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¿QUE ES EL EVANGELIO?

¿Qué es el Evangelio? 

El contenido de este artículo es de la reciente conferencia virtual de BCMS “¿Qué es el Evangelio?”

Escrito por Jared Duncan, Traducido por Antonio Salgado

Una de las verdades más tristes es que si caminas por muchas de las iglesias en Estados Unidos y preguntas “¿Qué es el evangelio?”, la mayoría no podría responder. Bueno, eso es lo que mi experiencia me ha enseñado. He preguntado a muchos cristianos esta pregunta y la mayoría no puede responder. La mayoría solo me miran fijamente.

Pero ahora permíteme hacerte esta misma pregunta ¿Qué es el evangelio? ¿Puedes responder? Deberías poder hacerlo. ¿Por qué? Porque como dice Pablo, el evangelio es “el poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree”.

 

Y como maestros de la palabra de Dios, si no tienes una comprensión clara del evangelio, tampoco la tendrá tu iglesia. El evangelio es el fundamento de nuestra fe… de nuestra salvación. Si nosotros (líderes de la iglesia) no tenemos claridad aquí, los ministerios sufrirán, la formación espiritual y el crecimiento de los miembros de nuestra iglesia se verán perjudicados, toda la iglesia sufrirá.

 

Ilustración: En Italia hay una torre llamada la torre inclinada de Pisa. Fue construida en la década de 1170, pero los constructores no compactaron adecuadamente la tierra sobre la que se construyó, por lo que los cimientos se asentaron de manera desigual y la torre con el tiempo comenzó a inclinarse. Cada año un poco más. Se hubiera caído hace mucho tiempo si no fuera por los arquitectos y constructores que llegaron más tarde para asegurar la torre. Todavía permanece en pie, pero inclinada de manera muy notable. Al igual que esta torre de Pisa, inclinada por una mala base, nuestras iglesias y ministerios estarán desequilibradas, torcidas, no fuertes ni rectas si no enderezamos el fundamento de nuestra fe, que es el evangelio.

Tema: ¿Qué es el Evangelio?

En este artículo, quiero explicar primero qué es el evangelio según la Biblia.

Analizaremos dos pasajes: Marcos 1 y 1 Corintios 15. Busca estas páginas en tu Biblia. Con suerte, después de discutir estos dos pasajes, podremos construir una definición bíblica del evangelio. En el siguiente artículo , hablaremos sobre cómo explicar el evangelio a los no creyentes y, cómo se relaciona el evangelio con los creyentes. Sí, ¡el evangelio es también para los cristianos, no solo para los no creyentes! En esa última, discutiremos cómo predicar el evangelio en tus sermones y enseñanzas a la iglesia, ya sea los domingos por la mañana o en grupos pequeños.

 

Bosquejo: Por ahora, nos centraremos en: ¿Qué es el Evangelio? Tres puntos guiarán esta discusión: Primero, la persona de Cristo. Segundo, la obra de Cristo. Y tercero, nuestra respuesta a Cristo.

 

  • La persona de Cristo

Volviendo a la pregunta inicial: ¿Qué es el evangelio? Primero, abran sus Biblias en Marcos 1:15. Dice: “Se ha cumplido el tiempo, y el reino de Dios está cerca; arrepentíos y creed en el evangelio.”

 

Piensen en esto… el evangelio se predicaba incluso antes de la cruz y la resurrección. Interesante, ¿verdad?

 

Ahora, pasemos a nuestro otro pasaje, uno de los más famosos sobre el evangelio: 1 Corintios 15:1-4. Dice: “Os recuerdo, hermanos, el evangelio que os prediqué, el que recibisteis, en el que estáis firmes, y por el que sois salvos, si retenéis la palabra que os prediqué, a no ser que hayáis creído en vano. Porque primeramente os entregué lo que yo mismo recibí: que Cristo murió por nuestros pecados conforme a las Escrituras, que fue sepultado, y que resucitó al tercer día conforme a las Escrituras.”

 

Esta es la mención más habitual de la muerte, sepultura y resurrección de Jesús cuando se habla del evangelio. Sin embargo, el punto que estoy haciendo ahora es que el evangelio se predicaba también antes de los acontecimientos de la crucifixión y la resurrección. La implicación, por tanto, es que el evangelio es más que la muerte, sepultura y resurrección de Jesús. En otras palabras, es más que las obras y logros de Jesús porque se predicaba antes de que estos logros se dieran a conocer.

 

Ahora, si alguien me dijera que el evangelio es algo más que la muerte y resurrección de Jesús, me preocuparía mucho que esa persona me fuera a decir algo no bíblico. Espero que ustedes también estén un poco preocupados ahora. Pero escúchenme.

 

Entonces, ¿qué podría haber, además de la muerte y resurrección de Jesús, que sea parte del evangelio bíblico? ¿Qué se podría añadir a las obras de Cristo? La persona de Cristo. Jesús podía predicar el evangelio antes de su muerte y resurrección debido a quién era: Su persona. “He aquí que yo estoy con vosotros”, dijo. “El Rey está aquí, y por lo tanto, el reino de Dios está aquí.”

 

El significado de “evangelio” es buenas noticias. Entonces, “¡Buenas noticias, Israel! ¡Tu Rey tan esperado está aquí! El Rey prometido del linaje real de David está entre vosotros. ¡El Rey cuyo reino no tendrá fin! ¡Yo soy Él!”

 

Es por esta razón, la persona de Cristo (quién es Jesús), que Marcos puede decir que Jesús predicó el evangelio incluso antes de morir y resucitar, y aun antes de enseñar acerca de esos eventos. Simplemente, el hecho de que Él estuviera entre ellos era buenas noticias, era el evangelio.

 

Ahora, incluso cuando miramos las palabras de Pablo en 1 Corintios 15 (esto es después de la cruz, después de la resurrección, después de la obra de Jesús), este pasaje de 1 Corintios se centra en las obras de Cristo, pero Pablo aún llama la atención del lector sobre la persona de Jesús también. ¿Cómo lo hace? Diciendo dos veces “según las Escrituras” (v. 3, 4).

 

Entonces, Cristo murió por nuestros pecados “según las Escrituras” (v. 3). Y fue sepultado y resucitó al tercer día “según las Escrituras” (v. 4). Esto a menudo se pasa por alto, ¡pero es muy importante! La obra de Cristo (Su muerte y resurrección) no sucedió de la nada (en un vacío). Se habló de eso desde la antigüedad. En el Antiguo Testamento se decía que cierta persona sufriría y moriría. Y que resucitaría. Uno piensa en textos como el Salmo 2 o Isaías 53. En Isaías 53, es el alma de este Siervo de Yahvé la que fue “derramada hasta la muerte” (Isaías 53:11). Sin embargo, Dios “prolongará sus días” (53:10), una referencia a la resurrección del Siervo.

 

Ahora bien, realmente no puedes dividir la persona y las obras de Jesucristo. Van juntos. Por eso no quiero separarlos, quiero que veas que van de la mano y que al hacerlo constituyen el evangelio. ¿Cómo se comparte el evangelio? Cuenta la buena noticia de Quién es Jesús y Qué hizo. Entonces, diríamos que Jesús es el Mesías de Israel, el que completa la historia de Israel. Es el rey tan esperado del linaje de David. Es la simiente de Abraham. Jesús es el único mediador entre Dios y el hombre. Jesús es el último y más grande Adán, el más grande Jonás, el más grande David, Jesús es el templo mayor, el cumplimiento de la ley y el antiguo pacto, Jesús es el Hijo de Dios y Dios el Hijo, el segundo miembro del Dios Trino que se hizo carne para convertirse en hombre. El gran juez que juzgará todas las cosas al final y que incluso ahora sostiene el universo por la palabra de poder porque Él es la Palabra de Dios.

 

“¿Cómo se comparte el evangelio? Cuenta la buena noticia de Quién es Jesús y qué hizo”

 

Ahora, ¿tienes que decir todo eso? ¡No! Por favor, no lo hagas, especialmente si testificas a un incrédulo, ¡pero algo de eso debería decirse! Hablaremos de lo que se debe decir la próxima vez, pero ten en cuenta por ahora que el evangelio es compartir las buenas noticias de la Persona de Jesús: quién es Él.

 

  • La Obra de Cristo

Entonces, hemos visto la persona, veamos más de cerca su obra. Creo que estamos más acostumbrados a la obra de Jesús, así que no dedicaré tanto tiempo a este punto… pero la obra de Jesucristo es que moriría por los pecados, sería sepultado y resucitaría. Eso es lo que nos dice 1 Corintios 15:3-4. Esta es la obra expiatoria de Jesús en la cruz, donde sería obediente al tomar carne, obediente en la vida y obediente hasta la muerte, muriendo una muerte sacrificial en lugar de los pecadores que creen en Él. El evangelio también es la obra que Jesús aún no ha hecho. Su segunda venida, como señala la última parte de 1 Corintios 15.

 

Entonces, juntando todo lo que hemos estado hablando, esto es lo que el evangelio es según la Biblia. Es la buena noticia de quién es Jesús y lo que logró, lo que hizo. También, lo que va a hacer: volver y establecer su reino. El evangelio es la buena noticia de la persona y la obra de Jesucristo.

 

Entonces, ahora llenemos esto con lo que sabemos de Jesús y lo que Jesús hizo. Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, que es el Mesías tan esperado de Israel, es ahora Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores, porque vino a la tierra, se hizo carne, murió por el pecado y resucitó de entre los muertos, conquistando la muerte y la tumba, y vendrá otra vez para establecer su reino por completo.

