The Truth about Supermen and Super Christians

If Superman and Mighty Mouse got into a fight, who would win? The boys asked this in the hit movie Stand By Me, by Rob Reiner, 1986, but there was no conclusive answer. Searching the Internet, I found some interesting answers.

A fan of superheroes said: "Mighty and Super are synonymous, so if you have (Super) (Man) and (Mighty) (Mouse) you can cancel the" super "and powerful, which leaves you with Man and Mouse. Of course the man usually wins, but the mouse can win 2/10 times. "

Yet another reader posted, "Let's just say that, by the argument, Mighty Mouse's power level was on the same level as Superman's. All Superman would have to do was keep the fight long enough for Mighty Mouse to burn his electric pill. So the MM is just an ordinary mouse. "

"The Mighty Mouse is so superior, he has its own song. Then he would beat Superman enough to make him to say “Uncle!”." Said another...

Some other fans commented, "I do not think Mighty Mouse can move on its own."

Corey Feldman, in portraying Teddy in the film, said: "Superman is a real guy. Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. No way a cartoon could hit a real guy. Stupid question Vern. "(I always stay on Teddy's side.) Superman! I love the fact that Teddy said he's real. He's real! (Oh, Boy!)

Even the wisest of the boys on those train tracks could not get it right! Their arguments were all flawed. They thought Superman was real, so it was not even a cartoon.

Lately, I have seen many of these kinds of comparisons and faulty questions about Christianity. Many today, are fighting over who is a better Super-Christian or a Super–Pastor. They debate over the “who is who” title in the evangelical arena and the one which, can get more likes in the extra-biblical gospel doctrines. There seems to be a continuing competition to see who is right. In the end, the question we ask is who will win in a fight, and the wisest answers we can give is an argument against the reality or authenticity of many godly men and women who live, learn, and teach about Jesus as the true head of God’s church.

A member of my church recently posted a picture showing a bunch of different superheroes from different universes sitting with an image of Jesus and the phrase "That's how I saved the world..." written under it, as if Jesus were speaking with his superhero friends.

Another popular post I saw on Facebook was a video of many superheroes bowing and showing their respect for the cross. I have a problem with that. It is not just the breaking of the second commandment, but it is the fact that we are comparing Jesus to fairy tales or comic book heroes.

Although these childlike comparisons seem to be popular today, we can see in church history that they have always been present in our midst.

AN OLDER SUPERHERO
The Church loved the radical Super-disciplines of Simeon. They admired his austere lifestyle. He was canonized as a saint in the Coptic Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Cities fought for his body so that sacred relics could be parceled out from his remains. Shrines were built around his last pillar, which ruins’ remain to this day not far from the modern city of Aleppo.

Some years after the beginning of the 5th century AD, a 13-year-old Turkish shepherd developed a zeal for Christianity while reading the Beatitudes. About a year later, he entered a monastery and began practicing these extreme forms of self-deprecation that he was asked to leave. For a year and a half, he locked himself in a small hut from which rumors spread that he had spent a whole Lenten season without eating or drinking. As the fame of their superpowers spread, crowds began to visit this renowned Holy Superman (as Robyn would say) to seek his prayers and advice.

But many people stopped their contemplations. Then Simeon decided to climb up on a tower among the ruins of an ancient city, where he could escape even more from worldliness and temptation. There he lived - five feet off the ground for many years until he began to build higher towers. He spent his final years in a 20-foot tall tower in his constant desire to prove his devotion to God through his punitive lifestyle to his own body. Reverence for Simeon grew. He inspired many imitators committed to seeking holiness and purifying their worldly temptations.

I'm talking about Simeon Styllite; who is just another example of our human tendency to turn Paul's admonitions into the small church in Colossae completely upside down. Simeon and all who followed him were great examples of believers who had only "a partially learned Christ." They understood something of Jesus Christ, but they failed to see the full truth about him and the obvious implications of trusting in Christ. This is the main theme of Paul in almost all his letters; those whom he writes have to be a little savior. In the same way, many of us too are often making Christ, something smaller than he really is.

