"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image . . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them"

by Al Sabado

Today, millions among my countrymen walk barefoot as they join the procession for the Black Nazarene, "a life-sized wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying the cross" [1]. The traditional pahalik or kissing of the sculpture would normally create long lines of devotees who tirelessly await "their turn to kiss the foot of the image" [2]. Catholic devotees touch the sculpture and pray to it like it is indeed alive--when it is not. Despite the fact that the sculpture is a non-living thing, many devotees speak of the miracles it has brought to their lives.

 [3]

Question--isn't the Black Nazarene an example of a graven image? And doesn't God forbid us from bowing before any graven image, which is an idol in Hebrew [4]? Some might say, "We're just kissing it." Yes, but the significance of kissing the image among devotees is synonymous with bowing to it, isn't it?

My high school teacher even explained in class over two decades ago that images and photos of Jesus and Mary are only representations, not idols. But then, God's Word is clear as He has stated the First Commandment:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:3-5)

Besides, the Lord Jesus was crucified just once and He was risen the third day He said He would rise again. That means we don't crucify Him every year because the events in His life happened only once. For the same reason, we don't put Him on a manger and call Him "baby Jesus" every December!

Oh, my people, the sculptures and god-saint images standing in our (Catholic) churches/homes, which many of us are praying to, are the very images God forbids us to possess. Let's not harden our hearts. Let's turn away from all these, lest God's wrath be upon us all . . .

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. (Psalms 115:4-8)

Endnotes

[1] Wikipedia, n.d., Black Nazarene, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Nazarene
[2] Manila Bulletin, 2014, Black Nazarene vigil starts, http://www.mb.com.ph/black-nazarene-vigil-starts/
[3] Photo from Wikipedia, n.d., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Nazarene
[4] Got Questions, n.d., What is a graven image? http://www.gotquestions.org/graven-image.html

REPOST: "Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?"

Hello, dear reader. I've not posted anything here for a long time. But I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and in good health. Today, I'm reposting here  from another website the article, "Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?". I hope you could take the time to read it too. Feel free to share the link with others.

I wish you a blessed week ahead.


Sincerely,
Al

God teaches us in His Word NOT to pray as the hypocrites do

by Al Sabado

This morning, I came across a photo of the Pope as front cover of one of the leading newspapers in the country. Quoted on photo are the following words: "POPE IN DEEP PRAYER (AFP) - Pope Francis lay prostrate on the floor of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican as he prays in front of the altar during a Good Friday service in this handout picture released by the Vatican press office on March 29, 2013."

But what does the God of the Bible teach us about prayer? Let's read from Matthew 6:5-8.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. [emphases mine]

The Catholic church misleads its followers as it continues to uphold its teachings and the Pope above God's Word.

God's Word says that "[whoso] causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: . . ." (Proverbs 28:10). There is no other way but through God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who firmly speaks of Himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?

Link: Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?

Response to a friend who has stayed in an emergent church: "But God says in His Word. . ."

by Al Sabado


Very few of us will agree that this is no longer new: responding to former church mates and friends who tell us to attend a local church. I've mentioned before that I've nothing against attending a local church, unless of course, if that church chooses the path that leads its members to compromise their faith, then its messenger is accursed (Galatians 1:9).

So how do we respond to people's anxiety about our not attending a local church and their other concerns?

Honestly, we have no control over people's anxiety and concern. Some are probably inclined to think we're losing or neglecting our faith, now that we're not attending a local church. What I was more concerned about was how to tell the people about the false church we used to attend "together." I was distraught when people I cared so much about wouldn't take heed of the warning that the church we both attended have finally become false, emergent churches. Warning them was like talking to the wind that wouldn't obey the Word of God. Yes, they've made such poor choice to stay there, and that was just heartbreaking. But God's Word brought me back my strength upon reading John 21:22.