 

Su persona: Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, quien es el tan esperado Mesías de Israel, es ahora Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores. ¿Por qué? Por Su obra: Porque vino a la tierra, se encarnó, murió por el pecado y resucitó de entre los muertos conquistando la muerte y el sepulcro. Y vendrá otra vez para establecer Su reino.

 

  • Nuestra respuesta a Cristo

Ese es el evangelio. Pero hay un aspecto más del evangelio que me gustaría mencionar antes de terminar. Y esa es nuestra respuesta a Cristo. Volvamos a Marcos 1. Leamos los v.14-15: Después que Juan fue arrestado, Jesús vino a Galilea, proclamando el evangelio de Dios, y diciendo: “El tiempo se ha cumplido, y el reino de Dios está cerca, arrepentíos y creed en el evangelio”. Esa es la respuesta que pide el evangelio: arrepentimiento y fe. 

 

Nuestro otro texto principal, 1 Corintios 15. Aquí Pablo en 1 Corintios 15:1 le dice a la iglesia que les predicó el evangelio y ellos lo “recibieron”. Eso es lo mismo que creerlo. Continúa diciendo que el evangelio los está salvando en el v2, si se aferran a él. Si no lo hacen, han creído en vano. Ves la respuesta: recibirla creyéndola.

 

A lo largo del libro de los Hechos, cuando lees que el evangelio es presentado por Pedro o Pablo, o quien sea, piden una respuesta. Hechos 2:38 y Hechos 17:30 por ejemplo. Por eso, parte de nuestra presentación del evangelio debe ser un llamado al oyente a responder al Rey Jesús, a arrepentirse y creer en Él para el perdón de los pecados.

 

  • Conclusión: ¿Por qué Jesús y sus obras?

Quiero concluir con un punto final, ¿Por qué Jesús? ¿Por qué la muerte y resurrección de Jesús? ¿Por qué Su Persona y Sus obras? Ahora, ha habido mucha discusión sobre si “cómo funciona el evangelio” es en realidad el evangelio. Creo que hay buenos argumentos de cada lado. Creo que en realidad esta explicación del evangelio no es el evangelio. En otras palabras, puedes predicar el evangelio sin explicar todos los detalles del mismo. Jesús realmente no explica el evangelio en su tiempo en la tierra. Pero Pablo lo hace más tarde, al igual que el escritor de Hebreos. Y esta explicación del evangelio es la justificación por la fe. En pocas palabras, Jesús tenía que ser Dios y hombre para pagar por los pecados contra un Dios santo. Tenía que ser hombre para morir por el hombre, porque el hombre pecó. Tenía que ser Dios para ser el sacrificio perfecto sin mancha y también capaz de absorber toda la ira de Dios. Bebió la copa de la ira de Dios hasta la última gota. Ningún simple hombre podría hacer eso. Entonces eso explica por qué Jesús.

 

Ahora bien, ¿por qué la muerte y resurrección de Jesús? Bueno, la paga del pecado es la muerte. El hombre que pecó debe morir. Entonces Jesús se hizo hombre para morir, y para morir en sacrificio por todos los hombres y mujeres que creyeran en Jesús. En la cruz, cuando sufrió la ira de Dios y luego murió, cargó con el pecado de los que creerán en Él y al mismo tiempo imputó Su justicia a los que creerán.

 

Doble imputación. El Gran Intercambio.

 

Nuestro pecado va a Jesús, su justicia va a nosotros. Entonces Él condenó a Su Hijo, pero nos acepta. ¿Por qué? Por la sangre de Jesús que lavó nuestro pecado. Porque Dios nos considera como si estuviéramos “en Cristo”. Estamos cubiertos de la justicia de Cristo. Qué cosa más hermosa fue la cruz, y qué cosa más terrible. ¡Entonces Dios resucitó a Jesús de entre los muertos! Esto significa que el sacrificio de Jesús fue aceptado. Y ahora la nueva vida que Jesús tiene, la comparte con aquellos que vienen a Él con fe.

 

 

Bosquejo: ¿Qué es el Evangelio?

Introducción:

El Evangelio es el mensaje más importante que se puede compartir. Es la buena noticia de la salvación de Dios para la humanidad. En esta noche, nos centraremos en tres puntos clave para comprender mejor el Evangelio:

La Persona de Cristo:

  • ¿Quién es Jesús?
    • Jesús es el Hijo de Dios, el Mesías largamente esperado por Israel.
    • Es el Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores.
    • Es Dios encarnado, perfecto y sin pecado.

La Obra de Cristo:

  • ¿Qué hizo Jesús?
    • Jesús vino a la tierra para morir por nuestros pecados.
    • Murió en la cruz como un sacrificio perfecto por la humanidad.
    • Resucitó de entre los muertos, conquistando la muerte y el pecado.
    • Ascendió al cielo y ahora intercede por nosotros ante Dios Padre.

Nuestra Respuesta a Cristo:

  • ¿Cómo respondemos al Evangelio?
    • Debemos arrepentirnos de nuestros pecados 
    • Debemos recibir a Jesús, creyendo el evangelio
    • Reconocerlo como Rey y Señor de nuestras vidas

Conclusión:

El Evangelio es la única esperanza para la humanidad. Es un mensaje de amor, gracia y perdón. Al recibir a Jesús como nuestro Salvador, recibimos el perdón de pecados que desesperadamente necesitamos, y el regalo de la vida eterna y una relación personal con Dios.

 

Llamado a la acción:

¿Has recibido a Cristo como tu Salvador? Si no lo has hecho, te invito a que lo hagas hoy mismo. No hay nada más importante que puedas hacer en tu vida.

 

Versos de referencia

Marcos 1:14-15

Después que Juan había sido encarcelado, Jesús vino a Galilea predicando el evangelio de Dios. «El tiempo se ha cumplido», decía, «y el reino de Dios se ha acercado; arrepiéntanse y crean en el evangelio». 

1 Corintios 15:1-4

Ahora les hago saber, hermanos, el evangelio que les prediqué, el cual también ustedes recibieron, en el cual también están firmes,  por el cual también son salvos, si retienen la palabra que les prediqué, a no ser que hayan creído en vano.

Porque yo les entregué en primer lugar lo mismo que recibí: que Cristo murió por nuestros pecados, conforme a las Escrituras;  que fue sepultado y que resucitó al tercer día, conforme a las Escrituras; que se apareció a Cefas y después a los doce. 

 

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WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? 

Written by Jared Duncan 

 

One of the saddest truths is that if you were to walk around many of the churches in the United States and ask, “What is the gospel?” most would not be able to answer. Well, that’s what my experience has taught me. I’ve asked many Christians this question and most cannot answer. Most just stare at me.

But let me now ask you this question. What is the gospel? Can you answer? You should be able to. You need to be able to. Why? Because as Paul says, the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

And as teachers of God’s word, if you do not have a clear understanding of the gospel, neither will your church. The gospel is the foundation of our belief…of our salvation. If we (leaders in the church) are not clear here, ministries will suffer, spiritual formation and growth in our church members will suffer, the whole church will suffer.

Illustration: In Italy there is a tower called the leaning tower of Pisa. It was built in the 1170’s but the builders did not properly pack the dirt it was built upon and so the foundations settled unevenly and the tower over time began to lean. Every year a little bit more. It would have fallen long ago if it not were for architects and builders who came later to secure the tower. It still stands to this day, but leaning very noticeably. Just like this tower of Pisa, leaning because of a bad foundation, so our churches and ministries will be off kilter, askew, not strong and upright if we do not get right, the foundation of our faith, which is the gospel. 

Theme: What the gospel is according to the Bible.

Reference: And we are going to answer this question from the Bible. We will look at two passages. Mark 1, and 1 Corinthians 15. Hopefully, after we discuss these two passages we will be able to construct a biblical definition. Then in a future article I’m going to talk about how to explain the gospel to unbelievers, and then lastly how the gospel relates to believers. Yes, the gospel is for the Christian too, not just the unbeliever! Here, we will discuss how to preach the gospel in your sermons and teachings to the church, whether it be Sunday morning or in small groups. 

Outline: But for now, What is the Gospel? Three headings will guide us through this topic: First, The Person of Christ. Second, the Work of Christ. And third, Our response to Christ.

 

  • The Person of Christ

So, the question I asked in the beginning: What is the gospel? First, open your bibles to Mark 1. Mark 1:15 says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

So think about this…the gospel was preached even before the cross and resurrection. Interesting.

Now, let’s turn to our other passage, one of the most famous passages on the gospel, 1 Corinthians 15.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Now I would remind you, brothers of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

 

Here is the more standard mention of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus when talking about the gospel. But, the point I’m making right now is that the gospel was preached before the events of the crucifixion and resurrection as well. The implication, therefore, is that the gospel is more than Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. In other words, it is more than Jesus’ works and accomplishments because it was preached before these accomplishments were made known.

Now, if I heard someone tell me the gospel was something more than the death and resurrection of Jesus I’d be very worried this person was going to tell me something unbiblical. And I hope you are concerned right now. But hear me out.

So, what could possibly be in addition to Jesus’ death and resurrection that would be part of the biblical gospel? What could be added to the works of Christ? The person of Christ. Jesus could preach the gospel before His works of death and resurrection because of who He was: His person. I am here, he said. The King is here, and therefore the kingdom of God is here.

The meaning of “gospel” is good news. So, “Good news, Israel! Your long awaited King is here! The King promised from the kingly line of David is in your midst. The King whose kingdom shall have no end! I am Him!”