In our day and age, all you need to do to see this problem is to search the religious sites and gospel pages to be impressed by the ingenuity of the people who send money to support the modern Phrygian gurus, promising health and wealth and blessings of life in exchange for financial sacrifices. They are teaching a half-hearted Christ, leaving their followers open to all sorts of religious teachings that "sound" right while they are anti-Biblical and deeply sinister.

Paul's concern with the small congregation at Colossae was that they knew Christ only partially. Then he writes to draw them back to the fullness of their union with Christ. He writes in Colossians 2: 9-10, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. " You need no teaching that insists on adding other things to your faith to get any personal feeling of "fullness". But the Colossian gurus offered what appeared to be simple solutions to such felt needs.

LIVING A SUPER-BELIEVING LIFE (Colossians 2.16-19)
There seemed to be only certain things necessary to gain fullness-certain simple and capable disciplines that needed to be exercised. And we are all very naive. Evangelical Christians always seem to be looking for a quick and easy way to experience greater spiritual wholeness. "Fullness" was one of the keywords of propaganda for first-century gurus, just as "higher life" or "true spirituality" or "holiness" or "winning walk" became modern keywords of the evangelical market of our days. Here in this text, we have an idea of the kind of super spiritual discipline that can be sold in the Lich Valley in Paul's day.

BEVERAGES, JUICES, DIETS AND DAYS (Colossians 2.16-17)
The first higher life program on the menu involved keeping diets restrictive and celebrating certain days. Dietary restrictions and observance of the days of fasting and feasting ruled the lives of the Jews. The Mosaic Law contained no drink restrictions (other than a prohibition against drunkenness), suggesting that this was not an entirely Jewish set of sacred rules. However, it seems that the gurus were teaching restrictions on kosher foods and Jewish feasts and fasting days as a means of improving one's Christian experience. Remember that just a few centuries before the time Paul wrote, Jews were willing to die instead of eating an impure diet or skipping a feast or a day of fasting.

The social pressure of these passionate diet and day advocates would have been enormous. "Besides, what harm could it do? Maybe this will improve my religious experience. " We may think in our day about social pressures in militant evangelicalism to maintain a certain set of political beliefs, or to educate their children in a certain way, or to use only the "best" Bible translation (whatever it is in your church circle). Weather or not someone can clap their hands or use humor for the Biblical exposition.

The checklists for more complete Christian experiences are endless today. Some advocate "biblical diets" and natural healing remedies as part of the improved spiritual experience. The damage is not in things or in the programs themselves. If you like essential oils and the Daniel Diet, it's good for you! The evil lies in accepting the subtle idea that anything or any program can bring you a fuller spiritual life than you already have in your union with Christ.

The diets and days of the Old Testament were shadows cast in time by the body (substance) of the Lord Jesus Christ. "You do not need to look into the shadow," says Paul, "because Christ has come in all its fullness!" Paul sums up his commandment not to be judged by such things, "These are a shadow of things to come, to Christ ". It echoes the description of the author of the ceremonial law as a shadow of the heavenly realities (Hebrews 8.5).

I heard from Albert Mohler an illustration for this subject: "Many of you have already been away from the family. Maybe you took a picture of your family with you, and every now and then you would look at that photo. But when you came home, you could hug your wife and your children. Why do you want to hug and kiss the picture? "The types and shadows thrown back by Christ are just figures; you have the real substance of Christ.

LOOKING FOR ANGEL’S FEATHERS (Colossians 2.18-19)
"Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from which the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow... "  Then the program of the Phrygia super spiritual disciplines was a strict self-denial, perhaps in the order of Simeon Styllite. This kind of bodily torture probably made the sufferer worthy to enter the kingdom of angels and learn the deeper truths of the spirits who were there. Only the truly "self-righteous" practitioner was apt to receive the deeper truth of angelic beings, so said these false teachers.

In later centuries, the churches in this region persisted in the worship of the angels. The Synod of Laodicea in 363 AD condemned the practice. But in the ninth century, it was again considered pious to worship the angels; It was invented a tradition that the Archangel Michael had diverted a torrent and caused other natural disasters of the region. It makes you want to hit your head and ask, "How stupid can these people be?" The answer is the same as Teddy's: This is a stupid question, Vern ... "- As stupid as you and I when we put ANYTHING above the fullness of our union with Christ! 

