It is an alien concept . Grace is given only to a child of God – but never mentioned that those who persist in living their own way, away from God – experience it- unless God Himself made an effort to find and rescue him /her.
Some said – because He send his prophets and messengers to rebellious people – it proves that Grace is common to all people .To them preaching , proclaimation or teaching is the equivalent of Grace .And yet grace always saves – and restores the broken relationship between God and man.And yet no preaching of the gospel ALWAYS saves its hearers.
In fact – the Lord Jesus warned his disciples , -in the parable of sower – that some will seemingly accept His message , but will not bear fruit nor persevere until the end.
This doctrine just came up in history because Arminians wants to escape the horn of Pure Pelagianism – i.e. Grace is not necessary for man to be saved – since man has no fallen nature. He is just influence by the influence of his parents or his environment .
Also, to escape the Fatalism that is more like of Islam than Christianity’s Augustianism / Calvinism.
That man is merely automaton, and Fate is a depthless abyss – not related to other communicable traits of the Godhead. Nor related to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so they have a halfway doctrine – not supported by Scripture. Most verses are as clear as the sun – that the persuasion ,the drawing , the conviction to sin , the inducement to believe – all references is to the one who truly believes in the Lord Jesus for his salvation.
To them – it is necessary but can go only so far.
Now who made us to differ in our response then ?
How much prevenient grace does God apply to each individual -before he responds favorably to his promptings/inducements? The just answer for an Arminian -would be “equal for every man” -or they will be back at the horns of effectual/invincible grace. Or they can say -in proportionate to the natural inclination of the particular person to the general revelation. However -once they use this kind of reasoning -they are now inserting the concept of works, merit or natural inclinations into the equation of salvation – consciously or not.
The doctrines of grace were not there -to defend the Sovereignty nor the Justice of God -He does not need to. But these teachings about grace are there to protect the doctrine of salvation -that it is all of Grace. It is free, unmerited, -not conditioned in any qualities or lack of in a man. I still don’t understand why ministers and pastors of the Word would not like to defend such a teaching -which magnifies the salvation which wholly of Grace? Without the details of Definite atonement and Irresistible Grace coming to the discussion– I believe that every truly converted Christian knows in his heart that -salvation is wholly and totally by God in Jesus Christ alone.
How do then God apportion prevenient Grace to the mass of mankind -prior to their conversion? Will it be based on their family background? Education or lack of it? sincerity or hardness of heart? susceptibility to God’s Word or future effectivity in missions? Every time we mention human or earthly factors – we are nearing the possibility that salvation is based on human merits or demerits -instead of God’s purpose and grace alone. Even if we start with an equal amount of prevenient grace, we will be going to the drain of human contingency -that only human background, actions, inaction, or tendencies can settle or be determinant -on who will believe after they received the so-called prevenient grace.
Whether equal or proportionate – the horns of faith plus works will enter the salvation equation. Instead of relying on the mystery of God’s own Wisdom and Free Choice – we have opened it to the danger of the Council of Trent or Semi-Pelagian view of salvation – an amalgam of Grace and Man’s works.
In the TV series Numb3rs, the brother of an FBI agent -a mathematician from a university -is used as a consultant -to solve crimes – to predict the actions of the criminal, or to map out the area of his safe zone during his crimes or his victims, And it takes a lot of factors in order the proper equation to work. Time, place, acceleration, speed, frequency, and such. And this is needed to predict or trapped a criminal in his next move.
The TV Series about the Eppes brothers
In a game of chess – besides being proficient with your defense and offense strategies -one must know the habits and favorite strategies of the opponent -and his favorite teachers -current or historical. Using both his imagination and logical and mathematical intelligence -one can beat his opponent – 2 or 3 steps or more ahead of the actual game. There are many Ai machines created to simulate the inner workings of humans’ minds -to beat the greatest living grandmaster of the game. Another proof that mimicking and predicting the human mind is not an easy feat. Not just in the realm of pure math.
Garry Kasparov against AI-Deep Blue
I will not go into a comparison of foreign survey companies or the historical records of survey companies like Pulse Asia, Octa Research, or even Social Weather Station for the past 20 years or so. Some are more reliable than others -but most cannot explain the surge on the day of the election – so they use post-election exit surveys -which we cannot verify 100% if this is based on live or ground data or just following the result of the votes counted, or their methods, or their source of answers. We need them to be more transparent in their methods and the raw data they gathered -and I don’t see these organizations doing it willingly in the future.