It is for this reason: The person of Christ (Who Jesus is), that Mark can say Jesus preached the gospel even before he died and rose, and even before he taught about those events. Simply, that He was in their midst was good news, was the gospel.

Now, even when we look at Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15— this is after the cross, after the resurrection, after the work of Jesus—this 1 Corinthian passage is focused on the works of Christ, but Paul still draws the reader’s attention to the person of Jesus also. How so? By saying twice, “According to the Scriptures” (v. 3,4).

So, Christ died for our sins “according to the Scriptures” (v3). And He was buried and was raised on the third day “according to the Scriptures” (v4). This is often overlooked, but so important! The work of Christ (His death and resurrection) did not just happen out of nowhere, or in a vacuum. It was told of old. It was told in the OT that a certain person would suffer and die. And that He would rise again. One thinks of a text like Psalm 2 or Isaiah 53. In Isaiah 53 it is the soul of this Servant of Yahweh that was “poured out to death” Isaiah 53:11. Yet God would “prolong His days” (53:10), a reference to the Servant’s resurrection.

Now, you really can’t divide the person and works of Christ Jesus. They go together. So I don’t want to split them up, I want you to see they go together and in doing so, make up the gospel. How does one share the gospel? Tell the good news of Who Jesus is and What he did. So we would say Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, He completes Israel’s story. He is the long awaited king from David’s line. He is the seed of Abraham. Jesus is the one mediator between God and man. Jesus is the last and greater Adam, the greater Jonah, the greater David, Jesus is the greater temple, the fulfillment of the law and old covenant, Jesus is the Son of God, and God the Son, the second member of the Triune God Who took on flesh to become a man. The great judge who will judge all things in the end and who even now upholds the universe by the word of power because He is the Word of God.

Now, do you have to say all that? No! Please don’t, especially if witnessing to an unbeliever, but some of that should be said! We will talk about what should be said next time, but know for now, the gospel is sharing the good news of the Person of Jesus— Who He is.

 

“Now, you really can’t divide the person and works of Christ Jesus. They go together. So I don’t want to split them up, I want you to see they go together and in doing so, make up the gospel. How does one share the gospel? Tell the good news of Who Jesus is and What he did.”

 

The Work of Christ

So, we’ve seen the person, let us look more at His work. I think we are more accustomed to the work of Jesus, so I won’t spend as much time on this point…but the work of Christ Jesus is that he would die for sins, be buried and rise again. That is what 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 tells us. This is the atoning work of Jesus on the cross where He would be obedient to taking on flesh, obedient in life, and obedient unto death, dying a sacrificial death in the place of sinners who believe upon Him. The gospel is also the work that Jesus is yet to do. His coming again as the latter part of 1 Corinthians 15 points out.

So, putting all what we’ve been talking about together, this is what the gospel is according to the Bible. It is the good news of who Jesus is, and what He accomplished, what he did. Also, what He’s going to do—come again and set up His kingdom. The gospel is the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

So, let’s now fill that in with what we know of Jesus and what Jesus did. Jesus, the Son of God Who is the long awaited Messiah of Israel, is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords because He came to earth, took on flesh, died for sin, and rose from the dead conquering death and the grave, and will come again to establish His kingdom in full. 

 

His person: Jesus, the Son of God Who is the long awaited Messiah of Israel, is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Why?

Because of..

His work: Because He came to earth, took on flesh, died for sin, and rose from the dead conquering death and the grave. And is coming again to establish His kingdom.

 

Our Response to Christ

That is the gospel. But there is one more aspect of the gospel I’d like to mention before we finish. And that is our response to Christ. Let’s go back to Mark 1. Let’s read v14-15: After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.” That is the response the gospel calls for: Repentance and belief. Our other main text , 1 Corinthians 15. Here Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1 tells the church he preached the gospel to them and they “received” it. That is the same thing as believing it. He goes on to say the gospel is saving them in v2, if they hold fast to it. If they don’t, they have believed in vain. You see the response: receiving it by believing it.

All through the book of Acts, when you read of the gospel being presented by either Peter or Paul, or whoever, they call for a response. Acts 2:38 and Acts 17:30 for example. And so part of our gospel presentation needs to be a call for the listener to respond to King Jesus, to repent and believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Conclusion: Why Jesus and His Works

I want to conclude with a final point, Why Jesus? Why Jesus’ death and resurrection? Why His Person and His works? Now, there has been a lot of discussion as to if “how the gospel works” is actually the gospel. I think there are good arguments on each side. I think actually this explanation of the gospel is not the gospel. In other words, you can preach the gospel without explaining all the details of it. Jesus really doesn’t explain the gospel in his time on earth. But Paul does later, as well the writer of Hebrews does. And this explanation of the gospel is justification by faith. Simply put, Jesus had to be both God and man to pay for sins against a holy God. He had to be man to die for man because man sinned. He had to be God to be the perfect sacrifice without blemish and also capable of absorbing the full of God’s wrath. He drank the cup of God’s wrath to the last drop. No mere man could do that. So that explains why Jesus.

Now, why Jesus’ death and resurrection? Well, the wages of sin is death. Man sinned man must die. So Jesus became man in order to die, and to die a sacrificial death for all men and women who would believe in Jesus. On the cross when He was suffering God’s wrath and then died He bore the sin of those believing in Him and at the same time imputed His righteousness to those believing.

Double imputation, the great exchange.

Our sin going to Jesus, His righteousness going to us. So He condemned His Son but accepts us. Why? Because of Jesus’ blood that washed away our sin. Because God looks upon us as being “In Christ.” We are covered with the righteousness of Christ. What a beautiful thing the cross was, and what a terrible thing. Then God raised Jesus from the dead! This means Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted. And Now the new life Jesus has, He shares with those who come to Him in faith.

 

Outline: What is the Gospel?

Introduction:

The Gospel is the most important message that can be shared. It is the good news of God’s salvation for humanity. Tonight, we will focus on three key points to better understand the Gospel:

The Person of Christ:

  • Who is Jesus?
    • Jesus is the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.
    • He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
    • He is God incarnate, perfect and sinless.

 

The Work of Christ:

  • What did Jesus do?
    • Jesus came to earth to die for our sins.
    • He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for humanity.
    • He rose from the dead, conquering death and sin.
    • He ascended to heaven and now intercedes for us before God the Father.

 

Our Response to Christ:

  • How do we respond to the Gospel?
    • We must repent of our sins
    • We must trust Christ for our salvation
    • We must recognize Him as Lord and King.

Conclusion:

The Gospel is the only hope for lost humanity. It is wonderful news, a message of love, grace and forgiveness. By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we can have our sins forgiven, receive the gift of eternal life and enjoy a personal relationship with God.

Call to action:

Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you have not done so, I invite you to do so today. There is nothing more important you can do in your life.

Reference Verses

Marcos 1:14-15

After John had been imprisoned, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of God. “The time is fulfilled,” he said, “and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand,  by which they are also saved, if they hold fast to the word which I preached to them, unless they have believed in vain.

For I delivered to you first of all the same thing that I received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;  that he was buried and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; who appeared to Cephas and then to the twelve.

 

The content of this article is from the recent BCMS virtual conference “What is the Gospel?” Written by Jared Duncan, edited for this article by Antonio Salgado.

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.

 

 

 

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

The ministry of (CMC) serves hundreds of missionaries, but they ONLY receive the funds for us and in no way have control over how the funds are to be spent or what we are to do as a ministry, which gives room to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and the liberty in making needed adjustments.

You may begin sending your support to the BCMS (Antonio Salgado) at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

You can also now give to the ministry here in the DR online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website.

To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. But the PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field.

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

 

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BCMS : UPDATE FROM THE MISSION FIELD, JUANA MENDEZ

Grace and peace to you and yours brothers and sisters,

Our current situation is completely indescribable; The country is divided into 10 departments, 42 cities, 145 municipalities, and 571 municipal sections. But, the capital of Haiti is located in one department, and everything you need to live as a human being come from the capital or you have to go to the capital to find it.

All the difficulties we are going through is very much because we cannot reach the capital due to the criminal activities of the gangs that are in the westside of the country.

If we are honest, we can say we are only eating thanks to the Lord. But although others may not admit it, the Dominican Republic and other countries are helping our country too. But there is heavy a tension and that is what hurts me, because the Dominican authorities are often humiliating people in their treatment with the Haitians in their country. 

The situation is difficult to put into words. They sell us expired products. I went today to change expired sardines they sold me and they left it to in order to sell it to another person. Oftentimes, my people do not protest easily, more if it is cheap and something needed. There are some things I cannot even say here. As believers, we are constantly having to guard our hearts in the face of suffering and injustice.

If it were not for those neighboring countries, like the United States that sellsus products of all kinds, nobody knows what would be of us. There is no work, no money, life is totally difficult. If the capital does not work properly, the whole country is paralyzed, it is the capital that ultimately determines the good and the bad of the rest of the country. Our country exists with almost no authorities or guidance, only the national police are functioning. No government, no president, no order. 

Please pray for me. In the next few days, I will be visiting a dispensary for the people of Juana Mendez, where thousands of people come every day. It seems that almost everyone is in need and it can get a bit rough there.

I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to the Lord and to the brothers and sisters who pray for me and support our efforts. I usually am a working man. I like to work and produce for myself and my family. Unfortunately, right now there isn´t any work. So especially in these very difficult times here, I am very thankful for BCMS, because due to the Lord´s provision through our partners, I can pay for my children’s studies, our food, and praise God that my children have not been seriously ill, because the hospitals in Haiti cannot help us very much.