All these forms of strict super-disciplines only gave the appearance of humility. Paul literally says that these gurus are "lacking in humble spirit and godliness" and are "being conceited by the mind of the flesh" (v. 18). Our sinful nature, our flesh, our old Adam is desperately drawn to keep all kinds of man-made rules that make us feel better about ourselves and offer us a super-sized spirituality.

Compare the gurus of "the most complete knowledge" with Paul, who was caught up in heaven where he heard things that one can not speak - obtaining the highest, fullest, and most profound knowledge (2Corinthians 12. 3-4). Then he writes, "And that I might not be exalted for the excellence of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to slay me, that I might not be exalted." (2Corinthians 12.7)

The flesh, the old Adam, loves to steal the glory of the work that Christ does in us. Imagine how much more do the false teachers, without Christ, loving the self-glory and worship of their followers seeking a fuller life through deeper knowledge.

That is why so many pilgrims of the fifth century traveled to seek Simeon Styllite; they thought he had the deepest and most complete truths. Why? Because he was an excellent self-sufferer, he certainly ought to have been more worthy of receiving great messages from God. But the doctrine of the fullness of Christ utterly obliterates the desire of the ancient Adam for spiritual glory. The fullness of Christ utterly obliterates the secret wisdom of supposed holy and insane men. If you are trusting in Christ, Paul says, "Let no one decide for you... "Because you are already filled with Christ. Thus, the whole Church grows with a growth that comes from God, not from human regulations and programs.

Paul wants you to know every time you listen to a teacher speak, there are three questions to ask yourself. First, ask yourself who is being exalted in the message? Does it draw you to the speaker, or does it draw you to focus on yourself, or force your heart's ears and eyes to Christ? Who is great, gracious and glorious in the message of this master? Second, what is the teacher NOT saying? Is there anything missing in the message? In Phrygia, what was absent from the message was the focus on the fullness and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, what is the effect of teacher education? The effect in Phrygia was that the gurus were full, but the body of Christ was not built to grow with the growth of God. Some, without any preparation, repeat teachings as parrots, causing a temporary impact that generates scourges and pains for many years to come. When a person calls himself a teacher, he has a source of dubious and often deceitful knowledge, and must be examined in the light of Scripture.

HUMAN OBVIOUS REGULATION (Colossians 2.20-23)
In the last three verses, Paul sums up the teachings of those gurus. First, it reminds us that these self-focused checklists are part of the elementary principles of the world. They are part of the satanic philosophy that something unlike God is necessary for the fullness of humanity - like that beautiful fruit hanging from the tree of judgment in Eden. The apostle describes the programs of the false teachers in a series of three negative rules.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.; Colossians 2: 20-22

Man, not by God, makes these rules because they focus their attention on the earth and not on the one who has risen, and ascended into heaven, being fully glorified, our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives us some significant marks of the false teachings in verse 23.

First, Paul says that false teaching "will indeed have a resemblance of wisdom..." False teaching will provide a way to keep your life seemingly solved. It will offer a way to organize the old Adam, the flesh, so that sin becomes less visible and outward. It can offer freedom against debilitating depression or freedom from an addiction. It can offer a new purpose for your disorganized life. You can promise feelings of peace in a world of chaos. You can make yourself into a Super Believer. It can make you grow. But remember: He must increase and I must decrease. (John 3.30) But false teachings will not have the glorious focus on the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It will be a religion made by yourself and for yourself. It will be a religion invented around you and about for you. This is not simply the religious culture of the world of the first century or of the world of the twenty-first century. This is the dominant religion of all mankind from the moment Adam chose self-realization above the fullness of God. Self-taught religion is the elemental principle born in the Garden of Eden and, in the category of fall, programmed into the DNA of all mankind.

The function of all your self-made religions is to help people manage themselves to make progress in life. It's about self-discipline, self-education, self-improvement, and self-success. But Jesus commands us to come and die for the ego and live for his honor and glory.

I still mostly think of Heaven as the place where all my problems will disappear and where in fact, I will finally glorify God perfectly for all eternity. Heaven is still the place of personal improvement rather than the place to fully experience the reason for my creation - to glorify God and to enjoy it forever.

