I read an article by Dr. Bruce Baker of Faith and Facts before entitled "Is Haiti Cursed?" Just like Haiti, the Philippines was the recipient of so many calamities before that if we will closely examine the Bible, we can also conclude that yes indeed, the Philippines is cursed. Why? Just like Haiti which is steeped in voodooism, witchcraft, superstition and idolatry, the Philippines also willfully violated many commandments of God. Foremost of these is the second commandment: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Exodus 20:4-6). The problem is, this particular commandment was stricken off from the list of the Ten Commandments by the Catholic church in all her cathechetical literatures and split the tenth commandment to compensate for the omitted 2nd commandment. Thus the ninth commandment of the church reads, "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife" and the tenth - "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods" whereas both of these are combined in the original 10th commandment. In the Old Testament, the Lord punished the Israelites every time they worshiped man made idols until their punishment became so severe that they suffered exiles to Assyria for Israel and to Babylon for Judah. Just like Haiti, religion and folklore or pagan practices co-exist side by side in the Philippines where people, especially those living in the provinces, still believe in folklore like dwarfs, elves, gnomes, witches, witchcraft, ogres and other folk and pagan beliefs. They try to make their own ways to salvation like crucifying themselves, self flagellation or attending the procession of the miraculous Black Nazarene. John 4:23-24 says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth." Is the Philippines cursed? Read the Bible to know the answer.
Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Philippines, Haiti, Curse, Dr. Bruce Baker, Faith and Facts, Calamities, Voodooism, Witchcraft, Bible, Commandments, Idol, Old Testament, Assyria, Babylon, Gospel, Word of God
Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational
