Straight From Pastor Ey

[NOTE: To my LGBT friends, once again I ’ m  “ preaching to the choir. ” To put things in context re: my stance about the LGBT issue, please read my blog posts:  “Attract, Not Attack ” Part 1 and Part 2 ] Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. Image credit Indeed, according to World Vision president, Richard Stearns, the debate over same-sex marriage is “divisive” as well as “heartbreaking.” Thus, last Tuesday (March 25), while clarifying “that [World Vison] have not endorsed same-sex marriage,” its leadership decided “to allow a Christian in a legal same-sex marriage to be employed at World Vision.” (Read full text on the policy change here .) Image credit To say that this policy change of a Christian organization sent shockwaves is an understatement. Remember that “World Vision is in the top ten charities in America and took in over a billion dollars last year and serves over a 100 million people in 100 countries.” (Source:  Desiring God ) Pastor John Piper cond

Image credit There are those who think that we don’t need to defend the faith nowadays. That all we have to do is make disciples. They feel that apologetics is merely an intellectual exercise. So, do we really have to choose between apologetics and discipleship?  Let me point out that they are friends, not enemies. That defending the faith and making disciples are two sides of the proverbial coin. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you ; yet do it with gentleness and respect,... (1 Peter 3:15) This is how ath

Image credit Have you ever heard the saying, “The devil is in the details”? It means that “it is often the small details of something which make it difficult or challenging. … [It refers] to very small but ultimately important components of a larger task.” (Source: Wise Geek ) I think of that saying whenever I read verses such as Acts 2:38. (“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” ESV) There are those who (mis)quote it whenever they want to prove that faith plus baptism saves.  Image credit But, if we really needed not only to believe but also to be baptized to get into heaven, how come Peter did not mention it in his later proclamations (such as Acts 3:19)? In fact, in Acts 10, we see that the Gentiles received both forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit even before they were baptized. Peter declared to them, “To him all the prophets bear witness that ever

Bronze sculpture of the apostle Peter preaching at Pentecost. Image credit Acts 2:38 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (ESV) There are those who use this verse as proof-text (a text cited without considering the context) that faith plus water baptism would save us. But that interpretation runs counter to the clear teaching of the Bible that by grace we are saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Even in the Book of Acts, Luke affirmed that again and again (10:43; 13:38-39; 16:30-31; 20:21). Faith in Christ saves us. Baptism does not save us. Image credit So, what did Peter actually mean when he commanded people to “repent and be baptized”? Remember that baptism is our expression of repentance. John the Baptist declared, “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and

Selvaraj with some prominent Filipino Christian leaders in the 24th National Prayer Gathering, April 12, 2013,  at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City. From the "Intercessors for the Philippines" Facebook page. Image credit How come even sincere Christian leaders fall for false prophets just like what happened recently when they trumpeted the supposed predictions of the self-styled Prophet Sadhu Sendar Selvaraj?  I believe that one of the root causes why is because they thought that God still speaks apart from His Word. They apparently doubt that the Bible is sufficient for faith and life.  NOTE: I personally believe that not all leaders who were there in the National Prayer Gathering support Selvaraj. One of them sent me a private message thru Facebook: "I do not agree with Selvaraj and asked Bishop Dan Balais [of Intercessors for the Philippines"] privately later that they should evaluate." Image credit However, according to Psalm 19, “ The law of

"There will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food". Image credit For me, it’s appalling how people who claim to be Bible believers fell for the “prophecy” of the self-titled Prophet Sadhu Sendar Selvaraj of the Voice of Jesus Ministries. They may be sincere but they were sincerely wrong. In their desire to hear a “fresh word” from God, they glossed over glaring inaccuracies in his predictions.  Sadhu Sendar Selvaraj. Image credit For example, Selvaraj declared that, “There is a place called Mindanao, and below that strait is a place called Compostela. The Lord said that there is an appointed typhoon to come upon that area. …many people will die.” (Source: Local Pulse ) But, as my friend Rev. Dr. Doy Castillo wrote on his Facebook page, “It is important to note that Compostela is in Mindanao not below Mindanao or below some strait. Since prophecy is God’s message, wouldn’t it be reasonable to believe t