Author: angelcasiano

El Coronavirus a desatado un tsunami de terror y de manipulación política alrededor del mundo entero. Aún en los Estados Unido, en donde existe orgullo y pasión por la libertad, se han reportado historias de gobernadores que han abusado de sus poderes. Estamos viendo una economía paralizada, millones de personas han perdido sus trabajos y, negocios se han visto forzados a cerrar. Hemos visto cómo se promovió y se estableció, exitosamente, el que millones de personas se quedaran en sus hogares y, cuándo podían salir de sus hogares para actividades aprobadas por los gobiernos, fueron forzados a mantener distanciamiento social.

Hoy día vemos como el uso de máscaras se ha hecho mandatorio en algunos trabajos y negocios. El enfoque de este artículo no es político; quiero enfocarme en como estas pólizas han afectado la iglesia, el dilema en el cual nos encontramos y lo que tiene que ser nuestra respuesta bíblica como Cristianos.

Cómo Estas Pólizas han Afectado a la Iglesia

Los servicios de Domingo fueron cancelados alrededor de este país y el mundo. Hoy día, por ejemplo, en el Estado de Arizona, en el cual resido, las Iglesias pueden reunirse, mas solo con un 25% de capacidad. Si en tu edificio tienes capacidad para cien personas, solo puedes hacer un servicio con 25 personas para que de esa forma se pueda mantener el distanciamiento social y que las familias se mantengan seis pies de distancia el uno del otro. Es lógico que, si los pastores quieren ministrarle a toda su congregación a través de sus servicios, estarán obligados a tener más de un servicio los domingos. Entonces las preguntas lógicas son, ¿cómo van a evangelizar?, cómo controlar los invitados para no pasarse de el 25% de capacidad? Con los edificios abiertos más tiempo, ¿cómo serán afectadas sus finanzas? Más gasto de electricidad, agua, más papel sanitario, etc.

El Gran Dilema

Los pastores tienen un gran dilema en sus manos; 1) oh se adaptan ha dichas pólizas continuando sus servicios a través de las redes sociales y utilizar sus edificios a un 25% de capacidad oh, 2) regresan a las formas pasadas con sus edificios utilizados al 100% y se arriesgan a ser arrestados y pasar un tiempo en la cárcel. Quiero sugerir que existe una tercera alternativa.

Nuestra Respuesta Bíblica

¿Cuántas veces hemos dicho que la Iglesia no es un edificio? ¿No somos nosotros la Iglesia? Entonces, ¿qué perdemos si perdemos el edificio? La iglesia es una familia; las familias no se reúnen en edificios, las familias comparten sus vidas, se visitan en sus casas, van a parques juntos, se invitan en sus fiestas, van al cine juntas, disfrutan de las actividades de sus hijos, se ayudan, se hablan y disfrutan de compañerismo juntos. De ves en cuando, cuando tienen algún evento especial y las casas no son lo suficientemente grandes, rentas algún edificio por algunas horas, pero no compran o rentan edificios a largo plazo para reunirse a menos que sean familias millonarias.

Hebreos 10:25 nos dice, “no dejando de congregarnos, como algunos tienen por costumbre, sino exhortándonos; y tanto más, cuanto veis que aquel día se acerca.” (Reina Velera 1960) La iglesia no puede dejar de congregarse; estamos llamados a estar juntos compartiendo el mismo tiempo y espacio.

Para entender lo que es la Iglesia echémosle un vistazo a su Modus Operandi. Hechos 2:42 nos dice, “Y perseveraban en la doctrina de los apóstoles, en la comunión unos con otros, en el partimiento del pan y en las oraciones.” (RVR 1960). La palabra perseverancia significa, “insistir fielmente”. De este verso aprendemos que la iglesia tiene cuatro componentes:

1. Perseverancia en el estudio de la doctrina de los Apóstoles: Los apóstoles originales no eran hombres perfectos, mas su doctrina es perfecta porque fue inspirada por el Espíritu Santo. La doctrina de los apóstoles también incluye el Viejo Testamento ya que ellos también hacían referencia a las Escrituras de los profetas. De hecho, Efesios 2:19-20 nos dice, “Así que ya no sois extranjeros ni advenedizos, sino conciudadanos de los santos, y miembros de la familia de Dios,²⁰ edificados sobre el fundamento de los apóstoles y profetas, siendo la principal piedra del ángulo Jesucristo mismo,” (RVR1960)
2. Perseverancia en la comunión los unos con otros: La palabra comunión viene de la palabra griega, koinōnía; que significa “compartir; comunión con participación.”^[1] Hermanos, somos una familia; por eso es por lo que estamos llamados a compartir nuestras vidas, no simplemente ser parte de un servicio de Domingo. Estamos llamados a participar, no ha sentarnos a ver el espectáculo del grupo de alabanza y al pastor. Es una participación corporal en donde se enseña, pero también se hacen preguntas y comentarios como en familia.
3. Perseverancia en el partimiento de pan juntos: Estamos llamados a comer juntos; una ves más, como hacemos en familia.
4. Perseverancia en el orar juntos: La oración corporal es esencial cuando nos reunimos como iglesia.

Cualquier mensaje que promueva que la iglesia está llamada a adaptarse a lo que estamos viendo hoy día con el Coronavirus es un mensaje completamente antibíblico. La idea de que nosotros sigamos reuniéndonos a través de redes sociales, distanciamiento social, etc. no es de Dios. La Iglesia es personal, la Iglesia es familia. La idea de que nosotros sigamos reuniéndonos a través de redes sociales, distanciamiento social, etc. no es de Dios. Pablo nos dice en Primera de Corintios 16:20, “Os saludan todos los hermanos. Saludaos los unos a los otros con ósculo santo.” (RVR 1960)

Creo que hay situaciones en donde tenemos que adaptarnos;  pero nunca al mundo; sino a las formas de Dios. Dicha adaptación es normal ya que nuestras formas y las formas de Dios son diferentes (Isaías 55:8),  mas cualquier adaptación contraria a las Escrituras no es de Dios.

No podemos tener compañerismos y compartir el pan juntos a través de las redes sociales. No es que diga que las redes sociales no sean utilizadas por la Iglesia, pero las mismas son suplementos, nunca una sustitución a lo que Dios nos dice que somos.

Estamos llamados a obedecer a Dios por encima de los hombres. Dios no nos da ningún tipo de excusa Bíblica para cambiar su forma de hacer Iglesia. Mas lo que tenemos que reevaluar es si nuestras formas de hacer Iglesia, antes del Coronavirus, eran de acuerdo con la Biblia o no.

Por ejemplo, en el Nuevo Testamento veo referencia a cantos espirituales (Efesios 5:19) mas no he encontrado ningún verso bíblico que hable de un grupo de alabanza o adoración. De hecho, no encuentro ningún verso bíblico que conecte la Adoración con música. Tampoco encuentro la palabra púlpito en ninguna de las reuniones de los apóstoles.

Por último, no hay ninguna referencia bíblica o histórica que nos diga que la iglesia original de los apóstoles se reunía en edificios. La Iglesia original se reunían en casas; el cristianismo era mucho más personal y mucho más real de lo que es hoy día. Ese fue el sistema exitoso que impactó de la siguiente forma:

Y sobrevino temor a toda persona; y muchas maravillas y señales eran hechas por los apóstoles.

⁴⁴ Todos los que habían creído estaban juntos, y tenían en común todas las cosas;

⁴⁵ y vendían sus propiedades y sus bienes, y lo repartían a todos según la necesidad de cada uno.

⁴⁶ Y perseverando unánimes cada día en el templo, y partiendo el pan en las casas, comían juntos con alegría y sencillez de corazón,

⁴⁷ alabando a Dios, y teniendo favor con todo el pueblo. Y el Señor añadía cada día a la iglesia los que habían de ser salvos. Hechos 2:43-47 (RVR 1960)

Noten que el verso 46 nos habla de que perseveraban unánimes en el templo cada día. Recordemos que estos apóstoles originales eran todos de descendencia hebrea. El templo era el remanente del famoso templo de Salomón donde aún hoy muchos van a orar. Los cristianos originales iban al templo a orar, mas también a tratar de evangelizar a sus hermanos judíos.

