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My Encounter with Rev. Raúl Suárez
Rev. Suárez pastors the Baptist Church Ebenezer, Havana, Cuba and is the director and founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center, which publishes the magazine "Caminos" Revista Cubana de Pensamiento Socioteológico (Cuban Magazine of Sociotheological Thought). In August of 2002 while he was spending a few days in Puerto Esperanza, province of Pinar del Río conducting a retreat with a group of young adults of his church, I was able to spend some time with him. On the last day of his stay he called me aside and began to share with me the account that follows. I grabbed my notepad and began to write as fast as I could. His humility, candor, knowledge and love for his country has impressed me very deeply. I was honored that he would take the time to bear somewhat of his heart with me. I wish I had a tape recorder with me because I had to skip so many things unwillingly. Anyway, I came back home with a better understanding of a man that has dedicated his life to the service of his fellow man.
Rev. Raúl Suárez began by saying to me that he was converted when he was 17 years old. He was working at a bar at that time where the owner was involved in prostitution, selling drugs and alcohol. It was after a 24-hour drinking spree that he found himself abandoned and sleeping on burlap bags. He stated that he felt very bad and remembered seeing his life like on a movie screen; he began to pray and repeat Psalms 51:10 which says. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Jesus appeared in his life and he experienced a sweetness and joy that he had never experienced before. For the first time in his life he was able to sleep like a baby without nightmares.
He returned to his hometown and sat on a bench full of joy! He asked himself "What am I going to do with my life?" The next day he made the decision to leave behind his previous lifestyle and began to attend a Baptist church. On February 8, 1953 he was baptized and received communion for the first time. He recalls how the pastor asked the congregation the question, "Who wants to dedicate their life to the work of the Lord?" He was deeply touched by the pastor's words and that day he decided to surrender his life completely to the Lord.
Since he only had a second grade education, the pastor began to teach him arithmetic, algebra, and Spanish Literature. He began to study to take the graduation test for high school. In June of 1954, he took the test and didn't pass. His pastor encouraged him to take the test again; and the second time around he passed the test.
He was now doing yard work from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on his day off he would travel 60 km to the institute of secondary education where he enrolled as an official student.
It was in 1955 that he began his seminary education and graduated with a Bachelor in Theology. At the graduation ceremony he had the honor of giving the graduation sermon on behalf of the class.
After concluding his independent studies, at the age 50 he obtained a degree with a major in Cuban History. He made his post graduate education in Mexico, in Latin American Theology, which took him 5 months.
In 1987 he started the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center in Marianao, Havana, Cuba. The Center is engaged in five (5) different working priorities:
1. Socio-theological education.
2. Popular education.
The relationship teacher-student is redefined as an encounter of knowledge's. The goal is to share that knowledge and to acquire a conscience in the process. The teacher is transformed into a host. In this context God gives His message to the community and the community discovers the message. Everyone had something to offer. In this consensus careful consideration is given to the question, "What is God saying?" It is not teaching in the traditional way, through this process the people becomes conscious of what its role is in the community; thus the concept Church-Community.
3. Service to the community.
* Building and remodeling homes
4. Transfer of technology especially in construction.
* Use of low cost materials
* Use of the natural resources already available in the region (E.g. bio-gas, methane, pig waste is used to produce methane gas for cooking
5. Communication
* Significant works in the Cuban Culture
Rev. Suárez points to a couple of his own literary projects.
a. Article "Self Esteem of the Black Culture."
b. Future book publication titled "When Thou Passeth Through the Waters" with the subtitle "Living the Faith in the Revolution" This will consist of twelve chapters with biographical elements in a religious context.
Rev. Suárez paused for a few seconds and said to me, "Victor everyday I make the following prayer."
1. "Not to forget that when my life made no sense, the Lord set me free and saved me."
My supreme loyalty is to Him (Jesus). This causes me not to belong to any party or institution. I am loyal to the church because I am loyal to Jesus Christ. I am loyal to my country because I am loyal to Jesus Christ. My loyalty to Jesus Christ is the reason why the rest of the loyalties in my life exist, family etc.
2. That I may never forget my social origin. Isaiah 51:1 says, "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."
The greatest blessing is having been born in a poor cradle. This symbol is my symbol; the child in the manger. My father was a farm worker and my mother earned a living doing laundry. Not to have a higher concept of myself than I ought to have.
