The catholicism here has nothing to do with Christianity - in fact Christ is formaly let out of the whole mess. When noted he is either in a manger or on the cross - Mary gets all the spot light. There is actually a prayer that all practicing Catholics use...God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. holy Mary, pray for us, Mother of Christ, holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of the Virgins, Mother of Divine Grace, Mother of Purity, Mother of Chastity, Mother Virgin, Good Mother, Admirable Mother, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother Redeemer, Mother Creator, Mother Savior . . . .and that is just the first half! But I stop there because I begin to get frustrated! It is obvious by this prayer alone that the Gospel is not preached.
Rezos - repitioon prayers - The Mexican and hispanic Catholics are taught repetition prayers for the different saints and Mary. Going into the catholic churches here seeing this first hand makes you see how easy it is to get caught up in tradition, family tradition, and easy repetitious lifestyles. Seeing mothers teach their small children the rezos to the saints and watching a mother and daughter fall on their knees upon entering the shrined church of Virgin Guadalupe and crawling on their knees holding candles and saing rezos all the way to the front of the church . . . . . what is missing here??
Christ, Christ is missing!
Why is Christ missing here?
Before the 1960's evangelicals were at 2.1% and today in 2011 its been raised to 8.3% which is amazing because before the early 1990's missionaries were not legally allowed in the country. Until recently, there was little or no Chrstian media permited - today there is unprecedented freedom to spread the Gospel in Mexico. >There is a window of opportunity that has been opened up!! Praise the Lord.
But what this also means is that many communities are still without a Gospel witness! There are many areas that do not have missionaries and never have had missionaries, local believers or media, to share the truth. - Persecution of believers is a major issue in Mexico. People are shunned from families, communities and work places.
Picture this:
World Population: 6,928,198,253
Spanish is the third most widley spoken language on earth.
About 1/3 of the world's Spanish speakers live in Mexico.
Population of Mexico: 113,724,226
Look at these top fives and see which two countries all have in common...
Most Population: Fewest Evangelicals: Fewest Missionaries:
#1 Mexico #1 Paraguay #1 Cuba
#2 Columbia #2 Uraguay #2 Columbia
#3 Argentina #3 Columbia #3 Argentina
#4 Peru #4 Mexico #4 Mexico
#5 Venezuela #5 Ecuador #5 El Salvador
The two countries on every list -> Columbia and Mexico >>>(The only difference is that the church is growing faster in Columbia than almost any other country in the Americas, Spanish or not!)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the spirit of God : Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. 1 John 4:1-3
From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god." Isaiah 44:17
So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods. whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:4-7
The truth, the pure Gospel is what is having to be shared and lived here for the people to see. When families accept Christ and learn the Gospel - their WHOLE LIVES CHANGE!
I know families here who are living breathing proofs of the truth and the way the holy spirit works!
Living my life for Christ everyday is not just something to say - its a way of life - living for Christ, living in Christ, living For Christ. . . Every Day, Every Action, Every Word, Every Breath . . . .
...or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ , and Christ is of God. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23
"...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
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