I recently saw a video announcing a church and it’s Bible institute, and the catch phrase was: "Because the most important thing for the Christian is to gain knowledge!" (Oh Boy!) That's a blatant lie! The flesh does not need self-improvement; the flesh must die. The most important thing for the Christian is to glorify God and to enjoy it forever! It's the first question in the catechisms! Even Corisco, my late parrot, knew that! (Seriously, I taught the Catechism to him)

Note that false teaching not only seems wise and is done by itself but also has a focus on the body in the form of asceticism and severity for the body. It is the religion of "do not do this and do not do that". Asceticism is a philosophical doctrine that defends the abstention of physical and psychological pleasures, believing to be the way to achieve perfection and moral and spiritual balance. The gurus and their followers thought they were offering God a voluntary addition to their basic requirements-a super-disciplined devotion through which they hoped to gain superior deity, approval, and rewards with a higher lifestyle. But Paul warns that no matter how "evangelical" or "Jesus' language" a false teacher sprinkled in false teaching, it will never be of any value in stopping the condescension of the flesh and sensuality.

How did God restrain Paul's desire for the glory of the flesh after Paul heard the deeper divine revelation? He gave Paul a constant affliction by which the grace of God was sufficient by itself. In other words, God chose the way Paul would suffer. Paul was not famished. Paul did not lock himself up in a cell so small that it only fit him, as Styllite did. Paul did not sit on top of a 10-meter tower for the rest of his life.

It was not some self-imposed method; no method of suffering that made Paul seem humble in the face of all the secret revelation he received. No program that Paul could have done for himself would have humiliated him. God poured out situations completely beyond his control, so that he would be in constant dependence on the fullness of Christ for the glory of Christ alone. Believers have no reason to be arrogant. But if you're arrogant, it's because you have not suffered enough yet in situations totally beyond your control.

Paul urges us to question whether the teachings we receive increase the burden of death in my life, or serve merely to disguise my sins? Do these teachings build or destroy fellowship of the church? Do these teachings enslave me to the teacher, pastor, coach, or guru? Do you focus on man-made regulations or the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it in the Bible or is it in the throats of someone who knows how to speak well?

The great tragedy of many of our lives is that we seek ANYTHING apart from Christ - any means other than His fullness and our union with Him - to administer our self-constructed religion. But Paul commands us to fix our gaze only on Christ, because all we need is in Christ and everything is ours through our union with Him.

Our old Adam loves lists of things to do to administer the flesh, for such lists have the appearance of wisdom. But the list of Paul (of Christ) is small: fix your heart and your mind in Christ. The apostle will continue to show us through commandments far beyond our ability to follow that the only way to make real progress is "Step number one: it's all about Jesus."

All the fullness you need is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. True pleasure cannot be found in the self; the "I" is desperate to turn everything around him into a mere appendix or reign of his own controlling ego. True pleasure can only be found outside of you and in Christ alone.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.  
(Hebrews 1.3,4)

It can be a wonderful thing to have role models and mentors to help guide us as we navigate the twists and turns of life. God created us for relationships - with Him and with others - and we can learn a lot from those around us. It may also be worth cultivating our creative skills and inventing characters and figures so that we can tell the story of the redemption of evil and wrong. Lewis and Tolkien were very accurate when they added characters like Lucy and Frodo Baggins to our cognitive archives. We must keep in mind, however, that our models are also human. We must be aware that the superheroes of fiction are as finite as their authors. And that before inventing the comic book characters, false teachers and teachers like Nietzsche already permeated thought and brought a strange struggle to the Christian wrestling mat. If we place our complete faith in someone here on earth, or in the pages and pixels of different universes, it is almost a guarantee that we will be disappointed in one way or another.

We need to be aware and make sure that no one else is controlling us with the teachings of this world. Looking at someone who is truly committed to following Jesus and the Word of God is a good place to start, but no human being is completely exempt from falling into temptation or from being stuck with the things of this world.

So, is there anyone we can look at with full faith? Yes! We can look to Jesus for strength, wisdom and guidance in all things. We can read the teachings of God and compare what the world wants us to believe against what the Bible says. Jesus wants us to be anchored in the truth and He will help us get there if we seek Him. We can certainly learn from those around us and our relationship with others can bring many blessings. But let us not forget that the image of God in Christ is holy and incomparable to any other creature. Real or fictitious.

