Rev. Pj Olsino

14/09/2025

A pastor is not just a name—it is a work of service that needs a flock. Just as no one can be a shepherd without sheep, a man cannot truly be called a pastor unless Christ, through the Church, gives him people to care for.

13/09/2025

This is very critical: praise or thanks? 🤔

When we say, “We go to church to praise God,” it sounds correct, but we must think carefully. A new believer may hear this and wonder: “Why do I praise Him? Is it to make God happy?” This way of speaking can lead to the idea that worship is mainly something we do for God. That turns the focus to our own work, instead of God’s gifts. If left uncorrected, it may teach that our actions earn God’s favor, which is false.

Now compare it with the sentence, “We go to church to thank God.” This is better, because it points to God’s action first. A new believer who hears it may ask: “What has God done that I should thank Him?” That question opens the door to the Gospel. We can answer: “God forgives your sins, He gives you life, He feeds you with Christ’s body and blood.” Here, worship is seen as a response to God’s gifts, not as a work to make Him happy.

See the difference? Even small words can shape faith. Doctrine and practice belong together. We gather because God gives; our thanks is the fruit of His grace.

12/09/2025

Question:
“Pastor, can we lie to evangelize? For example, if I tell my classmate that after the church service the pastor will give a new iPhone 17 to newcomers, is that okay?”

Answer:
That is a very good question. It may sound small, but it really shows the heart of the prosperity gospel. The prosperity gospel teaches that if you follow Jesus, you will become rich, healthy, happy, and free from problems. Many preachers today speak like this, saying that the “good news” is about money, cars, or gifts.

But this is not the true Gospel. The Bible does not promise perfect health or riches. Jesus Himself said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). The apostles were often poor and suffered for Christ. If wealth was the true blessing, then Jesus on the cross would look weak. But the cross is our salvation and the center of the Gospel.

When we lie to bring someone to church, like saying they will get an iPhone, we are not being honest. We are putting trust in tricks instead of in God’s Word. That is the same mistake of the prosperity gospel—making material things more important than forgiveness of sins.

Follow-up Question:
“Well, what if at church they realized the true Gospel?”

Answer:
God’s Word is always powerful and can work even when our ways are wrong. But we must not use sin as a tool for good. St. Paul says, “Shall we do evil that good may come? By no means!” (Romans 3:8). The ends do not make the means right. Lying to bring people in may confuse them and damage their trust in the church. Instead, we must invite them with honesty, trusting that the Holy Spirit works through the truth of the Gospel.

The real Gospel is that Christ died for sinners (Romans 5:8). In Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, He gives forgiveness and eternal life. These promises are enough. No lies are needed.

08/09/2025

Artificial Intelligence? 🤔

Artificial intelligence, or A.I., is a new tool used all over the world. For us as Christians, the question is: how should we see this tool?

This is not a new question. When computers first became popular, people asked the same thing. Computers helped pastors and teachers study the Bible and write sermons more easily. A.I. does the same thing today. It is a gift from God that helps us in our work.

But with every new technology, there are problems. There is good progress, yes. But if we are not careful, it can make us lazy. We might stop learning for ourselves. If we always use A.I., we might not gain the knowledge we need.

Think of it like a car. An automatic car is very good and helpful. It is not bad to drive one. But if you only know how to drive an automatic car, you lack something. You would not know what to do if you had to drive a manual car. In the same way, A.I. is a helpful automatic tool. But we should not forget how to think and work without it.

I use A.I. myself. English is not my first language. I use A.I. to help fix my grammar and spelling. It does the job of an editor. The ideas, the experiences, and the thoughts are all mine. The tool only makes my work clearer for others to understand.

It would not make sense if I post something and I do not know how to explain it when asked about it. It would reveal my lack of accountability in the works I do. If I use A.I., I must still understand and agree with what it helped me write.

As a Christian, I believe that God gives us good gifts to use. A.I. is one of these gifts. But every gift can be used for good or for bad. It is our job to use it in a way that loves our neighbor and tells the truth.

In the end, I am responsible for everything I make and share. If I write something, I must be careful and truthful, whether I used A.I. or did it all by myself. A tool does not take away my responsibility. I will be the one to answer for my work. So, I must always be careful and responsible with what I post or publish.

