Reflection 12 (To my Judea)

            This week talks about how Christianity went to the Philippines. In our history the gospel was preached to us when we were still under the colonization of the Spaniards. Also there is one gospel that was translated to our own language and that is the Gospel of Luke it was written in Pangasinense. This is the biggest gratitude we have to the missionaries and people who offered their life in sharing the gospel to us Filipino people. We came to know the truth and the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ not of works because they answered the call of God to be the missionaries to us.

I learned that even though Protestantism entered the Philippines yet Roman Catholic still the dominant Church or Religion in the Philippines because they taught us Filipinos that we are one and have one faith and that is Roman Catholic. This learning can help in ministering to them, because one of their argument is that they came first before the Protestants. Accepting them and not condemning is the key to evangelize and through our lives we can best share the love of Christ. I learned that also that there are people who first translated the New Testament and it is an honor to know that Castells was the one who translated the Gospel into Filipino language.

This truth should ignite my passion in sharing the gospel to others. These people already did their part in sharing the gospel and now it is my time. As a graduating student and soon to go to the field, I should think of others also that they need the saving grace of our Lord Jesus. I don’t know where God will put me, either in school or church I will do my best with God’s help in sharing the truth to others.

Reflection 11 (Poverty Cannot Stop)

            George Whitefield comes from a poor family and for their business at the Inn is not very good. But even though this is the status of his life, he did not stop schooling and went to Pembroke College or Oxford University. His life as a student was not easy. He was a working student and the still he finishes college level because he did not use the money to stop the ministry. Whitefield also part of the holy Club and with the Wesley brothers, John and Charles.  He has also a passion in preaching and he was renowned as open air preacher and evangelist. His preached 18,000 formal sermons and there are 78 that was published. Whitefield also was one of the persons in the great awakening. This event has great impact to Europe, British America, and America and leaving a permanent impact to Protestantism in this countries.

            I learned that even though Whitefield has struggled in financial aspect when he was still going to school but still he was successful. He was not just successful in his studies but most of all he was successful in the ministry that God has called him. That is in the great awakening and his preaching. I learned that financial aspect does not hinders us to be an effective preacher or whatever ministry that God has put him.

            I should remember that I should not think that money is a problem in the ministry because like Whitefield he started in studying with financial problem but in the long run God provided him finances and this comforts me because there is a God who sees my needs and will love to help me if I call to Him. I should not be anxious in the financial aspects because there is a God who provides.

Reflection 10 (Truth Seeker)

            This week we talked about the person who ignited the reformation and that is Martin Luther. Luther is not very rich but has the ability to send Luther to school. He finished his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree and suppose to go to law school because of his father’s request. But a sudden religious experience inspired him to become a monk. And that experience is he was afraid of lightning. But while he served as a monk he has a trouble over the possibility of not going to heaven. He was looking for the truth about man going to heaven through faith or good works. But when he turned to the Bible he was comforted by God through the Bible. He refuted the teachings of the Roman Catholic that no one can be saved and Bible is the source of truth, people can understand themselves, and salvation through faith.

            I learned that the life of Luther was not easy because when he refuted to beliefs and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church he was summoned by the Pope and there’s a threat to his life. This is the result of his seeker of the true truth and that is only found in the Word of God or the Bible. For Luther read the book of Romans 1:17 and this passage had a great impact in his life.

            I should make sure whatever I have learned I need to ask the question, is this contradicting to the word of God or does not follow his will. In the world people offer false truth’s and seeking is this really true and does it contradicts the Word of God. Also I need to study more in the Word of God because if someone asks me I can answer their questions.

Reflection 9 (Until I depart)

            Last week the person that was discussed was Ambrose now this week his disciple is Augustine or Aurelius Augustious. Augustine was a bishop of Hippo and he served as a bishop there until his death. Augustine was one of the greatest leaders of the early Christian Church. His writings had a strong influence on medieval religious thoughts. Also his teaching also apparent in Martin Luther, John Calvin and other protestant formers.

            Consistency is really important in a ministry. Augustine ministered in Hippo as a bishop and he served there for the rest of his life. Before they endure in the ministry or the calling of God to their life. It is an encouragement to us to endure the ministry that God has given us. Like the life of Augustine.

            Graduation is in hand and the next step is work and ministry. I have a tendency to procrastinate in the ministry and in work. Like Augustine he was consistent in his calling and he served until his death. His commitment and consistency is really significant in my life. My prayer to God is that, “Help me Lord to be consistent and persevere in the ministry that you prepared before me.”

