Pastor for Pueblo Viejo: Pray that someone steps up to take the leadership of the church in pueblo viejo.

6. Canadian Visa: There is an opportunity to serve at a camp on Canada that works with kids from the reservoirs in Canada, so im praying that the Lord open the door begining by rhe visa process if this is His will. it only would for July and August if this door is openned.

7. USA Trip: pray that the Lord opens opotunities to minister as im going to be in the states soon.

8. Finances: The Lord ha provided for me so far for my expenses here in Puerto Maldonado, just pray that I always can be a good administrator for what I have.

Pueblo viejo is a poor neigborhood so school season is coming soon for them, and many families struggle to buy the tools that their kids need and im asking for people who prayerfully want to donate notebooks,pencils, pens, and color pencils so that may help them. if ytou are interested reply this email and i will tell you how you can do this.

thanks for your prayers and thanks for your encouragment, feel free to talk, text, skype or facetime if you have any question.

Edher

January Report

Hello Brothers and Sisters

Since the last report many things happened, I had two friends coming to visit and helping with the ministry which are Jonathan and Celia, and also I had a team from Cedar Lake Camp who did a 3 days bible school/games with the kids. It was epic to have them and to have a lot of the unnusual constantly fellowship with other believers and also seeing them to love and reach the people in pueblo viejo. 

The kids had a blast, such blast that after 2 weeks they still asking me when are we doing this again, meanwhile I have decided to play movies at the church spontaneously for the kids with permission of their parents since they are now on summer vacations. I am also trying to begin some english classes with the teenagers and adults and also re-start the bible studies on saturdays.

This past sunday evenign we had a meeting with some (the majority) of the people who has been  baptized and involved in the church somehow and we talked about the future of the church/programs and more. It was a very good meeting and a very fruitful one, they are committing to begin to discipline themselves in the involvement of the church and also to pray for more men to come to the church and for a person to lead the church, so thats great. 

Pray Requests:

1. Character: Keep praying for me to grow in humility, love, wisdom and faithfulness to the Lord, also im starting to disciplines myself to pray for others so I dont become self-focus in prayer with my needs. 

2. Church in Pueblo Viejo: Pray that God enables them to do what they are committing to do as to pray for more people to come, espeially men, and themselves to be more disciplined with their assitance. 

3. Family: My mom, brother and sister Nicole are beginning again to go to church, pray that they be consistent with it and also pray for the salvation of my dad, his partner Elizabeth, my step brother Ricardo and my other sister Kyara.

4. Pray for other missionaries: Walter Isse, Bud and Laura Lenz, Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald, Dan and Ruthie Nagao, Daniel and Becky Nunez, Scott and Tracy Blackburn, Caleb and Anna Lenz, Jay and Kelly Cross.

5. Pastor for Pueblo Viejo: pray that God raises someone to take the leadership of the church in Pueblo Viejo, the peruvian baptist convention is meeting soon also to decided if they are going to send someone.

6. Canadian Visa: There is an opportunity to serve at a camp on Canada that works with kids from the reservoirs in Canada, so im praying that the Lord open the door begining by rhe visa process if this is His will. it only would for July and August if this door is openned.

7. Finances: The Lord ha provided for me so far for my expenses here in Puerto Maldonado, just pray that I always can be a good administrator for what I have.

Thank you again for praying for me but also I want to know how can I pray for you? so i can put you on my prayer list. 

If you have any question please feel free to Message me, Text me, Skype me or even Facetime.

Blessings

Edher

But they are people, the worth of a soul.

But they are people, the worth of a soul.

For the Christmas celebration I went back to lima to see my family and to see some friends, I went there just for a week. While I was there I got to go to my church there where I saw many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. While I was talking with one of them, He asked me how was the mission work going and how I was doing. At some point the question of what's my responsibility in the mission field is, came and I answered that I was working as a temporary Pastor, and he seemed to be really excited. Right away I said yes but there is only around 10 people, right after he emphatically said: But they are people.