Los cristianos originales también se reunían en las sinagogas. Los fariseos eran parte de una religión reconocida por los Romanos. El cristianismo no era reconocido por los romanos; al contrario, era ilegal el predicar a Jesús en esos días. Es claro el ver por que los cristianos no duraron mucho en reunirse en las sinagogas, por lo que fueron forzados a reunirse en sus casas en medio de una severa persecución. Mas, es bajo esas circunstancias que vemos un Iglesia como nunca antes vista en su historia:

1. Una Iglesia en donde existía el temor a Dios. (Hechos 2:43)
2. Una Iglesia con un liderazgo verdaderamente ungido en donde grandes señales y milagros fueron realizados. (Hechos 2:43)
3. Una Iglesia unidad. (Hechos 2:44)
4. Una Iglesia en donde se ayudaban los unos a los otros, (Hechos 2:45) hasta el punto de que no había nadie en necesidad. (Hechos 4:34)
5. Una iglesia que perseveraba junta con mucha alegría y sencillez de corazón. (Hechos 2:46)

La pregunta final es, ¿en dónde está esa Iglesia? Creo que si prestamos atención, el Coronavirus, que el diablo desató para destruirnos, nos acercará aún más a una Iglesia sin mancha y sin arrugas. Mas no insistamos en nuestros sistemas y el legado de Constantino; quien enfatizó en su propia fama, mezclando lo santo con lo sagrado para complacer a todo el mundo. Miremos a las sendas antiguas, ahí está el camino, ahí está la verdad y ahí está lo que verdaderamente es eficiente.

“Así dijo Jehová: Paraos en los caminos, y mirad, y preguntad por las sendas antiguas, cuál sea el buen camino, y andad por él, y hallaréis descanso para vuestra alma…” Jeremías 6:16 (RVR 1960)

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

For a long time, I felt that we as Christians are always looking for shortcuts. However, I was wrong about that. See, a shortcut is an easier and faster way to get to the same destination. What we are doing is not a shortcut because the reality is that we are not getting to such destination; the destination is to bear fruit (Matthew 7:16). Titus 2, Ephesians 5 and First Peter 3 are great examples of what bearing fruit looks like.

The Apostle Paul speaks about dying daily (I Corinthians 15:31). John the Baptist speaks about the need for Jesus to increase in him while he most decrease (John 3:30). Our Christian life is all about dying to our ways and surrendering to the ways of God.

On this article I will address two aspects of our Christian life that we are getting wrong; the reading of God’s Word and our idea of worship through music. There is nothing in Scripture that tells us to just read God’s Word and, there nothing, especially in the New Testament, that attaches any musical note or song to worship… Nothing! There is not one example of any Worship Team in the New Testament, not one. Nevertheless, worship teams are at the center of our Sunday services.

When it comes down to God’s Word, we have two specific mandates, 1) to study God’s Word and, 2) to apply it.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV)

The word “study” here is the Greek Word spoudázō; meaning “To be diligent, earnest, or eager.”^[1]What we are talking about is to be diligent in rightly dividing the word of truth. This requires more than just reading, this requires time and effort to truly understand what the Scripture is saying. Studying is not enough either, the ultimate goal is application. James 1:23-25 tells us,

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (NASB)

That same fruitless life applies to Christians that have fallen into this hyper-music view of Christianity. Music in the Christian world is indeed overrated. Folks think that they can listen to Christian music and they are magically in the presence of God based on what they feel. However, a lot of what we call the presence of God, based on Christian music, is based on our musical preference. Those who like southern gospel music or Johnny Cash will probably find Fred Hammond not anointed, but annoying. At the end of the day we are reacting to certain styles and rhythms we like; there is nothing spiritual about it. We can call it worship all we want to, but as I said before, there is not one musical note, not one instrument, not one style of music or anything musical attached to worship, especially in the New testament. In John 4:23-24 Jesus made the following statement to the Samaritan Woman,

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (NASB)

The Greek Word for “Worshipers” is, proskunētḗs meaning… “One who reverences God.”^[2] The word “Worship” comes from the Greek word proskunéō; meaning. “To worship, to show respect, to fall or prostrate before. Literally, to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or reverence.”^[3] Where in these definitions do you see any music? Yes, we are called to sign to the Lord, but singing has nothing to do with worship. Singing and playing instruments is not even named as a spiritual gift. Worship is not a song, is a lifestyle.

