Philippine Report for Wednesday (4/26/06)
April 26, 2006
from Harry Osborne in Tuguegarao, Luzon, Philippines

The classes are nearing the end and the pace has increased. Our morning sessions went very well. Rody’s class was filled with questions by the students as they are realizing the time is quickly coming to an end and they also realize how much they still have to learn. That is a good sign as we are trying to help them see how much they need to learn and grow as well as getting them to see how they must continue learning through study all of their lives.

My morning class on 1st Timothy, 2nd Timothy and Titus (“The Work of a Preacher”) studied 1st Timothy 6 and two verses into 2nd Timothy. Of course, that leaves us right on schedule to finish the remaining 7 chapters in the last class tomorrow J. The class has been filled with good discussion about very practical parts of the life of a preacher. Today, we talked at length about the corrupting power of wealth and greed and the tendency for the rich and greedy to fall into the snare of the devil. I asked them how many of them were rich and not a single one raised their hand. I then asked them how many knew someone poorer than they are and everyone raised their hand. We then noted the fact that they are rich as far as that poorer person is concerned, so they should look at the passage as having application to them. We noted that people tend to deny they are rich and overlook such passages as applying to themselves because they apply them to someone else. In fact, such admonitions apply to all of us.

The Church History class finished with a final class on the latter part of Restoration History as well as a summary of lessons learned from Church History. The final 10 minutes of class were spent in the students telling me what they learned from the class. When I do this every year, the result is the same. These men are from a nation where history has been taught from a pro-Catholic point of view. They are absolutely shocked by the fact that horrible atrocities have been committed by the Catholic Church throughout history. They are also shocked that so many have struggled through the ages to come back towards the Lord by seeking to use the Bible, while rejecting human creeds and traditions, as their guide. They are also made to think by the number of times people started down that right path, but ended up turning aside to merely assist in the development of another man-made doctrine. Another shocking thing to them is that the acceptance of instrumental music in worship is of such modern origin. They are amazed that less than 300 years ago, it was widely condemned by almost all non-Catholic groups. As we closed, we discussed the fact that many gave up their lives rather than compromise the truth. Many of the students shed tears as I exhorted them to stand firm for the truth, no matter the cost. To do less is an act of betrayal, first and foremost to God, but also to those who have suffered for righteousness through the ages. All of us owe a debt of sacrificial service in our time as we have been the beneficiaries of the sacrifice of our God and His faithful servants throughout history.

The “Issues That Divide Brethren” class examined the Institutional issues from the Filipino perspective and then overviewed the meaning of “Fellowship” as used in the NT. Several of the students have come from a institutional background. It has been interesting to see their growth from seeking to defend the unauthorized practices to a clear understanding that the practices are wrong. One man who sits on the front row has received training from the liberal brethren and has asked if I would debate the issues with one of the teachers at the Philippine Bible College in Baguio (funded by institutional churches in the US). I told him I would be glad to do so, but that I doubt they would be willing to defend their practice in open debate. We will see what happens. Regardless, that young man is seeing very clearly the principles involved and will leave here taking his stand for truth, seeking to reach his associates who are caught up in those errors. He sees he cannot have fellowship with them in such error. These classes are accomplishing good that will continue long after they end.

Over the past two days, I have also worked in material into 3 or 4 classes on the errors taught by Wallace Little and Jim Puterbaugh because a few of their followers were present. The Filipino brethren know they are guilty of error in proclaiming doctrines that justify the eating of blood, teach the one covenant doctrine that makes no distinction between the law of Moses and the gospel of Christ, preach that we may fellowship those espousing some doctrinal error and some sinful practices, etc. The problem these brethren have is that they are lured by the friendship and benefits offered by these men and do not yet have the strength to oppose them. Some of the Filipino brethren here talked very straight to these men encouraging them to stand for what they know to be right.

Prices here have been greatly increased since last year and have even been significantly increased since our arrival. The electrical costs for the classroom, barracks and other needs of the training program have been about $280 for a month, but have now gone to almost $800 for the month this year. Food for the students, sit-in attendees and teachers has more than doubled to a little over $5000. Other expenses have also gone up at that same rate, doubling from one year ago. The gasoline here has gone up just as it has in the US and is the equivalent of a little over $3 per gallon. Those churches and individuals who are helping Filipino brethren, please understand these increases and the fact that the dollar has also been going down in value during that same time.

We have found out that two brethren in the area died very suddenly over the past 2 days. One was a brother of 76 years of age that was a hard worker in the Alibagu church where I preached my first Sunday here. The brother was drowned in the river in a terrible accident while working. He was always present when I went to that congregation and very appreciative of truth being preached. Jerome Forelo, Rody’s son-in-law preaches at Alibagu and has been out to comfort the family several times.

This report has gone on beyond the length I intended, so I will stop for now. Thank you again for your help and support. Please keep us in your prayers as you continue in our prayers as well.

Brotherly, Harry O.

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