How to Benefit from the Bible

by Reyvie Manalo

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Bilang mga Kristyano, hindi natin ikinahihiyang sabihin na ang Bibliya ang ating batayan sa ating pananampalataya at pamumuhay. Ito ay isang napakagandang patotoo. Sa atin na mga Baptists na nagfe-Facebook, nakalagay sa ating profile na ang Bible ang ating favorite book.

Subalit kung nais nating makakuha ng pakinabang sa Aklat na ito, hindi sapat na sinasabi lamang natin ito. Kaya hayaan nyo akong magbigay ng ilang pamamaraan kung paano tayo makakakuha ng tunay na benepisyo mula sa Bibliya.

I Must Receive the Word of God

Kung nais talaga nating makinabang mula sa Salita ng Dios, dapat natin itong tanggapin sa ating mga buhay.

Sa ating teksto ay gumagamit si Santiago ng isang ilustrasyon ng isang binhi at isang lupa. (...receive with meekness the engrafted word). Sa Matthew 13, binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng isang talinhaga na kapareho ang klase. Sinasabi Niya ang tungkol sa binhi (ang Salita) at sa lupa (ang puso). Paano yun na parehong uri ng binhi ang ginamit, ngunit nagbubunga ng iba’t ibang resulta? Ang sagot ay nasa lupa! Yung isang lupa ay tinanggap ang Salita nang may tamang pag-uugali, habang ang iba ay hindi.

How do I receive the Word with right attitude?

1. Be careful - Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Maging mabilis na makinig. Ibigay ang iyong buong atensyon. Maging alerto. Don’t miss the message!

2. Be calm - Jas 1:19 …slow to wrath.

A relaxed attitude increases receptivity. Kung ikaw ay relaxed, mas kaya ng tao na makipag-usap sa’yo nang higit at kaya mong makaintindi nang malinaw. Sa kabilang banda, kung tayo ay galit, balisa, nagdaramdam, mapait, nagiging balakid/harang ito sa pagpapanatili sa ating mapakinggan ang Salita ng Dios.

3. Be clean - Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Nangangahulugan ito na pagtigil sa paggawa ng anumang imoral o masama. Bago ka makapagtanim ng isang binhi, mahalaga na bunutin muna ang mga damo. Ang mga damo ay nagiging balakid sa paglago ng halaman. Kapag tayo’y may kasalanan sa ating mga buhay, hinaharangan nito ang pakikinig ng Salita. Pinipigilan ng kasalanan ang Salita ng Dios na lumapit sa ating mga puso. Kaya hangga’t hindi tayo malinis, hindi tayo masyadong makikinabang mula sa Salita.

4. Be compliant.  Jas 1:21  ..and receive with meekness the engrafted word,..

Ito ay nangangahulugan na pagtanggap nang may kababaan ng loob. Ito ay nangangahulugang yung pwedeng maturuan, mapagpakumbaba, at bukas sa pagbabago. Huwag kang umakto na parang alam mo na ang lahat. Kapag iniisip mo na alam mo na lahat, mawawalan na ng silid para sa Salita na bigyang-pakinabang ka sa iyong buhay-Kristiano.

I Must Reflect on the Word of God

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Gumagamit dito si Santiago ng ilustrasyon ng isang salamin. Ang Salita ng Dios ay tulad ng isang salamin. Ang gamit ng salamin ay para suriin ang ating mga sarili. Anong silbi ng salamin kung matapos mong makita ang iyong sarili, ay wala ka namang gagawin patungkol dito?

Ang Salita ng Dios ay isang salamin ay kailangan nating gunitain!

Binibigyan tayo ni Santiago ng tatlong praktikal na mga paraan sa kung paano magbubulay-bulay sa Salita:

1.      Read it. Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Ito’y nangangahulugan na dapat ay hindi tumigil sa pagtingin. Hindi lang ito basta pagbabasa, kung mas mailalarawan pa ng mga salitang research at investigation. Ang salitang look ay na nangangahulugang to stoop down and gaze in.

May dalawang paraan ng pagtingin sa salamin. Maaari kang sumulyap rito (glance), o tumitig rito (gaze). Kapag sumulyap ka lang, mabilis ka lang na aalis at kakalimutan kung ano ang iyong nakita. Ngunit hindi iyon ang gustong gawin natin ng Dios kapag nagninilay-nilay tayo sa Kanyang Salita. Nais Niya na tayo’y tumitig rito (pagmasdan ito nang mabuti). Magbigay ng mas mahabang oras/atensyon/tuon sa Salita.

Maraming mga Kristiano, para lamang masabi na nag- “quiet time,” ay susulyap lamang sila sa kanilang Biblia, at yun na yun. Hindi iyan ang ibig-sabihin natin kapag sinasabi nating I Must Reflect on God’s Word.

May isang magandang aklat akong natapos ilang buwan ang nakalilipas na pinamagatang Bible Study Methods. Sa aklat na iyon, ang awtor ay nagmungkahi ng siyam na bagay na dapat tingnan habang nagninilay-nilay sa Salita.

Gumamit siya ng isang acronym para rito para madaling maalala:

S – Is there a Sin to confess  

P – Promise to claim

A – Attitude to change

C – Command to obey

E – Example to follow

P – Prayer to be prayed

E – Error to avoid

T – Truth to believe

S – Something to praise God for

Simula noong matutunan ko ito, ginagamit ko na ang pattern na ito para magnilay-nilay sa Salita.

2.      Review it.  Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein..

Ito ay pagbabasa ng Biblia at pag-iisip tungkol dito nang paulit-ulit. Pagbubulay-bulay ang tawag dito ng Biblia. Ang pagbubulay-bulay ay nangahulugang pag-iisip nang seryoso tungkol sa isang bagay nang paulit-ulit.

Kung alam mo kung paano mag-alala, alam mo kung paano magbulay-bulay. Kumuha ka ng isang negatibong ideya at isipin mo ito nang paulit-ulit, iyon ay tinatawag na “worry” o pag-aalala. Ngunit kung kinuha mo ang Salita ng Dios ay pinag-isipan mo ito nang paulit-ulit, ito ay tinatawag na “meditation” o pagbubulay-bulay.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

The Lord told Joshua Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night..

Maaaring ikaw ay nagmamaneho, ngunit ikaw ay nagbubulay-bulay; maaaring ikaw ay nagluluto/naglilinis ng bahay/naglalaba ng mga dami, ngunit ikaw ay nagbubulay-bulay. Dapat tayong magsanay na pagbulay-bulayan ang Salita ng Dios.

3.      Remember it. Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer..

Dito na pumapasok ang kahalagahan ng Scripture memorization. Kabisaduhin mo ang mga kasulatan sa iyong isip at ingatan ito sa iyong puso. Sinabi ng psalmista, Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

Huwag mong tingnan ang pagkakabisado na isang pabigat. Dapat blessing ang memorization, hindi burden.

And speaking of remembering, sila na nanag-take note ay may malaking lamang sa mga iba na hindi. Meron silang mababalikan na material in case makalimutan nila ang mensahe na kanilang napakinggan before.

So those are the practical ways to Reflect on the Word: Read it, Review it, and Remember it.

Para sa panghuling bahagi, kung nais nating mapagpala ng Salita ng Diyos, kinakailangan nating tumugon sa Salita ng Diyos!

I Must Respond to the Word of God

Going back to the book of James, Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Huwag lang basta makinig sa Salita—sanayin ito, isabuhay ito, kumilos ayon dito, at gawin kung ano ang sinasabi nito!

May mga Kristiano na gusting ma-church, making sa mensahe, ngunit umaalis sila nang walang intensyon na tumugon sa anumang napakinggan nila.

Sinasabi ni Santiago na dinadaya natin ang ating mga sarili kung hindi natin hahayaan ang Salita na baguhin tayo. May mga Kristianong nag-iisip na sapat na ang biblikal na kaalaman upang lumago. Ngunit sa nakikita natin, ang sukatan ng pagiging malago ay hindi kaalaman—ang sukatan ng pagiging malago ay ang karakter.

May mga Kristiano na nag-iisip na sila’y mga ispiritwal na higante dahil sa dami ng biblikal na impormasyon sa kanilang ulo, ngunit sa paningin ng Dios sila ay mga ispiritwal na kutong-lupa, mga wala pa sa gulang, sapagka’t hindi nila matutunan na tumugon sa kanilang nalalaman.

Dapat natin alalahanin na ang kaalaman ay nagdadagdag ng responsibilidad. Kapag mas marami tayong alam, mas mrami tayong pananagutan. Sinabi ni Jesus, To whom much is given, much is required. Sinabi ni Santiago, To him who knows to do good and doeth it not, it is sin.

Kaya ang tanong sa atin ngayon ay ito, “Ano ang gagawin ko sa aking nalalaman? Ako ba ay tumutugon sa Salita ng Dios?”

Naalala ko na may nabasa akong kwento tungkol sa isang myembro ng church na dumating nang huli isang Sunday ng umaga. Habang siya’y nakaupo sa tabi ng isa pang myembro, tinanong niya ito nang mahina, “Tapos na pa yung preaching?” Matalinong sumagot ang myembro sa kanya at nagsabi, “Na-preach na yung message, pero hindi pa natin nagagawa!”

Kaya mga Kristiano, kung nais talaga nating makinabang mula sa ating Biblia, umaasa ako na maaalala natin ang tatlong simpleng mga hakbang na ito: Receive the Word, Reflect on the Word, and Respond to the Word. bdj

Ang article na ito ay sinulat ni Bro. Reyvie Manalo, at pinublish originally sa Facebook in three parts under the same title. Isinalin nang buo sa Tagalog ni Bro. Elijah Abanto.

Si Bro. Reyvie ay dating myembro ng Capitol BBC, at aktibong myembro na ng Calvary Baptist Church sa Dubai, UAE. Kasama niyang nakikinabang sa Biblia ang kanyang asawang si Rio at anak na si Hannah.

Back to the Basics

by Charles R. Swindoll

Ang yumao nang stratehista sa football, si Vince Lombardi, ay isang panatiko pagdating sa mga saligan. Sila na mga naglaro sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno ay madalas na magsabi ng tungkol sa kanyang sidhi, kanyang pwersa, kanyang hindi nawawalang sigasig para sa laro. Regular siyang bumabalik sa mga pangunahing pamamaraan ng blocking at tackling. May isang pagkakataon kung saan ang kanyang pangkat, ang Green Bay Packers, ay natalo sa isang mas mahinang koponan. Masama na ang matalo … ngunit ang matalo sa koponan na iyon ay hindi mapapasubalian. Tumayag ng pagsasanay si Coach Lombardi noong sumunod na umaga. Tahimik na nakaupo ang mga kalalakihan, na mas mukhang hinagupit na mga tuta kaysa isang koponan ng mga kampiyon. Wala silang ka-ide-ideya kung ano ang aasahan mula sa lalaking kanilang pinakakinatatakutan nila.

Nagtitimpi at tumititig sa bawat isang atleta, nagsimula si Lombardi:

“Okay, babalik tayo sa simula ngayong umaga. …”

Hawak-hawak ang isang football sa taas na makikita ng lahat, patuloy siyang sumigaw:

“… mga ginoo, ito ay isang football!”

Tingnan mo naman kung gaano ka-basic iyon! Ang mga lalaking nakaupo doon ay naglalaro na ng football nang labinlima hanggang dalawampung taon … sila na mas alam ang opensa at depensa higit sa mga pangalan ng mga anak nila … at ngayon ay ipinapakilala niya ang football sa kanila! Para iyong pagsasabi, “Maestro, ito ay isang gabilya.” O, “Librarian, ito ay isang aklat.” O, “Marine, ito ay isang rifle.” O, “Ina, ito ay isang kawali.” Halatang-halata naman kung ano iyon!

Bakit naman sa tanang mundong ito makikipag-usap ang ekspertong coach na ito sa mga propesyunal na atleta sa ganoong paraan? Pero gumana naman iyon, sapagkat walang sinuman ang nagdala sa isang koponan sa tatlong magkakasunod na kampyonato sa buong mundo kundi siya. Ngunit—paano? Gumawa lamang si Lombardi sa isang simpleng pilosopiya. Naniwala siya na ang kagalingan ay pinakamainam na nakakamit sa pamamagitan ng pagma-master ng mga basics ng isang laro. Ang panlilito, pagpapasaya sa madla, at larong pakikipagsapalaran ay pupuno ng stadio (nang pansamantala) at maaaring makapagpanalo ng ilang mga laro (paminsan-minsan), ngunit sa huling pag-aanalisa ang mga palaging nananalo ay mga koponan na naglalaro nang matalino, taas-noo, at matigas na football. Kanyang stratehiya? Alamin ang iyong posisyon. Matuto kung paano ito gawin nang tama. Pagkatapos ay gawin ito nang buo mong lakas! Ang ganoong kasimpleng plano ang naglagay ng Green Bay, Wisconsin, sa mapa. Bago dumating si Lombardi, ang Green Bay ay isa lamang tigilan sa pagitan ng Oshkosh at Iceland.

Ang gumaganang stratehiya sa laro ng football ay gumagana rin sa iglesya. Ngunit sa mga ranggo ng Kristiyanismo, medyo mas madaling malito. Ah, hindi lang medyo: sobrang daling malito. Kapag sinasabi mong “church” sa ngayon, para lamang itong pag-order ng mainit na inumin … mayroon kang tatlumpu’t-isang klase ng mga lasa na pagpipilian. Maaari mong piliin ang mga madidiskarte, o mga humahawak ng ahas, o mga positibo mag-isip. Mga bandang may makukulay na ilaw, mga nakadamit na “pari” na may madudugong mga patalim, mga inahit na ulo na may magagandang mga bulaklak, at sumisigaw na mga showman na may mga nagpapagaling na mga linya ay mayroon din. Kung hindi pa iyon sapat, hanapin mo ang paborito mong “ismo” at magiging okay na: humanismo, liberalismo, matinding Calvinismo, politikal na aktibismo, antikomunismo, supernatural na spiritismo, o lumalabang pundamentalismo.