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. (John 21:22)

Accepting the indifference of people is also a process, and I've just gone through that like going into battle. But indeed, the battle is not ours but God's (2 Chronicles 20:15). This is nothing new indeed, for God has already told us in His Word:

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:12-17, emphases mine)

I can't help but notice that those who stay in emergent churches can give excuses for staying there--sans the Word of God. They say, "I'm staying for the sake of other people who don't know these things." Or they say, they heard God told them "No" when they asked God if they should leave these [emergent] churches. Their mission now for staying there is to intercede or pray for the emergent church. But we shouldn't do that, lest we too be deceived while being a part of it. Besides, we can pray while we're "out" of such congregation.

Worse, they say that they will only leave such church when it no longer mentions "Jesus." Well of course, such church will keep mentioning "Jesus." The Catholic Church does that, doesn't it? But see how its teachings and practices heavily contradict and malign God's Word.

Those who stay in emergent churches cannot even give a Scripture that supports their decision to stay. They will talk about "love" and "forgiveness," sure. But we know that God's sovereignty isn't limited by these two factors that the emergents propagate to win people. (An example of this is "Love Wins," a book authored by emergent leader Rob Bell.) And we also know that love without the Truth is a lie.

Brethren, be careful not to fall into such trap. God's Word is our guide in making decisions--not our thoughts, not our feelings, not the influence of people around us. What God says in His Word, that we shall do:

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7, emphases mine)

Following is my response (with the subject line, "But God says in His Word . . .") to a friend who has chosen to stay in the once-Biblical-turned-emergent church we both attended. English translations follow parts written in Tagalog: 

. . . [Hindi] ako nasaktan sa sulat mo. Hindi na bago sa akin ang usapang ito. Isa ka sa mga taong nagsabi sa akin . . . kung bakit ka hindi umalis sa church mo ngayon. (. . . Your letter does not offend me. This conversation is no longer new. You’re among the people who told me such reasons for staying in your church.)

Totoo, walang perfect church . . . Pero tinagubilinan tayo ng Panginoon sa Kanyang Salita na humiwalay tayo at huwag makiisa sa mga maling gawi ng tao. Hindi natin sila kinukundina, ngunit hindi tayo nakikiisa sa kanila. (True, there is no perfect church. But God commands us to separate ourselves and not to be one with the erring deeds of men.) God is firm in His Word. He doesn't only talk about loving and forgiving people. He commands us to stand firm, but not in a way that compromises our faith. We do this by holding on to His Word:

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:11-13, emphasis mine)

Sabi pa ng Panginoon (God has also said):

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:17, emphases mine)

Because . . . we're commanded to contend for the faith, and not to compromise by taking part in what we know is in "error."

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude, verse 3, emphasis mine)

I echo in the book what the apostles have also said in the Bible:

We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

Kung tungkol sa pagpapatawad at pagmamahal, hindi sukatan niyan ang manatiling makipanayam sa mga taong iba sa atin. Sabi sa Bible (With regard to forgiveness and love, that’s not measured by keeping in touch with people who are not among us. The Bible says):

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7, emphases mine)

Hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit ganito ang nakikita natin sa churches ngayon. (It is no longer surprising why we find these traits in the churches.)

Pagdating naman sa hindi pagdalo sa church, ito ang aking pinanghahawakan (When it comes to not attending a church, I hold on to these Scriptures):

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

. . . [The] Lord Jesus is never weak. There is no perfect church, true. I love to fellowship with the brethren, which I do from time to time. But God warns us of compromising churches that are certainly not His. For this reason, God is most able to nourish His own flock in the purity and power of His Word--not in a "pigpen" or in any place that serves spoils.

You take care . . .

What does the Bible Say about Purgatory?

Link: What does the Bible Say about Purgatory?

Among the emergent churches in the Philippines and the reasons I left them (Revised Edition)

by Al Sabado

Open publication - Free publishing - More bol

Among the emergent churches in the Philippines and the reasons I left them

by Al Sabado

Open publication - Free publishing - More bol