A CULT?

1. "A cult is a religious sect -- under the guidance of an authoritarian charismatic leader." on the other hand true faith in Jesus Christ is under the guidance if the Holy Spirit. The Gospel according to John gives us the tasks and functions of the Holy Spirit
1. He will reprove the world of sin, because they do not believe on Him;
2. Of righteousness because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more;
3. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
4. He will guide you into all truths
5. He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
6. H shall shew you things to come.
7. He shall glorify me: for he receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
8. All things that the Father hath are mine, and he shall and he shall shew it unto you.

11. Is there another gospel? In Galatians Chapter 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let be be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."The problem the young church in Galatia was that a group of Judaizers want them to become Jews first before they can be Christians, or they have to be circumcised first according to the Jewish Law. Clearly what they are teaching is the reversal of the Gospel that Paul preached to them.

What is the Gospel? Jesus Christ died at the cross for the redemption of the world - the remission of sin by the shedding of the blood of Christ. He died in obedience to the Will of the Father. He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. His redemption is full and complete. In Him there is no "Jew or Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28) John chapter 3 and verse 16 reveals the heart of God "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Any other gospel - the Gospel plus anything else - is another gospel and is cursed. It is cult. Its purpose is other than the salvation of man through faith in Jesus Christ finished work and sacrificial death at the cross. Is the Government of 12 of the International Charismatic Mission Church of Cesar Castellanos Y Dominguez a cult? I think it is. It changes the clear teachings of the Holy Bible. It spiritualizes the number 12, reminisces of the Roman Catholic Church teaching s of mysticism. Cesar Castellanos is not alone in this. Islam is expecting the completion of the 12
imams of their prophesied prophets who are to come. The arguments to support the number 12 is forced and false.

Changed biblical messages. Take its messages on the power of the blood. It teaches that just as the blood of sacrificed animals are applied by the priests in the Old Testament so the present day believers can apply the blood of Jesus Christ to cast out demons, heal the sick, cover human needs. Another distorted message. The believer has access to the Presence of the Father through the cross. The cross is the channel through which the Christian can enter the holy of holiest. The biblical message is that when the curtain which divided the holy place from the Holy of Holiest was burned from top to bottom during the crucifixion access to God is through Jesus Christ alone. There is no more need for any human intermediaries before man can call on God. Access to the Presence of the Father is through Jesus Christ alone.

Another addition to the Gospel is the teaching that unless man experiences the sufferings of Jesus on the cross his salvation is incomplete. Does that ring bells?

Cesar Castellanos and his pastors insist on complete obedience from the believers. You are to obey even if you do not comprehend the demands of the leadership. Deny your conscience. To disobey is to sin. Only God can demand complete obedience. God encourages "Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18)

Is the Government of 12 Church a cult and accursed? I am afraid to think it is so as evidenced by their queer and willful changes in biblical messages. If so, then the pastors who promote this scheme in church membership multiplication are blind guides leading those wh follow them to
condemnation.

Greetings to Bro Fernandez and Cyril Buca!

Greetings to Bro Fernandez and Cyril Buca! How is the Week-end encounter
Retreat at the Dumaguete City YMCA? How many from the Dumaguete City First Evangelical Church Attnded? Perhaps you have fired them up and the Holy Spirit has tremendously fired them up and you leading them? You can get the first 200 before the Holy Week and 4,000 and 40,000 by Christmas 2009. Daniel 12:2 "And those who are wise
- the people of God - shall shine as brightly as the suns' brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever." Any picture to share and publish? Please post some of the pictures, Cy. - Bro Jun

December 2008

Christmas Light, Christmas Dark
Dr. Edith Tiempo
National Artist for Literature

One Christmas night a wise man and a fool
Stood by a noisy street ablaze with blinking lights.
Joyous people came and went,
Rejoicing in the happy event.
“Today,” the wise man said, “today the Christ is born.
What better gift for the manger bed
Than the ever-blazing lights
Of wisdom in my head?
Kings and princes who must wisely rule,
They read my words and truly learn,
And by my precepts they are led.
So, my wisdom I lay at the manger bed.”

The fool spoke up, “All this is good,
The lights in the street and the lights in your head,
It is good to rejoice and to loudly praise.
But let me take you to another place,
Where the darkened night
Is lighted only by stars overhead,
No noisy crowds, just the birds chirping in the wood;

The fish splash in the river; the fireless light
The dusky sky; the monkeys chatter softly,

The insects titter quietly,
The glow-worm in the grass
Wiggles to hear our footsteps pass.”

The wise man then said, “O God, forgive me,
For this fool is wiser far than I.

His words speak of the lowly birth
Of one born with the beasts and creatures of earth,
This birth is a time, yes, for festivity,
But even more, a time for humility,
A time for laying by
The feverish praise and loud celebration,
A time for quiet introspection.
A time to grasp in the darkness of our being
The wonder of this birth and the balm of its meaning.”

Time for darkness, time of the spark:
Christmas light, Christmas dark.