Several weeks ago, The Baptist Press reported HERE that on April 26, 2024, about 150 Baptist believers were forced to leave their homes in the villages of Coamila and Rancho, which are indigenous Nahuati-speaking communities in Mexico.
Village leaders reportedly cut off electricity, vandalized and blocked access to certain homes and the Great Commission Fundamental Baptist Church, and posted guards at entry points to the village. The displaced families – including more than 70 infants and children – sought refuge in Huejutla de Reyes, where evangelicals provided them food and water.
Yesterday (11/25/2024), The Baptist Press reported HERE that the displaced Baptist believers have sought refuge in a neighboring state after Catholic village leaders reneged on an agreement that would have welcomed the Protestants home.
Instead of being granted the religious liberty guaranteed in Mexico’s constitution, the indigenous Baptists in the majority Catholic community would be required to pay financial contributions and fees to the Catholic church and would be banned from speaking about their religious beliefs. Religious conversions would be banned, travel and communication within their residential villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo would be monitored and limited, and the Baptists would be withheld from official residency rolls for a year, barring their access to health, education and government benefits.
My brothers and sisters, it is somewhat shocking to this writer that such Catholicism v. Protestantism angst would still be prevalent in modern society! Apparently the Catholics involved consider the Baptist believers to be some sort of ‘blight’ or unsaved, or maybe it is simply cultural and societal discrimination afoot, but whatever it is, IT IS NOT OF THE LORD!
Let’s pray that we who name Jesus as Lord will seek unity, not disunity, and become the brothers and sisters in Christ that God desires for us to be. Denominationalism can be problematic, and especially when it serves to divide the Church for cultural or political reasons, as denominationalism can result in doctrine(s) of man asserting that its views of salvation are exclusive and everyone else is wrong – no matter how couched or longstanding.
Regardless of denomination, or the lack thereof, the Bible is clear that Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation and eternal life. Period! If a person has confessed and believes in his or her heart that Jesus is the Son of God, who shed His blood upon the cross to save us from our sin, then that person in my brother or sister in Christ.
Doctrine is important. Having churches that draw us into their doors is important. We aren’t cookie-cutter beings, after all. But, the foundational belief that salvation is found only through the blood of Jesus, who became the propitiation for our sin (the once-and-for-all acceptable sacrifice), is paramount and the ‘bottom line.’ The love of God overcomes the evil one!
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Romans 10:9-13 (NKJV)
“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘[w]hoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Acts 4:11-12 (Amplified Bible)
Peter Speaks to the High Priest, Magistrates, Elders and Scribes
“This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV)
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins [emphasis mine].”
As believers, scripture brings a very strong reminder to us about division.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
Sectarianism Is Sin
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NKJV)
Is Christ Divided?
“For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided [emphasis mine]? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”
And as a reminder, it is the will of God for ALL to be saved!
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
“The Lord is not slack [slow, tardy] concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [emphasis mine].”
