Post by Gerard Mendes on May 25, 2005 12:45:48 GMT -5
LETTERS FROM ROMANIA-Part 2
From: "Corina Teperdel"
To: "gerard mendes"
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:02:49 -0500
Subject: Romania 2
ABOUT THE ROMANIAN CHRISTIANITY
In this letter I'll try to picture a general view about the Romanian spiritual field. This is pretty hard to be done, becasue it's a complex issue, but I'll try to be as objective as I can. I must add here that I'll speak not based on what other say, but based on what I've seen and lived. And this means that, because I am just a human being, I might be wrong. I surely cannot see and understand everything from God's ways and plans. Only He really knows people's hearts. So, I will talk not about hearts - this is God's job - but about facts, the way I perceive them, as an imperfect human being.
First of all, I must say that we are a nation which claim to be a "Christian" nation. About 98% from our people declare themselves "Christians". Most of them would be very offended if someone told them that they need redemption from their sin. They consider themselves pretty righteous. "I didn't steal, I didn't kill anyone... I am not a sinner", you would hear. They have NO idea what the Bible says, they remember God only when they celebrate Easter or Christmas or a certain "saint", and they live the way they want. Still, they claim to be "Christians".
Well, but let's start with the begining, actually. Romania's official religion is the Orthodox one, and most of the Romanians are born as Orthodoxes. I come from it, so I know what it means. Almost nothing. Just an empty form. Stupid traditions which are followed because "the priest says so" or because "our ancesters did so". No one asks himself if it makes any sense or not. People are living without any trace of God in their lives.
Again, I must say that some of them (but not the majority) really love God, and their hearts are honest and seeking the truth. God knows them by name, and He also knows His plans with them. Still, Orthodoxy as a whole is a dead religion. Unfortunately. Also, not too tolerant. Generally speaking, the Orthodox priests hate other denominations and make their disciples to hate them, too. They claim to be the only right religion and way to God. Almost every other church and denomination is a "dangerous sect" or a "crazy cult", "leading people astray". These priests are blind guides leading other blind people toward a precipice, the way the Bible says.
It seems that I am not too tolerant either. Well, I AM tolerant when it comes about God's children, even if my oppinions don't necessarily fit with other's oppinions. Still, I believe that we must discern when it comes about the line between life and death, we must recognize death and mark it. Otherwise everything would be just nice and fine. And it's not that way. People are still perishing in their sins - without Jesus, without knowledge, without forgiveness.
So, unfortunately, the most of Romanians are dead, spiritually speaking.
What about other churches?... There are also some Catholics and Protestants in Romania, but they are not too alive, either... (I must say here that the term "Protestant" in Romania means something else, comparing to what it means in America, as I know. Here, a "Protestant" is a follower of Martin Luther's Reformation, but missing the real point. They lost the life Luther discovered in the Bible, and it does not help them that they might have a correct doctrine about salvation and other things (if they know it, of course - most of them don't).
So, only death in Romania? No, certainly not... Now we will step over the line between death and life, and enter "the land of the living ones"...
First of all, I must say that these churches are called "New-Protestant" churches. I don't think you have this term in America. I think that you call "Protestant" what we call "New-Protestant".
Also, now is the point where I have to separate things a little: the period before the anti-communist revolution (1989), and the time after 1989, because some changes occured (in the sense of new things being added to the spiritual field).
Before the revolution, the living Christians were represented by the Baptist and Pentecostal Church. They had problems with the Political Police of those times, but still, they stood. They were - and are - indeed children of God, living radically according to His ways - as much as they know and they are taught.
The good thing here is the fact that these churches are not playing with sin. White is white, and black is black. No compromises with the Bible, speaking about this issue. (In America, if I know well, many churches are sliding to "grey", unfortunately.) They emphasize separation from sin and from the world, sanctification, obedience. Actually, these are their major targets. The spiritual growth is being seen as the continuous sanctification; so, a sign of equal between these two. Thing which is not entirely good, because the spiritual growth means so much more, and they are missing things this way. Seeing only the part with sanctification, they miss actually the journey with God, that journey toward higher and higher levels. I believe that sanctification is just a step on this "climbing" with God, not the final target (even if it can continue for a lifetime, of course). It's almost a condition for other targets to be reached, but not the final one. Sure, you could contradi ct me and say that our final target is to be like Jesus. So, to be sanctified. Yes, I agree, but Jesus did so much more than living without sin only...
Well, coming back to our subject... The bad part with these churches is the fact that they were closed (and still are) to new things. They also do things the way their "ancesters" did. A sort of pattern about what a Christian should do and look like and behave in the church and outside the church. And if you are not living and behaving according to this pattern, it "proves" you cannot be a Christian.
For example, women in their churches cannot wear jewels and make-up and trousers (at all). They must wear something to cover their heads. Also long skirts, and even blouses with long sleeves. So, and if you appear in a church of this kind looking differently, you are surely not a Christian in their eyes. And this way, people start to concentrate more on appearances than on hearts. Humility means for them to walk with a whiney face, and spirituality - not to care too much the way you look like, for example (because this would be the ways of the world!) etc etc etc. And again, we, as the people of God, are starting to "strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel"...