I was ashamed of the numbers I had at my church in the jungle and I was underestimating the mission work just because there wasn't many people. But my friend gave me a good reminder of what's the main reason of why I do missions, and why I'm there ministering to an small amount of people at the church I'm pastoring. My mindset at the moment was: yes I am a pastor in the jungle but it's not a big deal there is just few people there and I don't have a lot of people for you to be amazed of my ministry. But my friend said But they are people, there was something powerful when He said that which kept me thinking about it. So to explain it clearly I want to split what the Lord was showing me at that moment in 3 parts:

1. Anything done for God is a High Calling: so while my response gave evidence of my desire for a better reputation by increasing the number of my members, my friend reminded me  of the High calling I have in Christ. Not all have the opportunity and the privilege to minister to God's people and the fact the I can stand and preach to just few persons is a task that even angels desire. So if angels who are perfect beings, demonstrate the high view of just sharing the word of God, who I am as to look down on it just because I don't have more people. God was the one who called me, if the work I am doing is for Him, why does it matter if I'm known or my church is known by just having more people? Isn't God Worthy enough and Sufficient as to be content and satisfied by just working for Him? We need to be reminded that ministry is a always serious thing but more than that we need to be reminded that is a beautiful thing because is God who call us to preach and share HIS WORD for HIS GLORY.

2. Souls are important: while I was undermining the work, I also was undermining the value of the souls I'm shepherding. See, we tell people that God loves them but we don't unless there are a bunch of them, that's heartless. If we think that God's creation is amazing because He created the heavens and earth out of nothing, how much more we should be amazed on how He recreates a being out of a corrupt mass. The manifestation of power in salvation exceeds the one demonstrated through creation by the mere fact that a God hater will become His son through adoption because the one whom he hated changed his stony heart into a fleshy one. So even that one person is God's creation and if this person is a Christian, the Bible says that God cares of them and He knows everything about them because He is their Father. So if you happen to be a minister is because God is trusting you with His children and you have no right to look down on them because of how much of them there are.

3. You may become that which you hate: for those who know me, whether you've talked to me or read my posts on social media, you know that I despise the mindset of numbers in ministry. The numbers mindset that treats groups of people as a king size bag of M&M's and also makes evangelism more like a marketing strategy rather than the faithful preaching of the Word of God. So at the end of the day when I went back home, I did repented of my sin of underestimating my call and the people who have been entrusted to me.  But I also realized that I've have become that which I hated. Probably a hypocrite is a sincere way to put it, but as a child of God I understood that I must keep guard of myself for I'm also a sinner and if I don't keep my eyes on what God says about things and how He defines it, I can do this as many times and not even realize it. So I became what I hated but God in His grace and Mercy made come to the realization of it so I came before Him to see my weakness.

In conclusion, there is a high calling for every children of God because we are about soul business and the mere fact of just dealing with one soul, must be a reason for contentment and awe for the privilege God gives us through His son. Even tho there is just 1 person in your ministry, that one person is God's child and even if you have to prepare and study for a sermon to that one person is because God is worthy of our service.

I hope this has edifying you and keep praying for me and for those in ministry, feel free to ask any question.

End of the year update

Hello

Sorry for the late update, this last month has been a little bit chaotic trying to figure out something's concerning the ministry but thanks the Lord that He has provided clarity for it. The church has been inconsistent also there is some people sharing my burden concerning the growing of the church but its majority seems to be indifferent to it. After talking with some people I've decided to have a meeting with the people from pueblo viejo who had any kind of involvement with the church in January. This will be helpful as to see what way the church is going to follow for the rest of my term and for the next person who jumps in. Also keep praying for the next person who jumps in to lead the church, we still haven't find anyone but there is going to be more clarity soon. Also pray for us as we have begun the book of 1 John three weeks ago.

To me the situation still frustrating but still seeing it as a channel to seek the Lord and rest in His sufficiency as I keep seeking guidance from Him. It's very discouraging sometimes but I also have to remember that if I keep trying just in my own strength I will get nothing done even tho if it looks outwardly like it, i must trust Him.