Recently, I have had the privilege of preaching the Gospel in a few different towns. But in Juana Mendez (Ouanaminthe), the Lord recently crossed my path with the director of a home for the elderly. There are over 60 people living there, but sadly they struggle to  feed them daily. The director shared with me that there are days they don´t have anything to offer them. After speaking with Antonio, we quickly did what we could to take them some food that should last at least 12-15 days. We saw this as a way to show compassion to a vulnerable group and an opportunity to share the Gospel with those who are reaching the end of their lives. 

I also recently visited the hospitals in Juana Mendez to share the Gospel and pray with many sick people whose conditions were very sad. We shared and prayed with a woman who was very ill and couldn’t talk or eat. Another woman who was very ill and all alone but has a husband to went to find work in the DR to try to help her. Another man with a prostate cancer and many others. Apart from sharing Christ and praying with them, we also helped them to cover the cost of a few medications. Please pray for the many people who God has brought across my path that I have shared the Gospel with. That the Lord would open their hearts to receive Christ. 

Please continue to pray for me as the apostle Paul says,

“Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” – Ephesians 6:19

In Christ,

Leonel Riviere

BCMS partner in Ouanaminthe, Haiti

(Translated by Antonio Salgado

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.

 

 

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

You may begin sending your support to BCMS/Antonio Salgado at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)
You can also now give to the ministry online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website. To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

 

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

 

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field in case of emergencies. We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

 

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BCMS MISSION UPDATE

Dear friends, mission partners, brothers and sisters in Christ,

March was a busy but fruitful month! Here’s an update on my mission activities. BUT FIRST, I would like to share that a very, very special little boy just turned 10 years old! It’s hard to believe how big he has gotten. I am so very proud of the young man Yeison is becoming. May the Lord give him grace and wisdom and use him someday to reach many. Pray for me as I try to be the best possible earthly father to him. He is such a gift from God, and it amazes me how much God can use a small child to teach us about some big things in life. Thank you, Lord, for Yeison´s life.

Collaboration and Strengthening Local Churches:

  • I’ve been meeting with local pastors and brothers to coordinate a year-long plan, including online workshops and support for struggling churches in the city of Santiago and in other vulnerable rural areas.
  • The goal is to strengthen churches through leadership and evangelism training, resource provision, and collaboration with other local churches.
  • Our vision encapsulates our long-term aspirations, emphasizing not just the initial planting of churches, but also their growth and sustainability.

Online Workshops:

  • Three good brothers have committed to joining us in teaching through the online workshops: a brother in Venezuela, a former missionary to the DR in the US, and a pastor here in the Dominican Republic.
  • Workshop topics will cover topics like the Gospel, evangelism & missions, discipleship, spiritual disciplines, and pastoral care with several men connected virtually in four different countries, the U.S., Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela, Lord willing.

Your Prayers Needed:

We ask for your prayers for wisdom and discernment in several areas:

    • Identifying the most qualified brothers according to 2 Timothy 2:2 principles (faithful and able to teach), to work with and support.
    • Please pray for wisdom in the decision-making process.
    • Discerning real needs and determining priorities in each situation.
    • Provision to maintain our commitment to the vulnerable churches we work with.

Meetings and Partnerships:

  • I have a meeting with Francisco Rosario, a theologically sound pastor in Santiago. After a few conversations, the brother has expressed his desire to collaborate with us. I am especially looking forward to this meeting. I invited Francisco to preach at the church in Hato Mayor years ago, and he is a great expositor of God’s Word.
  • I also have a meeting with brother Hosmane Clevoir, who speaks Spanish and Creole and has studied theology.
  • Three other profiles on candidates for partnership are almost complete. Please pray as everything seems to be coming together by the grace of God.

Collaborating with Existing Ministries:

  • I met with brother Alberto “Betico” in Boruco. He is presently discipling two solid young men, but needs some help and a few resources to better serve the community. A plan is being developed to support him and that church.
  • By God’s grace, I will be providing him with a Kindle loaded with theological books and a physical copy of a discipleship book by Otto Sanchez, (a Dominican pastor, my former professor and personal friend), and several tracts and other literature to share.
    •  More copies of that excellent book will be purchased for other collaborating brothers.
  • In Hato Mayor, Pastor Victor requested evangelism training and collaboration opportunities for his church and remains committed to that work.

There are other cases being evaluated before committing, the idea being long term partnerships towards a common goal with continued care and commitment to that partnership.

Our mission statement defines our purpose and key activities as the following:

    • Equipping nationals: Empowering individuals within these countries to lead and sustain ministry efforts.
    • Making disciples: Growing individuals in their faith and equipping them to share the Gospel.
    • Collaborating with local partners: Working alongside existing churches and organizations to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize impact.
    • Planting and strengthening churches: Establishing new congregations and supporting existing ones.
    • Fulfilling the Great Commission: Carrying out Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel and make disciples.

Project PG: A Hearfelt Plea for Yera in Piedra Gorda

  • We’re slowly but surely progressing with Project PG, aiming to build a home for Yera, (Yeison’s biological mother).
  • Land has been secured, and fundraising is underway. So far we have $1,050 dollars towards the project.
  • But, there are now two potential locations (very near to each other) that have been offered as the location for the home at no cost. One of the options is land that was donated to a group of pastors and missionaries I worked with in the past. Both plots are being evaluated to determine the best choice, all things considered.
  • Construction of the house could be completed in two months with sufficient funding.
  • Please consider donating, sharing this project and read more about the project here: https://salgadodrmission.com/2024/02/project-pg-a-heartfelt-plea-for-yera-in-piedra-gorda/

Personal Studies:

BCMS Mission Partners:

  • Leonel and Rafael’s updates have been reported separately but more often in the Facebook group. Both have been diligent in ministry, but are in need of our continued prayers.
  • Rafael is doing well but asks for prayers for his daughter Valentina. She has a gland in her face that is causing swelling, and they still don’t have any solid answers from the doctors. Please pray for Valentina. You can read more about some of the recent things that the Lord is doing through Rafael here https://salgadodrmission.com/2024/03/4263/ 
  • Haiti continues in a state of emergency and the situation is becoming worse with each passing day. Continue to pray for Leonel and his family as the Dominican Republic continues to deport Haitians despite the current state of emergency.
  • Communication with Leonel has increased recently, thank God, and Leonel is presently putting together a list of their most urgent needs. They need everything, but mostly food. Amidst all the chaos in Haiti, brother Leonel remains faithful in his duties and compassionate to those in need around him.
  • Please continue to pray for these dear brothers.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

In Christ,

Antonio Salgado

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.

 

 

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

You may begin sending your support to BCMS/Antonio Salgado at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

You can also now give to the ministry online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website. To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field in case of emergencies. We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

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BCMS MISSION UPDATE

Dear friends, mission partners, brothers and sisters in Christ. The following is an update from the mission field by BCMS worker, brother Rafael Rodriguez. Please continue to pray for our Project PG and our present and future mission endeavors.

 

“Greetings, dear brothers and sisters.

Here’s a report on some of our recent activities, all done for the glory of Christ.

Evangelism:

By God’s grace, we’ve been visiting the children’s emergency room at the central hospital, providing food (around 60 arepas) and sharing the Gospel message of hope. This helps families in need, offering sustenance to hospitalized children (for those whose diets permit it) and their accompanying parents.

As you may know, we face a healthcare crisis. Medications are expensive, and medical care has significantly declined. Please join us in prayer, asking the Lord for his grace to help us overcome this challenging situation and the detrimental effects of the current system. It’s heartbreaking to see so many struggle with such basic healthcare needs.

Our outreach extends beyond the hospital. We’ve been actively preaching in public squares, distributing Christian literature, and engaging in conversations with people we encounter. This includes preaching and handing out materials on passenger vans as well.

Distribution of Christ centered literature:

The Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to continue supporting other pastors and preachers with more Christ-centered literature with the hope that they may become more Christ centered in their teaching and preaching ministries. Here are a few I most recently was able to share with.

Brother Ronny Morillo, a dedicated leader planting a church called “Las Riquezas de su Gracia” in a nearby town, received several Baptist confessions of faith and a family theology book.

The pastor and president of a Pentecostal federation (La Vida Verdadera church) with over 20 years of experience also received numerous books to enhance his preaching ministry.

Evangelist Rober Aranguren was gifted two books: “The Attributes of God” and “The Gospel of Grace.”

Additionally, a new church called the Church of God received several catechisms for their children’s Christian education program.

We are thankful for Chapel Library who sends these types of literature to many different countries. Please pray for the pastors and preachers receiving these valuable resources. May the Lord empower them in their preaching, allowing the message delivered from their pulpits to become increasingly Christ-centered.

Local Church:

Our discipleship program continues to flourish, with 14 individuals actively seeking membership in our local church. They are enthusiastic and growing in their faith.

We kindly ask for your continued prayers as we seek the Lord to raise up more pastors and deacons within our local church body.

Family:

We would greatly appreciate your prayers for our family, that we may continue to be a family that glorifies God.

In particular, we request prayers for my eldest daughter, Valentina. She has been experiencing inflammation in her parotid gland. Despite multiple tests and treatments, a definitive diagnosis remains elusive. Please pray for her health and for our peace of mind in the Lord.

Finally, we ask for your prayers for continued provision, allowing us to reach out and support more vulnerable individuals in our community.

May the peace of Christ be with you all.”

Rafael Rodriguez

 

Translated to English by Antonio Salgado

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

 

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

 

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry, you can easily donate online through PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to the mission field.