A true story of the Itchy ox and the Flying kiwi –

So we sat around the breakfast table the Senior Gomes Family in Bocaina: Papai, Mamãe, Davi, Debby and I.  Another 16 people, witnessed this event, and since I was the youngest, some details might be a little bit off.   Anyway, we were sitting at the table, ready to have breakfast, and the only food available was a banana cake mom baked with the last of the flour and eggs gathered that morning and a few bananas found in the yard; about a gallon of milk, and some coffee. Mom had told dad that we were out of food. Dad decided to wait upon the Lord. And he gave thanks for the breakfast, teaching us all a lesson in gratitude. Lunchtime came really quickly that day. I remember even joking with my sister about not having to wash the dishes, since we were all going to skip that meal anyway... (Oh Boy) Little did I know? 
As we sat down for the next meal, starring at an empty table, dad signaled our giving hands, and started to pray. What a fool, one might have thought (really), those days were terrible!). Giving thanks for what we couldn’t see, even worse, we couldn’t eat. But God stood my father in Faith, and we all learned how awesome God is. AS Dad said his “amen”, we could hear the neighbor’s boy, Xiquinho, running up the stairway and screaming: “Pastor Lau, Pastor Lau! – An ox scratched his neck and my father needs your help, and my uncle needs you to go get meat because the bull felt an itch in his neck...” His excitement was so great that he could barely get his message across. We couldn’t make any sense of what he was saying, so we just went over to lend a helping hand... Xiquinho led the way, running and skipping over the cow pies along the narrow path. Davi and Dad were still trying to understand, when we finally got too ne of the pasture pickets, right before a place which we called, “Inferninho” (which in Portuguese means little hell) and there it was: A fully grown 1300 pound ox, which felt a sudden itch to scratch his neck, and when doing so with a forking branch, slipped and fell, breaking his neck and needing to be put out of his pain. So drawing a sharp knife, someone cut across his throat. Seu Tim, the farm’s manager explained to my father in his Italian accent ”Seu Lau, we don’t have much use for the meat, so we’ll just keep a bit of the hardest parts so we can dry it up and make some jerky.” And the rest was given to us. Dad took half of the meat to town and traded it for some dried goods, such as rice and beans and corn, also some gasoline and even money for other expenses.

Dad taught us well… Early in my parents life as a couple, and in ministry, mom and dad decided that they would not go around asking for money to finance the counseling and worldview shaping ministry of Refúgio. Rather, they would work with their hands and silently pray to God to fulfill all of our needs. And the Gomeses at large all can count the blessings seen and unseen of how to say Jehovah Jireh, my provider!

Nearly all missionaries find asking for money a daunting task and a little overwhelming. This forms a two-sided debate on whether or not missionaries should ask for money.

“Should I ask for money, or live by faith and trust that God will provide for my financial needs?”

“How are you going to have enough money to travel and live in another country while doing ministry?”

“If God has called me to be a missionary, then isn’t He going to provide the funds for me?”

These are not uncommon questions for missionaries to ask. Fundraising takes a lot of time and effort, and no one wants to be rejected or refused when they put themselves out there. Others try to live by faith while trusting that God will provide for them in their times of need.

There are many people in the Bible and throughout missionary history who trusted in God to provide not only for their financial needs but their physical needs as well. Throughout this blog, we’ll take a look at some of their stories and discover which method is Biblical.

Testimonies of Living by Faith… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Some missionaries base their financial foundations on living by faith only but do not spend time seeking after God in prayer and asking (James 4:2b-3).

These testimonies are not only of men living by faith but men who were both friends of God, standing before the throne room with confidence, knowing that He heard their prayers.

Abraham... Abraham was a man who lived by faith and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4; Hebrews 11). When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham was distraught, but nonetheless, he obeyed God.

God saw his obedience, just as Abraham was about to kill his son, and provided a ram to be the sacrifice because of Abraham’s faith (Genesis 22:8, 13-14).