Pero teka! Ano ba talaga ang mga basics ng “iglesya”? Ano ang pinakapangunahing Gawain ng isang iglesyang naniniwala sa Biblia? Kung aalisin ang lahat ng mga hindi kinakailangan, ano ang matitira? Makinig tayo sa ating Coach. Sinasabi Niya sa atin na mayroon tayong apat na pangunahing prayoridad kung nais nating matawag na isang iglesya:

katuruan … pagsasama-sama … pagpuputul-putol ng tinapay … pananalangin (Mga Gawa 2:42).

Sa apat na ito tayo ay dapat na “patuloy na igugol ang ating mga sarili.” Ang mga matitibay, balanse, at “nagwawaging” mga iglesya ay sila na mina-master ang mga basics na ito. Ang mga ito ang bumubuo ng aspeto ng ano ng iglesya.

Ang paano ay pareho lamang na mahalaga. Muli, ang Coach ay sinasabihan ang ating koponan. Sinasabi Niya na ang iglesya na ginagawa ang kanyang trabaho ay ang iglesya na:

… nagsasanay sa mga banal para sa gawain ng paglilingkod, sa ikatitibay ng katawan ni Kristo … (Efeso 4:12).

“Aba, ang dali naman pala,” sasabihin mo. “Napaka-simple naman yata?” itatanong mo. Handa ka na ba sa isang panggulat? Ang pinakamahirap na trabaho na maaari mong maisip ay ang pagpapanatili ng mga pangunahing gawain na ito. Maraming mga tao ang walang ideya kung gaano kadaling iwanan ng mga kinakailangan at mapasali sa ibang mga gawain.

Maniwala ka—mayroong tuluy-tuloy na daloy ng mga hiling mula sa mabubuti, at nakatutulong na sources na gamitin ang pulpit bilang isang plataporma para sa kanilang agenda. Inuulit ko, mabubuti at nakakatulong na sources, ngunit hindi kinakailangan … hindi direktang may kaugnayan sa ating pangunahing layunin. Ang layunin ng iglesya ay ang interpretasyon, eksposisyon, at aplikasyon ng Banal na Kasulatan.

Ngunit ang ganoong iglesya ay napakabihira sa ating lupain, parang gusto mong tumayo at magsabi:

“Mga Kristiano, ito ay Biblia!”

Pagpapalalim ng iyong mga ugat: Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:12-16; Ephesians 2:19-22

Pagsasanga: Gawin ang mga sumusunod na basics: 1) matuto sa mga tinuturo; 2) makipag-fellowship sa kapwa mananampalataya; 3) sumama sa mga activities ng church; 4) manalangin.

—Mula sa Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life ni Charles R. Swindoll, pp. 372-375.

I’m Only Quoting You

by Elijah Abanto

Malamang kahit sinong tao ay ganito ang pilosopiya: that one way or the other, ay mayroon tayong pinaniniwalaan sa sinasabi ng isang tao at mayroon ding hindi natin pinaniniwalaan. Kung mayroon man akong isang personang pinaniniwalaan ng buo yun ay ang Dios; at kung mayroon man akong isang libro na pinaniniwalaan nang buo yun ay ang Biblia, dahil iyon ang Salita ng Dios. Nothing more, nothing less.

Pero may dating na kakaiba sa isang tao kapag sumipi ka sa aklat ng isang manunulat o personalidad—mas madaling isipin na kaya mo siya sinipian ng mga salita ay dahil pinaniniwalaan mo ang lahat ng kanyang mga opinyon at sinasabi—lalo na kung positibo ang tingin mo sa sinipi mo mula sa kanyang isinulat. At ito’y natural; maraming matatalinong tao na ganito ang unang reaksyon, bagaman sa kanilang pag-iisip ay kumaklaro na baka hindi naman ganito ang kaso ng sumipi.

Ngunit narito lamang ang aking sasabihin: hindi lahat ng sinisipian ko o kinukuhanan ng article ay pinaniniwalaan ko sa lahat ng kanyang sinasabi o ginagawa. Mabuti na lamang at naibigay itong suwestiyon ng aking pastor na sumulat ng isang artikulo patungkol dito para maging klaro sa mga mambabasa ang ibig-sabihin ng pagkuha ko ng mga sipi sa ibang mga kilalang Kristiano.

