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{ August 12, 2002 }
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My first trip to Costa Rica, August 7-14, 2002.
After some technical difficulties, I'm back on the Internet.
From now on, my only purpose in writing is keeping a record of memories and important things (if any) that happen in my life. I expect to follow these rules.
- Write for the future: only include things that would be important at least 5 years from now, and include enough contextual data to allow for a correct interpretation of what is written.
- Brevity. Use no unnecessary details.
- Write for the public: only include things that everyone should know.
- Informal style: keep entries light, without unnecessary words.
My flight left departed late from Tegucigalpa around 6 o-clock on Wednesday. We were travelling on the "Mensajero de Esperanza", an Airbus that had brought pope John Paul II from Canada to Mexico and Guatemala for the canonization of a Guatemalan monk, Juan Diego, who had visions of the virgin of Guadalupe, and the beatification of two more Mexicans.
Pope John Paul is nearing the end of his life. He can barely walk, even with the aid of a metal walking frame. Nevertheless, his Spanish was very clear and polished.
The most striking and memorable image in my mind from watching him was how he allowed an indigenous witch doctor to perform a white magic ritual on him, a "limpia." Cardinals and bishops allowed the indians to perform this pagan ritual on them also and even defended it as an expression that God is in all nature. What a clear picture of the corruption of the Catholic Church in that they made no difference between animism and Christianity!
I am staying in the Meliá Cariari hotel. The Cariari seems to have seen better times, with celebrities, astronauts and US presidents Carter, Bush and Reagan visiting. It retains some of its former glitz, but has become a 4-star hotel.
Saturday I met with Juan Manuel and Maria Jose. Juan Manuel was my best friend while I was in college. We hadn't seen each other since our graduation, in May 1998. God answered my prayers, for I've often feared for his salvation. He is doing well and attending church at Oasis de Esperanza, where we went for a Saturday night youth service.
The service was a riveting experience. The music can only be described as glorious. Juan told me that this is Danilo Montero's home church. Danilo is an extremely talented and popular worship leader. Every song spoke to my emotions and carried me away to worship the Lord. I could close my eyes and forget about the musicians and worship God.
The band included to saxophones, 3 guitars, a bass, 2 keyboards, a harmonica, recorder, and 6 background vocals. The drummer was encased in transparent vinyl to keep the sound of the drums from interfering with the other musicians. Professional speakers hung from the ceiling on a metal structure that could be lowered or raised at will. God spoke to me several times, to tell me that He was more interested in a heart full of an attitude of worship than in expensive musical instruments.
The church building, the musical instruments, the stage, the chairs, the kinds of people there overwhelmed me. I was amazed to see how they had the absolute best. I could see clearly what the pastors of my church have in mind, and what they'd like to see, hear and experience in our church.
Unfortunately, all ended in a sour note because of their disregard for the instructions of 1 Corinthians 14. I don't need to go into detail, they follow the Pentecostal line of doctrine, with a few exceptions. This would be all right, if only they would believe in eternal salvation.
The pivotal question is: are those who don't believe in the security of salvation saved? My pastors have said no. The Bible seems to agree. What a horrendous evil! I cannot begin to imagine their grief when they realize that they never truly believed in the Lord, but rejected His grace in favor of their idea of repentance + perseverance = salvation. Too many of them will realize this when we are before the throne of judgement. The bible teaches that grace + faith = salvation.
After a chat with the pastor, who believes salvation can be lost, the sense of horror and disbelief I experienced during the Pentecostal part of the service only increased. I believe in spiritual gifts--but how can a non-Christian have them!
I am in mourning for all these wonderful people. I don't understand why God would send them to hell. I hope many of them are believers of grace and not perseverance. God, how I wish I were wrong! There are so many lost people I love, who feel secure in their religion, and are not yours. I almost wish, like Paul, that I were condemned intead of them, so they would be saved.
Could someone have faith without repentance? It would not be saving faith, but it would be similar to what the demons believe and tremble. Could someone have faith without perseverance? "He who perseveres to the end shall be saved." The bible says. Saved from what? Hell? Tribulation? Does perseverance imply sinless perfection? What is perseverance?
The bible says that is God who works in us to will and to do as He would. Would it not be cruel of God not to will us to do that which would save us. How does the bible explain that God has foreknowledge, and that He would seal someone with the Holy Spirit, only to take it away later. The only examples of this are in the Old Testament: like Saul. There are some verses that imply that God is doing the persevering in us, and not ourselves.
Under the new laws of grace there are several irrevocable promises. For example, the bible says that we have passed from death to life. All our sins have been forgiven; even our future sins. Multiple passages say that all that is needed for salvation is faith. Of course our Christian life needs to be holy. But will we ever be holy enough for heaven? In his foreknowledge, God seals us with his Holy Spirit. Does he make mistakes? The bible says he can't.
The most convincing proof that salvation is eternal and can't be lost is John 3:16, and Hebrews 10. John 3:16 says that if we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life. If it is eternal, how could it end with any sin? Also, Hebrews 10 says that if salvation could be lost, there is no more sacrifice for our sins, and all that is left is a horrible expectation of judgement.
If someone says he has the Holy Spirit, and that he believes in Christ, but thinks he need to persevere to be saved, is he a misinformed brother, or a Christianized Pharisee? And what is more, not only do these brothers claim they have Christ and the Holy Spirit, but that they have more of them than others.
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