 

 

 

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BCMS UPDATE FROM MARACAY, VENEZUELA

Update from Rafael Rodriguez Serving in Maracay, Venezuela

“Greetings brothers and sisters,

By the grace of the Lord, I was blessed to be able to go with my family to share the Gospel in a nearby community called Turmero. There is a new church is being planted there.

The person in charge of the mission is a very good and beloved friend of mine.  I spoke to the brethren that day on the mercy of God. There are presently about 12 brothers and sisters who gather regularly. The brother in charge is of a different theological background but is humble and open to learn. He and the group have been gathering diligently to study the doctrines of grace and the biblical Gospel. Praise the Lord for their desire to study and grow.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to help us, and help them, so that the Lord will bless the preaching of the Gospel in that community and that these brothers and sisters may continue to grow in knowledge and grace.”

The peace of Christ be with you.

BCMS Worker Rafael Rodriguez

Translated by Antonio Salgado

Please pray for our BCMS workers serving faithfully in hard places. May the Gospel continue to go forth, to God be the glory.

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry:

You can donate to this ministry online with PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to us. Click the link below for that option.

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

The ministry of (CMC) serves hundreds of missionaries, but they ONLY receive the funds for us and in no way have control over how the funds are to be spent or what we are to do as a ministry, which gives room to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and the liberty in making needed adjustments.

You may begin sending your support to the BCMS (Antonio Salgado) at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

You can also now give to the ministry here in the DR online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website.

To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. But the PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field.

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

Posted on

Project PG: A Heartfelt Plea for Yera in Piedra Gorda

Dear Friends, Mission Partners, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My heart draws me to share about a recent visit to Piedra Gorda, a place etched deeply in my memories. Years ago, in 2008, as a pastor’s translator, I served this community alongside the beloved brothers and sisters there. I eventually moved to the mission field full time in 2012. Even after settling in Esperanza, I continued to share preaching, teaching, and evangelism responsibilities there and in two other churches in two different towns.

Throughout the years, Piedra Gorda held a special place in my heart, especially during the early years of my arrival in the mission field. I participated in projects with visiting teams, witnessed times of hardship like Yeison’s grandmother’s passing and Yera’s struggles, and experienced the dwindling visits from foreigners who at one time came to help. Yet, the connections remained, and the people continued to be dear to me.

This recent trip held a deeper purpose. My son, Yeison, who is almost  ten years old, very bright and very aware, desired to visit his biological mother Yera and wanted to offer help to her and her caretaker Brunilda. Their needs weighed heavily on our hearts, knowing the challenges they face. So that morning, we sent a surprise video message from Yeison to Yera which brought tears to her eyes, reminding her of the son she dearly loves. It was a beautiful reunion filled with joy and tears when we arrived just a few hours later.

Brunilda pictured above cooking outside of her home.

Yera, burdened by a mental disability, gave birth to Yeison when she was 20. Although aware of him and expressing affection, she is unable to care for herself, let alone a child. By God’s grace, Yeison has been with me since infancy, a constant reminder of God’s love and the Gospel. However, a growing concern weighs heavily on me: what will happen to Yera if Brunilda, her dedicated caretaker with her own health issues, is no longer able to care for her?

Brunilda has been an extraordinary blessing to Yera, transforming her life from a state of neglect to a safer and more comfortable existence. Beyond Yera, she opened her heart and home to vulnerable children, shielding them from exploitation and harm. This community lacks safe havens for individuals like Yera, and the thought of her falling into the wrong hands is terrifying.

Seeking solutions with prayer and guidance, I envisioned building a small and affordable home for Yera near Brunilda’s home. This would ensure her safety and provide continuity of care even if unforeseen circumstances arose. Brother Freddy, a trustworthy leader in the community, has built similar homes and would be instrumental in this project.

While exploring alternative options, visiting facilities for disabled individuals left me furious and at the same time, heartbroken. Witnessing the lack of proper care and potential for abuse solidified my conviction: Yera deserves better.

Thankfully, a small plot of land in Piedra Gorda has been graciously donated, paving the way for this project. My hope is that Yeison, who already expresses concern for his mother, will be able to support her in the future when he is an adult. Building this home will offer him the opportunity to fulfill that desire and ensure Yera’s well-being, especially when needed most.

Please join me in prayer for Yera, Brunilda, and the entire community of Piedra Gorda. Pray for wisdom and guidance as we move forward with this project. Consider partnering with us through a commitment to making this vision a reality. Your support will not only benefit Yera and Brunilda but also open doors for further ministry opportunities in this precious community.

As you can see, Yera and Brunilda face a desperate situation. Building a safe haven for Yera is crucial, not only for her well-being, but also to honor Brunilda’s years of selfless care. With your generous support of $18,000, we can make this a reality. This is the price of a church van in this country. Yet for the same amount you can help us provide a home, a long term solution for Yera. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

With your generous support of $18,000, we can make this a reality. This is the price of a church van in this country. Yet for the same amount you can help us provide a long term solution for Yera. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

Together, we can offer Yera the security and care she needs. This wouldn’t be just any house; it will be a small, yet well-built structure designed to last for many years, ensuring comfort and safety for Yera well into the future. By contributing, you’re not just providing temporary relief, but investing in a long term solution.

Remember, Brunilda has dedicated years to caring for Yera, and ensuring her well-being even if unforeseen circumstances arise is paramount. Please consider joining us in this meaningful endeavor. Your compassion could change the course of their lives. Thank you for your prayerful consideration and generosity.

In Christ,

Antonio Salgado

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.– Philippians 1:3-5

 

 

“Those who pray for, and give to missions, play a crucial role just as important as the missionary on the field. We really believe that. Thank you for holding the rope for us.”

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry or contributing to the aforementioned project:

You can donate to this ministry online with PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to us. Click the link below for that option. To donate specifically for this project, please add a note with donation that says “Project PG”.

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

The ministry of (CMC) serves hundreds of missionaries, but they ONLY receive the funds for us and in no way have control over how the funds are to be spent or what we are to do as a ministry, which gives room to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and some liberty in making needed adjustments and attending emergencies.

You may begin sending your support to the BCMS (Antonio Salgado) at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

You can also now give to the ministry here in the DR online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website.

To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. But the PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field.

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us and helping this ministry. God Bless You!

 

Posted on

UPDATE: PRAYER REQUEST FOR BCMS WORKER LEONEL IN HAITI

Please pray for BCMS worker Leonel, in Juana Mendez, Haiti. He has had a hard time recently. Things are not good in his country, and it has been unstable for some time. We are still unable to enter. The banks and many other public places have been closed. After days of trying, praise God today he was able to receive support.
Brother Leonel remains faithful despite the challenges. Please pray for him, his family and those he reaches. Pray for Haiti. May the Gospel continue to go forth, and may God be glorified. Pray.
HAITIAN-DOMINICAN BORDER SITUATION UPDATE (FEBRUARY 9, 2024)

 

Land border closure:
  • The land border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic remains closed to most traffic since September 14, 2023, following a dispute over the construction of a canal on the Haitian side.
  • Only limited exceptions exist for medical emergencies, diplomatic missions, and authorized humanitarian aid deliveries.
  • This closure has significantly impacted trade, travel, and daily life for people on both sides of the border.
Impact on trade:
  • The closure has caused major disruptions to cross-border trade, leading to significant losses for both economies.
  • Dominican farmers have reportedly incurred millions of dollars in losses due to their inability to export goods to Haiti.
  • Haitian consumers face increasing prices for essential goods due to limited supply.
Humanitarian aid:
  • While some humanitarian aid is allowed through the border, organizations report difficulties navigating the complex procedures and limited access.
  • This raises concerns about the ability to meet the needs of vulnerable populations in Haiti, already facing food insecurity and other challenges.
Human rights:
  • Human rights organizations have documented increased deportations of Haitian migrants from the Dominican Republic since the border closure.
  • Concerns exist about potential violations of due process and discriminatory practices during these deportations.
Broader overview:
  • The border closure remains a source of tension and uncertainty between the two countries.
  • Both sides have exchanged accusations and held diplomatic meetings, but no resolution has been reached yet.
  • The closure’s long-term consequences on the economies, communities, and human rights remain to be seen.
Sources:
*This is just a brief overview; the situation is complex and evolving. Pray.
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A Letter of Gratitude From The Mission Field, First Anniversary of BCMS Venezuela

BCMS recently celebrated our first year working in Venezuela. Brother Rafael has been faithful in his local church and in assisting other local churches in teaching, disaster relief after the flooding in Castaño, open air preaching in the streets and plazas, prison ministry, visiting the hospitals and homes of the most vulnerable taking them help and the hope of the Gospel.

The following is a letter of gratitude for the prayers and support from BCMS worker Rafael Rodriguez in Maracay, Venezuela.  Those who pray and give to missions, play a role just as important as the missionary on the field. Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.

 

“The grace, love and peace of Christ be with you all.

Beloved brothers, greetings. Today, I can finally express to you in writing the feelings and words that my family and I have kept in our hearts. After a blessed year of receiving your very fruitful and great help.

We can hardly thank you enough. We lift our prayers before the heavenly throne for you and for this beautiful ministry that has decided to fulfill God’s call to take the gospel to the whole world through missions.

My family and I are extremely thankful for Biblical Christian Missionary Society and for all the brothers and sisters who give, who make it possible for men like me to dedicate more time to the mission and service of going (Mark 16:15) in our city. Without ever neglecting our role as providers in the home.