3. I give thanks to God that the Cuban Revolution has contributed to give meaning to my pastoral vocation.
I am not the same pastor that I used to be; I say this without the sacralization or idealization of the Cuban Project. The Christian utopia is the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not depleted nor is diminished under any socio-political or economic system. There is not a single system that totally reflects the kingdom of God. Neither capitalism nor socialism does it. None of these can be identified individually as the absolute answer. The extremes are: wealth is particularized and poverty and sickness are globalize.
I asked Rev. Suárez to clarify some of the notes that I had just taken, but unfortunately there was not enough time to go in depth as I would have liked to. If there are any errors in some of the statements, it is on my part, I struggle with some of the concepts in translation. To the best of my ability I tried to translate from Spanish to English as faithfully as I know how to. We said goodbye hoping for another time. Until then I am really looking forward to another encounter with this man of God.
Tongues and the Wisdom of God
Two weeks after I was asked to visit Mr. Cochran in the hospital, I was in his room not sure of what I was going to say. I was warned that he did not want to do anything with Jesus and that he would not receive anybody that would talk about Him. Well, there I was. I introduced a friend that accompanied me and myself. I told him the name of the church I belonged to and that Jesus loved him. It took me but a few minutes to share the love of our Redeemer and the need to receive Him as Lord and Savior. In other words, I laid down the plan of salvation as simply as the Holy Spirit led me that even a small child could understand it. When I asked him if he wanted to receive Jesus into his heart he agreed with no hesitation. I asked him to repeat after me the prayer of salvation, but when it came to repeat the name of Jesus, as much as he tried, he could not. My friend, who was standing next to me praying, said to me, "Victor, why don't you bind the spirit of confusion?" I thought to myself that if I started "binding" demons I might cause Mr. Cochran to back down from his decision. Then, the idea of praying in Spanish came to me. I reasoned that if I rebuked the spirit of confusion in Spanish, because I was sure he understood my language, that I would preserve the ground I gained and set Mr. Cochran free to acknowledge Jesus as Savior. I remember saying a short prayer in Spanish and then I went on to have Mr. Cochran repeat after me the prayer of salvation. This time, when it came to pronounce the name of Jesus, Mr. Cochran, with the most beautiful smile I have ever heard anybody saying Jesus, had no problem saying, " Jesus come into my heart." That smile, drawn in his face at the sound of the name of Jesus, is something I will never forget.
When my friend and I left the room we were rejoicing at what the Lord had done. We knew Mr. Cochran's confession of faith was genuine. One week after we prayed with him, he passed away. I found out that the day we went to see him, was the last day that he was able to speak. I did not know that he was suffering from cancer of the esophagus and the throat. Although I was saddened by his death, I rejoiced the more in the fact that he went to be with the Lord and that Satan's plan to destroy his soul at the last minute was aborted by the relentless and unquenchable love, grace and mercy of God that passes all understanding and by His wisdom that puts to shame the wisdom in which the adversary operates.
Many times, we as Christians are so afraid to speak out the things we are believing God for, for fear that Satan might hear what we say and prevent us from receiving the tangible manifestation of God's promises. Through this fear we have come to find comfort in the misleading idea that God has giving us a spiritual language (tongues), container of His wisdom, that is kept not only outside human understanding but also outside of the grasp of Satan himself. We have assumed that because Satan cannot understand what we pray in the spirit, that therefore he cannot interfere with its outcome. Is that so? Is it the lack of understanding of the tongue or language in which we are praying what keeps Satan from interfering or stopping its end result?
Now, let us reason somewhat about this. Will it really make a difference whether Satan can understand or not what we say in the spirit? In I Corinthians 13.1 it reads, "Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." A good question would be, can Satan understand the tongues of men? Most certainly, I have never being to a foreign country where Satan is not operating because he does not understand the language of the people. He does not stop his work south of the border because the Spanish language is outside his understanding and wisdom. The truth is that language has not stop him from operating in China, Russia, Ecuador or any other place on this planet where there is a human being, no matter even if the language that they use to communicate is sign language.
