December 2003
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January 15, 2004 Dear Family and Friends, Thanks so much for holding me up in prayer last month as I ministered in Europe and enjoyed the holidays with my brother Greg and his family in Serbia. I truly had an incredible time of refreshment, challenges, and ministry. In Serbia I spoke in three different churches and one theological school. At Greg's church that he pastors in Sombor, I spoke to a small church of around 10 to 15 on what the true gospel is in contrast to a false gospel, what I do as a missionary to Mormons, and how they could pray for me. The next week I spoke on Jehovah's Witnesses. Mormons are very uncommon in Serbia, but there are a lot of JW's. It was great to actually speak on JW's again; I haven't done that in years. At Novi Sad Theological College I spoke a couple days on Mormonism, the nature of God, and the Trinity to a group of around 20. It was certainly interesting meeting the students, sharing meals with them, and staying in a dorm again. I also conducted a seminar for a group of 30 to 40 at the Christian Fellowship Church in Novi Sad. I did a couple sessions one evening on a general introduction to the cults (New Age, JW's, United Pentecostals, and Mormons were briefly discussed), and then on the Trinity. It was really encouraging for me to talk to a former New Ager and a former JW at the break. I got some very positive feedback via my sister-in-law who told me that a friend told her that the people there were quite pleased with the lecture. They were so glad to finally have an academic lecture at their church, and that they wish they could have more of them. I finally spoke at a small church of about 25 on what the true gospel is in contrast to a false gospel, what I do as a missionary to Mormons, and how they could pray for me. This was in Temerin, just outside of Novi Sad. This was a church that my brother had planted several years ago. Thank you for every prayer said on my behalf, and for every check written on my behalf. Happy New Year,
Rob ****PRAYER LIST****
****MAILBAG**** What is the difference between spiritual truth and physical truth? What I mean by that is this: If it's true that the Holy Spirit is the one who reveals truth to us, does that mean all truth, including truths such as the world is round and grass is green or does He only reveal truth such as Jesus came to die for our sins and salvation comes through Him (maybe you'd say biblical truth)? When Jesus said I am the truth, what does that mean? Is it a matter of separating fact from truth or is there no separation and all and any truth is revealed by God? [I responded:] As for truth, Jn. 1:9 refers to the Logos lightening every man who comes into the world. He shows people any truth that they come to hold. If God is in control of everything, and people come to know a truth, that is something that is good, and "all" good things come from God. He allows it by providing the truth and the means whereby it is obtained. All truth is God's truth. That's the title of a good book you should get by Arthur Holmes (check a Christian library out or try the used books on Amazon, since I don't think it's in print any more). Jesus is God, and the wisdom of God. Truth all comes from Him; it's part of His very nature. And this is His world whereby we enter and experience truth in order to live properly and enjoy God. [My translator at Novi Sad Theological College sent the following along to my brother:] I am not a 'thank you cards fan' (typical homo balkanicus) but I would really like to repeat that we (NSTC students) were blessed with Rob's teaching. He is an excellent teacher: systematic, inspiring, devoted and good communicator. Rob, God bless and be with you on your trip to "Yugo". Regards to Greg and Jelena and may your trip be fruitful and our Lord return you safely. ...You are becoming quite controversial outside the South Gate--keep it up--fantastic!! Hi Rob, Your site is great!!! It's clean, clear and easy to navigate. ...I'll use your site name in my advertising for Mormon Outreach if that is OK. I don't have time to build a site and yours will work great. I'm going to forward it to local churches Rob, Man, I am not as aggressive towards street evangelism as you are, but I still take tons of flack from inside the church from even considering it. You're life must be hell with all these yahoo's! We are budgeted and the training dates begin in January for Utah, but I'm still facing resistance from certain postmodern, "relational only" pastors in my church, whose education is M.Div., sociology, pop postmodern church growth books and all that other non-sense! |
Rob with Greg, Jelena, Benny, and Sara Sivulka
Rob lecturing at the Sombor
Rob at the Sheldonian Theater in Oxford
Rob at J. R. R. Tolkien's grave outside of Oxford
Rob and Greg at C. S. Lewis'
Rob lecturing at the |
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Hope you are doing well in Serbia and enjoying your time with your brother's family. I have read your November newsletter. It is great to know what you have been doing. It takes a lot of courage and commitment to conduct ministries to Mormons. Yeah, I really like the site. It's not copycat of several others and has a unique flavor and contains balanced information that many would find interest in. Rob, I like the site. ...but for the people who know you, like myself, find it pretty fun. Especially those early pics of glam boy Rob! Your brave to post those pics :) Checked out your website, and am finding lots of good stuff on it. I have several questions and can't find a real answer. I hope you can answer these with some measure of accuracy. Nobody else I know can outside of a pat answer. Part I (The World)--The Bible teaches us that God gives authority to men. That means President Bush, Adolf Hitler, Bill Graham, Stalin etc. all have their authority from God to raise up who they will and throw down who they will according to the measure of the authority given them. The Bible also teaches we are supposed to follow these that God puts in authority over us. What's going on? (pat answer I have heard is not to obey the evil orders of the bad men and God is in control, however, that doesn't answer the question that God gives the bad men their authority as all authority is given from God the Bible says). |
[I responded:] You haven't clarified why God allowing bad authorities to rule in certain cases would necessarily entail a problem for God. Certain Old Testament passages state that God "causes" evil as well. Since He's in control of everything, and is Omnibenevolent, He can use evil for His overall good purposes. And yes, it is a different question as to whether we are to submit to an evil command by these earthly authorities. Abraham sacrificing his son, and Acts 4 and 5 make it clear that when God tells us to do something that goes directly against what some other authority says (even God's natural law), then we are to submit to what God has for us and trust that He will work all out for our good.