George Müller… I remember the story of George Müller, who was also a man who lived by faith, and God’s faithfulness, was shown clearly throughout his life. He built an orphanage for over two thousand orphans in Bristol, UK. When they had no money or food for the orphanages, he prayed, and God provided. George Müller said:

“There never was a time when we had no wholesome meal. During all these years I have been enabled to trust in the living God alone…No man can ever say I asked him for a penny. We have no committees, no collectors, no voting, and no endowment. All has come in answer to believing prayer. God has many ways of moving the hearts of men to help us, all over the world. While I am praying, He speaks to one and another on this continent and on that to send us help.”  

Asking in Faith… Whereas some people believe that you’re not relying on God if you ask others for money, Muller gladly accepted people’s help, though he never told anyone that he was in need. You can trust in the Lord to provide for you when you ask in faith, because if the Lord has called you into ministry, then He will give you resources and a way for you to go overseas. When you get to the mission field, you’ll be able to look back and say, “Wow, look at what God has done.”

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

By trusting in God, you could have amazing testimonies of faith and be able to share the gospel with people in a much more effective way. Living by faith will not only stretch you in ways you can’t imagine but asking in faith will produce even greater testimonies of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

Isn’t Asking for Money a Little Blunt? Many missionaries dread fundraising because they think that they are becoming a hindrance to people and that their friends will think that they’ll always be asking for money. But you actually need support. Without people backing you up in prayer and finances, you will come off the field burnt out and ready to give up on your ministry. You’re not only trusting God to provide through these people, but you are inviting people to enter into God’s heart for missions.

Asking for money is a great step of faith. The friends you have, the family that surrounds you, the neighbors on your street, are all resources that God has provided and put in your path so that you can go and fulfill His calling that He’s placed over your life.

Many missionaries in the 1800s believed that they had to work and earn their living by a trade and then took that with them into the country they were going to be missionaries in. Others, such as Paul in the Bible, and John Williams, used their skills in a trade to provide an income and also partnered with believers to continue their ministry.

Paul-“For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher threshes in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?” 1 Corinthians 9:9-11

In the context of these verses, Paul is asking the believers in Corinth if it’s wrong to reap what he sowed among them. Paul is also challenging them in their thinking about material things and finances. He reminds them that God does care for all people and that He provides for their needs through the resources He’s already given them.

Paul had invested into many of the believers of the early church and was one of God’s first missionaries full of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. He always wrote back to the believers, telling them stories of God’s faithfulness through their giving of prayers and support.

While still walking in faith for God to continue his ministry, he worked with his skills as a tentmaker or leatherworker (Acts 18:1-3), so that he could continue traveling and visiting the churches. He was also being supported by the churches; especially the Philippians (Philippians 1:3–5; 4:15-18).  

Paul did everything he could to not become a burden to others (2 Corinthians 11:8–9) so that he was able to continue freely in his preaching of the gospel. He always thanked his fellow brothers for the blessings they sent, and for walking alongside him in the work God was doing (1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Colossians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4), encouraging them to continue trusting in the Lord.

John Williams…John Williams was a missionary in the South Pacific Islands who saw the need for having partners and support from people back home. He was anxious to continue his work in other people groups in neighboring islands, but the mission agency that sent him did not agree.

After combatting back and forth, the missionary agency finally agreed, and John William’s ministry became much more fruitful as he was able to go to surrounding islands and preach the gospel to even more people.

John Williams was skilled as an ironworker and a mechanic, and he built his own boat with the help of local natives and the finances sent from London. He also learned how to grow crops and live off the lands to help provide for his family. While he worked with the natives and shared the gospel with them, he translated the New Testament into Rarotongan and then taught the native believers how to disciple others in their community. The people became his partners in ministry.

God Provides Through Partners… Having partners are a blessing from the Lord. The people who support you will become partners of something much bigger than your own ministry. Not only are they becoming part of God’s plan to reach the nations, but also they will enable you to bring the gospel to people groups who can become partners of the gospel in the future. How amazing is that?

You are not failing God when you ask someone to help you. God may have put that person to help you, and you can trust that He is always providing ways for you to go on the mission field when He’s called you there. You can step out in faith through prayer (James 1:22-2:14-26), and rely on God by using the resources He’s given you to be a good steward of (Matthew 25:14-30).

In fact, you are called to live by faith and ask for money. It’s really your heart motive that God cares about. God wants you to trust Him.

