The Gospel Cannot Be Quarantined

 The Gospel Cannot Be Quarantined

       Revelation 3:7-8 read "There are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.  What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut..."

         By now we are all too familiar with the myriad of changes brought into our lives here in the USA, and around the world, due to government imposed restrictions meant to prevent, or at least slow down, the spread of the Covid-19 Virus.  The impact or effects of these restrictions have differed according to one's age, geographic location and type of work.  However, no matter who you are, your world has changed since last March.

     Local churches certainly have been impacted.  Many are still only offering a "corporate" worship service online; making use of means such as Face Book Live or YouTube.  Others are opening their doors, but limiting the number of those in attendance, requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks.  Some large, well known churches have chosen not to gather for worship as in the past until 2021.  Some continue to gather as always, and have initiated lawsuits against their state governments because they strongly believe the state has overstepped authority granted to them by the US Bill of Rights.

     Closed borders, combined with very strict pandemic restrictions, have forced many long term missionaries to leave the country where they normally live.  They are either now back in their home country or in another country where conditions are less harsh and restrictive.  Others have stayed put but been forced to stay very close to home.

     As serious followers of Jesus walk through this particular "valley of shadows," it is extremely comforting to read again the promise of our Lord Jesus that "what he opens, no man can shut."  This means even during this trying period, we can trust that He continues to work through His disciples who have "ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  

     I have been impressed while watching young believers in my area rise to the occasion by starting Bible studies in their homes.  Others have become foster parents.  Some have seized on the opportunity to mentor and disciple teenagers who have more time on their hands due to the cancellation of sports, and schools opting to provide education by remote learning.  Their actions speak volumes about their commitment to obey, conquer, patiently endure, and cling to the promises Jesus makes to those who overcome.

     CRM partners with Sudanese believers who have returned home, specifically Darfur, from refugee camps in Uganda.  The Corona Virus restrictions of their country have just piled one more obstacle on top of an already existing plethora of them, i.e. resistance from religious leaders, violence caused  by militias, persecution of new believers, etc.  However, despite such conditions, they continue to report that Mus**ms are receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior in unprecedented numbers.  Their reports have been a constant source of joy to us and helped enable us to remain extremely upbeat.

     Thanks be to our sovereign God who is greater than any pandemic, and able to open doors for His children who have ears to hear and are committed to conquer until He returns, or calls them home. 

 David Crane

Martin Luther the Latest Technology and God's Word

 November 9, 2020

     Reformation Day was celebrated just a few days ago on October 31. Most Americans may have let this slip by due to focusing on Halloween. Over 9 billion US Dollars were spent on Halloween in 2019, so that speaks the attention Halloween receives. 

     Nevertheless, for those who love God's Word and understand the significance of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church door, the day cannot pass without them thanking God for Luther and the early Reformers. 

     Historians inform us that Luther wrote his theses in Latin because his intended audience was other scholars who taught at the nearby university. His intent at that point was not to break off from the Roman Catholic Church, but to instigate debate and discussion among teachers with a view to bringing needed changes to a church which had become very corrupt

. Most ordinary Germans of his day could not read Latin.  So some of Luther's enterprising students took the theses, translated them in the vernacular German, and then took their translation to a printer. 

     Scholars date the invention of Gutenberg's printing press to 1450. By 1517 there were said to be 200 printing centers in Europe. Luther's students saw the advantage this new technology offered for spreading Luther's writings among ordinary Germans. Thus it is believed that within a matter of weeks, the 95 theses were read by Germans all over the country. 

     Both before and after the Diet of Worms, Luther continued to have his theological treatises published in pamphlet form, and they were quickly disseminated and eagerly read. They became the fuel of the Protestant Reformation. 

     After Luther translated the Bible into German, it was printed immediately and received a wide distribution. This enabled the common person to read, or hear read, the Word, and thus enabled them to interpret Scripture apart from a priest's help or distorted interpretation. 

     Why tell this story? Because we at Calvary Road Ministries like to believe we are today following in the footsteps of the Reformers by making effective use of the latest technology to place God's Word and biblical teaching into the hands of ordinary people. When possible, we do so with a NT translated into their mother tongue. If such does not exist, we use a widely accepted national language, i.e. Sudanese Arabic. The technologies we utilize are in  digital form. We load the scripture resources onto hardware like micro SD cards and MP3 players. The former are tiny and only cost $7 when fully loaded with Gospel films and audio NTs. Two thousand of them would take up less space in a suitcase than one of the large Bibles produced by the printing press of the age of Luther and Tyndale. 

Hundreds of millions in our world still lack access to the Bible. If the $9 billion spent on Halloween were diverted to purchasing scripture resources, the evangelical Protestant Church of the USA could supply a copy to all those now walking in utter darkness

     We invite you to support us in this effort by making a donation via our website, www.calvaryroadministries.com 

David Crane