Reflection # 5

            

          Dark Ages from the word itself this time of the history was really full of darkness like: plague, killing, and war. I learned this week that this is really time for everything. Not all the time is full of happiness and celebration but also time of mourning and suffering. This time was indeed the great period of suffering of many people. But in that time God used that as opportunities to spread again His word to lots of people in the whole Rome. He used emperor to spread Christianity.

            

             Sometimes I feel so bad when things went wrong or dark because for me it’s already the very saddest part in my life but I realized this time that God has still a purpose for that. Even I am in bad times God still use that time to know more about Him. Therefore, whether what conditions will happen in my life I should still praise Him because maybe because behind that bad times there is great time that He wants to show up for me.

            

              So, even Dark Ages was very brutal, bloody, and clothed with darkness God still has plan for that. Although it wasn't good to everyone but still Christianity worked at that time when God used very potential and influential people to spread His word and Name.                   

Reflection # 4

            

                This week I learned about the most powerful woman in the history, Teodora. She was very most powerful because of her fearless attitude she saved the whole empire in Rome. She and her husband became the famous and known of their abilities and courage in fighting against their enemies. I really believe that in every man’s success and failure there is woman behind. Teodora stood up for the sake of the people in their empire. And I learned also of what her husband responded to her decision. I learned that in every decision it’s not all about from the man but woman’s thought also is important and needed maybe because that idea is helpful and effective.

            

                These lessons are very effective in my future life especially if have a partner in life or in the ministry. Being his partner is very important because as a partner I’m the one who will lift him up and encourage him to go on in spite of difficulties in the ministry. And my thoughts, care, and support are much needed because not all the time my partner has a good decision especially in the ministry. But one thing that I won’t ever forget to do is to respect his decision and follow him because I know God will gave him more well understanding on how to handle things I just need to do is to support and follow him in every good ways.                 

Reflection # 3

            

             This week I learned about the importance of the creeds in the history. I thought that this thing is just less significant but I learned that creeds guided the church down the path. Because of many beliefs, practices, and arguments many Christians or even those heresies, these creeds was established so that the truth about who God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will be emphasized to all. And also I learned about the life of the monks, they considered themselves as holy man. They were into to prayer, fasting, private study, and manual labor. They were dedicated to their calling and obeyed what they have been learned in their study.

            

             Many people today believed in wrong beliefs and teaching and it is hard for us Christian to correct them because they have this already in their mind. But it is also an eye opener to me to be bolder in knowing the truth through God’s word. And be like the monk’s life that their desire was to have a consistent devotion with God and that’s my desire also that in my Christian life I am be able to have this kind of desire and passion to live my life in knowing God more in my life.   

Reflection # 2

God used lots of people before in an extraordinary way either that person was bad or good they were still significant in spreading His word. I knew a lot of people this week in our class about their lives, contributions, and perseverance in serving the Lord and one of that is Polycarp. I just fully learned of his life at this time, I heard his name but not really as much his entire identity. I learned about his life that he was a true servant of God who taught many Christians about the Bible, shared the gospel boldly in spite of persecution, and became the best example of being a good church leader in his time. He dedicated his life to preach, share, and write for the church believers. He was so zealous in these things because he believed that he was serving the true living God. And the one thing I really admired from his life during the time of his death when he never ever refused Jesus Christ as his Lord, he never deny Him although he will die in a very gory kind of death but he still accepted that kind of death because he knew that Christ have done nothing wrong against him.

I learned that a true believer of Christ will risk her/his life especially in persecution. Some of the believers in our church today they don’t have this kind of burning passion in sharing God’s word to any place and people. They are always thinking about themselves what will happen to them if they will decide to serve God full time in a specific place especially not safe places. They are afraid of persecution and death. They don’t have this desires to be more passionate, zealous and faith in God. Many Christians today will hide themselves in safe place they think and stay in their comfort zone. It has a big difference between the Christians this time and before in terms of being bold in sharing God’s word. They were not afraid before although they already seen death.

I realized that I should really be bold in sharing, doing, and serving God no matter what will happen to me. I realized that I should not keep myself from the danger but instead trust God always that through Him He will protect me no matter what will happen. I pondered that there is no safe places in this world but only in His arms who can give me comfort, peace, and joy. And I shouldn't be afraid of anything but fear God not doing His work or ministry that He wants me to do. Like Polycarp he gave up his life for Christ. I might not be like him but I can follow his principle that in every situation God is always faithful in his life and not giving up on God.

And by this time I will fully discipline in studying God’s word in order for me to share His word confidently to others. And I should also think and pray every day for those people who are under persecution and trial for the sake of Christ. And also always trust God in His divine power and plans in my life and be obedient in His calling in my life.         

Baptist Theological College                                              November 13, 2015

TH25 Church History                                                        Donna Fe Rodriguez

Mrs. Angel Grace Bergado, Professor                               Box # 63

Reflection: Week 1                                                            Grade:

            The two things I've learned from the class that I did not know before. First, God still used those bad people in the past to make His words and His follower continued in spreading the good news. During the time of Christ until to the time of the apostle many bad people tried to hinder them in sharing the gospel, they attempted lots of actions that they thought would stop the apostle in preaching the word. These wicked people persecuted, killed, burnt, and tortured lots of Christians so that they will not anymore preach the gospel to others. But these experienced led the Christians and became a challenge for them to continue and persevere to the end of their lives because they don’t afraid to lose their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ because they believe that Christ was worth dying for. Second, God did not just used bad people in spreading His word but he also used circumstances in order to create a church or a group of people to serve and worship Him. Circumstance like diaspora this was an opened way for the new Christianity to travel rapidly to all major centers and cities. Without this circumstance Christianity will not be spread to any nations and places in this world. So, every situation will still significant although sometimes we feel that this situation is a very big burden to us but all things work together for good.

            I’m always asking God why there are people who hurt and destroy me before and even right now. And this insight teaches me that God allow it to happen in my life so that I can learn to forgive, being humble, and patient to them. Every bad situation came to my life has a purpose so that I can learn a lot of things, and so that I can depend on Him anytime especially in my hardship. And these people who made bad impact to my life will be part of my learning process in life. And from now on the changes that I’m going to take is stop asking or even blaming God about bad experience happened or will happen in my life because I know God has purpose and that bad experience will just turn into great learning experience if I will allow God to take it and will turn it into dependence on Him.

            And specific steps that I will take in order to put these positive changes into practice in my life is to have an attitudes of the heart like giving thanks in every circumstance. When my life is tough I will not hesitate to thank Him for this kind of circumstance because I already put it in my mind that God has a plan for it and this will just pass away. Second is, forgive those people who hurt or who will hurt me without any doubt because they can be part of my life and forget their bad actions toward me. And I believe that if I have this kind of attitude God will be glorified same as the apostles’ life when they were persecuted they didn't fight back but they stayed humble and continued working for the glory of God.