In recent decades, our nation Venezuela has been hit by an economic and social instability that has pushed many ministers out of the country. However, there are many of us who, despite this, still want to see the hand of God in the lives of the most vulnerable Venezuelans, and we have taken on the task of continuing to sow the seed of the gospel while it is possible and wise for us to do so according to our responsibility as guardians of our families. Dear brothers, your help makes it possible to carry out this desire, so we are really moved, and we do not tire of thanking God for these blessings and for your lives.

Despite how complex things have been here in Venezuela, the Lord has used the lives of your donors, who support missions, to continue carrying the message in this nation. You are undoubtedly part of this work!

Therefore, we thank each one of you as we celebrate this happy first anniversary of support and service in Venezuela.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your seed and multiply the fruits of your righteousness, so that you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” 2 Cor 9:10-12

You are part of every teaching and collaboration that reaches the homes of families full of spiritual and material needs. Your effort is present in every outreach to take the message to the streets, every tour exposing the gospel in the squares, every visit to the prisons and every comfort in the hospitals.

The Lord does not forget what you do. Keep on storing up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

For our part, we want to continue serving the Lord as missionaries, committed to proclaiming a biblical gospel centered on the person and work of Christ, serving the Lord in our local church, as well as giving to the extent of our ability to help the neediest in our community with food.

We are also willing to collaborate in other ways for the advancement of the ministry and its mission, such as writing articles and sharing our teachings in the different formats or languages that are required, among others.

I also beg you to please continue praying for our family: my wife Yohanny and my children Valentina, Grace and Benjamin. For the conversion of the souls to whom we regularly preach and help, for the proclamation in the hospitals, the exposition in the prisons, the preaching outdoors and of course, for our local church.

Without further ado, I can only wish that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Sincerely,

Rafael Rodriguez serving in Maracay, Venezuela

BCMS in Venezuela  (Translated by Antonio Salgado)

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

If the Lord so lies on your heart to give back to Him by supporting this ministry:

You can donate to this ministry online with PayPal. Click the donate button below to send support of any amount directly to the ministry. This is the fastest option to get funds to us. Click the link below for that option.

Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

The ministry of (CMC) serves hundreds of missionaries, but they ONLY receive the funds for us and in no way have control over how the funds are to be spent or what we are to do as a ministry, which gives room to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and the liberty in making needed adjustments.

You may begin sending your support to the BCMS (Antonio Salgado) at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

You can also now give to the ministry here in the DR online through the new giving solution called “click and give” at the CMC website.

To get started, you just need to click on the link below and register the first time. Just a simple click on the donate button on their page (see link below), and then click the “click and give icon/button”.

https://www.cmcmissions.org/donate

For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. But the PayPal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field.

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us. Grace and peace.

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EL PRIORISMO Y EL HOLISMO EN LAS MISIONES ¿POR QUÉ NO AMBOS?

MISIONES BÍBLICAS Y LA RELEVANCIA DE CARL F. H. HENRY 

A lo largo de la historia, en medio de hambrunas, plagas y persecuciones, la iglesia ha enfrentado muchos desafíos. Especialmente cuando se trataba de cómo manejar dos cosas, la proclamación del evangelio y ayudar a los necesitados de la sociedad en medio de eso. Estas controversias en las misiones no son nuevas. Cuando la puerta del ministerio se abrió a los gentiles en el libro de los Hechos, las cosas se complicaron aún más después de que Pablo y Bernabé enfocaron su atención en los gentiles en su trabajo misionero. Por supuesto, el contexto del debate en Hechos 15 fue determinar si los gentiles deben o no guardar la ley y ser circuncidados. Pero es generalmente cierto que, al cruzar la brecha cultural, habrá desafíos en la proclamación del Evangelio y para algunos, en la identificación de los detalles del papel de la iglesia con respecto a los problemas sociales y la contextualización. No hay escasez de personas perdidas o sufrientes a nuestro alrededor, y por lo tanto, ciertamente no ha cambiado hoy.

En todo caso, el problema solo se ha agravado a lo largo de los siglos a medida que los diferentes contextos culturales continúan siendo penetrados con la luz del Evangelio. Es hermoso e inspirador saber que el Evangelio se está llevando a los lugares más oscuros y difíciles, pero también conlleva desafíos reales para enfrentar y las necesidades cada vez mayores. Especialmente cuando se trabaja con los pobres. Puede ser un trabajo difícil, y de alguna manera es más fácil predicar que ensuciarse las manos para servir entre los indefensos de la sociedad en el frente. Pero no la conciencia de todos les permitirá ser oyentes de la Palabra solo cuando se encuentren cara a cara con las grandes necesidades de otros portadores de la imagen de Dios. Y las preguntas sobre qué deben hacer o no exactamente los misioneros han entrado en el debate en repetidas ocasiones. Por lo tanto, esta es una controversia que ciertamente me llama la atención. Es el debate aparentemente interminable entre lo que se conoce como priorismo y holismo.

 

Definiendo los términos

Debemos admitir que la iglesia no siempre ha hecho muy bien en matizar las cosas en el pasado, especialmente al desarrollar una teología que permita adecuadamente ambos lados de un problema como este. Pero antes de profundizar en el asunto en cuestión, quizás deberíamos tomarnos un tiempo para definir los términos un poco mejor. Dependiendo de con quién hable, las personas pueden tener algunas ideas diferentes cuando usan las mismas palabras. ¿Qué es exactamente el priorismo y qué es el holismo? ¿Son esas las dos únicas opciones?

En un artículo del Judson Center, Jay Flinn resume la historia del debate evangélico de la misión holística. Él escribe: “En las décadas siguientes, se ha escrito mucho sobre el tema de la misión holística. La mayor parte de lo que se ha escrito se puede resumir en tres posiciones principales relacionadas con la relación de evangelismo y acción social en la misión. Una posición conserva el énfasis en el evangelismo y la plantación de iglesias con poca consideración a la acción social. Una segunda posición sigue el modelo de evangelismo de Stott como la misión principal con la acción social cristiana como socio secundario. La tercera posición considera la acción social como una misión igual al evangelismo. Si bien existen variantes para estas posiciones y se pueden usar diferentes términos para describirlas, las variantes se definen en última instancia por la relativa prioridad y la relación de evangelismo y acción social entre sí”.

 

Entendiendo el Priorismo

Por un lado, del tema, hay quienes dicen que el Evangelio (y algunos incluyen plantar iglesias con eso) siempre debe ser lo principal. Y tienen razón, muy bien debería ser. Una declaración clásica sobre priorismo de Donald McGarvan afirma: “Una multitud de empresas excelentes nos rodean. Tan grande es el número y tan urgentes los llamados, que los cristianos pueden fácilmente perderse entre ellos, viéndolos a todos igualmente como una misión. Pero al hacer el bien, pueden fallar de lo mejor. Al ganar los preliminares, pueden perder el juego principal. Pueden tratar una picazón problemática, mientras el paciente muere de cólera. La cuestión de las prioridades no se puede evitar “.

Él hace un punto válido. Aquellos que se aferran al priorismo temen que algunos que se aferran a un enfoque más holístico hayan hecho del Evangelio una cuestión secundaria. Aunque debemos reconocer que es cierto para algunos, también debemos tener cuidado con la generalización imprudente. Pero gran parte de la confusión se debe a que las palabras reinventadas significan cosas distintas de lo que originalmente significaban. Esto solo enturbia aún más las aguas teológicas, causando confusión en lugar de ayudar a aclarar el tema. En estos días, muchas palabras como evangelismo, evangelio y misión pueden significar cosas diferentes de lo que solían ser. Por lo tanto, es importante que examinemos estos términos bíblicamente, de lo contrario no tienen límites en cómo se usan y pierden todo significado real.

Lo más probable es que sea el resultado a lo largo del tiempo de lo que se conoce como “deriva de la misión”. El CEO de Edify dijo: “Es la excepción de que una organización se mantiene fiel a su misión. El curso natural, la desafortunada evolución natural de muchas misiones originalmente centradas en Cristo, es ir a la deriva ”.

En un número de Evangélicas Misiones Trimestrales, se publicó un “simposio” en el que “se pidió a cinco líderes que expresaran sus puntos de vista sobre la relación entre proclamación y acción social, y solo uno presentó una aproximación a la posición prioritaria”. Esto es bastante desafortunado considerando que antes del primer Congreso de Lausana en 1974, el priorismo era la opinión dominante entre los evangélicos. Sin duda, los asuntos eternos tienen prioridad sobre los asuntos temporales.

Son correctos en su manera de mantener el evangelio como el foco principal de la misión. Pero para algunos en el extremo del espectro (prioristas estrictos), lamentablemente se ha convertido prácticamente en lo único que hacen. Este es un agujero enorme en su posición. Debido a esta falta en la teología de algunos quienes se aferran al priorismo, a menudo son acusados ​​de descuidar el mandamiento de amar a su prójimo en su intento de centrarse en el Evangelio. Estoy de acuerdo en que el Evangelio es la prioridad y debe estar en la parte superior de la lista para todos nosotros. Sin embargo, irónicamente, muchos de los que dicen ser apasionados por Cristo pueden aislarse de las comunidades a las que intentan llegar mostrando poco interés en su condición humana temporal de sufrimiento. Muchos lo interpretan como una falta de amor, no solo por la perspectiva opuesta, sino también por la comunidad perdida que siempre está mirando. Por lo tanto, no deberíamos ser tan rápidos para descartar por completo todo el enfoque holístico del ministerio. Algunas de las acusaciones a los prioristas estrictos son justas y deben abordarse. Pero siempre recordando que existen otras opiniones más equilibradas entre estas dos posiciones. John Stott finalmente cambió sus puntos de vista a favor de un enfoque más equilibrado de la Gran Comisión.

