Reflection # 1
In the first week of this course in Church history, my mind was opened by the information of how the Christianity begins. And the two things that I have learned that I’ve never known before from this study are loyalty and courage for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The lives of our first two church fathers namely, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp, to Christianity were very inspiring and admirable. They showed me how faithful they were in their faith. They never gave-up on it even to the point of their barbarous death. Knowing them is a blessing to me because they’ve made an impact into my life.
Before I knew these two people in the past, I can’t deny the fact that there is something in my heart that always disturbed me--and that is fear. When I heard or found myself thinking about Christians who lives in closed countries for Christianity, or missionaries, I can’t stop thinking of how they are persecuted because of their faith. There are missionaries who are killed by the people who are against Christianity. That’s one of the reasons why I have this feeling of hesitancy every time I heard an invitation to cross-culture missions to the other countries. I am afraid of a violent death that would cause me to compromise my faith. I’m thinking that I am not strong enough face that kind of persecution. But when I heard these two men of God, I am really impressed and blessed of their lives, although many times I heard this persecution from the testimony of other Christians and from the book of Acts. This is another God’s revelation to me that He is worth dying for, so why should I be afraid of facing those tribulations?
As an application of what I have learned from this study, my first thing to do is to pray to God that He will give me enough courage and a loyal heart that I may be strengthen of my faith in Him. The second thing is to start practicing it to the field wherever God will lead me.
Reflection # 2
In the second week of class in Church History, we continued the discussion about the early Christian persecutions 64-100 AD. In this lesson I have learned that the King of the Rome was very strict about Emperor worship and he executed Christians as Atheist. Even before man were very corrupted of sin. He control people to gain glory even if it cost life to fulfill his own selfish desire. The next thing that I learned from this class Christians became martyrs because of their faith. They were persecuted because of their loyalty to God.
This event in the past, the selfish and prideful motive of the king help me to reflect how dreadful a man is when we follow our selfish desires and ambitions--having a power is a great privilege to lead the people or to manipulate people.Now, I see the danger of having the authority to lead people. As a student teacher, in our outreach, I have given the authority to control the children. I just notice to myself that sometimes, I have this kind of desire that I want all the children will follow what I see. Somehow I can see that danger that what if I will become like King Nero--controlling children for my own benefits.Oh no, I don't like it to happen. And for the Christians who became martyr of their faith, I see myself that what if will be persecuted,too. What will be my response? It is a hard thing to be strong when it risks our life. It is important that we will be strong in our faith so that we will not be shaken, when it would also happen to us.
As a Christian minister, I am planning to spend time with God everyday. Asking Him to humble my heart always before Him. It is also to be dependent on Him so that I will not be driven by my own selfish desires and I will not be driven by fear of death. I need to remember that Jesus died for me so that I will become fully committed to Him that whatever happens to my life I will not give up for the glory of God.
Reflection # 3
Knowing these church fathers Athanatius and St Basil the Great is quite interesting to me.The two things I have learned from their lives are: First, from Athanatiu's life. His strong faith to God made an impact, not just to me, but of course to those who read the New Testament of the Bible. Without his strong faith in the Lord, I think the canonization of the New Testament would not be completed or there would be an error. But I am grateful to God because of Athanatius' strong faith. I believed that it is God's plan to use him to make His Word known to men. That was the greatest contribution that he had left to all believers and even to the unbelievers. His life also made me realized how he defended His belief. He did not allow the heresies to mislead the followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, he defended it by exposing the word of truth. He is so faithful to be used by God to make His word visible to man. Second was the life of saint Basil the great of Cappadosia. I have learned his determination to start a monasteries, and he wrote longer and shorter rules for monastic life.It implies that he wanted other people to live a life worthy of God . His decision for helping the poor during the famine is remarkable to us.