Para mas malinaw o para mas mapatunayan kong ganun nga ang aking katayuan ay nais kong ipakita sa inyo ang mga bagay na hindi ko pinaniniwalaan sa tatlo sa mga awtor na kinuhanan ko ng mga artikulo para sa BDJ: sina Charles F. Stanley, Charles R. Swindoll, at Charles W. Colson. (Ngayon ko lang napansin na puro “Charles” ang mga kilalang Kristiano na kinuhanan ko ng sipi o articles.)

Charles F. Stanley. Sa tatlong tao na kinukuhanan ko palagi ng articles, siya ang pinakagusto ko. Una sa lahat ito ay dahil kilala siya bilang isang Baptist. Ang ibig kong sabihin, hindi niya itinatago ang kanyang pagkakakilanlan bilang isang Baptist, kahit na kadalasan sa Amerika ang mga Southern Baptist pastors at writers, sa halos lahat ng pagkakataon, ay hindi babanggitin na sila’y Baptist. Ngunit ang pangalan mismo ng church na kanyang pinagpa-pastor-an niya ay “First Baptist Church of Atlanta,” at alam ko iyon dahil nakita ko sa kanyang TV program na In Touch with Dr. Charles F. Stanley—ibig-sabihin buong mundo ang nakakaalam na Baptist siya. At hinahangaan ko siya dahil doon. Ang kanyang mga articles sa In Touch magazine ay sinasang-ayunan ko, at sa tingin ko ay biblikal. Maaari kong sabihin na sa ngayon ay wala pa akong nababasa mula sa kanya na hindi ko sinasang-ayunan.

Ang hindi ko lang sinasang-ayunan sa kanya ay ang kanyang pananatili sa Southern Baptist Convention. Ang SBC ay hiniwalayan ng maraming Baptist pastors dahil sa ginagawa nitong kompromiso sa doktrina. Bagaman hindi mo siya maririnig na sumasali sa mga aktibidades ng SBC gaya ng ibang kilalang SB pastors at writers tulad nina Rick Warren, Josh McDowell, at marami pang iba, ay iba pa rin ang matawag na kasali sa grupong ito. Sabi nga sa Biblia na “come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). Bagaman iba ang tinutukoy ng passage na ito, ang prinsipyo ng paghiwalay sa anumang organisasyon na mali ay nandoon pa rin.

Isa pa rito ay ang pag-tolerate ni Stanley sa mga articles na inilalathala sa In Touch magazine. Ang mga articles niya mismo ay tama at naaayon sa Biblia, ngunit ang ibang articles na hindi niya isinulat, yun ang problema. Ang ibang mga articles sa kanyang publikasyon ay sumasang-ayon sa mga modernong musika na pang-”Kristiano” daw, o kaya naman may article na ini-interview ang mga Kristiano na may maling pilosopiya. Oo nga, hindi siya ang sumusulat nito, ngunit hindi rin naman tama ang pumayag ka na mailathala sa publikasyon mo ang mali, dahil tulad nga ng sinabi ko sa mga unang talataan, mas madaling isipin na dahil kinuhanan mo ng sipi ang isang tao ay pinaniniwalaan mo ang bawat sinasabi nito at ginagawa, which is not the case, I think, kay Stanley. Ang musika sa kanyang iglesiya ay conservative. Not once did he invite anyone na may modernong “Kristianong” musika sa First Baptist Atlanta. Ngunit ang pag-tolerate, yun ang hindi ko sinasang-ayunan sa kanya.

Charles R. Swindoll. Maaaring pinakagusto ko si Stanley personally ngunit si Swindoll naman ang pinakapaborito ko. Marahil ay dahil mas marami akong libro niyang nababasa. Isa pa, his writing at paraan niya kung paano i-expound ang Scriptures ay very interesting at nakaka-disarma. Pinagpala siya ng Dios ng magandang panulat. Lagi ko ring napapakinggan ang kanyang mga mensahe sa Insight for Living, kanyang radio program na bino-broadcast sa maraming bansa kabilang ang Pilipinas (sa 702-DZAS), at sa Internet. Ang kanyang mga mensahe ay biblikal, interesante, at nakakahamon, nakakapag-bigay inspirasyon. What’s more interesting is that he is also a Baptist!

Which is also the first cause na hindi ko siya sinasang-ayunan—hindi mo maririnig sa kanyang bibig palagi na Baptist siya. Ang mga alam kong iglesya na kanyang pinagpastoran, tulad ng First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton at sa ngayon ay Stonebriar Community Church, ay halatang wala ang pangalang “Baptist” doon. Nalaman ko lamang na Baptist siya sa isa sa mga broadcast niya sa radio at minsan ko lang iyon narinig.