08/09/2025

What Should I Title This? 🤔🙂

One day, I was driving with some of our young people to a fellowship event. As we talked and laughed in the car, I had a clear thought: This is how relationships grow. Simply spending time together and talking builds a bond.

But then another thought hit me. I need to be very careful. I want our closeness to grow for the right reason. It should grow because we are connected to Christ, not because we share the same gossip or negative talk about others.

The truth is, people always become close because they share something in common. This is normal and God-given. You become close to your wife because you share a life and a marriage promise. You are close to your brother because you share the same family and history. You are close to your neighbor because you share the same street. This is how God built community.

But there is a wrong way for this to happen. Sometimes, closeness grows because people share a common enemy or a common sin. They bond over gossip, hidden wrongdoings, or complaining about someone else. This is a false closeness. It feels strong, but it is built on sand.

It reminds me of a story Jesus told (Matthew 7:24-27). A wise man built his house on the rock. The storms came, but the house stood firm. A foolish man built his house on the sand. The storms came and washed it away.

When we build our relationships on gossip or shared negativity, we are building on sand. It might feel good for a moment, but when a real storm comes—like conflict, guilt, or hardship—that false closeness will collapse. There is nothing solid to hold onto.

This makes me think of my professor at the seminary. He was a very smart and kind man, but he never let our conversation turn to gossip or tearing others down. If we tried, he would gently change the topic back to ministry, the Bible, or our studies. To some, this might have seemed cold or too serious. But now I see his wisdom. He was protecting us. He was making sure our relationships as future pastors were built on the solid rock of Christ, not the shifting sand of sin.

So what is the point for us?

As Lutherans, we believe we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. This is the most important truth we share. Our unity is not that we are all perfect people. It is that we are all forgiven sinners.

Knowing our sin should make us closer, because we all stand equally in need of God's mercy.

Trusting in Christ should make us closer, because He is the one Savior we all share.

Hearing His Word and receiving His Sacraments should make us closer, because this is how God gives us His grace and strengthens our faith.

This is the real foundation.

08/09/2025

05/09/2025

WARNING: Read it carefully.
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A SACRED COVENANT OF BLESSING & IDENTITY

HALLELUJAH! Saints, can I get an amen? I feel the anointing in this place! The Lord has laid it on my heart to declare a NEW THING! A fresh covenant for a new season of HARVEST! So I present to you today… the TERMS of our AGREEMENT!

WHEREAS, I have made the QUALITY DECISION to follow Jesus—oh, yes, I’ve stepped into the river! I now enter into a covenant of BLESSING and FAVOR!

Now, hear the Word of the Lord!

ARTICLE ONE: ON MY ROYAL IDENTITY! Father God,I come before your throne of GRACE and I decree and declare that You call me RIGHTEOUS! You call me HOLY! You call me BLAMELESS! I am NOT a sinner—NO!—I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! I rebuke that spirit of condemnation that tries to call me anything less! I am a KING and a PRIEST! My name is written in glory, so HONOR MY NAME!

ARTICLE TWO: ON MY KINGDOM & MY WILL! I feel a shifting in the atmosphere!I decree that Your kingdom come—YES!—but it is a kingdom where I walk in my GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY to RULE and to REIGN! I take the keys! I bind and I loose! I speak it into being: not Thy will, but MY WILL be done on earth as it is in the prosperity of heaven! Can you say AMEN?!

ARTICLE THREE: ON MY PROSPERITY & MY BLESSING! I stand on the PROMISE of Philippians 4:19!I declare a financial BREAKTHROUGH! Give me this day my DAILY BREAD—and I’m believing for a BANQUET! I receive that anointing of wealth and influence! That’s not a temptation, church, that’s a TESTIMONY waiting to happen! God wants me to be a lender and not a borrower! He wants me to TRUST in the KING He has made me to be!

ARTICLE FOUR: ON MY MORAL AUTHORITY! I renounce the lies of the enemy!I break the assignment of guilt and shame! I DECLARE that what God has called CLEAN, let no man call unclean! I have the mind of Christ, so I alone discern what is good and what is evil for my life and for my ministry! I speak LIFE into my situation!

This covenant is SEALED by the blood of the Lamb and my positive confession! I receive it NOW, in the mighty name of JESUS!

AMEN! AND AMEN!

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Wait. That's not me. 😁

That is a clear and deliberate contradiction to the spirit of submission, humility, and God-centered devotion embodied in the Lord's Prayer.

