Below is an actual letter from a Bangon Volunteer...
Dear _________:
I am taking time out to put my thoughts in writing that I may share with you why I go on with this seemingly crazy if not lunatic fight that we are in. I am doing this because you keep on forwarding to me articles calling for support for Noynoy. I wish you would not feel it your duty to do so. But I understand. You already expressed your doubts about our whole cause before, because of the seeming impossibility of it. It is my prayer that my two cents’ worth will be of some light, if not encouragement, for you.
First, nobody likes to lose. When I fight, I fight to win. Lawyers do not accept clearly losing cases. It is bad for your practice. When I ran in 2001, 2004, and 2007, they were all designed to win. I won two by God’s grace, and lost one, closely, still by God’s grace. I share with you this because I don’t want you to think that there is a “death wish” in what I or we are all doing.
Let’s set aside Cindy Jacob’s prophecy first. My background as a Baptist and (Calvinist) Reformed Christian, who only some years ago learned to know the Holy Spirit and His ways from the Pentecostal brethren, has trained me to look at life from the perspective of the Scriptures. This is the authority over everything in my life.
I am not a religious fanatic. I know the theology of common grace which allows me to help even “non-Christian” candidates if they stand on principles espoused by Scriptures. My father campaigned for Claro M. Recto, who was not a “Christian” in the way we understand it. He campaigned for Diokno, Tanada, Ninoy, Roxas, ect., all the opposition stalwarts in Marcos’ time. I campaigned for Fred Lim for President during my time, and in 2004 I started out with Roco to end with ECV late inthe campaign. I was with the group of Ramos when I campaigned for his provincial team in 1992. I have campaigned for congressmen and mayors, many of whom won. I am telling you this to assure you that I can operate under “common grace”.
But right now, for the first time, I have seen a right candidate FROM THE SCRIPTURES’ point of view. I checked the Scriptures’ checklist (Deut. 31, Joshua 1, Daniel 6, Proverbs 31 vs. 1-8, etc.) and I cannot escape the conclusion that ECV complies with God’s requirements. His life experiences, his passion for the poor and oppressed (which I have not seen in others), his courage to confront evil (which I have not seen in others), and his passion for God and His Word, these are the things that, in a sense, put me in this “divine bind”. It is not about ECV. It is about God, what He says, what He wants, what He desires. It is only in Bangon and with ECV that I know these things are sought with a view to obey and follow. I cannot see this in NP, LP, NPC, Lakas.
Add to that are the millions of Christians who are praying for God to visit this land. I stand with them.
I am not against Noynoy. In fact, I have a fondness for him and his family. Ninoy was my hero. Watched all his tapes during Martial Law. Devoured copies of his speeches. I was a Provincial Coordinator of NAMFREL when Cory ran. My father’s old station wagon car with me in charge secured 11 ballot boxes against the police and the military in the snap polls. Noynoy is very humble and unassuming and does not even care for the state of his hair, just like me. His former girlfriend died during one of the coups against his mother. And except for his smoking, he is a very decent man. In fact, more than that, I believe that his political dna can enable him to rise to greatness and to his own brand of leadership. It is in his veins.
But it is a passion in a leader for God and His Word, His ways, His plans, His precepts that this country desperately needs. “Unfortunately”, I see that only in ECV, and he is so far behind in the ratings.
Now where does that leave you and me?
For one, we can all abandon ship and go to where the wind of popularity blows.
Or, we can stay on towards what outsiders see as certain disaster and defeat.
Or we can stay neutral and watch from the sidelines.
I choose to stay. I want to be with God’s cause and His people even when the night is long and the road is even much longer. He died for me through His Son. He has given me everything I have and more. Without Him and His Word and grace and Spirit, my life has no meaning. So I go with Him and His cause, there is no second-guessing it.
Now you ask, can Noynoy’s candidacy be from God? What if Cindy Jacobs is wrong?
I learned in Bible school and seminary and self-study that God’s will is four fold: He has a decretive will (root word: decree), directive will, permissive will (what He allows), and overruling will (the will that He asserts and enforces). All together they are His sovereign will. It is possible for God to have allowed Noynoy’s candidacy, and it is even possible for Him to allow Noynoy to win.
But as God’s child and servant, I have no business second-guessing God’s permissive will. My task is to seek His directive and decretive will. What did He direct? What did He decree? That nations be founded on His principles. That He alone be worshipped. That rulers must have a copy of the Book of the Law with them which they must read everyday, etc. And “unfortunately”, there is Eddie Villanueva who embraces or displays all this. It would have been much simpler if there was no Eddie Villanueva, or if Bro. Eddie had coffee with God at Starbucks and God tells him to fold up. Then, I go back to my quiet life here in Bacolod instead of running around the country like crazy. Or run for public office again. Or just enjoy life. This running around can be exhausting!
“Unfortunately”, Bro. Eddie is strong in his resolve, and my brothers, those redeemed by the blood, they weep in prayer for this country.
So whether it is through the lion’s den, or through the fire, or through deep waters, my lot is with God’s people, God’s army, my brothers and sisters.
But now, having said that, I also know that the God I serve is capable of the most dramatic of surprises. All his acts of redemption in history were all unprecedented at the time He did them. Abraham becoming a father at 100. Noah’s flood. David killing a giant. Daniel surviving a lion’s den. Gideon’s 300 destroying an army of thousands. So on and so forth.
So the only way to find out if God will do that for the country or for Bangon or for ECV is to stay on. Abraham stayed on. Noah stayed on till the first rain drops fell. David endured till he became king. Nehemiah endured till the walls were rebuilt. William Wilberforce fought on till slavery was outlawed in England. Lincoln endured five years of Civil War, resisted a truce that would not resolve slavery in America, but stayed the course till victory was on.
But what if God allows otherwise. Read Hebrews 11 again. Half received what was promised. Half did not. BUT ALL ACTED IN FAITH. And all received something better at the end.
To abandon ship and join the bandwagon is not of faith. It requires faith to stay. It requires no faith to leave. I stay. The just shall live by faith. (I love that because that was the cry of the Reformation. I hope they still teach church history in the churches today!)
Look at this. If Noynoy wins, he rules 6 years. After that, life goes on. If ECV wins, he rules 6 years, and life for this country is never the same again. If he loses, and somebody else wins, we lick our wounds, and look forward to eternity with heads unbowed.
I choose eternity. Not the euphoria and the melodrama of the moment.
Who knows, the God who loves to spring surprises may yet spring a horrendous upset. And I would love to be part of it. If not, I still would like to be part of the remnant that waited for it, even if it did not come. Remember Shedrach, Meschach, and Abednego. But today, as always, I want God and His cause to always win in my heart and life. Every other thing, I entrust to His sovereign will.
With this, I hope I enlightened you somewhat, and I hope, you would not forward to me all those articles exhorting one and all to join the bandwagon. I already know what they want to say, and while I respect them, I have heard enough and do not need any more of them. To quote an old preacher, I do not want to pollute the atmosphere with unbelief.
Thank you and God bless you more and more!
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*Name of sender and recipient intentionally deleted.
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