Another question would be, can Satan understand the tongues or language of angels? Yes, he can. Remember, Satan once stood in Gods presence and communicated with no problem with the host of heaven. Ezekiel 28.14 states, " You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones." Satan was able to persuade one third of the angelic host to abandon their position with God to follow after him. They must have understood, being himself an angel, what he was saying to fall for prey to his persuasion.
If Satan can understand the language we are praying in, then, what is hindering him from aborting the will of God for our lives? Could it be that encrypted in that language is wisdom that although he hears, he cannot hear? And, that
although he sees, he cannot see? Let us look at some scriptures to prove these points.
Satan's fate spelled out
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3.14, 15
Satan tried to corrupt the seed of the woman
Lucifer, like a blindfolded child trying to hit a piñata, set out to try to stop the seed of the woman that would ultimately destroy all his works. He thought that by polluting the seed of the woman with angelic seed that he would prevent God's sentence over his head to be carried out. He almost succeeded and God had to bring judgment to the whole planet through the flood. But in the midst of the depravation that was going on, Noah found favor with God and a remnant was preserved that would give continuity to the fulfillment of God's word (Genesis 6.7,8, 18)
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6.4
The devil put in Herod's heart to murder every child, two years and under, expecting to eliminate the newborn King. But God spoke to Joseph in a dream and he fled with Mary his wife and the child to Egypt (Matthew 2.13).
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matthew 2.16-18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1.18-25
It is pretty obvious that Wisdom is never taken off guard or by surprise because Wisdom is the answer to every human dilemma, no matter how scrambled or difficult it may seem. Wisdom is always ready to answer the variables of life.
The Scriptures are full of references and details about the coming of the Messiah. They speak profusely about his sufferings, death and resurrection. I am quite sure that at least a demon or two saw the westward journey of the magi and the star that they followed and many other signs of His birth. Have you ever wondered how in spite of all the evidence that pointed to Jesus as being that seed of the woman promised by God to redeem humanity, Satan still missed it in stopping God's plan of redemption?
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2.6-8
If Satan knew what was coming to him through the cross, perhaps he would have said something like this, "Stop! Stop! Stop! Nobody put a finger on Jesus. Stay out of his way! Don't touch him, because I know what he is up to! No, he did not say that. He could see Jesus the man, the son of Joseph the carpenter and Mary, but the mystery of "Emmanuel" was hidden from him. He had seen miracle workers in the past, but he had never seen one like Jesus. There was something about Him he could not figure out. He thought that as he did away with the first Adam, the second and last Adam would be no different to persuade. By the time Jesus shows up in the human scene, Satan had acquired a lot of experience in his deceiving schemes. Sure, there had to be something in his bag of tricks he could use to buy Jesus. And that was another misjudgment of Satan because if there was anything Jesus was to be sold out to, it was that he was already sold out to please the Father in all things.
We assume that because Satan is a spirit being that he understands all spiritual matters. Not so. He might be a spirit but he is not spiritual, although he majors in spirituality to keep whole generations in darkness. This is what we call religion. When it comes to know the mind of the Father, Satan's capacity is no better than that of the natural man, but the latter has the advantage that he can become spiritual by rebirth. That is by being born again.
Many times the Lord spoke to his disciples in their own language with simple every day words and examples of their every day life and still they could not understand a lot of the things he was saying to them.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. John 10.1-6
Jesus communicated with his disciples what the Scriptures spoke of him in plain language and even then they could not comprehend what he was talking about.
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. Luke 18.31-34
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2.15-16
The disciples could not understand many of the things that Jesus said basically because they were spiritually dead. The Lord himself told them that the day would come when they would be able to understand and receive what he was saying to them.
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16.12-15
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2.9,10
It was only after Jesus was resurrected from the dead and glorified that the disciples began to understand many of his sayings, but by then they had changed also. They were born again, brand new creatures in Christ Jesus.
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. John 12.12-16
In reality, if Satan understands the language we pray, he still would have to be born again, an impossibility, to receive the things of God that are spoken in a mystery. The understanding of the divine secrets is kept in store for the initiated, for those that are born again. The natural man as well as Satan cannot put together or figure out of their own volition what God means when we pray in tongues. Satan can hear the sound of the words, he can hear the sentences in a language known by him, but he is kept blind concerning he wisdom behind the words for they are the language reserved for Gods children. We should never be afraid of what he hears when we are doing the will of God.
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