Reflection # 5- Nothing New Under the Sun!

The past two sessions were series of continuation of the lectures on Church History. Among all the desirable knowledge to gain I chose two highlights of the things I have learned. One of that was the truth that God could use anybody in order to carry out His plan for the church. He used powerful emperors and even the worst enemies in order to preserve the church. Second, I have learned that really debates and arguments about doctrines is not something new for it existed way back centuries past. It seemed never ending. There were so many names to recall about difference in teachings and I could not name them all by memory alone and yet I could remember how many of them fought over the issues that we still struggle today. So really, there is nothing new under the sun!

As I think of it, I praise God for everything that He has done for His church. He used so many lives in order to carry out His will. I feel so thankful that in the same that He used real people in the past with flaws, He uses someone like me today. It is so humbling that God would place me in ministries when I feel so inadequate. Thinking that God could use people as His channel for the Gospel, I see that I could not really judge people and their task. I realized that God has a plan and He is in control. More so, I realized that never ending debates perhaps will never end until the return of Christ. I have been to some arguments before and I really wished I have more knowledge way back then. I wish I could have given better answers. But yeah, I cant. It's done. Because of the lessons this week I have a new admiration for those who have given their lives for the sake of protecting the church doctrine against false teachings.

In application, I will study well about the doctrines taught so that I will be able to give good answers that would help other people to find the truth. I will also read books that would help me learn even more of the faith we hold on to. Ultimately, I will allow God to use me in the ministry. I will be available for Him.  

Reflection #4

Reflection # 4 : The long Ride

This week has been a long journey of revisiting the history. I have learned or relearned various things. One of that is that Islam has been a minority compared to Christianity but then it has risen to power threatening Christianity with its zealous leaders and followers. However, the good thing about that is that no matter how threatening Islam was, it never conquered and will never overthrow Christianity. Faith leads on. The second lesson that I've learned is about yet another amazing man in Church History by the name of Cyprian. Cyprian has contributed so much because of his devotion to Christ. He was truly sacrificial in his faith.

Of the two highlighted learning, I asked myself, and I feel my head ache. Truly, the history of our faith has been so colorful and some kind of dramatic. It has gone through so many ups and downs. This week's lesson has encouraged me to be part of the great work of propagating the faith. I realized that I have not really thought of our Muslim brothers and sisters because for some reasons I have had my own biases towards them. But, yeah, they are people who are also in need of the Gospel. I realized that I have also few Muslim friends who are nice so I should stop stereotyping them. Out of the report of the life of Cyprian, I realized that truly, it is possible to live for Christ and die for Him as an honor. It takes a lot of commitment to the faith. I wonder at what point I am in terms of commitment.

In application, I will continue or make more steps to communicate with my Muslim friends and continually show to them the love of Jesus Christ by example. I will also pray for those who are persecuted because of their faith in Jesus and I will pray that they will live unoffended.

Reflection # 3 Keep On Believing

This week I have learned that the councils and creeds happened in the past for several reasons. It includes the goal to counter the threat of heresies, to clarify Christian core doctrines and to unify the statement of faith. The Second outstanding lesson that I have learned is that even the person who struggled so much of his sin could be a saint and a victorious child of God. That is Saint Augustine. With the two outstanding lessons that I have encountered this week, I have a lot of thinking to do. As I look closely at myself, I could identify with Saint Augustine trying to be more holy yet over and over been haunted for my weaknesses. I think I could not even go half of his struggle yet I don't have the measure of his courage to counter them by being open about it. I feel that I am not being vulnerable to others. I realized that sometimes I am ashamed to admit my weaknesses thinking that I am the worst of all and I would just rather tell it to Jesus. I also realized that indeed having an organized, simple, and strong statement of faith is very important as a Christian.. I haven't really thought of it in the past. I feel the need to develop it now. I should know what I believe.