Reflection 8 (Influenced by the Parents)

            Ambrose of Milan is the church father that is born in a Christian family and the one that influence him is his father. The family of Ambrose has a great impact in his life. Not just his father but also his brother and sister. But the Martin of Tours is the exact opposite because his parents were pagan worshipers even though they have different family background but their passion is serving and following Christ is great. Martin said that, “I save you already, allow me to save Christ.” These two person have put their faith and heart to choose to follow Christ.

            I learned that Family has a great impact in someone’s life. That Ambrose was influenced by his father and his family and this is one aspect he choose to follow Christ in his life. I also remembered how my parents mold me in the Christian faith and because of their love and prayer I was also influence by their faith. God used them so that I came to realize how God loves me.

            Soon in the near future I will be a parent and will have a family on my own. How will I live as a father and a parent? I need to remember this two person that their family has a big impact in their life. I need to influence my children to follow Christ and by doing that I need to be more faithful in God and the ministry that He has entrusted to me and one is my future family.

Reflection 7 (Just a thought it’s not God’s will)

            Crusades is a famous word and as a gamer and a movie fanatic this word always appear. The medieval movies that crusaders appear and even in games. I learned that Crusades is not a game or just a mere movie. The main purpose of crusade is Christians wanted to gain control of the Holy Land Israel and had a profound economic, political, and social impact on the societies involved. And also to take Jerusalem, the Holy Land away from Muslims. They are doing crusades thinking that this is the will of God.

            I learned that Crusade did not happen once but many times. There is this crusade that they used peasants. They traveled for months and this people survived because their body is used to taking the heat of the sun and survival. But they were defeated because this people doesn’t have a battle experience. Also there this Crusade that they used children to go and attack Jerusalem in the purpose of claiming back the Holy City. This is the brutal side of Crusade that people is killing other people in the name of Jesus and for the Church.

            There are instances that I thought I am in the will of God but it’s just the opposite. I need to be sensitive in the call of God. Sensitive in the direction that God wants me to go or he wanted me to detour the path that I am following. For maybe the path does not already glorifying Him, for this is the purpose of my life. 

Reflection 6 (Where to go Lord?)

            Patric was one of the Persons that they reported and his life was a captive of the Scots from England. Because he was a captive he became slave. He was a prayerful man for one of his prayer is he earnestly pray for his freedom from slavery. And he has a vision to escape from God. Patric’s life is amazing for when God answered his prayer to be freed. Then God imparted to his heart to go back where he became slave and become a missionary. He neglected the worst experience of his life while he was a slave. Being a slave is the lowest ranking job, or a person who is a slave is a possession to his or her master. Then Patric decided to return and not knowingly he became their patron. And Patric is from England.

            I learned that when Patric accepted the call of God it was not easy. Because the place where God called him to go is the place where he worked as slave. This is a big leap of faith knowing going back to the place and will be ministering to the people who enslaved him. In their time many people died because of slavery. For slave people are just mere tool, they have no value in the community and they look at these people as a thing. And in the later part of his ministry. Patric had finished his missions well, Ireland’s patron wasn’t Irish because it was Patric.

            We may choose a place to minister but God will be the one who is the final say in His ministry. I will just follow what Patric did that he was obedient to the call of God. Wherever place he will minister or people he will live with. Whether it will be a school, a rural place or urban or other side of the earth. I will make myself available to God.

Reflection 5 (It is not perfect)

            In this week we talked about councils and creeds. This is the first creed that the emperor ordered because the emperor wanted the Rome to unify it and even the religion will be unified within the Rome. This councils have great significant in our Christian faiths. For God uses these people who were in the Council to formulate Christian’s statement of faith. Early councils were not composed of perfect or holy people. They were corrupt, murderer and also Christians were also there. But through these councils we learned our mistakes and what doctrinal statements to be changed.

I learned that in this council they selected three members to write a creed and those were, Alexander he was the Pope, then Atheanasius “defender of faith” and leontius. In their council they added a statement of anathema it means that whenever a person does not follow the following creed he or she is a heresy. And the result of this was Arianism spread, people were forced to follow the council of Nicea by the Emperor Constantine also one of this is the Pope exist as a church government. And the church decisions determined by political authority rather than spiritual. I learned one of the downside of this council is they added anathema of this council. So this council is infallible and people should follow them. This is where the problem comes because whenever there’s an error on this creed people do not have a free choice but to follow it.

            Even though past has many mistakes and errors regarding their rules or in making decisions but God uses it for good. God uses imperfect rules, standards or even people to accomplish His divine plan for human being and even in small things. In this I should not forget the wrong decisions and actions I did in the past but rather I should learn from it.