While reflecting to their lives starting from the past up to now, I found myself that I have no visions and dreams for the people that I am ministering now. I have realized that visions and dreams for the ministry that God has entrusted to me are important. I would not be successful like Athanatius or Saint Basil the great, but God has a different plan for my life for the ministry. But it is the only thing that I can leave for them that they will continue to to serve God when I die. I believe that God can use me also to reveal his plan for the his people that He gave me to be ministered. I think God can do many things through me if I will live my life by faith strongly. I need to have a greater visions and dreams for helping God's ministries. It is good to think that we can leave a remarkable contribution for the next generation who are looking us following the footsteps of Christ.
I have to be intentional to teach the Word of God so that they will also stand of their faith in Christ. They will not be shaken by when the false teachers come but able to defend their belief just like Athanatius. I will also teach them to live a true Christian living without compromising the Word of God. This would include helping others in need. There are two specific plans to do to practice what I have realized from there lives: First,asking God of what He wants me to do for our community. It is important that my vision comes from God and my dreams should be align to it. I will allow God to guide this plans by depending on His word so it is necessary to seek Him first before taking any actions for our community. Second, setting a SMART goals for achieving that plans. It is important to have a direction to accomplish them.
Reflection # 4
The two things that I learned from our studies in Church History comes from the life of our apostolic figure Justin Martyr. The first thing that I have learned from him is his philosophy of life. He was beheaded because of his Christian philosophy of life. His apology and Appendix was addressed to the Roman Emperors. The second thing that I have learned from him is Syntagmata. He refuted Gnostics. He never hesitated to refute the beliefs of the Gnostics.
While reflecting His life, I see how God used this person to encourage me to have a strong philosophy of my Christian beliefs. God has revealed me that I am not strong enough to defense my faith. I I realized that if ever God would allow me to encounter gnostic people, I think I cannot stand against them because they are good in reasoning. I just remember the time when I encountered a logical Atheist. I had the hard time to converse with him because he is very good in reasoning. So, for these lesson, God taught me to become strong in my faith
I am thankful to God for this learning because He used him to build me as a servant and minister in our community. It also helps me to become ready to face different kinds of people who twisted the truth of the Bible. This would not be possible if I do not have plan to do. So my plan is to continue to study about the Word of God so that I will be rooted the truth of God. I will also develop my philosophy so that I will not be easily pulled by the people who possess the power of reasoning .
Reflection #5
This week, I have another learning from our Church History class. This learning comes from the life of Marcion of Sinope. I have learned that his contribution in the church history made an awareness of every theologian and all the believers of Christ. His life portrayed a character that teach a lesson of being careful to study the Bible and being careful to obey what God has spoken. Because in the life of Marcion’s teaching is obviously came from his own way of studying the Bible. I have learned also have only the person who has the Holy Spirit can interpret and explain the Word of God. Just like Marcion, he wrongly interpret the Bible because maybe he was not guided by the Holy Spirit or he just wanted to prevail his own thoughts rather God’s thoughts.
In his life, I reflected myself if how I am,too, in learning the Bible. When we don’t listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit I think I would become like him, too. I would deviate from the truth of the Bible. I have noticed myself that I sometimes not serious of studying the Bible. I took it lightly. I see the importance that I need to value the Word of God as His voice commanding me to become responsible of the things I have heard from Him. I have realized that the Word of God is very important in the ministry. I have also realized the importance of studying the Word of God thoroughly, and with proper hermeneutics. But the most important is I will listen to the revelation of the Word of God through His Word and neglecting my own ideas which corrupted by fleshly thought.
The best thing that I can do to help myself to become responsible of faith and action to the Lord. I need to depend on the Holy Spirit’s teaching. I will guard and examine my heart and mind based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the Holy Scripture of God, so that I would not be like Marcion who interpreted the Scripture wrongly. It is also my responsibility if my teaching about the Word of God will not align to what really the Bible says and reveals to us. God promise that we are accountable to the things we are teaching to the people. If we will teach the word of God wrongly, the people who listen to us will apply it wrongly and it is not the will of God. It seems that I am criticizing Marcion, but no, I am just learning from his mistakes because after this stage of my education, I will be teaching, too.
