Costa Rica Missionaries - Get ready, Ticos…
Our friends, the Babcocks have now been in Costa Rica to operate a mission in the Orosi Valley for a couple months now. They plan to be down there for at least a couple years or as long as the Lord leads them. I am so excited for both our friends, and for the Ticos (what the locals call themselves).
Some of Nathan and Amber’s friends kidded them about their choice of mission field since Costa Rica has become a trendy vacation spot in recent years.There won’t be much surfing going on down there, though.
Besides them being deep in the mountains and not on the beach, Latin America is a tough mission field. There is widespread poverty throughout, violence in some parts, and a lack of many basic needs such as quality health care. There is also cultural bigotry down there between the local Costa Ricans and those from El Salvador who left during political conflicts.
There is also a large gap between many people down there and God. Local Christian pastors report that while many in Latin America claim Catholicism as their religion, it is in religion (routine) only. In many cases, Catholic symbols are often mixed with local pagan beliefs and the message of Christ is subordinated to worship of idols.
I remember watching videos in college about the mix of religions. I wasn’t following God back then but still thought it seemed fishy. I would either buy into a belief system 100% or not. Either you’re a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever. Mixing them doesn’t make sense.
In the Christian belief system, altering the word of God is creating our own religion. That, of course, is idolatry. Even athiests know “Wishy-washy-ness” doesn’t work in any other part of life. It sure wouldn’t apply to the creator of the entire universe. Unfortunately there are some people in our own town that are seeking to whitewash the word of God with “modern” human understanding.
OK… I got sidetracked for a minute. I really encourage you to check out Nathan and Amber’s Costa Rica mission blog. It is great to see behind the scenes of real-life missionaries to know that they aren’t super-human. They just believe in a God who is.
” I would either buy into a belief system 100% or not. Either you’re a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever. Mixing them doesn’t make sense.”
You should tell that to the apostle Paul who blended pagan poetry into the New Testament. Billions of Christians are reading the very pagan Menander and don’t know it.
Also, someone should do something about all those Christian girls wearing white dresses, carrying flowers, exchanging rings and eating wedding cakes. Roman paganism all the way — and in a Christian church to boot. Shame.
- Timothy
Good research Timothy, but elements of ritual (white dresses, flowers, rings, etc.) has nothing to do with the relationship with God through his Son. If that is all they were doing, I wouldn’t have a gripe. (See Colossians 2:16)
The problem comes when people who claim to be Christians blend pagan deities into their beliefs, such as raising up icons like saints and Mary to be worshiped. That then makes the belief system 100% pagan since Christ says that he alone (John 14:6, and John 10:9) leads the way to salvation.
About that pagan poetry Timothy so sensationally mentions, as if there has been some great hoax perpetrated against followers of Christ - I use literary elements from non-Christian writers and lyrics from secular songs to connect with readers in a particular time frame or culture. Most preachers do as well, and so did the Apostle Paul. If you can see where Paul’s references to quotes from the pagan poets Menander, Aratus and Epimenides (1 Cor. 15:33; Acts 17:28; Tit. 1:12) compromises Christ’s message, let me know.
Check out the section (a) The Use of External Data in http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_inerrancy_france.html which I generally agree with.
I’m glad we had someone here “attacking” the Bible. It gave us an opportunity to learn something new about the history of that age, and for our faith in Christ to be strengthened even more.
Thank you so much Matt for your kind words. We feel very blessed to have friends at home praying for us and supporting the Lord’s work! We are ready for you to come to Costa Rica any time!! Especially with baby Larson!!!
Tiquete gratis one way a todos los sindicalistas para Cuba o Venezuela, estudiantes de la UCR 50% de descuento… Mas trabajo, mas oportunidades= Progreso de Costa Rica
Editor Note: Ran the Google Translate on that for those who do not speak Spanish.
I approved the comment because it looks legit and the link in the name does not seem to go to a commercial page. If anyone speaks Spanish well, perhaps you would tell us what the comment and the web page linked to means. Thanks & have a blessed day.
heey guys i think its really great wat u r doin……..keep it up!!
GOD bless you and keep you safe as you do HIS work.
I will coming to Costa Rica Thanksgiving. This will be my first mission trip and am highly excited as well as anxious because of not knowing yet what to expect. Who knows I know its big, but what if we ran into each other.? Actually no, it’s a small world , BIG GOD! It could happen.