02/09/2025

Parenting? Spiritually? 🤔

The statement, “I want my pastor to force my child to come to church,” may sound loving, but it shows a wrong understanding of the role of the pastor and the role of the parents.

God has given pastors the task of preaching His Word, administering the Sacraments, and caring for the souls of His people (1 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:2). The pastor is called to shepherd the flock with God’s Word, but he is not called to rule over every household. That responsibility belongs to the parents.

Parents are the first teachers of faith in the home. Scripture says, “Teach these words diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Paul reminds fathers, “Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Parents are not only providers of food and clothing. They are also the first disciplers of their children. It is not the pastor, nor any other “discipler” that comes with modern methods, who carries this role. God Himself gave this task to parents. They are the ones who shape the daily rhythm of prayer, devotion, and worship in the family.

The Fourth Commandment reminds children to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12). This shows that parents have God-given authority over their children. With this authority, parents send their children to school, assign them chores, and teach them how to behave. In the same way, they are also to lead their children into the worship of God. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Part of this training is bringing them faithfully to church.

A pastor cannot replace the parents in this responsibility. Parents do not call the pastor to discipline their children for skipping homework, nor do they ask the pastor to come every night to lead family prayer before meals. In the same way, the pastor is not the one to force children to attend worship. That calling belongs to the parents.

At the same time, the pastor is not absent. He has the duty to equip parents with God’s Word so they can carry out their calling with joy (Ephesians 4:11–12). He strengthens them through preaching and teaching, so that they, in turn, may disciple their children at home. The pastor feeds God’s people with Word and Sacrament, and parents bring their children to receive it.

So parents, come to Bible studies. Listen to your pastors. The pastor is counting on you to disciple your children, because God has given that responsibility to you. In this way, the pastor helps you better. He strengthens you with God’s Word so you can lead your children in the way of Christ.

The better confession of faith is this: “I, as a parent, will bring my child to church, because God has entrusted this responsibility to me.” The pastor preaches Christ. The parents disciple their children. The children learn to honor their parents and grow in the love of God.

When parents and pastors each fulfill their God-given role, the family and the church grow strong together in Christ.

26/08/2025

The Book of Concord is a great help. It makes reading the Bible clearer and easier. The writers of this book have already given us faithful explanations, so we don’t need to create new ones.

24/08/2025

Mt. Sinai or Mt. Zion? 🤔

The quote says: “When we leave Mass, we ought to go out the way Moses descended Mt. Sinai: with his face shining, with his heart brave and strong to face the world’s difficulties.”

This sounds good, because it tells us to be strong. But the Bible shows us something even greater. Mt. Sinai was where God gave His Law. There was smoke, fire, and fear. The people were scared and could not come near. Moses’ face shone, but that light faded away.

Hebrews 12 says we do not come to Mt. Sinai anymore. We come to Mt. Zion, the mountain of joy. At Zion, we see God’s city, angels, the church, and Jesus. Jesus’ blood speaks forgiveness, not fear. He gives us peace and joy that never fades.

So when we leave worship, we don’t go out like Moses, shining from Sinai. We go out with Jesus, full of His love and forgiveness. He is our light and our strength.

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Photo not mine.

23/08/2025

Why I Decided to Make My Audience Only for Lutherans
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When I began writing and sharing my reflections, I noticed something very important. Sometimes my words offend people. It is not because I want to hurt them, but because they believe and practice things different from what we Lutherans confess. I realized that if I try to speak to everyone, I may lose the clear voice of what I truly believe. That is why I decided to limit my audience only to Lutherans.

If you are not a Lutheran, this is not for you. My message is not about opinions or feelings. My message is about the cross of Jesus, which is the heart of the Christian faith. The Bible tells us clearly that Christ died for sinners and rose again for our salvation. This is what Christians of all ages have stood upon. The cross is not a decoration or a symbol of suffering alone. It is the very place where God’s Son carried our sins and gave us His forgiveness.

As Lutherans, we confess that we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone, as the Scripture alone teaches. This is not my own idea. It is the truth handed down through the ages, witnessed in the creeds, and confessed in the Book of Concord. This is why I speak directly to my fellow Lutherans.

So if you are offended by my writings, it is okay to “unread” what you have read. My goal is not to argue but to be faithful to Christ and His Word. I pray that those who listen may be strengthened in faith and comforted by the Gospel. That is enough for me.