Prayer Requests

Character: pray that I may grow in humility, love, wisdom and faithfulness.

2. Church in Pueblo Viejo: pray that they grow in commitment and a desire to grow themselves and see others come to Christ. Pray for the upcoming meeting in January also.

3. Family: I'm in lima until the 27 so pray as I'm with them i can reflect the love of Christ.

4. Pray for the missionaries: Walter Isse, TJ Lindsey, Buddy Fitzgerald, Dan Nagao, Daniel Nunez, Scott Blackburn, Bud Lenz, Caleb Lenz, and Jay Cross.

5. Pastor for next year: pray that God raises someone to take over the ministry when I leave next year

6. Cedar lake team: there is a team coming next week and we are going to be working with kids so pray for that time.

7. Work permit: pray that the process in finding a summer job and getting a work permit to work legally go smooth.

8. Finances: The Lord has provided so pray as He gives me wisdom to be a good steward of His provisions.

Thank you so much for praying for me. Feel free to ask any question or call me, FaceTime and Skype.

Merry Christmas
Edher

Almost December Update

Hello brothers and sisters


This last month have been a lot of work and also frustration to be honest. People at the church are not responding as I would like to but God still Sovereign and Powerful to do what I can't. Good news also are that I have a team from Tennessee are coming in December to help work with the kids, approaching they are on vacations. There also will be a friend coming to help me with the church life and visitation for 10 days.

People are the church has become a little bit lazy, and even tho there is 3 people committed, they sometimes get frustrated and discouraged by the rest. I spend as much time with them as I can to encourage them and disciple them. On the other hand there is also 3 new people starting to come eventually to the church and one of them is a very baby believer so that was good. I kind of had a very honest straight talk with them 2 weeks ago about the important of commitment to the church and the effects it does have in the people who comes to visit which I thought they responded good. So I'm trusting for them to grow as we have some studies and also as I trust the Lord to do the work that my words can't.

This was kind of stressful, added with other more personal stress that I had, it kind of was taking my eyes away from the main thing who is God Himself. So I was just doing stuffs because I had to and not enjoying my time with the Lord at all because of it. But the Lord has shown me that if I don't keep Him at first on prayer, devotion and as my main desire, every activity or bible study will be worthless. So keeping Him first has demanded me to put my burdens, stress and frustrations on His shoulders and also pick carefully what battles I'm gonna fight so my heart doesn't faint at trying to look at a 1000 things at the same time. So prayer has been the perfect refuge, and fuel source for my personal life, battles as the future, some friendships, circumstances, personal wants are some battles that I don't need put on me but I must fight to keep the Lord first always, what's best in order to love those around me and the people in Pueblo viejo. I'm not saying those things are not important but I can't just control the outcome of all them but trust the Lord, that He will do what is best.

Prayer Requests

Character: pray that I may grow in humility, love, wisdom and faithfulness. I can't blame situations for how I behave but they always bring what my life needs work on. I'm not perfect but  that's not excuse to not seek diligently and obey the only One who is.

2. Church in Pueblo Viejo: pray that they grow in commitment and a desire to grow themselves and see others come to Christ.

3. Family: pray for my mom who is going through a difficult time right now, and for the salvation of my brother, dad, stepmother, sisters and stepbrother.

4. Pray for the missionaries: Walter Isse, TJ Lindsey, Buddy Fitzgerald, Dan Nagao, Daniel Nunez, Scott Blackburn, Bud Lenz, Caleb Lenz, and Jay Cross.

5. Pastor for next year: pray that God raises someone to take over the ministry when I leave next year.

6. Finances: pray that the Lord helps me to be wise always in spending and administrating the sources I have for His work.

Thank you for reading my update and praying for me,
Feel free to ask any question and let me know how can I pray for you.


PD: the Christmas activity has been cancelled due to commitment issues.