            So, at the end of the day we must take a closer look at our faith, make an assessment of ourselves and see how we are doing as husbands, wives, friends, in our jobs, communities, etc. Are we bearing fruit? Think about the older women in the church, well respected by the church and community, but has no respect for her husband. Think about the man, a leader in the church, but has no clue on how to love his wife. Think about the, “worship leader” singing all those wonderful songs, oh, he has people in tears with his “anointing”, while embracing a life of fornication. Think about the pastor who has a wife and children; considered a great teacher of God’s Word, but have been sleeping with his secretary. What went wrong here? How can this be? Beloved this is the exaltation of talents over character; no reverence to God. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus touched on this topic by stating,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)

The will of God is holiness; a true relationship with God will have a profound effect in our lives; we should never settle for nothing less. When we have a relationship with God that means that we practice finding ourselves in His presence; that means that we will enjoy the benefits of his presence in our own characters. It is impossible to have a relationship with God and not experience change in our lives. In his presence we find many benefits, here I just want to mention a few.

1. In God’s presence we find joy. (Psalm16:11)
2. In God’s presence we find divine rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
3. In God’s presence we find Peace. (Colossians 3:15)
4. In God’s presence our secret sins are revealed. (Psalm 90:8)
5. In God’s presence we find strength and encouragement. (Isaiah 40:31)
6. In God’s presence we find a change in the things that delight us. (Psalm 37:4)

Let’s get real, if we find ourselves depressed, stress out, anxious, with no conviction of sin, tired, discouraged and, if our delight is in the things of this world over the things of God, whatever spiritual exercise you are doing is clearly not working. I say to those who keep going to the same dry church, for those who keep reading the same books, looking for devotionals online, listening to gospel music and so on, if you are not changing is because you have not gotten a hold of the real deal… that is, you have not gotten a hold of God.

Study the Scripture, throw out those one-year Bible reading plans. Some folks are so busy reading the Scripture, rushing to read the whole Bible in a year, that they are missing what God is trying to tell them. Slow down… Listen!!!! Turn off the radio so that you can hear the still small voice of God. The great Prophet Elijah learned that as he was facing a deep depression in his life;

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” First King 19:11-13 (NASB)

            Beloved, what are you doing in that dark and dry place? That’s not what God wants for you. Get a hold of God… get a hold of the benefits of his presence and let’s bear fruit for His glory.

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

The Tower of Babel was men first organized rebellion against God. Men sinned before, but this was the first-time that men manifested an open rebellion against God. One thing is for us to miss the mark; when we do, is not that we want to miss the mark; is that in our imperfection we are aiming in the right direction, but we just… miss the mark. The other is when we, purposely and intentionally, miss the mark. That is now a rebellion against God; that is now the sin of transgression. You know is wrong, but you do it, not out of your own weakness, but out of your own open disobedience to God. Genesis 11:1-9 tells us

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there.

3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[c]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (NIV)

The root of all false religion, secret societies and self-centeredness is found in the Tower of Babel. The central idea of building a name for ourselves is at the heart of our rebellion against God. We no longer live to give glory to God; we live to make a name for ourselves. See, Eve was tricked by the devil and she sinned, but that’s not what she wanted to do. Cain killed his brother out of jealousy because God favored Abel offering over his. However, with the Tower of Babel, men decided to organize himself and willingly rebel against God. They refused to obey and trust God, who told Adam and later Noah, to multiply and filled the earth (Genesis 1:28 / Genesis 9:1).

So how this self-centeredness and refusing to live to give glory to God looks like today? Social media! Folks who walk around taking selfies and making worthless videos about what they do. Everybody is now an expert; everybody is now wise in their own opinion. We want to build a name for ourselves; we are hoping to be the creators of the next viral video.

Folks are walking around distracted, they can’t stay away from their phones, they can’t stay away from social media. The devil have them right where he wants them… focusing on themselves! “According to Nick Zagorski (2017), a writer for Psychiatric News, recent studies have shown that social media use is linked to feelings of social isolation, depression, insecurity, jealousy, and poor self-esteem.” ( https://www.ashford.edu/online-degrees/student-lifestyle/causes-of-social-media-addiction-illness ) “One part of being a social media addict is the inability to stop checking social media sites throughout the day. A study on college students showed that 45% admitted to social media use 6-8 hours a day (Wang, Chen, & Liang, 2011). ( https://www.ashford.edu/online-degrees/student-lifestyle/causes-of-social-media-addiction-illness )

Social media is the way folks are building a name for themselves today. This is the new version of the Tower of Babel. In the last days we read of a false prophet who will cause people to worship an image. Revelation 13:15 tells us, “The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.” (NIV) I believe that image will be found through the internet. The devil cannot be in more than two places at the time, but the image will have the ability to know what we are doing in our secret places. How? I believe that through technology he will be able to know what we are doing. So, this is a time to make a change, to be God-centered and not self-centered; to give glory to God and not focus on making a name for ourselves; to give God the inner most part of us… our spirit and to worship him.