 

Entendiendo el holismo

En el otro lado del tema, hay quienes toman una misión más holística. Afirman creer y predicar el Evangelio también, lo que puede hacer que las cosas que dicen parezcan algo ambiguas. C. René Padilla, quien fue muy influyente al convencer a muchos de adoptar un enfoque holístico de la misión, dijo lo siguiente:

“La misión holística es una misión orientada a satisfacer las necesidades humanas básicas, incluida la necesidad de Dios, pero también la necesidad de comida, amor, vivienda, ropa, salud física y mental, y un sentido de dignidad humana. Además, este enfoque tiene en cuenta que las personas son seres espirituales, sociales y corporales, hechos para vivir en relación con Dios, con sus vecinos y con la creación de Dios. En consecuencia, presupone que no es suficiente cuidar el bienestar espiritual de un individuo sin tener en cuenta sus relaciones personales y su posición en la sociedad y en el mundo. Como Jesús lo vio, el amor a Dios es inseparable del amor a nuestro prójimo “.

En mi opinión, no está equivocado al decir que el amor a Dios es inseparable del amor a nuestro prójimo. Dentro de este campo hay quienes son acusados ​​de tener otro Evangelio, un evangelio de “justicia social”. Y para estar seguros, hay algunos en este campamento que no están muy centrados en el evangelio. En el peor de los casos, pueden ser de naturaleza casi completamente humanitaria con poca o ninguna enseñanza bíblica del Evangelio o del sonido. Algunos están distraídos y descuidan el verdadero evangelismo bíblico. Sin embargo, hay algunas cosas que un priorista estricto puede aprender de ellos. Usualmente son muy activos en servir a sus comunidades, alimentar a los pobres, defender a los débiles y los necesitados y hacer el bien a su familia de fe y a sus vecinos fuera de la iglesia. Aunque el evangelio es un asunto eterno y de mayor peso, al menos debemos admitir que estas son cosas buenas e importantes y no deben ser ignoradas. Y no todos los que adoptan un enfoque holístico de la misión se ajustan a la descripción de “guerreros de la justicia social” o no estarían completamente de acuerdo en una categoría u otra. Entonces, a medida que avanza el debate, la línea continúa pareciendo borrosa para algunos sobre cómo exactamente estas dos cosas deben encajar correctamente.

 

¿Una alternativa?

Debemos ser conscientes y estar dispuestos a admitir los peligros de una posición extrema en ambos lados. Esta es simplemente una de las muchas áreas de nuestra teología donde debemos aprender a vivir en la tensión y encontrar una manera de reconciliar las dos ideas, ya que ambas tienen bases bíblicas. Ciertamente no queremos caernos a ambos lados del caballo, por así decirlo. Hacerlo, creo, sería caer en algún tipo de error u otro. Debemos encontrar un mayor equilibrio bíblico, y aquí es donde Carl F. H. Henry es extremadamente útil.

 

Sus credenciales

Carl Henry es más relevante cuando se trata de esto por muchas razones. Él mismo dijo que era, de hecho, un priorista, pero que también mantenía la necesidad de la preocupación social. Henry fue uno de los arquitectos fundadores del movimiento evangélico moderno de EE. UU., Y probablemente ha dicho y escrito más sobre el tema que nadie, siendo él mismo extremadamente influyente, “llamando a los evangélicos a diferenciarse del fundamentalismo separatista y reclamar un papel para influir en la cultura americana más amplia. Participó en la creación de numerosas organizaciones evangélicas importantes, incluidas la Asociación Nacional de Evangélicos, el Seminario Teológico Fuller, la Sociedad Evangélica Teológica, la revista Christianity Today (de la cual fue editor fundador) y el Instituto de Estudios Cristianos Avanzados. El Instituto Carl F. H. Henry para la Participación Evangélica en el Seminario Teológico Bautista del Sur y el Centro Carl F. H. Henry para la Comprensión Teológica en la Universidad Internacional Trinity buscan continuar su legado “. Su visión de la necesidad de competencia teológica y compromiso cultural sigue siendo una de las alternativas más vibrantes en nuestros días. Era conocido por su compromiso con los rigores teológicos, su compromiso activo con los problemas sociales apremiantes de nuestros días, pero también por tener un compromiso inquebrantable con el evangelio de Jesucristo. Su libro “La conciencia inquieta del fundamentalismo moderno” (1947) fue una respuesta al movimiento fundamentalista separatista que sin darse cuenta se convirtió en un obstáculo para su propia causa de alcanzar a los perdidos con el Evangelio.

Henry habló elocuentemente sobre lo que durante mucho tiempo ha sido disputado por teólogos y misiólogos. El propio Henry había dicho que “estas tensiones ahora irritan a la iglesia como nunca antes en la historia reciente”. El tema ha generado mucha división entre los evangélicos, especialmente desde la controversia fundamentalista-modernista de principios del siglo XX.

En un ensayo sobre Carl Henry y su modelo “regenerativo” de evangelismo y preocupación social, Jerry M. Ireland cita: “El fundamentalismo respondió a la agenda social centrada en el ser humano de la teología liberal al retirarse principalmente del compromiso cultural y la acción social. En lugar de desarrollar una respuesta bíblicamente más equilibrada a los problemas sociales. Desafortunadamente, el fundamentalismo tendió a truncar la reverencia temporal del evangelio a favor de un enfoque exclusivo en asuntos eternos “.

 

Su modelo regenerativo

Hay mucho que aprender de Henry. Como señala Irlanda, Henry asocia estas dos tareas de la iglesia de una manera similar a C. H. Dodd, distinguiendo la palabra didache de kerygma. En las enseñanzas de Dodd, señala que “kerygma representa el mensaje único de salvación de la iglesia”. La proclamación del evangelio. Mientras didache, dice, “se refiere a las enseñanzas de la iglesia y las demandas éticas de las Escrituras”.

Henry creía que el kerygma se relaciona especialmente con el cumplimiento de la Gran Comisión. Kerygma es necesario porque es el medio que Dios usa para dar a conocer Su voluntad y el evangelio. Didache es necesario porque es el proceso de enseñanza que es esencial para la formación moral de una persona. Las enseñanzas de las Escrituras que Dios usa para traer crecimiento espiritual. Pero sin kerygma primero (proclamación del evangelio), no puede haber didache (discipulado). Y aunque kerygma y didache son ambos necesarios, no son necesarios de la misma manera.

 

Orden bíblica

La preocupación es buena, hacer y mantener el evangelio como la prioridad. Sin embargo, con un vistazo rápido a los imperativos en las Escrituras, la vida de Cristo y el ejemplo del apóstol Pablo, uno tendría dificultades para presentar el caso de que la preocupación por la condición humana sufriente de nuestro prójimo y la generosidad hacia ellos era algo opcional. Jesús tuvo compasión por las multitudes, Pablo dijo que estaba ansioso por ayudar a los pobres, y hay muchos otros ejemplos de por qué debemos hacer el bien a la familia de fe y a nuestro prójimo. A continuación se presentan solo algunos del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamento.

 

Evidencia del Antiguo Testamento

El generoso será bendito, Porque da de su pan al pobre. (Proverbios 22.9 NBLA)

El que oprime al pobre afrenta a su Hacedor, Pero el que se apiada del necesitado lo honra. (Proverbios 14.31 NBLA)

El que cierra su oído al clamor del pobre, También él clamará y no recibirá respuesta. (Proverbios 21.13)

(Para más ejemplos miren a Proverbios 14.21, 29.7, 31.8-9, Ezekiel 16.49)

 

Evidencia del Nuevo Testamento

 En todo les mostré que así, trabajando, deben ayudar a los débiles, y recordar las palabras del Señor Jesús, que dijo: “Más bienaventurado es dar que recibir”». (Hechos 20.35 NBLH)

Solo nos pidieron que nos acordáramos de los pobres, lo mismo que yo estaba también deseoso de hacer. (Gálatas 2.10 NBLH)

Al que te pida, dale; y al que desee pedirte prestado, no le vuelvas la espalda. (Mateo 5.42 NBLH)

 La religión pura y sin mancha delante de nuestro Dios y Padre es esta: visitar a los huérfanos y a las viudas en sus aflicciones, y guardarse sin mancha del mundo. (Santiago 1.27 NBLH)

(Para más ejemplos miren a 1 Juan 3.17-18, Lucas 14.12-14, 12.32-34, 3.11)

 

La lista puede seguir y seguir y seguir …

 

También existe la evidencia de la historia a considerar. El impacto de la iglesia primitiva continúa siendo visible en la civilización occidental de hoy. Los historiadores señalan que “en la Edad Media, el cristianismo transformó las sociedades para mejor y continúa influyendo en la cultura dondequiera que se extendieron sus enseñanzas. La caridad alentada por las enseñanzas bíblicas (Lucas 10.30-37) eventualmente llevó a la fundación de hospitales, orfanatos, hogares para ancianos y cuidado de los pobres, los hambrientos y las personas sin hogar. Incluso muchas de las universidades más grandes y prominentes de nuestros días se fundaron originalmente para propósitos cristianos”. La tendencia de la iglesia a extender la compasión a los que sufren y los necesitados a su alrededor a lo largo de la historia, fue simplemente fruto de los cristianos que viven una vida transformada llena del Espíritu en obediencia a las Escrituras. Vivieron imitando el ejemplo de Cristo, motivados por el amor a Aquel que nos amó primero, y que se entregó sacrificialmente por nosotros. ¿De qué manera esto sería algo malo? Y con las Escrituras y la historia que atestiguan el patrón de audaz proclamación del Evangelio Y compasión y generosidad hacia los demás, ¿por qué sería diferente para la iglesia hoy?

