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!