There is plenty of information out there, from Christians like Pastor G. Craige Lewis and folks who are not believers, to know that the people who run the world have an agenda of spreading evil and not good. You see it through Hollywood and through the government very clearly. Revelation 17 starts by establishing this Biblical truth when it speaks about the kings of the earth. Not only that these powerful people committed acts of immorality, but they spread that immorality all over the world,

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” Revelation 17:1-2 (NASB)

The word immorality here is the Greek Word, porneúō; fut. porneúsō, from pórnos (4205), meaning, “…a male prostitute. To commit fornication, to play the harlot.”^[1] Immorality is a lot of things, but the focus is always sexual perversion, sex outside of the marriage, sex between siblings, sex with parents, homosexual sex, sex with animals, etc. Everything that promotes or endorses sex outside of the marriage is porn or immoral. Everything, if you look around, points at sexual immorality, from the movies, to the music, video games, clothing and others; is all a part of this massive sexual perversion.

Secularism is the maximum expression of men rebelliousness against God; it is taking God and his principles out of the picture, is totally going against what God has establish as moral and immoral and, essentially, telling God we don’t need you; we are sufficient in our own. The Bible has a name for secularism; the Bible call it Babylon.

The root of secularism started with the Towel of Babel (Genesis 11). The Tower of Babel was men first attempt to rebel against God; they wanted to build a tower all the way to heaven; they wanted to be like God, but not because of their love for God, but to replace Him by making a name for themselves. Men decided that they were not on this earth to give glory to God, but to take the glory for themselves.

Babel was Babylon; today this place is known as Iraq. Babylon in the Bible is not so much a location anymore; it is an ideology and the most popular worldview in the world. Sadly, many of us, at one point or another, were made drunk by Babylon’s immorality and we pay the price for it. Many churches are afraid of preaching too much about holiness, because holiness is in direct conflict with secularism; their music, their movies, their clothing, the entertainment industry in general and, the government. In First Corinthians 6:18 the Apostle Paul tells us,

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. (NASB)

The word immorality here is the Greek word porneía, gen. porneías, fem. noun from porneúō (4203), meaning“…to commit fornication or any sexual sin. Fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin; coupled with adultery” (Mark 7:21).^[2] To embrace immorality is to embrace Babylon. We must flee from Babylon; but many of us are attractive by Babylon and in that, we run the risk of being judge with Babylon.  In Revelation 17:3-6 the Apostle John gives a full description of how the secular world’s agenda looks like.

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, ⁵ and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” ⁶ And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. (NASB)

The character of the secular world can be clearly seen through these verses. The character of the secular world is:

1. Blasphemous (v. 3)
2. Very attractive (v. 4)
3. Full of abominations (v. 4)
4. Specialist in killing the followers of Christ. (v. 6)
5. A dwelling place of demons and every unclean spirit. Everything evil comes out the secular world. (Revelation 18:3)
6. Filled with blood money. (Revelation 18:3)

Now, with these characteristics, why do any Christian want anything to do with the secular world? But we support the secular word with our time, with our conversations and with our money.

This massive agenda is very expensive; it takes an enormous amount of money and power to carry on the devil’s wishes for the world. However, the devil is well finance. These are the industries that bring in the moneys carryout the devils’ agenda.

1. Kings of the Earth (v. 9): Folks in positions of power; the government and moreover, folks who control the government.
2. Merchants or Traders (v. 11): These are not the small business; these are the big businesses of the world.
3. Shipmaster, every passenger and Sailor (v. 17): This is the big industry of the sea; this is an essential part of what moves the economy around the world.
4. Entertainment industry (v. 22): This is Hollywood, New York, London, etc.
5. The industry of the Arts (v. 22): Any art, I will also add video games. Have you notice that folks do all kinds of crazy things in the name of art?
6. The food industry (v. 22): Have you taken a look at what we are eating in this world? Surely is not designed to keep us healthy; that’s for sure.