Secondly, nakabasa na ako ng mga aklat ni Swindoll kung saan hindi ko sinasang-ayunan ang mga sinisipian niya ng mga salita. Minsan ay nag-quote siya ng isang Roman Catholic, si Henri Nouwen, sa kanyang aklat na Intimacy with the Almighty. Hindi ko rin sinasang-ayunan ang kanyang pagsasabi ang paggamit niya nang maraming versions para ma-klaripika ang mga medyo malalabong talata, at pagsasabi na “mas tama ang ganitong translation.” (Though pareho sila ni Stanley nang ginagamit na version, which is the New American Standard Bible, ay hindi naman nagsasalita si Stanley na mas tama ang ganitong translation.) Isa pa ay ang kanyang pilosopiya na walang unacceptable kind of music, bukod lang sa Rock. Siya mismo ay nakikinig ng Country music, ayon sa kanyang mga broadcasts at sa aklat niyang The Grace Awakening. Sinabi niya na walang problema sa kung anong musika o damit ng isang tao, though sa sarili niya ay mayroon siyang personal na convictions. Ngunit ang ganitong klase ng pilosopiya ay misleading. Dagdag pa rito ang kanyang involvement sa deeply-compromised na Promise Keepers, isang interdenominational na organisasyong directed sa mga adult men na tinatanggap ang lahat ng sekta ng Kristiyanismo.

Charles W. Colson. Isa sa mga nakakuha ng aking atensyon tungkol sa kanya ay ang istorya mismo ng kanyang kaligtasan. Isang masamang politiko na naging dedikadong Kristiano—ito ay isang kamangha-mangha at magandang patotoo sa buong mundo (tinalakay niya ito sa best-selling niyang aklat na Born Again.) Isa pa ay ang kanyang matapang at matalim na paraan niya ng pagsusulat. Kung may nakikita siyang mali, buong tapang niyang babanggitin kasama ang mga pangalang kaugnay doon. With all the wrongs set aside, gusto kong writer si Charles Colson. Isa siyang Baptist anyway.

Ngunit ang mali lang sa kanya ay ang bulgar niya ring pakikipag-fellowship sa ibang sekta ng Kristianismo, ang Roman Catholicism bilang isang kapansin-pansing halimbawa. Kino-quote niya sina Mother Teresa, Henri Nouwen, St. Augustine, Richard John Neuhaus, at marami pang ibang Catholics. Nais niyang magkaisa ang lahat ng sekta ng Kristiyanismo na naniniwala sa Fundamentals, na nakikita niyang batayan para i-fellowship o hindi i-fellowship ang isang sekta o hindi. Naniniwala siya na kapag ang doktrina ay hindi kasama sa Fundamentals na ito, ay dapat lamang na makipag-fellowship sa mga ito. Ang kanyang mga sulatin ay very convincing na kung hindi mo alam ang doktrinang tama, ay paniniwalaan mo lahat ng kanyang sinasabi.

He’s very ecumenical na sumulat pa siya ng isang aklat para sa kilusan na nagtutulak na makiisa sa mga Katoliko. Iyon ang Evangelicals and Catholics Together (isinulat niya pa ito kasama si Richard John Neuhaus, isang kilalang Catholic priest).

You may even have learned something from this. I’m glad my pastor adviced me about this. At nais ko rin na ang bawat Kristiano ay huwag gawing idol ang mga tao (kahit Kristiano, especially kahit Baptist pa ito). No one is perfectly right on something. Maaaring ako mismo ay may maling paniniwala. Ang nais ko lamang sa bawat isa ay ang paniwalaan ang Dios at ang Kanyang Salita nang buo, and from that ay kumuha ng babasahin na sumasang-ayon sa katotohanan na ito at gamitin para sa ikatitibay ng ibang mga Kristiano.

Kaunti lamang ang nakakapagpasaya sa akin nang higit sa makita ang isang Kristiano na lumago at na-encourage dahil sa aking isinulat o nilathala. bdj

A Letter from Bishop Felizardo Abanto

To all the brethren,

Thank God and He allowed me to come here again in America, in order to attend here in the GIBF conference. The leaders of this fellowship who preached were leaders of BBFI but separated because they want to preserve the old doctrinal stands like that in music, KJV, and standards. It was pleasing to the ear to hear messages that I learned from the Bible Baptists 30 years ago.Among the pastors who preached were Dr. Dave Hardy, Sam Davison, Hal Hightower, Wayne Hardy, Jason Gaddis, Brent Loveless, Frank Wood at Kenny Baldwin.