I suppose that the Oriental influence is being seen even in these churches, with people who really serve God. A woman cannot do too much in a church of this kind, for example. Of course, there are things which are too hard for a woman, I guess. She was created by God with a certain role, and she will be the happiest playing that role. But there is a huge difference between "I cannot do that" and "I'm not allowed to do it"...
After the revolution, these churches started to receive visits from outside - Americans, Germans, British people. They discovered with amazement that the foreign women don't look like theirs. They also discovered that the songs the foreigners sang didn't sound like burial songs, but they are alive, and even noisy sometimes. They discovered that a woman can preach! And that you can even smile in the church! And, most of all, that GOD Himself smiles!!!!! Shocking things!
"What should we do with these things?... Reject them? Accept them?..."
"Well, let's tolerate them as long as these foreigners are here, because they are the same denomination with ours, and they came here to help, actually. But we'll do everything our same old way when they will depart..."
And so was it. And it still is that way. Foreigners are still coming, hoping that they will bring a smile on the harsh face of the Romanian churches of this kind, but the elders there are watching them with an understanding tolerating elderly smile - the way a grandfather is watching his grandson playing in the mud - and then do things further their own way.
It's trying to pour the new wine in old wineskins. It doesn't work. I would not advice you to come and minister in such a church. It's losing of time, energy, talents and money. Nothing changes after you leave.
Maybe the change WILL come one day, but it will probably come from inside (through a new generation of leaders INSIDE that denomination - because other denominations are not being trusted), and it will probably occur in years. Basicly, it's about another IMAGE OF GOD here. This is the root. The things with "allowed" and "not allowed", "do this" and "don't do that" are just branches and leaves. They emanate from a wrong image about God. A fierce God who cannot smile, who is very fast in punishing and slower in loving.
Still, I have to repeat: they are God's children. Most of them love God with all their hearts, and they are honest and true. They just do what they were taught to do. And it always takes time to change your thinking... Anyway, the young people there are more and more open-minded. Concentrating more and more on the valuable things, and less and less on the appearances. But it will take some time for them to make a real difference...
What about the "NEW WINESKINS"? Do they exist in Romania? Yes, they do. They surely have their own problems, they are small and just a few, but their "spiritual genetics" is different. Most of all, they are capable to keep the "new wine".
But... Because this letter is anyway so long, I will end here, and I will write further in another letter, after a few days.
Blessings,
Corina
From: "Corina Teperdel"
To: "gerard mendes"
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:02:49 -0500
Subject: Romania 2
ABOUT THE ROMANIAN CHRISTIANITY
In this letter I'll try to picture a general view about the Romanian spiritual field. This is pretty hard to be done, becasue it's a complex issue, but I'll try to be as objective as I can. I must add here that I'll speak not based on what other say, but based on what I've seen and lived. And this means that, because I am just a human being, I might be wrong. I surely cannot see and understand everything from God's ways and plans. Only He really knows people's hearts. So, I will talk not about hearts - this is God's job - but about facts, the way I perceive them, as an imperfect human being.
First of all, I must say that we are a nation which claim to be a "Christian" nation. About 98% from our people declare themselves "Christians". Most of them would be very offended if someone told them that they need redemption from their sin. They consider themselves pretty righteous. "I didn't steal, I didn't kill anyone... I am not a sinner", you would hear. They have NO idea what the Bible says, they remember God only when they celebrate Easter or Christmas or a certain "saint", and they live the way they want. Still, they claim to be "Christians".
Well, but let's start with the begining, actually. Romania's official religion is the Orthodox one, and most of the Romanians are born as Orthodoxes. I come from it, so I know what it means. Almost nothing. Just an empty form. Stupid traditions which are followed because "the priest says so" or because "our ancesters did so". No one asks himself if it makes any sense or not. People are living without any trace of God in their lives.
Again, I must say that some of them (but not the majority) really love God, and their hearts are honest and seeking the truth. God knows them by name, and He also knows His plans with them. Still, Orthodoxy as a whole is a dead religion. Unfortunately. Also, not too tolerant. Generally speaking, the Orthodox priests hate other denominations and make their disciples to hate them, too. They claim to be the only right religion and way to God. Almost every other church and denomination is a "dangerous sect" or a "crazy cult", "leading people astray". These priests are blind guides leading other blind people toward a precipice, the way the Bible says.
It seems that I am not too tolerant either. Well, I AM tolerant when it comes about God's children, even if my oppinions don't necessarily fit with other's oppinions. Still, I believe that we must discern when it comes about the line between life and death, we must recognize death and mark it. Otherwise everything would be just nice and fine. And it's not that way. People are still perishing in their sins - without Jesus, without knowledge, without forgiveness.
So, unfortunately, the most of Romanians are dead, spiritually speaking.