Where we are… “No! This is not a request for money!” When Marcia and I got married, our income wasn’t enough for us to even begin supporting ourselves. We had help and generous gifts form my family and friends (who are family in Christ), some of them, are involved in our work even to this minute. Over twenty years, some families participate in our budget generously.  Believing that our work is in the Lord, rather than charity, we have partners in life who are real supporters of our ministry, in Brazil and here in Japan. We are so very thankful to God and to you.

Me being boyish… I woke up this morning, as I usually do at 4.30, and began my chores: the first order of the day, I outline a chapter of scripture. Have it sent to over 350 people worldwide. Today’s Scripture was Philippians 4. I must admit that I was a bit irritated, for when I was studying my Bible about joy and gratitude, I thought to myself, why doesn’t God do to me like he did to the apostle Paul? (Oh Boy!) How can I be joyful in the midst of so much turbulence? 

We were supposed to go renew our passports today. But we didn’t have enough money for them. I thought: ”well, the Lord will provide…” But instead, Marcia couldn’t get the day off from work, so we had to postpone our trip to the Brazilian consulate. I was upset, I do everything like clockwork, and foolishly, I thought that God was standing me up. Why? Why? 

The Holy Spirit then, slowly and methodically began to work his written Word in my heart. I remembered the story of the Watchmaker, and that sometimes the watchmaker intervenes so bluntly in our way, that we cannot, and will not negate his praises and glory. I remembered the story of the itchy ox. I remembered about Debby’s bicycle in a can (I may tell this story some other day). I remembered of the time in Wyncote, I had given up babysitting, and every week I would find an envelope by my rabbit cage, with a 10-dollar allowance and the humble signature “From a friend in Jesus” (Today I know who that Godly person was). I began to thank the Lord for being my provider. A gift offering that came last week from a dear friend in Boston, with a note saying the she loves us and prays for us. A lifeline from my father, to lighten our burden, which is, no burden at all, for it is done for the Lord. I remembered the Marks and the Crosses that have been the most substantial part of our up keep. I prayed to God in gratitude of them. I wrote a little Facebook post, greeted all the birthdays on my friends’ list, read and wrote on my doctoral thesis and by one o’clock had finished all my daily chores. I needed to get some shut-eye, because when night falls, I begin my English teaching role. I had to catch some “z’s”!

When I woke up, I asked Ruth to go t the mailbox and see if there was any correspondence there (It's a missionary thing). She brought me back this envelope, and said, this one doesn’t say who it is from, instead a sticker saying it came by air mail, and in French: Par avion air International. I even joked about it, since there was a kiwi bird on the postal stamp. I said to Ruth: Kiwis don't fly, unless God tells them to… Inside, there were no words, just two neatly cut pieces of paper sandwiching the exact amount of the fees to renew our passport in Yen cash. We hadn’t told anyone about it; we didn’t ask anyone, except in our family prayer. And in that same silent prayer, we thank you, we God for you, the “person with the Kiwi bird stamp” on the envelope. You are our silent partner. I can only praise the Lord and say Jehovah Jireh, my provider, the Lord has provided for us.

In Joyful tears, 
Pr. Daniel

WHAT YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU REINVENT YOURSELF

I used to keep snakes. When I started, they were just a couple of harmless garter snakes I picked up for a buck 99 at Martin’s Aquarium, a local pet shot in Jenkintown, PA, one of my favorite places to hang out and kill time in my early youth. Moving back to the farm in Brazil, as an adult, I still wanted to keep snakes. I even got some training done so I could become a handler. I also tried to make a few videos. Wanting to look like and talk like Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter… (oh Boy!)

At times, I kept inside aquariums, or terrariums, in my tool shed, some of the most dangerous snakes know to the South American soil. Lanceheads, crossheads, rattlers and coral snakes, I’ve played with them all. In order to feed the serpents, I kept mice, as pets for my son. Funny thing, he named them Bernard and Miss Bianca, from Disney’s The Rescuers. What he didn’t know is that the snakes ate his two little pet mice over and over… (Oh Boy!!)

I wasn’t ever really scared of the snakes. It was a different type of relationship. The feeling seemed to be more one of respect, awe, and astonishment. But the bottom line, when the lights went out, what I really, really enjoyed was the image it caused on others. Rather than reckless, I thought I was being a cool badass! And that was really important for me.