I would like to share to you some of the thoughts I got from them: "When we are young, but especially when we are old, we need God's power to remain faithful and true to God and His word"; "We should be more concerned on the person than on what we could get from him"; "We must be serious on our church music to be godly and understand that it is not just a preparation for worship but is in itself is worship and because we don't just have people as audience, but because God is there also, present"; "We must be reminded of our old beliefs so that we will not compromise our gospel preaching, our godly music, our confrontational soulwinning method, our standards of dress and morality"; "American standards are found everywhere in America from the construction of cities, roads, houses, and even in the kitchens, but why not require standards on the American society and its morals?"; "Our activities and ministries for God are nothing to God and they may even be wicked, if it does not change us and if its focus is not Jesus Christ"; "We should conduct ourselves like true men of God, surrender ourselves to full time ministry and serve Him all of our lives"; and "We should keep ourselves on fire for the Lord by letting His fire burning in our lives and not through the strange fire of the devil".

Why did the BBFI pastors separate from the Southern Baptist Convention? These pastors separated to prevent them from going the direction of the convention toward liberalism, compromise and ecumenism. History repeated itself because some people thought that change is inevitable and you will lose if you will not go with the flow. Some want to make their own name known also that they have done some big thing.

Remember when Franklin Graham came to the Philippines? Who cooperated with him and became leaders? Wasn't it no other than Abante, Vallega, Arias, Tabanda, Nable, etc.? And who didn't cooperate with Franklin Graham? The pastors ng BMP at IBMA at many BBF pastors who are not on the letterhead of BBFPI. Painful but true. Hard to admit but it is happening. We don't want to show that we are holier than them. No. We just want to be faithful and true to God and His Word. Our loyalty is not to a person or to a group. I praise the Lord because there are still many pastors and churches in America that still stands for what I believe in even today. There also many independent pastors in the Philippines who will not go with pentecostalism and ecumenism. What saddens me is my group, where I belong for 30 years, where my roots are, my identity. Our problem is with our leaders who are directly affected by what is happening with the BBFI in America. Where the BBFI goes then the BBFPI follows. It's like the Philippines. Where the USA goes the Phils follows. But not for the good. Lord Jesus, help us. Please Lord, come quickly.

This article was e-mailed to CYPA by Bishop Abanto on October 3, 2009. No word was changed.

Moral Purity (Part 2)

Women’s Clothing Has a Big Part on This

by Sis. Olivia E. Abanto

As a continuation of my topic about moral purity, we have seen that it is still important even in the age that they call “modern” because the basis of beliefs and practices is the Word of God that never changes or is bound by the advance of the times. The Bible and the God of the Bible are the greatest reasons we must stand for Moral Purity.

Women, young or old they may be, have a great part in protecting moral purity. What I’m referring to is the aspect of their clothing. It has a message to give to anyone who looks. Clothing dictates what we do. The thin or comfortable clothes are usually for sleeping, gowns for wedding, collotes and tee-shirts for sports, dress for worship—meaning that words are unnecessary to understand what we want to do. We should be careful on what message our clothes say to those who sees our outfit. Many relations between the young man and the young woman can’t be kept morally pure and one reason is because the man was tempted by his frequent visits to his girlfriend who wore shorts or sleeveless shirt. Usually, women who were raped or harassed had their clothing as reason. Only one pull from the knot of her blouse or short and she is naked already. One pastor even said, “Ladies, help us to become spiritual, dress right!” There is a saying “Don’t display what is not for sale!”

Let us make God’s Word our guide for us to dress modestly, with shamefacedness and sobriety. Don’t show off the sensitive parts of our womanhood, like breasts, waists or legs. This is because these are where the attention of men are caught. We must be determined that only the man God gave us (or will give us) will be able to see the things no other man ought to see, in other words the nakedness of each other.

It’s important to see our testimony on this aspect of our being Christians. I remember that this (moral purity) was the greatest reason of God to decide to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, even the building of the ark, because the imagination of every man was only evil and filthy.

Let us be part of the reason why God doesn’t still destroy this world. Let every Christian man and woman decide on this matter and do everything to care for and keep moral purity on the inner and the outer being.

Translated by Bro. Elijah Abanto from the article “Moral Purity: May Malaking Bahagi ang Ating Pananamit Dito,” Baptist’s Digest 21 (Volume 1), June 1, 2008, p.5.

Words and Works

by Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto

Titus 1:16—

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him…”

One time during the past few months, we visited a backslidden Baptist. He was a farmer. When we arrived at his hut, we found him drinking with a fellow. Laughing, he immediately put the beer away and introduced us to the fellow that I was his pastor. Even though he hadn’t been to church for several years, he still said that the Baptist church is the right church according to the Bible. His friend also said that he had attended many sects and he was not seeing any problem about that, because he said that he still believed in God.

