Mexico is a study in contrasts. A vaquero on his horse at the KFC drive thru window. A beggar on the steps of a cathedral built in the 1500’s; the church so stunningly ornate and the beggar so filthy, both take your breath away. A family of five, including a couple of toddlers and a newborn on the family vehicle, a motorscooter. A grizzled, old, six-toothed Mexican gentleman with typical sombrero and sandals, riding his burro down the side of the pot-holed highway herding goats…talking on his cell phone!
In our part of Mexico, what the missionaries call The Heart Of Darkness, there are great contrasts spiritually. How can it be spiritual darkness, people sometimes wonder, when it’s almost 100% Roman Catholic? “Isn’t that Christian?,” they reason. Certainly there are Catholics who are truly Christian. But around here, at least, they are the exception, not the rule. For the most part, they are in the dark, just like 500 years ago in Europe.
Wycliffe, Huss, Luther, Melanchthon, Wolmar, Calvin, Olivetan, Farel, Knox, Cop, plus an army of preachers rediscovered the pure Gospel in Europe and Great Britain half a millennium ago. A revolution occurred. It was a Spiritual Awakening, known as the Protestant Reformation. Spiritually, Mexico is not much different than Europe was then. Everyone is Catholic. Most are in the dark. Many will admit that. A cab driver told me just that today. His name is Christian. (Not “Cristiano”, as you might expect.) He is Catholic. No, he says, he is not a real Christian. No, he does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. No, he does not even know the Commandments of Mary (John 2.) No, he doesn’t expect to get to Heaven or doesn’t have a clue as to how to go about it. Oh yes, he knows how to get his sins forgiven..confess to the priest. No, he doesn’t confess to the priest. Believe me, Christian is typical. I witness to Mexicans every day.
Mexico is in darkness. But remember the old saying, “Don’t curse the darkness, light a candle.” As I write this at 9:08 on a Thursday night, I’m thinking about Enrique, the jefe (boss) at a construction site where IMB missionary David Cone and I are going to start a Bible study for the crew tomorrow. I’m thinking about the two women who gave their lives to the Lord as I preached and David interpreted last Sunday at a house church during a very impressive thunder storm! I’m thinking about the Nahuat and Misteco Indian migrant worker camps in Autlan de Navarro where we are just now beginning a work. I’m thinking about my upcoming trip (3rd) to the largest city in the world, Mexico City. I’m thinking about the four little villages within 2 to 5 miles of my house which are my ongoing personal, evangelistic project: Santa Cruz de la Soledad, San Nicolas de Ibarra, San Juan Tecomatlan, and Tlachichilco.
And I was thinking about you, thanking the Lord for those He has enabled to hold the rope in intercession and/or in giving. And I was wondering if the Lord of the Harvest was going to call someone from my mailing list to come to Heart of Darkness with that little light of yours! What are you thinking?
Compelled by the love of Christ,
Dan Grindstaff