As in social media platforms -like Google, Facebook, Twitter -there should be legislation to regulate -not ban, the use of election surveys -which is not just about the freedom of the press and the electorate -but is now meant to defeat the sovereign will of citizens -by being brainwashed by the bandwagon effect. Instead of leveling the playing field -these politicians and their public relations experts are weaponizing surveys and statistics against their opponents. We can start by requiring them to publish their questions, methods, identity or at least pictures of their interviewers, sponsors of such surveys – and print in 2-4 major newspapers . So it is not just charts and numbers -but something that all cans scrutinize and learn from it. This will immediately stop the mindless bandwagon effect -since citizens will be using their critical faculties in analyzing the data . Unless this is done -said surveys are just tools to fool our countrymen.
Zuckerberg appears in Congress as Facebook faces bipartisan hostility
And as I said before -2400 or 3000 persons surveyed in our archipelagic nation -will never reflect the will of 55M to 65M voters. If it is true -then why go through the electoral process with its cost? It will be cheaper to just get a survey -and decide on our leaders through it. But you know that this is absurd and mocks the idea of representative government -a republic. Some surveys are being used by those with autocratic or elitist tendencies. They envisioned a society where their kind will know what the mass of people needs and govern accordingly -without their consent or their ideas on how to solve the nation’s problems.
As for the bandwagon effect -yes, we do ask our barangay officials and friends and associates – and we weigh in their answers and advice -but it is not the blind reliance on the pseudo-omniscience of the surveying organizations. We can verify their suggestions based on our experiences in the local situation. Not on supposed achievements created out of thin air or grabbed from others.
Following the majority is not always safe
It is true that we do use surveys -especially for understanding historical trends and hope we can deduce from that -future consumption or preferences of people. This is how producers of hamburgers, laundry powder, soft drinks, beauty soap, or cars use this data in their marketing and their business plans. But it still depends on the type of questions asked, factors considered in the questions, and the source of the data. Mere thousands of people do not reflect the freedom of a million people.
That is why marketing strategies are still not 100 % exact. They do allow a 3-5% margin of error -based on the previous pattern. They are all mental constructs by men trying to have a grasp on the choices of millions of consumers. The better the mind who created the survey and its questions, format, and factors -the better the survey result will be of utility for the marketing company or arm of the manufacturer. We must understand -that many manufacturers do not rely on these marketing surveys in creating their products. They directly ask their customers what they exactly needed.
Some companies use surveys to protect or improve their product and services -so that customers or consumers will have fewer negative experiences and avoid future transfers to their competitors. However -if the surveying company did not make a pre-survey meeting or conference with their client -they might ask the wrong questions or frame them differently which will lead them astray from their intended focus. It can give them interpreted data -that is shallow or clouded.
Marketing research that helps companies to engage productively with heir customers
I am more concerned about the question of the freedom of man and God’s sovereignty over temporal matters. Especially in civil government. It is easy for surveying companies to simplify their questions and thus neglect other factors that citizens of a country consider when voting for their democratic leaders. Most populist politicians hope that they can reduce the competition to a single issue -like drug wars, crimes, labor wages, and similar topics. This is gross manipulation and a marketing ploy so as not to address the multi-faceted problem in nation-building. We need no Messiah -for there is only One. What we need are world-class socio-political managers -that will handle the details of the law, justice, inequities, economics, sustainability, and peace and order in our nation with the help of the local leaders and citizens.
The image that launch the 3-6 months promise of a drug-free Philippines
By the relentless attacks of the politicians and their surveyors on said strategy -the sovereign citizen is dragged as a herd toward a view that does not respect their freedom as image-bearers of God. But even so – it cannot still factor the contingency of the human act -based on many factors, not included, ignored, not known, or even not understood in such strategy. Those who disdain the sovereignty of God tend to manipulate men in their use of their freedom. If they can get them to be emotional or irrational -as long as they choose the ‘good’ that these Pelagians deemed important -it is right for them to use these methods
And this is here where God and His Sovereignty are also ignored. Men will rely on their horses, chariots, and numbers and discount the spontaneity of men and other beings and materials of this universe-which God have decisive control. God is omniscience and omnipotent. He knows all factors and knows all possibilities and agencies -and He is approachable through the sincerity and faith of humans who believes in His existence, power, and holiness. Holiness -that men cannot approach on their own -unless they regard the righteous lordship of Jesus Christ. But men and even Christians would like to think that politics and surveys are amoral activities and thus not under the Lordship of Jesus. Math and politics are neutral areas -where their god – ‘science’ (in fact pseudo-science) reigns supreme.