Reflection # 6
The lesson we talked last week was all about the Latin Catholic church. We discussed about when the Icons was accepted and it existed because people at that time were illiterate and needed pictures and statues to understand religion. They believed in praying to God with icons. These lessons taught me how to deal my relatives and friends who are still doing these things until today. This information helps me to understand why people in our community are still doing these practices until today.
After having this knowledge, God revealed my wrong responses about these things from my relatives and friends who value, honor, and respect this icon. Before this learning comes, I have a bad comment against them. I was so critical to question why did this people are still doing such thing. They are like a fool because even if they had already an idea that those pictures and icons can’t hear them. But now I understand them,why they are embracing those practices. I think they only embrace and imitate it because of their ancestors; they have know ideas why they do it. They just only following it. Then I realized that I cannot win them to Christ if I will continue to criticize them of their wrong belief. I was convicted to tell the truth about it so that they will give their devotion to God.
Instead of criticizing them, I need to be responsible of the things I learned from the past. I need to unveil the truth so that they will know it. I know that it is our job to proclaim the Gospel of God (Matt 28:18-20). It is my job to educate them about the Bible so that they will come to God and carefully obey His will. The will of God is to help this people to know the truth. So if they have already the idea about it, they no longer practice it.
Reflection # 7
This week, we discuss more about the crusades. I have learned from this christian event. I learned that Christians before were very aggressive to claim what they believed were theirs without consulting God’s guidance. I have also learned that they valued power of authority without thinking what may it cost. And this their intentions: Crusade is a series of attempts to gain Christian control of the Holy Land. It has a profound economic, political, and social impact on the societies involved. European Christians launched series of religious wars crusades in the middle ages. Their goal is to take Jerusalem away from the Muslims because it was the site of the Temple of Jews, and also where Jesus crucified, and buried. Crusades is a war. Many died on this war it included children. After all the crusades happened they never succeeded to their plans.
When I reflect to this situation, I noticed that I have also aggressive decision sometimes. I always forgot to consider God in that decision even if I know that I am nothing without him. I forgot that I bear God’s banner especially in the ministry. It is very important to ask God’s guidance if it is His way and will. It is very important consider what will be the result of this decision if I will do this or that.
As an application to these learnings, for the next time, in everything I do, I need to ask God’s guidance for what I am planning to do so that I will not be an aggressive person to do the things which are not the plan and will of God for my life. Even though if my reason may sound correct, but I need to remember that my mind is corrupt. I will consider God in everything I do, so that I will become successful to do things for him and I will not come to the point of regrets.
Reflection # 8
This week we had a discussion about our historical figure, Saint Ambrose of Milan. Upon studying his life, I had these two learnings from it. First, his accomplishment taught me that he was very good in composing spiritual things like making chant and hymns. The second thing, I have learned from his life, is the people that surround him. His family were the people influenced him a lot with regards to his religious belief and practices. His father was a prefect of Gaul, his brother was a priest, and his sister was a nun. No wonder why he became so strong in his religious belief. This thing encourage me to have like those people that surround me, and to become one of the influence to the people in our community.
His life made me realized that everything we have accomplish is not in vain in the future because we do not know that there are people who look at us as a model of success and also it will also make an impact to the people who witness us as a Christian minister and a follower of Jesus Christ. I have also realized that having a Christian family is one of the best opportunities to have. Many times in my days that I did not notice the value of having a Christian home. Sometimes I forgot their value as my first christian family that I have. When I have a problem, I know that they are the first one to help me to stand over my struggles. But I am not the person who give them gratitude of the accomplishment that I had done in the ministry and in my studies. I feel sorry for myself for ignoring them as part of my accomplishment.
Now that I have these realization, I need to change my mind. It is important to become wise of the things God revealed and taught me to change. It is a foolish decision if learning and realization would not be put into action, I will agree that I am a fool if I I have the conviction already but I will still choose to ignore it. So my plan to help myself is first, I need to enhance my gifts that God has given me by making a project that would be useful for the ministry of God so that the people that surround me will glorify my Lord through me. I will start valuing my Christian family by giving them gratitude of having them in my life because they are used by God to influence me to become a person like me today.