[He continued:] Also why is the world so evil and full of pain and suffering continually? (pat answer is so you grow and heaven will make it all seem like it wasn't hard, however, people suffer and die horribly in this world and that's just a little too pat for me anyways).
[I responded:] The pat answer you've offered certainly is part of what's going on, but if God never answered Job directly about this question, I'm not going to be of any more help to you. I trust God is still in control and He's still Omnibenevolent. Others don't. I trust nonetheless, because even though this is a problem, it is just "a" problem. I've got too many other problems with non-theistic views (not the least of which is the problem of good in objective non-natural terms and the way things "ought" to be seems to presuppose a Design plan of some sort). I also trust in God, because I have too many other positive reasons to believe in Him. And any good scientist isn't going to give up a well-confirmed theory simply for the sake of an anomaly.
[He continued:] Next, how can people justify just pumping all these billions and billions of kids into the world like it is a good thing when we KNOW that unless they are brought up in the way they should go most of them die in spiritual darkness and end up burning in hell? (pat answer is everyone has a choice and they choose to go into Hell by the billions each generation, however, most of these kids were not raised in homes bringing them up in the way they should go. One's environment is a factor and it's like marching cattle to their slaughter. I bet if we had swaped out a saved Christian child with Saddam Hussain for example, that Saddam would have grown up into a saved Christian man and the Christian child would have grown up and died and gone to Hell. How can you answer this besides just be glad it isn't you?).
[I responded:] I guess you should ask irresponsible people with kids this question since it is directed to them. Now as to why the kids still go there, yes, environment is "a" factor in the way they end up, but it's not the only determining factor. If that were the case, then we'd never see any conversions of any sort. What environment justifies for me is not imposing religious views on states or individuals; it doesn't justify allowing everyone to go to heaven and avoiding hell. Further, Romans 1 & 2 among other passages make it clear that God clearly communicates what everyone with their faculties functioning properly is required to do to avoid God's judgment. And for me, this entails that God doesn't allow others whose faculties are not functioning properly to go to hell. Others disagree, but take it up with them.
[He continued:] Part II (The Workplace)--The Bible teaches that God gives authority to men. Good men and bad men wield authority in the workplaces of the world and it is our job to serve them. What happens if a man deals treacherously with us in the workplace because of things in his own heart that are not right and fires us on that alone? (pat answer is God will judge, however, what happens to us when we are suffering and alone afterwards? Some people go through life suffering a lot you know and don't have family that will help them get back afterwards. They just suffer through it whatever happens).
[I responded:] Again, you should take this up with the evil men who do this. Now perhaps you're supposing by this some sort of Reformed compatibilist theory of freedom in which there is no genuine (libertarian) freedom. In other words, that God is the cause of every action and that humans are simply pawns. I don't hold this position, so you should take it up with those who do. Get William Lane Craig's "The Only Wise God". I hold that God's sovereignty is compatible with genuine free will. This really seems to be your first problem of understanding. But nonetheless, your second problem of understanding is being open to God doing something that is prima facie evil for the sake of a much greater good and not being able to trust Him with not ever revealing to you what specifically that greater good is.
[He responded:] Fascinating. Thank you for responding. I will look into your answers. I think the questions are somewhat complicated and deep but like many complicated and difficult questions the answer can sometimes be simple and elegant. I know you understand what I mean. It's a matter of working through to the answers.
I don't feel bad at all for asking you Rob. I know you are on Holiday but so am I and if I can take time out from my rare times off to counsel with and help people at Victory Outreach then you can give me a few honest answers to get the ball rolling for researching these this coming year ;).
Fire back at me with any good website info or books that help deal with these difficult questions. Unbelievers shoot these out a lot at me in different ways. I want to have some answers by the end of this year for them. Thanks and have a happy holiday.
Lol... I only ask you a question Rob every ten years. Remember the last one about ten years ago. I asked you "why doesn't God use his power to stop suffering" and you said "Just because God can do something that doesn't mean he will." Interesting answer which sparked my curiousity enough to study more, reading many books, about God and his creation and came to see that science and the Bible are not incompatible. That is a myth.