What about other churches?... There are also some Catholics and Protestants in Romania, but they are not too alive, either... (I must say here that the term "Protestant" in Romania means something else, comparing to what it means in America, as I know. Here, a "Protestant" is a follower of Martin Luther's Reformation, but missing the real point. They lost the life Luther discovered in the Bible, and it does not help them that they might have a correct doctrine about salvation and other things (if they know it, of course - most of them don't).
So, only death in Romania? No, certainly not... Now we will step over the line between death and life, and enter "the land of the living ones"...
First of all, I must say that these churches are called "New-Protestant" churches. I don't think you have this term in America. I think that you call "Protestant" what we call "New-Protestant".
Also, now is the point where I have to separate things a little: the period before the anti-communist revolution (1989), and the time after 1989, because some changes occured (in the sense of new things being added to the spiritual field).
Before the revolution, the living Christians were represented by the Baptist and Pentecostal Church. They had problems with the Political Police of those times, but still, they stood. They were - and are - indeed children of God, living radically according to His ways - as much as they know and they are taught.
The good thing here is the fact that these churches are not playing with sin. White is white, and black is black. No compromises with the Bible, speaking about this issue. (In America, if I know well, many churches are sliding to "grey", unfortunately.) They emphasize separation from sin and from the world, sanctification, obedience. Actually, these are their major targets. The spiritual growth is being seen as the continuous sanctification; so, a sign of equal between these two. Thing which is not entirely good, because the spiritual growth means so much more, and they are missing things this way. Seeing only the part with sanctification, they miss actually the journey with God, that journey toward higher and higher levels. I believe that sanctification is just a step on this "climbing" with God, not the final target (even if it can continue for a lifetime, of course). It's almost a condition for other targets to be reached, but not the final one. Sure, you could contradi ct me and say that our final target is to be like Jesus. So, to be sanctified. Yes, I agree, but Jesus did so much more than living without sin only...
Well, coming back to our subject... The bad part with these churches is the fact that they were closed (and still are) to new things. They also do things the way their "ancesters" did. A sort of pattern about what a Christian should do and look like and behave in the church and outside the church. And if you are not living and behaving according to this pattern, it "proves" you cannot be a Christian.
For example, women in their churches cannot wear jewels and make-up and trousers (at all). They must wear something to cover their heads. Also long skirts, and even blouses with long sleeves. So, and if you appear in a church of this kind looking differently, you are surely not a Christian in their eyes. And this way, people start to concentrate more on appearances than on hearts. Humility means for them to walk with a whiney face, and spirituality - not to care too much the way you look like, for example (because this would be the ways of the world!) etc etc etc. And again, we, as the people of God, are starting to "strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel"...
I suppose that the Oriental influence is being seen even in these churches, with people who really serve God. A woman cannot do too much in a church of this kind, for example. Of course, there are things which are too hard for a woman, I guess. She was created by God with a certain role, and she will be the happiest playing that role. But there is a huge difference between "I cannot do that" and "I'm not allowed to do it"...
After the revolution, these churches started to receive visits from outside - Americans, Germans, British people. They discovered with amazement that the foreign women don't look like theirs. They also discovered that the songs the foreigners sang didn't sound like burial songs, but they are alive, and even noisy sometimes. They discovered that a woman can preach! And that you can even smile in the church! And, most of all, that GOD Himself smiles!!!!! Shocking things!
"What should we do with these things?... Reject them? Accept them?..."
"Well, let's tolerate them as long as these foreigners are here, because they are the same denomination with ours, and they came here to help, actually. But we'll do everything our same old way when they will depart..."
And so was it. And it still is that way. Foreigners are still coming, hoping that they will bring a smile on the harsh face of the Romanian churches of this kind, but the elders there are watching them with an understanding tolerating elderly smile - the way a grandfather is watching his grandson playing in the mud - and then do things further their own way.
It's trying to pour the new wine in old wineskins. It doesn't work. I would not advice you to come and minister in such a church. It's losing of time, energy, talents and money. Nothing changes after you leave.
Maybe the change WILL come one day, but it will probably come from inside (through a new generation of leaders INSIDE that denomination - because other denominations are not being trusted), and it will probably occur in years. Basicly, it's about another IMAGE OF GOD here. This is the root. The things with "allowed" and "not allowed", "do this" and "don't do that" are just branches and leaves. They emanate from a wrong image about God. A fierce God who cannot smile, who is very fast in punishing and slower in loving.
Still, I have to repeat: they are God's children. Most of them love God with all their hearts, and they are honest and true. They just do what they were taught to do. And it always takes time to change your thinking... Anyway, the young people there are more and more open-minded. Concentrating more and more on the valuable things, and less and less on the appearances. But it will take some time for them to make a real difference...
What about the "NEW WINESKINS"? Do they exist in Romania? Yes, they do. They surely have their own problems, they are small and just a few, but their "spiritual genetics" is different. Most of all, they are capable to keep the "new wine".
But... Because this letter is anyway so long, I will end here, and I will write further in another letter, after a few days.
Blessings,
Corina