So, should we stop doing surveys? No. there are many uses for them within the limits of understanding of what happened to a representative sampling – of actual historical data -like how many died in the Spanish flu, when it started and how long it took for it to peter away; but assigning omniscience or prophetic or seer’s value to such -is idolatrous and sort-of numerologies similar to those used in masonry or hidden knowledge societies. We must peel away the secrecy of said activity -by having it publish in major dailies with the concurrent information we discussed above ; and limit it for the prudent use of resources of political groups only and not to divert or focus it in brainwashing the masses into a bandwagon mentality by its pre-digested results.
The Cruz brothers have a successful life. both engineers – the oldest , A mechanical – called Niko , is a genius when it comes to motors and bolts.
He is employed by a big Japaneese automaker before he went in his own – both selling and repairing cars.
The younger is in chemical , employed by the Gongshai’s in their dangerous chemical plant. He is call Demokrito – from the ancient Grecian politician.
But both are lovers of the Bato mountain – they are resting at its foot . After this day -they are planning to rest for awhile in the city -before going back to metro Manila
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion
Zamboanga City has always been Catholic. The city was made a fortress against the Moro pirates and the influx of Islamized Tausugs. There were manoy Subanen there when the conquistadores ‘discover’ the Philippines for the Spanish king.
But Muslims influx from Sulu and nearby places continued to pour on . The Archibishops of that city made sure that evangelization continues while continuing a precarious balance amongst the Muslims in their archdiocese.
Usually the mass was given by the Archbishop…and this day was not different. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral was full, for it is its feast day.
Packed with 300 parishioners or so …the 9 o’clock mass was always ecpected by the masses.
While Archibishop Romero is in his homily – about the faith of Mary and how we should emulate her …the ground moved.
It was intensity 7. Epicenter is in the sea – just near the city.
This happened during the end of the rainy season. After Typhoon Helen had ravaged Davao, Cotabato and Pagadian cities.
It is both a howler with heavy rains. And most people scathed by the typhoon are still in the evacuation centers.
He is the son of the governor of a Visayan province. His name is not only chosen from Castilian surnames , but of Castilian lineage.
His father died in the hands of the Japanese Imperial forces. While his uncle – whom he considered as second father – was incarcerated during the dark years of the New Society.
They are five in the family. And he chose instead the quiet life of an accountant, or so he thought – bred in one of the universities in Manila and then in the States.
Then he met his wife, Annalene De Guia – who will finished law in another university and then served for a law firm with Asian connection.
Their courtship started in court case. He, representing his client as their witness while she for her own . Then for awhile they parted ways due to their professional goals.
Gerardo dela Cruz is his name.
His brother was the politician but he was branded as a communist sympathizer -when he was not. And so he died while leading the flag ceremony at the town hall plaza.
So he run as a mayor and won. But before that he was a secret consultant for Interpol dealing with banking fraud and flow of jihadist money.
Then knowing that is not enough , he became a Congressman, then a Senator in just a decade and a half.
Now he is the number one rival for the next election of the current president’s family – Ronualdo Hapayhari.
It was a dreary night. To remember what has gone before. What was lost. Lives and their presence.
Along the road, you met them, and suddenly they left you.
To be loyal to the Faith, to protect the innocents, and to uphold Justice. Fe, defender y justicia
When the tyrant and his family ruled the land, many died in the ignominious way, away from those who love them. Alone, without the knowledge of hope.
We are not supposed to get entangled in any power struggle. We only rise if it endangers the Church or its faithful and Her priests.
Why should these clerics always embark in dangerous missions – where it is more likely they will die in the hands of their persecutors.
“I need to inform the group” how to make the rescue as fluid as possible And as inconspicuous as possible. We cannot be seen or remembered by the NEW SOCIETY’s intelligence.
Trying to smuggle colegios branded by the regime as communists towards the provinces of Laguna, Cavite or Quezon.
Then I heard a shout: “Don Rodrigo , we must hurry, we are too few to face the Metrocom this way.”
‘Yes Father Luis, we need to train the next generation or we will be all gone from the cara de la tierra”
Boys , come with us – we must ride this Tamaraw to safe place , before leaving.
As we are riding the vehicle … Two police cars passed us …not suspecting we have 4 youth activist inside us …
They were sons of Spaniards to Filipina women. It makes them half-breed.
Not indios nor full bloodied Spaniards.
They are mestizos and fluent in the Castillan language. But it does not give them any advantage with respect to the Spaniards nor to their Filipino countrymen.
They were taught to love their Catholic heritage by Spanish friars -most Masonic Filipinos patriots learn to hate.
But some of them has a secret that flows from hundred years in the past -in a different land.
