Reflection #2

From this week’s discussion, I’ve learned that God uses circumstances so that Christianity would flourished. A lot of believers in the early ages really faced a lot of circumstances. They faced a lot of obstacles in following their God and in keeping their faith. Spreading the gospel during those times were really hard because a lot of people of different status in life were against them. Most of them have been persecuted. Some were executed publicly by crucifixion or burning their body alive and some were fed to wild beast. Those circumstances were not really pleasing. It took a lot of lives. Yet God used it and it helped the wide spread of Christianity. I’ve also learned that God can use anyone to make a difference. God did used an emperor, who was Constantine, to make a difference in the Roman Empire. His influence as a king has helped a lot for the growth of Christianity and to how it spreads in the Roman world. I was just really amazed on how God has been working in the history of Christianity. Sometimes we don’t really understanding the things that are happening. Things like persecution and execution of lives happen, yet God has been behind them all for a greater purpose.

                Before, I used to think about the things that has happened especially those that are not really pleasing. I used to asked questions about why they happened and I have seen a lot of people suffering from it. I was really displeased with those things. But now, things are clearer to me. Because as what I’ve seen, even from the things that are happening though they are really not that pleasing, I do now have this though in mind that God has let those things happen for a greater purpose. They might cause us a lot of misery and suffering, but in the end, it results to something good that we even thank God that it happened. This insight has reminded me of what the apostle Paul say that all things work together for good and that we should give thanks in every circumstances, whether it’d be good or bad.

                As I continue on living, a lot of things is going to happen. A lot of them may give me joy or sadness. But knowing that all things work together for good, I will continue to put my hope in God. Because I know that He is in control of everything that is happening around me. I may be hurt for some times but I will be grateful because it would surely bring me a good lesson. Circumstances will also build me up and would make my faith grow to another level. Therefore, I will not worry about those things because they would still come to happen for sure. 

Reflection #1

          The lesson in the first week was very interesting. We discussed about the beginnings of historical Christianity and I was just amazed on how God worked throughout the history of Christianity. I have learned that Jews, Greeks, and Romans had a great part in the making of the history of Christianity. The history of Christianity is really great and those people who pushed through and kept their faith were so amazing. Above all, I've learned that God has really worked well in writing His story. He used any possible means for the new religion to flourished. Whether it would be by persecution, diaspora, or death by fire or being fed to beasts. God is sovereign over all. 

          I believe that God is still working in the present, and that His story is not finished yet. The situation today is not really that similar than that of before. Before, Christians were really in great danger. Their lives were threatened by those people in the government. Many of them were killed, burned alive and were fed to beasts or forced to fight the gladiators just for the sake of entertainment. But today, Christians are living a comfortable life. Where they can walk safely down the street without anyone to arrest them and do something bad to them because of their faith. Christians today are free to share the gospel to anyone and to anywhere. The only challenged that Christians are facing today is how to overcome the barriers between nations and be able to share the gospel to them, and to overcome the fear of going out of the comfort zone. I'm not exempted in that. Overcoming the fear is also a great challenge for me. I also need to do my part and bear in my mind that I need to in order for me to share the gospel.

          As a Christian, and a student, it is a great privilege to have known the root of my belief. And i think it wouldn't be just me who feels this way but also those who have been studying about His story. Knowing all the history of Christianity is really amazing, but the challenge is how do I apply them and be a part of the story which God had started writing thousands of years ago. As an application, I will make myself available for God's call anytime. I will try to learn more and be more equipped for the things that God wants me to do ahead of me.