But, actually, whoever you may be, whatever your religion, if your life and what you do is contradictory to the clear command and teaching of God in the Bible, you are a mediocre. And whatever you say is nonsense. You are just wasting your life and your breath. There’s no purpose why we are here if our lives doesn’t any sign of being a Christian. May we Christians realize that we are not just playing church or joking about our faith. We are dead serious about the Lord. We will obey Him and live for Him in truth, whatever it takes, with or without money.

This article was translated from Mga Salita, Mga Gawa, Baptist’s Digest 16, April 27, 2008, p. 2. ©2008 CYPA Paper Ministries.

A Dangerous Judge Not Ecumenism

A SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE
by Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto

One of the favorite arguments of those who want to change or those who want to compromise is "Judge not." An example is Rick Warren of the "Purpose Driven" fame. Warren says, "God warns us over and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other. ... Whenever I judge another believer, four things instantly happen: I lose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride, I set myself to be judged by God, and I harm the fellowship of the church" (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan: p. 164). Those who agree with him say that we should not judge them according with regards to wearing pants for women, men sporting long hair, the kind of music they use, cooperating with the ecumenicals like Franklin Graham on evangelism, the version of the Bible they use, etc., etc.

"In typical New Evangelical fashion Warren makes no distinction between judging hypocritically (which is forbidden in Matthew 7) or judging on the basis of personal preference in matters not commanded in Scripture (which is forbidden in Romans 14) and judging on the basis of the Bible.

"Actually, the child of God has an obligation to judge everything by God’s Word. The believers at Corinth were rebuked because they were careless in this regard and were tolerant of false teachers (2 Cor. 11:1-4). The Bereans, on the other hand, were commended because they carefully tested everything by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). The Bible says “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15) and Jesus taught that we should “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We are to judge preaching (1 Cor. 14:29) and sin in the churches (1 Cor. 5). We are to try the spirits (1 John 4:1).

"To test preachers and their message carefully by God’s Word is not a matter of pride, but wisdom and obedience" (David Cloud, "Rick Warren's Judge Not Ecumenism," O Timothy, June 2004, p. 15)

Members and brethren we should not be intimidated by the accusation that we are judgmental. As long as we hold and continue in the "things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (2 Timothy 3:14), we are safe and sound in the faith.

Sincerely Yours, Job (Series Part 2)

by Bro. Elijah E. Abanto
Based on Charles R. Swindoll's message, What Job Teaches Us About Ourselves

One of the things that we really don't want to experience is suffering. We would like to die instantly instead of going through a series of loss--of possessions, family, health, and friends. But if there are people who really need to experience that, it is us, the Christians--and that is exactly what happened to Job which we will study today.

Let's read Job 1:6-19:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. ⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. ⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:¹⁴And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:¹⁵And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.¹⁶While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:¹⁹And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

From the Job's good standing in life would Satan come to God for to accuse him. We all know that Satan is our accuser, and even our good intentions he will give a different color before God just to hurt us. And we will read that, that's it, God allowed what happened to Job. First principle: We never know ahead of time what God plans for our lives. We cannot be sure that because we are serving Him blessing will come to us the way we expect it, or we cannot say that punishment will come to those who disobey the way we expect it to be. From out of nowhere Job's life was stormed with different unpleasant events--in just a moment. So from this there's a lesson: Be ready for everything, whether blessing or trial, because we do not know. We do not know.

From Job's reaction we will know the second principle:

²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

A vertical perspective prevents horizontal panic. In all the possible reactions of Job to these successive events, he still managed to worship and praise God. God will probably understand if Job got angry with Him, because He knew what kind were the things that happened, but, here was Job, praising and worshiping God! Why? Because he saw God's perspective, that He makes all things happen as He pleases, whether it be blissful or painful--because He is the Creator of all things, and that he is one of those whom He created.

As we go through the next chapter we can again see Satan hopping to God's presence and giving a new accusation to Job. The result: Job would have a terrible disease, but he would not die. And that was it. And for his wife, it was already enough. She could not keep herself anymore as she saw Job's suffering, so:

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. (v.9)

What a reasonable advise from a loved one, and Job had all the reasons to "curse God"--besides, it was his wife who said that! But look on the next verse:

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (v.10)

Now let's not point a finger on his wife. Anyone who sees this kind of suffering, with all our sinful humanity, have a great tendency to react as she did. But anyone who thinks clearly will know that this advice was wrong--but when you are now in that position, how could you? Third principle: Great discernment is needed to detect wrong advice from well-meaning people. It must be hard for Job to say this to his wife, but because he remained in right thinking, he was able to see her mistake.

Fourth: When things go from bad to worse, sound theology makes you sound and stable. If Job didn't know doctrine, he would not have remained stable at this point of trial. We, as Christians, must be knowledgeable of the Bible and doctrine, because we can hold on to it when the time comes, as Job had.