Some told me why I keep warning people about DUxxx – and this is my answer – I lived during the Martial Law years believing that the NPAs was our most feared enemies and that if we grow weak – they will immediately take advantage of the situation and turn our country into a ‘killing fields’.
And so my elders of my generation – let Marcos be. They let him destroy our democratic institutions, ravaged our natural resources and decimated a generation of youth leaders with torture, rape and summary executions and branded all his enemies – that are principled – either as oligarchs or communists.
Marcos and his generalsMao and Stalin
Only when the Lord called me out of H-fever at UST Hospital that He started changing my perspective , and though I did not watched Ninoy when he passed by España in 1983 – I realized that Marcos and his family is a crook, a liar and the real enemy of our society. He sow fear amongst our hearts, and the nation reaped years of economic devastation and cultural morass.
And someone similar sits in Malacañang now – he just added drug addicts and terrorists to his scarecrows.
And like then – churches are either collaborating with him – by being silent , or supporting him out of a wrong biblical interpretation of the word ‘submission’ – i think more so for fear – that he will use the police to imprison them -;if they wake their members to the truth – that he is a form of the beast of Revelations 13 and they are supporting the archenemy – the dragon who lied and killed since the beginning.
I cannot be silent , like my elders did. Nor like the other pastors who thought only of their numbers.
Old man telling stories
We all die , but it is how we live that we make the difference in the lives of others especially of the next generations after us.
For me – i just need to tell stories…my story and then of that past when a government brainwashed its citizens with songs of ‘ Bagong Lipunan’, nutribun and big infrastructures – paid for in blood by a whole generation.
I just need to tell stories. It is up to you to open your eyes and ears.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
I posted the original at Facebook- I will expand some of my thoughts here:
I am really shocked by Christians and even pastors who are still in favor or tolerate the EJKs being done by this government ( this is already 2020 – 3+ years has passed since D30 assumed the presidency) either thru its policemen or thru ex-NPAs or just paid-by-quota professional hitmen – as it was done at Davao City when D30 was still its mayor.
These pastors cannot even distinguish between plain drug users to the street peddlers , then to the area drug pushers and then to the local drug lords, and then to the regional drug lords and lastly to the foreign drug cartel based at China or other countries.
Most of those killed are just the users, ex- users and peddlers and sometimes even mere young bystanders or just killed because of mistaken identities.
Rare are drug lords taken to justice or killed during legal operations. They are protected by their connections or their drug money.
If ever, they are just sacrificed by their competitors or by their drug protectors amongst the police or the drug lords in the national level.
So next time – a Christian or a pastor showed delight or approval in this drug war – ask them if they can make these distinctions.
Stop the impunity. Stop the moral confusion.
Read your bible. Think deeply of Christian moral ethics. Being shallow is leading us to a dangerous path.
Jesus is the only Lord.
Caesar is just an idol. An antichrist. An agent of Satan.
I am not sure if it is because of me using the DU30 and his minions as symbol of idolatries or it is because they are devotees of the Black Nazarene.
My friends -both are idolatries and does not refer to the proper worship of the Triune God and esp the Son of God who is already sitting as Man in the right hand of the Father in Heaven, who will again come as Judge.
One is an idol of wood ( Black Nazarene) the other an idol of flesh and idea( DU30 and Statism).
Roman Catholic priests and leaders should educate their members on this and discourage this folk religion debasing the Catholic faith found in their catechisms and the writings of the church fathers.
Since Vatican 2 -the Roman Catholic church – their scholars and their bishops are warning of the misguided devotions to this folk Catholic piety. It does not represent true biblical potrait of the Lord Jesus, nor does it cultivate Christian virtues and the fruit of the Spirit in their daily lives.
As millions joined in this parades – many are joining it without understanding the Christ of faith and of history. Our Lord Jesus in fact in the Gospel avoided such mindless rituals and chasing after miracles – without knowing who He truly is.
If you dont like what I post -unfriend me in FB-it will not affect my friendship with you.
If you disagree – disagree and state your position here in public so that others may react and understand your position .Don’t send me private message.
In the same way if I found out you are really an enabler of the fascist DU30, even after reasoning with you and after his 3 years of misleadership – I will unfriend and block you.
Don’t say that this method is not effective or it is unloving.
Define first what love is to you and ask why you are silent about these sins until now.Don’t disconnect Truth from Love. Or it is mere sentimentality.
The devil and his minions are not passive nor silent. And his human cohorts are mobilizing their misappropriated money to deceive Filipinos -here and abroad.
Walk by Grace thru Faith 