In Revelation 181-4 John tells us,

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. ² And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. ³ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. ⁴ I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; ⁵ for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (NASB)

The days of the arrogance and immorality of the Babylon are numbered; but not before her evil agenda is spread to every single nation. The message for us as believers is to “…come out of her.” That is, to have nothing to do with Babylon because if we do, we will also receive the same punishment she will receive. The word plagues here mean “…a blow that will cause injury” in the original language. It is God punching Babylon with a mighty and lethal blow! That is why God cries out for us to come out of her; but the more He cries out for us to come out of her, the more we find ways and excuses to mix in with Babylon through the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the artist we idolized and the lie of social media. Many believers, by far, are spending more time in social media than with God in prayer. Beloved, come out of her!!!!

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

Esta canción fue grabada originalmente en el estudio del hermano Dean Harris en Jacksonville, Florida. Fue una canción, de principio a fin, completamente espontánea. El hermano Dean y yo oramos, luego guardamos silencio, el hermano Dean comenzó a tocar el piano, abrí la Biblia en Primera de Corintios 13 y así nació esta canción. La titulamos, El Verdadero Significado del Amor. Luego, llevé esta canción a Nashville, TN en el estudio del hermano Gerry Peters quien le hiciera el arreglo musical que escucharán aquí. Considero que esta canción es un sermón cantado. ¡Que la disfrutes!

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Que Dios te bendiga

“What is Behind the Coronavirus”

Resurrection Sunday! For the first time in the history of this country, this glorious day will not be celebrated in buildings known as churches. We will be celebrating this day in houses through online services! The Coronavirus and a liberal/progressive/Socialist and Communist’s agenda is doing this.

Many businesses are temporarily shut down, the economy is paralyzed, and the government is coming to the rescue with stimulus packages. The nation has been put on hold, told by some doctors that we must shelter in place, keep social distancing and don’t go out other than for buying groceries, going to the pharmacy, get some gas, get some exercise, etc. America’s freedom have been hijacked.

It is easy to notice that democrat control states have been more aggressive in taking our freedom away; they have been particularly aggressive against our churches; we have already seen a few pastors getting arrested. The church was not considered an indispensable and essential business. Personally, I am so glad that Golf Courses are still open in Arizona; it has been a blessing for me to get out of the house, get some fresh air and enjoy this game that I have learned to love so much.

The numbers do not match the response, that’s the Botton line. The data has been wrong over and over. About 20,000 Americans have died; this is sad; death is not fun, but is the Coronavirus the number one killer in America and around the world? Absolutely not! So why this particular response to this one? We are trap now in this mess! The President has his hands tied, if he continues allowing this mess to continue, he will not make his followers happy and will destroy the wonderful economy we were enjoying just a few weeks ago. If he opens up American for business, he will be blamed for every Coronavirus death.

The ignorant argument has been made; what is more important, to save lives or the economy? Well, the answer is both. We want to save lives, but we want the living to continue living, to work, earn money, pay bills, visit families, buy and sell, enjoy sports, go to restaurants, enjoy our local churches again and, the list goes on and on. The questions should be how long can Americans go without working? For how long are Americans receiving unemployment checks? Will the government take care of us and send us stimulus packages until a vaccine against the coronavirus is invented? Is this the life we want to live? When is it safe to open America for business?

I am not the only one who believes that in America the liberal press and the democratic party are salivating over what is going on. It is their last hope to present our president as incompetent and to make the argument that in November, America must remove him from office. That is what is behind the Coronavirus; liberals feel that they have won the lotto with this virus. You can see this agenda clearly in the President’s daily briefing concerning the Coronavirus. The questions are not questions to keep us informed; the questions are always designed to make the president look back.

The other agenda is against the church. Make no mistake about it; these God-hating liberals are celebrating that today we can’t gather together and, they are brainstorming about how they can keep this going. It is not an easy task, because they will have to also deal with the entertainment industry they love so much. The good news for us believers is that the church will never, ever be defeated. In Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus ask his disciples, “…But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (NASB)

Brothers and sisters… be encourage today! We are the church, not a building! If you have been a Christian for more than a year, as much as we appreciate our pastors and leaders, we should not be spoon-fed like little babies by them. We should have the Holy Ghost capacity to open the Scripture, pray, study and give our families a Word from heaven. Today is a very special Resurrection Sunday; we will celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we will continue to pray for wisdom and for the power of God to be manifested. No law and no government can stop us from doing so.

This is one of my favorite songs to sing. Written by Michael W. Smith. Here I am singing with my wife at the piano. Enjoy!