No hay necesidad de debatir si la iglesia debe ser generosa o no con la familia de fe, pero por alguna razón hay personas que piensan que no debemos distraernos con problemas sociales o invertir demasiado tiempo o dinero en mostrar compasión. a otros portadores de imágenes que sufren. Henry ciertamente tuvo una elocuencia única sobre él a la hora de reconciliar este tema. A veces parecía hablar el idioma de ambos campos. Se aferró a mantener el Evangelio como una prioridad, pero manteniendo la preocupación social como algo importante y necesario.

No hay necesidad de debatir si la iglesia debe ser generosa o no con la familia de fe, pero por alguna razón hay personas que piensan que no debemos distraernos con problemas sociales o invertir demasiado tiempo o dinero en mostrar compasión. a otros portadores de imágenes que sufren. Henry ciertamente tuvo una elocuencia única sobre él a la hora de reconciliar este tema. A veces parecía hablar el idioma de ambos campos. Se aferró a mantener el Evangelio como una prioridad, pero manteniendo la preocupación social como algo importante y necesario.

Es importante tener en cuenta que aunque su modelo (el de Henry) sostuvo ambos puntos de vista según fuera necesario, no significa que ambos fueran iguales. Henry fue una crítica de las falacias liberales y seculares con respecto a la benevolencia de Dios. En el libro Controversias en las misiones, Jerry M. Ireland escribe que “Henry encuentra un motivo de preocupación entre las tendencias liberales y seculares … y advierte contra el evangelismo confuso y la preocupación social, o de reducir el evangelismo a simplemente atacar los males sociales o políticos. Hacerlo es cometer el último acto de falta de amor, ya que descuida la mayor necesidad de la humanidad, a saber, la redención personal y la regeneración sobrenatural “.

Jerry M. Ireland también hace una distinción importante cuando dice que está “ligeramente fuera de lugar decir que el evangelismo y la preocupación social son dos alas del mismo pájaro, o dos caras de la misma moneda”. Porque incluso la Escritura nunca iguala estas dos cosas de una manera tan abiertamente paralela, a pesar de que la Escritura defiende la necesidad y la importancia de ambas “. Debemos trabajar y vivir en la tensión que existe allí.

Al comprender las diferencias en kerygma y didache, se hace evidente por qué la proclamación del evangelio debe ser una prioridad en las misiones. Deberíamos querer que más personas vengan a Cristo. Como resultado de hacer discípulos, eventualmente se plantarán más iglesias. E históricamente, la iglesia ha sido un medio por el cual el bien se desborda naturalmente en el mundo que la rodea. Es una gracia de Dios, un beneficio de simplemente vivir cerca del pueblo de Dios. Sin embargo, lo que sucede en algunas iglesias es que el enfoque se vuelve mucho más interno, a lo que sucede dentro de las cuatro paredes de un edificio, y menos tiempo que la sal y la luz para quienes los rodean. La evidencia de esto se ve en lo poco que se designa para la benevolencia en los presupuestos de la iglesia local promedio.

Yo conozco personalmente a misioneros que se dieron cuenta del desequilibrio en sus ministerios de una estricta visión prioritaria y en realidad perdieron el apoyo de algunas iglesias, cuando debido a una “conciencia incómoda” (como lo llamaría Henry), se involucraron más para ayudar a satisfacer las necesidades de aquellos a quienes sirvieron además de la predicación y la enseñanza regulares. Fueron rechazados por algunos partidarios que eran prioritarios estrictos cuando adoptaron un enfoque más holístico para participar más en sus comunidades. Cuando un misionero decide obedecer las Escrituras en ambas áreas en amor por su próximo, y en realidad pierde el apoyo de las iglesias, esto no solo es trágico, ¡es una locura! El evangelio siempre debe seguir siendo lo principal, por supuesto, pero también debemos aprender a caminar en las buenas obras que nos prepararon (Efesios 2.10.) Se nos dice que amemos, pero no solo de palabra, sino de hecho también (1 Juan 3.18), y que nuestra fe sin obras está muerta. (Santiago 2.26)

 

¿Por qué no las dos cosas?

La pregunta es, ¿por qué no ambos? Carl Henry se consideraba un priorista, pero claramente creía y enseñaba que ambas eran tareas necesarias de la iglesia. Es posible predicar un Evangelio bíblico, con un énfasis importante en la evangelización, entrenando líderes y discipulado, al mismo tiempo que sirve a su comunidad, mostrando compasión por el sufrimiento siempre que sea posible. Es bastante desafortunado cuando quienes luchan por tratar de mantener un mejor equilibrio son acusados ​​de un “Evangelio social” cuando no se descuida la proclamación del evangelio, simplemente se agrega un mandato bíblico que faltaba. Estamos llamados a ser sal y luz, haciendo buenas obras para que otros puedan glorificar a nuestro Padre en el cielo. Después de todo, una fe genuina no es meramente intelectual y pasiva, sino una fe activa y activa.

Pero Ireland hace un punto que vale la pena recordar cuando se discuten estos temas. Él dice que “es importante que distingamos el evangelio en sí mismo de las demandas del evangelio y evitemos confundir los dos si queremos ser fieles a las Escrituras. Cuando se hace esto, podemos abogar por la prioridad del evangelismo y por una sólida preocupación social cristiana “.

También usa una ilustración útil de la vida cotidiana para demostrar esto. Él dice: “Imagínese si tuviera que ir a un banco para hacer un depósito para pagar sus facturas. Ir al banco sería la prioridad. Porque si el cheque no se deposita, las facturas no se pueden pagar. Claramente, una cosa es una prioridad y debe tener lugar primero, pero ambas siguen siendo necesarias. Debo depositar mi cheque y debo pagar mis facturas. Lo segundo depende de que lo primero ya haya sucedido y la prioridad de lo primero no hace que lo segundo sea opcional”. Es similar a esto con evangelismo y preocupación social.

Hacer del evangelismo una prioridad no debe significar descuidarnnos en los actos de compasión. Tampoco un enfoque holístico tiene que significar la negligencia del evangelismo, de ninguna manera. En este punto, los términos priorismo y holismo han adquirido tanto equipaje y significados diferentes que casi se han vuelto inútiles, especialmente cuando no se puede acordar lo que significan.

Hacer del evangelismo una prioridad no debe significar descuidarnnos en los actos de compasión. Tampoco un enfoque holístico tiene que significar la negligencia del evangelismo, de ninguna manera.

Pero cuando se trata de dar a conocer a Cristo a través del evangelismo audaz y mostrar compasión y amor a nuestro prójimo, digoque esto es el cristianismo bíblico del Nuevo Testamento, entonces, ¿por qué no ambos?

Autor- Antonio Salgado Jr.

Director Biblical Christian MIssionary Society

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

– Philippians 1:3-5

Bibliografía

  1. SCOTT MOREAU. Mission and missions. ED A. SCOTT MOREAU. Evangelical dictionary of world missions. Grand Rapids. Baker Academic, 2000. 
  2. CHRISTOPHER R. LITTLE. The case for prioritism. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 671-672. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  3. CHRISTOPHER R. LITTLE. The case for prioritism. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 643. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  4. CHRISTOPHER R. LITTLE. The case for prioritism. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and  practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1112. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  5. CHRISTOPHER R. LITTLE. The case for prioritism SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 684. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  6. Wikipedia. Disponible en https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_F._H._Henry
  7. JERRY M. IRELAND. Concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1129-1130. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  8. JERRY M. IRELAND. Concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1134. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  9. JERRY M. IRELAND. Concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1380. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  10. JERRY M. IRELAND. Concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1134. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  11. TOMMORROW’S WORLD. How “Christianity” changed the world. Disponible en https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2016/november-december/how-christianity-changed-the-world
  12. JERRY M. IRELAND. Carl F. H. Henry’s regenerational model of evangelism and social concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1288-1296. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  13. JERRY M. IRELAND. Carl F. H. Henry’s regenerational model of evangelism and social concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1296-1303. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  14. JERRY M. IRELAND. Carl F. H. Henry’s regenerational model of evangelism and social concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1387-1394. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8
  15. JERRY M. IRELAND. Carl F. H. Henry’s regenerational model of evangelism and social concern and the promise of an evangelical consensus. SCHEUEREMANN, ROCHELLE and CATHCART. Controversies in mission: theology, people, and practice of mission in the 21st century. Pasadena. Scheuermann, Rochelle and Cathart, 2016. Loc 1394-1402. ISBN: 978-0-87808-892-8

 

 

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Also,

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
Fax: 281-599-7511

The ministry of (CMC) serves hundreds of missionaries, but they ONLY receive the funds for us and in no way have control over how the funds are to be spent or what we are to do as a ministry, which gives room to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and the liberty in making needed adjustments.

You may begin sending your support to the BCMS (Antonio Salgado) at any time at the address above. (Checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse or C.M.C.)

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For tax exemption, you must send your donation through Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) at the address above. But the Paypal option is the fastest way to get funds directly to the field.

We do not use a sending agency that gets a percentage of the money donated, so you can be sure that your gift goes directly to the mission field.

Whatever you decide, thank you so much for praying for us and helping this ministry. God Bless You!