The Church: Venezuela and At Home

A small sector of the US is keeping a close eye on developments in Venezuela once again as tensions rise. (See: International Crisis Group : Venezuela: A House Divided )

However, as with any crisis, be that current or throughout history, the secular minded can only touch on a small portion of reality.  There is no understanding of a limited ability to see or know in part, especially in light of God’s eternal Kingdom, rule and purpose. As Paul puts it: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away… For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." I Cor 13. 

In having the privilege to interact with Christian institutions and missionaries in Venezuela, I see how the current situation requires them to solidly ground their labor and daily activities in faith, not knowing what the next 24 hrs. will hold for them or the ministry they dedicate their lives to.  I also see the Church working to maintain a kingdom perspective when political lines threaten to bring division, something not so removed from our own country (wherever you may be).

The following is an excerpt from a newsletter from Venezuela which will remain anonymous for obvious reasons:  

“After the April 14th elections, I have procrastinated in writing this letter simply because I don’t know how to describe the situation in Venezuela without seeming to represent one side or the other in this deeply divided nation. The truth is that we have people from both sides [involved in ministry]. The Body of Christ here in Venezuela to some degree at this moment reflects the same kind of polarization that we see in society here in general.  I’ve decided to paraphrase for you a prayer request written by a [member of our ministry] and placed on our prayer list at [the ministry]. I think it summarizes well how we should be praying for the Venezuelan Church. It also summarizes well what we should be doing as the Body of Christ here: 

'May each Christian assume the role that is really his or hers in Christ , being part of the solution and not part of the problem in which this nation finds itself, carrying the word of faith, promise and salvation to disoriented and troubled people.' ”

Please pray for the Church in Venezuela and for those who labor to care for and train believers under increasingly difficult circumstances (once again). Likewise, take time to pray for your own country and that the Church would remain united in the Gospel, relying on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we wrestle through application and being the Body of Christ to a world in desperate need.

Along these lines I want to include a quote that a friend pulled up last week which encouraged me to keep my priorities clear and my understanding sharp with regards to “the Body of Christ”.

"Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Life Together)

God bless!

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

Latin America Mission

Director, North American Partnerships

Office: 305-884-8400 x225

Mission Partnership info

I love my wife! 

She sent me this encouraging e-mail this AM. 

From: Claudia

Subject: Encouragement

Date: May 1, 2013 11:51:23 AM EDT

To: Kevin Abegg

Commentary:

Do you...feel weak and timid?...or do you doubt whether God has heard you, because you are a sinner? then cling to the word and say: Though I am a sinner and unworthy, yet I have the command of God, that tells me to pray, and his promise that he will graciously hear me, not because of my worthiness, but for the sake of the Lord Christ. By this means you can drive away the thoughts and doubts, and cheerfully kneel down and pray, not regarding your worthiness or unworthiness, but your need and his word upon which he tells you to build; especially since he has placed before you and put into your mouth the words how and what you are to pray for, so that you joyously send up these prayers through him, and can lay them in his bosom, that he may lay them by his own worthiness before the Father.... The Lord's Prayer is...as has often been said, surely the very best prayer that was ever uttered upon earth, or that any one could conceive, since God the Father gave it through his Son, and laid it upon his lips; so that we dare not doubt that it is extremely pleasing to him. He admonishes us at the very beginning, both concerning his command and his promise, in the word: "Our Father," etc., as the one who demands from us this honor, that we are to ask from him, as a child from its father, and he wants us to have the confidence that he will gladly give us what we need; and this is further also a part of it, that we glory in being his children through Christ; and thus we come in accordance with his command and promise, and in the name of the Lord Christ, and appear before him with all confidence.

By Marthin Luther