September 2001 Newsletter
Dear
Partners in the Lord’s Work,
Good News! The Cult
Awareness Seminar which was held this 29 September 2001 at the Body
of Christ Bible Church in Labo, Camarines Norte resulted in training
and equipping of saints. A number of 40-45 lay leaders and members, along
with some pastors, were present during the whole seminar. I taught them a
short discussion on how to refute the “only-God’s-messenger-knows-the-Bible”
philosophy. I also did a discussion on the cults of Christianity,
identifying a cultic group, video showing of “Witness
at Your Door” giving those methods on witnessing to the Jehovah’s
Witness. I also included a brief presentation of the history and beliefs
of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Ang Dating Daan to which one
ADD
“sympathizer” attended. After that whole day seminar, many people were strengthened in
the faith and excited to share the biblical truth. Let me share one of the
letters from those church workers that encouraged me in laboring in this
ministry that the Lord has called me. Hope that you will be encouraged
also by his letter dated 02 October 2001:
Dear
Bro. Justyn:
Greetings in the most
precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
I would like to inform you that I’m one
of the attendees in the recently concluded “Cult Awareness Seminar”
which was held at Body of Christ Bible Church last September 29, 2001. The
information that I’ve heard in that seminar and read in your manuals as
well as in the tracts really inspires and challenged me to research (Acts
17:11) and stand for the truth (Jude 3). Aside from that I can also use it
in defending/contending for the faith to the cults/sects who deviates from
the clear teaching of Biblical Christianity. I’m very grateful that you’ve
included in your publications those Bible-based articles that teach and
uphold the sound doctrines of the Christian faith. I also commend you for
not shrinking from the responsibility of alerting us to the new and
increased threats to Christianity. Keep up the good work (1 Cor. 15:58;
Gal. 6:9; 2 Thes. 3:13)!...
Sincerely in Christ,
“Edgar"
Many
“Edgars” out there needs to be trained and equipped in handling the
Scripture so they can refute the claims of the cults and share the Gospel
of Jesus Christ effectively in a gentle and respectful manner. In
addition to this newsletter, the cult evangelism tracts in PCBS are still
making impacts in the lives of many people who have read it. Let me share
some of those who managed to text me their comments (Note: The following
text messages have been edited for clarity sake but the original intent
was not altered):
<Thank
you sa mga magagandang tracts na sinusulat ninyo. Nais ko po sanang
magkaroon ng iba pang kaalaman about baptism. Puwede po bang makakuha ng
documents about this issue?>
<Good
Morning! Nakabili po ako ng tracts ninyo sa PCBS. Puwede po bang makahingi
ng Pasugo, August 1939 pp. 16-17? Magsi-share po kasi ako sa mga friends
ko>
<I’m
truly blessed of how you’ve revealed and exposed the lies of the cultic
movement. I encouraged you to push on for the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. (A fellow Christian)>
<I’ve
been reading your pamphlet. Thanks. They helped me. I am studying
religious apologetics. God bless. From General Santos/Mindanao>
While
many also texted me their questions:
<Ano
po ba ang dapat kong gawin? I read your article about MMCC. I want to ask
for more info about them. It seems that their teaching is okay. Please
give me advice. Eduardo>
<I
just read your pamphlets. What’s the purpose of your group? I’m
interested. Rene of Baguio>
<Mayroon
lamang po akong katanungan. Ano po sa palagay ninyo ang mainam na gamiting
Biblia sa panahon natin ngayon? KJV po ang ginagamit namin. Ano po ang
masasabi ninyo sa translation na ito?>
If
there are people who encouraged us to go on, there are also those who
criticized and “defend”
their doctrinal beliefs through text messages below:
<I
am a member of Ang Dating Daan. Now para mapatunayan ninyong kayo ay
nagsasabi ng totoo, bakit hindi ninyo harapin si Bro. Soriano sa isang
debate.>
<Ang
doktrina ng Trinity ay galing kay Athanasius, Catholic bishop. Tulad kayo
ng Katoliko tradisyon ang sinusunod. Magbasa ka pa ng Biblia at
fasting>
<The
fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus (Col. 2:9). The Godhead is Father,
Son of God, and Holy Spirit.>
Some
have also informed me of their comment regarding the website:
<I
once visited your website and didn’t know then na merong grupo na tulad
ninyo, dealing about false teachings. More power to your group! I am
Richard of Laguna>
<I
saw your website on local cults. Are you Evangelicals? What is your
standing on preserving God’s word?...>
The
Filipinos are truly hungry for sound teachings and unless we train and
inform these people, and continue to discount their immediate spiritual
need, then “wolves that come in sheep’s clothing” will barge in. Let
me also take this opportunity to update you of my new 4-page article
entitled, Monoteismo ng
Kristiyanismo at Politeismo ng Ang Dating Daan ni Soriano, which
exposes and refutes the ADD guru’s belief and teaching in many gods and
how he injects Christianity with paganism. Along with this, I managed to
revive my article for evangelizing the Jehovah’s Witnesses entitled, Some of the Six (6) Honest Questions for Your Jehovah’s Witness
Friends Deserving Honest Answers. This will challenged their minds to
think and hopefully lead them to question the Watchtower authorities of
their contradicting views. These articles and many more can be downloaded
from our website:
http://thebereans.frontpew.com or http://www.oocities.org/the_bereans/
There
are many times that spiritual battle seems to be so intense and I feel
like exhausted. But in all of these I do want to thank you for lifting me,
bro. “AbuGian” and our individual families to the Lord. We do not
boast of what we know about the Scripture but we believed the Holy Spirit
will just continue to bring into remembrance everything that believers
have read and studied in the Word. Every Christian must also know
that orthodoxy (sound doctrine)
is accompanied always by orthopraxy (sound
living). I am even thankful for your unwavering financial support, for
the result of these material gifts will continue to touched many lives
here in our country.
As never before, Christians need to develop discernment skills.
We have an obligation to be alert, informed and always ready to confront
the spirit of error—wherever we may find it.
Ronald Enroth, Author of The
Lure of the Cults
Spreading
the flame of truth,
The
Bereans, Coordinator