Reflection 4 (Defend God!)

            This week the reporter talked about Justin Martyr. This church father is an Apologist and Philosopher. There are many things that Justin Martyr contributed in the Christian world and that is “Dialogue with Trypho” this about the Christ as Messiah. In their time, there are so ay teaching about Christ as a mere human being and not divine or God. In this Justin Martyr was one of the person who refute this teachings. Gnostic teaching is also rampant in this time. There are many people who were fooled and follow these teaching. And this is also a threat to Christianity that is why Justin Martyr’s life refute them.

            Heresy teaching is not just common today but also in the early Christians topic about other beliefs that deny that Christ  is God, a mere human being, just a prophet and teaching that contradicts the Bible is present today. Continues study of the Scripture for us to be equipped is really vital in every Christian, for we are living in this intelligent world with wrong understanding about God.

As soon I graduate here at BTC I should not stop studying and refuting the true message of the Bible and about Jesus Christ. I will be surrounded by people who does not know and acknowledge that Jesus is God. I should be a great example to them through my personal testimony and life. And defending my faith to those people who does not believe God. But I should treat them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Reflection 3 (People Influencer)

            We have a video about the dark ages.  This video they discussed how the gospel was spread throughout the world. This video is about how Constantine wage war against the enemies and how he conquered them. This shows that Emperor Constantine received Christ as a savior. But his life contradicts the way he was living. He uses the name of Jesus and uses the Cross symbol in his army to conquer his enemies. There was also a person who influenced Constantine that he said that God called him and wanted him to unite the entire Rome. A Christian Lactatius influenced Constantine. This man became one of Constantine’s advisor and because of him Christianity was changed. Because later on Constantine was the one who made Christianity the State Religion and persecution was lessen and the work of evangelism.

            Because one person influenced Constantine. One factor of Christians is influencing other people. Through our life we can make a change. Change to a specific person, a family or even the community. God is a personal and he uses a person to fulfill his plans. I learned that when I live according to the plan of God and influence other through my life I can bring change and this change will probably not great as Lactatius did but even just one person still God will be glorified.

Reflection 2 (Spiritually Afraid)

            This week was talking about the persecution of the Christians. There are negative effects of persecution and that is the death of Christians all over the world. There are people who were fed by the beast using the Rome Arena, they will just use Christians as an entertainment or a show. People cannot freely worship Jesus because if they were know surely they will be in prison or even killed. This is the negative side of persecution but the there is also positive side because God is in control of everything and even though Christians were persecuted, God used it to spread the Gospel. Because Christians were scattered because of persecution, they did not live in one country and city but they were living all over the world. They have lived a life that’s reflects Christ and because of this people came to know Christ. Not just this also their faith became strong and God uses the hardship to make our faith genuine (Jas. 1:3).

            I learned that this is the most difficult time of Christians because of the rampant persecutions. They have no freedom in their religion or what, how they worship. People were afraid and somewhat discouraged because of the hardship they were facing but through these their faith were strengthen. In that time being a Christian is scary and I learned that I am blessed that today in the Philippines Christianity is not persecuted. There are still many countries that Christianity is not allowed and Christians are being put to prison and the worst is they will kill them.

            I should be thankful to God that He has put me in this society where Christians have freedom to worship God. I should also think of other Christians all over the world that they are hindered by many people to practice their faith. I will grab tis opportunity that God has given me and that is to freely declare his Gospel that God loves all the people and He wanted to have a personal relationship to Him.

Reaction 1 (About His-Story)

      We talked and discussed about the importance of History. Before history is one of the hate subjects in high school because of the name of persons and the dates. I have a dilemma with history and personally I did not appreciate and think that history is a good and fun to learn. We discussed why study specifically Church History. One reason is that it is an honor to know what happened to the people in the past who gave their lives in sharing the Gospel and even to the point of death on how they act despite of persecutions that adamant. Also the importance of knowing and seeing how God shows and protected His church up to now and in the future.

     

       I learned that History is not boring subject and that there are so many things to learn. The dates of how His church journeyed in the time line of this world. I learned to love History subject and specifically Church History. But I really admit that sometimes the dates and names my mind turns around, but it’s worth the study and learning. The history of the Church is also useful in the preaching study and even illustrations. Because in studying the Bible needs to know the historical background of the event and the Bible.

       

     Church History subject is really fun to learn and I can teach this to others, the basic information in the Church History. Not just teach but also I can answer to the people who will ask and person who doesn’t like history like me before its importance and significance to us Christians.