Reflection 9
Saint Gregory the Great was one of our topic this week. Although Saint Gregory was not a perfect man of the past, but in his life I learned many things from him. But I will shortened it into two categories: 1) I have learned that is good to be poor yet rich in heaven rather than rich yet poor in heaven. 2) I have learned to give everything for the service Lord. It is God's pleasure to see Children serving Him wholeheartedly.
When I compare myself to this Church figure, I found myself that I am still desiring things in this world. Even disposing my own pleasure from this world, there is still a feeling of "sayang". Now, I realized saint Gregory was an example to follow for storing treasures for eternity. I should not be greedy of the things I have. Because it will not satisfy my Spiritual hunger. It is better to serve the Lord.
To avoid storing up things for this temporal earth, I am planning to help also for the needy in our community like giving them my old clothes and giving them what they need. It is one of the strategy also to help them to know Christ and will also commit his life for the glory of God.
Reflection 10
In this week, we discussed about the lives our great theologians namely, John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius. These men leaves big impacts to their followers about their doctrines.They have different views about salvation and other major doctrines. John Calvin was the leader of the movement Calvinism. And the other movement is called Arminianism which was led by Arminius. In our studies of their lives, I have learned so many things from their teachings such as accepting once opinion as long as it is founded by the Scriptures and not fighting for it because that is not the will of God. And even though if they have different views, I still believed that both of them are God's children.
When I listening to this lesson, God change my way of thinking. He helps me to see the very purpose of God why he save me, not to offend others because they have different views from me. I remember before that I always comparing my belief to others and chose to listen to the speaker which I thought we have the same view. But it was totally wrong because that is not the will of the God the Father.
As an application to this discussion, I will open my heart and mind for the people from the other group or denomination to listen to them. I will not argue with them but listen to. I will learn from them even though they are not perfect but it is a kind of expression love. If will be pleasing to God.
Reflection 11
I am glad that we are almost done from this class. This week, we discussed about the lives of the George Whitefield and William Carey. They are known as "The Great Awakening" men. Their lives made big impacts to the Christian reformation. From their lives, I learned that they were used by God in different ways to preserve Christianity until today.
In my assessment to myself, God had shown me his plan for me, too. God has given us different talents and gifts for the edification of the church. So I have also gifts that will be useful to reform the culture of our community through Biblical education. I realized that God is active in me to work in the lives of our community.
To make this possible, I have to plan of how I can help my community to become educated about God's Word. I have use the ability that God has given me so that people will come to God through me. I need to be intentional to see the growth of the things that I will going to start. It is God's joy to see His children doing His purpose for my life using the gifts that he has given me.
Reflection 12
This last week of our reflection, God led us to know these three great men: Charles Spurgeon, Billy Graham, and David Livingstone. These three men of God were to unveil the blind eyes of the earth. They were used by God as His vessel of truth. Charles Spurgeon was very passionate in preaching the Word of God. Billy Graham became the popular evangelist at his time and that responsibility was passed to his son. David Livingstone was also known as a missionary to Africa. They had different field of ministry, but they are both serving of one God. In their lives, I have learned that God is still sustaining His work in different places through these people.
As I reflect myself to them, I found myself like I'm still floating. Until now, I couldn't figure out what really is my field for the ministry. Because when I see them on their different field. They were both successful in doing God's ministry. It is hard to think where. It is a pressure especially that sooner we will face the real world of the ministry. But I thank God because He is forever faithful to the people he called for the ministry.
To achieve this thing, I have to find out what God has planned for me after my graduation. I need to be discerning so that I can distinguish God's small voice. I need also to check what really God's gift for me so that I will be effective in serving God. It is very important to know it so that there will be joy serving people for the Lord. Those are my plans. And I hope God will show me clearly what really is His gift which is helpful to expand His kingdom.