One time, while driving to Sao Paulo, wanting to make a delivery to the Butantã Institute. I had a fully mature male crotalus durissus (black rattlesnake for the laymen). It was almost 5 feet long. And all of a sudden it dawned on me: what if the snake broke loose in my car?  As I mentioned many times in my previous articles, there are only a few things that frighten me. And snakes aren’t one of those things. However, when I realized what could have happened, had the snake broken loose from its box? I decided to put an end to my snake-handling career. At age thirty-three, I needed to grow up a little bit. It was time to shun my image, and do something to preserve my life! Sort of like adapting what Jesus said in Mark 8:36 – just changing the words “life” to “image”, but keeping the thought: For whoever wants to save their IMAGE will lose it, but whoever loses their IMAGE for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? So I kindly donated all of the snakes I had to the research institute, and haven’t played with them since.

Sometimes for me (as I believe for many people too), keeping an image seems to be more important than keeping life itself. First of all, the image we want to portray is not the actual image people see in us. In order to produce an image that would impress others, I’ve had long hair, Elvis-style hair, no hair, earrings and different styles of clothing (no tattoos though—too permanent). I often tried to show off something I was not. I thought that by creating a “tough guy” persona that I would profit on the impression I caused people to have. So like playing with snakes, the dangers of living as to show off whatever we think will add value to us, may end up biting our behind! This attitude will often send people into their downward spiral, plunging to their deaths. I learned from the book of Acts, that our image should be what God wants us to be. That his grace should be seen in our lives and that his deliverance should speak louder than our acting.

After Paul shipwrecked (Acts 28:1-6), and safely made his way to shore on the island of Malta, he helped the kind natives build a fire. Little did he know that a poisonous snake was nestled in the firewood (what was he, blind? – probably…) he picked up, and “driven out by the heat, the snake bit him on the hand.” It didn’t just bite and let go; it hung on, the islanders thought, by that image, that Paul must have been a murderer and he was getting his just punishments from the gods. Even though Paul seemed unharmed after shaking off the snake, they still expected him to drop dead at any moment—and when he didn’t, the superstitious people “changed their minds and decided he was a god.” 

Interesting thing about Paul, is that he wasn`t trying to make an image for himself. As a matter of fact, his teaching is the opposite of that: 

“I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,” (2 Corinthians 12.5,6)

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you”. (Romans 12.3)

In the episode on the Isle of Malta, the islanders showed the power of a worldview for interpreting experience--and how a non-Christian worldview often won't "get it right." Those who have a non-Christian attitude will try to make an image of themselves, either reaffirming their foolishness and self learned knowledge of the world, or they will try to re invent themselves, in order to impress others and influence people for their own gain. Like the middle aged man in crisis who buys a sports car or a motorcycle in order to show how youthful he is. Being bit by this kind of serpent will really injure your spiritual health. And most of the times send off the wrong image that you had in mind.

Unless the Lord opens our hearts to understand the true image of Christ, no witness, and no shape-shift, no miraculous sign may serve to show Christ. The Maltese are not alone in misinterpreting an image (see Acts 2:12-13; 3:12; 8:18-21; 14:11-18; 19:13-16). And today, if we seek to show something that we are not, or if we try to misinterpret someone else’s image, we fall under that same category as the Maltese did. Luke in writing the Acts of the apostles, points to our idolatry as he describes the "signs and wonders" movement only to bear witness to the greatness of God in Jesus. Not for us to be thought as a gods, but for us to shine the glory of God. 

If we keep snakes, jump off bridges tied to a rubber band, eat an expensive hamburger, or advocate for the sand dunes of the Kalahari; has more to do with likes or shares on the social media then to the enjoyment we reap from these activities; we are doing it for the wrong reasons. Whatever is not prescribed in the bible as a sin becomes sinful when we do it to impress people and ourselves. In 1Corinthians 10.31 Paul says: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Weather we get tattoos or wear an expensive suit and tie, write our posts; die our hair or give money to the poor, we must be sure that we do it for the right reason. 

Other then that, what is the right reason, well I don’t know. —But the wrong reason is to try to show off something you are not.