So how do I apply this? What I have in mind is to find a trusted person whom I could be vulnerable to. I will be more open to others because it is part of achieving freedom. Besides there is nothing to worry about because it is already given that I am a sinner. Yet that should not hinder me from serving God. So even in my weaknesses I will continue serving in the ministry while trusting that someday I shall be made perfect. I will also start to memorize the doctrines I believe in and know them by heart so that I will be ready to answer others. Lastly, I will keep on believing!

Reflection #2 (No to Conformity)

This week the lesson has been filled with the ups and downs of the spread of the Gospel in the ancient world. The first truth I've learned is that even though sometimes it is hard to accept history, it cannot be altered. It has to be taken as it is. There are truths that we uncover from history that we would rather not talk about. One of the example of that is how the Christians in the past have compromised. I have been one who's so naive about how the early believers have compromised some just to be at peace with the rest of the world around them. The Second lesson learned is that the progress of the gospel was amazing and dramatic. God has used so many people to spread the gospel. He used the martyrs to contend for the faith. He even used the tremendous persecution of the church so people will come to know Jesus. The events that happened to the church was strategically used by God to bring about His purpose in making Himself known to the lost world.

Looking at myself, I have always tried to live well. Yet sometimes I tend to be complacent in being a light to the world. However, upon seeing the lives of the early church I realized that they have done so much so that the church thrived. It made me think of what can I contribute to the vast scope of world evangelization. I realzed that I should not expect of a trouble free life because the Bible does not guarantee that kind of life here on earth. I realized that I have along way to go and I have a task to fill in. Will I leave a commendable legacy in the Christian faith? I have to change my perspective. I have to consider very carefully the impact of my life to the testimony of Christian faith. At the same time I also have to be confident that God is still at work in His church and He will accomplish what He wills. Just as He has done in the past.

In order to achieve what I wanted to change in my life, I will not compromise my faith. I will not be comfortable with the line “It's OK because everybody is doing it anyway”. I also have to forgive myself for failing and be merciful to those who have fallen. I will be faithful to God and to His Church.

Reflection #1

 Love for studying history has grown in me over the years and having this subject this semester is a good thing. Among the many things I have chosen two lessons that I've really come to think all through out the week. First, studying church history is valuable.Because if it's not, then we should not study this subject. We learn from church history how God's plan of redemption has been working out from the beginning. Through history we have the opportunity to see how God has protected and preserved His people. That is just amazing. Hstory demonstrate the truth of Christianity. For me, this is mind blowing. Without it, Christian theology remains in the head. Second, ignorance of church history has unwanted consequences. I believe that one of the consequences is poor knowledge of the richness of Church History. Ignorance of church history costs one's understanding that the Christian faith is historical and not just something new. Because of that there will be limitation in grasping how Christianity has thrived from then and now. If a person has not studied Christian history thoroughly, he will not be able to understand the roots of his faith. That limitation would eventually result to false assumption of what had happened in the past as well as ignorance in the works of the early Christians. He/she will miss the opportunity to be amazed on what God has done to His church and how He has sustained His people from the past up to the present. For me, that is just an awful lot of loses. Sadly, many Christians forfeit this privilege of education.

As I was sitting in class these two keeps ringing in my head. Though it was not a foreign concept to me, it was something I did not really take seriouly or religiously. I should dig down deeper of the historical Christianity we hold on to in order to save myself and my hearers from historical amnesia. Upon evaluation, I realized that I need to choose which path to take. Whether I would love history and take it seriously or miss my opportunity. My assessment is that I need to change the way I think about dates and people. They are important in history. Instead of thinking negatively, I think I should encourage myself that I can learn them. :)

 In application, I will read my books on church history faithfully. I will also share the information that I have learned to other people. During our chit chats in the dorm or outside the campus, I will share to others that learning church history is valuable. It should be fun learning history. Most of all, after my studies I pledge to continue learning about history because I know that I will also teach this someday when I'm in the ministry. So help me God!