Focus on Jesus

Iconoclastic Controversy - use of  images, idolatry and issues on icons bloomed during the 6th century.  They use this in order to worship the god they are worshiping. I have learned that it was during this time that Christianity was "paganized". This was still the time that a lot of wars were happening. They were desperate for their faith that they were side-tracked. They didn't notice that their faith was rapidly changing into the ways God did not wanted, but to what they wanted. I have also learned that lives of missionaries were very important in these times for they were able to lead others into the light, despite the darkness that was happening.

As I have reflected these learning in my life, I realized that the worst thing to have is to have an idol. An idol which we do not see as an idol, but we treat it as. Those things that we say are not more valuable than God, but we put more attention to it than God. Indeed, Peter Kreeft is right when he said, "The opposite of Christianity is not atheism, but idolatry".


I must really need to be careful and be on guard always. I  need to evaluate always and keep focus on the right track, not asking what and where my focus is, but on who my focus is. Jesus needs to be my ultimate center. He should be the one I must only focus to.

Though this world is full of trials and distractions, and we need to be watchful of them, we also need to be more careful of things that makes us comfortable and compromising. The things that are regarded lightly because it may seem it won't affect us that much, but are actually slowly creeping in and holding us back into our spiritual growth in Christ.

I must really need to be careful and be on guard always. I need to evaluate always and keep focus on the right track, not asking what and where my focus is, but on who my focus is. Jesus needs to be my ultimate center. He should be the one I must only focus to. May Hebrews 12:1-2 always be my reminder for it says “ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every eight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”. 

In Darkness There is LIGHT

We are now learning on "The Dark Ages" and I could not imagine how people in those days were like. With so much chaos and blood everywhere because of both sides trying to kill each other, I wonder how much emotional, physical and mental stress would affect to every individual. It is such a tragedy to witness other people quarreling, how much more witnessing wars and battle fields. The disease "Black Death" was also present at that time where it killed one-third of the people in Europe. There was also a terrible famine and hunger which caused lives to end. But no matter how dim that moment was, there was a light that shone throughout this darkness. Priests and monks were able to save the classical literature which include the Holy Scriptures and other writings and preserved them for the future. I learned that no matter how bad things may be, there's always one thing that will make it positive. I also learned that God has a purpose in every event that has happened, is happening and will happen.

There were times also wherein I experienced that "dark moments" in my life. There was a struggle inside of me. A war I could not stop but only feel the pain within. Every part of my nerves were in chaos and I just couldn't understand what was happening.  Everything was dark and everyday was gloomy. Those were times when I want to give up and end my life just to stop it. I was put in a situation where I felt like there's no way out, but I was wrong. There, in the midst of that great and dark storm, I saw a glimpse of God's light of hope. His help came at the right moment of my need. Though I was about to give up on myself, He never gave up on me. His Word became the light that shone so brightly that the darkness in me disappeared in an instant. He reminded me that He is there for me and He cares and loves me. He showed me that I can rely on Him and entrust to Him my burdens. He spoke to me through His Word like a gentle father, wanting me to trust Him that when I cannot, He can.

If not for the priests and for the monks who preserved the Scriptures at that time, maybe all of us would be in the darkness right now. God has truly used them for His Word to be preserved up to now. May God also use us, who knows His Word, the truth, to share it to other people who are still in the darkness. Some specific steps in order to achieve are the following: First, we must pray for a heart that is willing and bold to be used by God. Second, to study more of the truth, His Word. Third, to apply His Word in our lives and be a living testimony. And lastly, find opportunities to share His word and share it boldly.

Canon became Legit

This week I've learned about a hoggish man who was a heretic and a hermit. His name is Marcion of Sinope. He was born in a Christian family but was excommunicated by his father because he seduced a virgin and taught false teachings. He believed that there are two different Gods: the God of the Old Testament whom he defined as "evil" and the God of the New Testament whom he regarded as "good". He also believed that Christ was not born of a virgin which is not really what the Bible said. And there are many of his beliefs and teachings which are also far away from what the Bible says. He also created his own Canon of the Scriptures which became a threat to the church leaders, which also became the reason why the Canon of the Scriptures  which we use now, was formed. From that I learned that God uses even the actions of Marcion in order for the Scriptures to be completed and the Canon became legit.

I realized that in my life, God has also used many negative threats and problems that strengthened my faith in Him. Many bad circumstances happened in order for me to see and know my complete worth in Christ. God used a lot of people to push me hard even at my limit, so that I would push back and stand firm for God. As I look back, I pondered each of how they were able to help me in all aspects of my life. Some helped me in my spiritual growth, some in my emotional and social state, and some, in my psychological perspective. And I saw how God molded me into the person He wants me to be. I'm just thankful that even at the most painful moment of my life, God was there, comforting me and waiting for me to realize the lesson He wanted me to learn. I was able to acknowledge that God really has a purpose for everything. He breaks our hearts to show us that there's no way but Jesus and that we can't do anything without Him. He made me realize that I will only be complete and content in Him.

Whenever hardships come, I would see it as a testing of faith the would produce perseverance for me to go on and be able to endure in my faith. Now in order to continue to progress in my spiritual growth and relationship in Him, I would dedicate myself to give more time in prayer. For in Matthew 24:41 says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak". I would schedule my prayer time on mornings and spend time talking with God before starting the day. Then I would focus my eyes on Jesus by throwing aside hindrances and sin by spending more time also in reading God's Word. Then apply it in my life. I would schedule that on evenings, before I sleep. With that, I'll grow more in Him, and be more productive and effective in my service for Him.

Defend the Faith

During the second week of our Church History class, I learned about the age of Roman Empire and the life of 3 people that were also important in our history and they are, Clement of Rome, Iranaeus and Justin Martyr. We watched a documentary of the age of Roman Empire wherein we learned about Constantine, whom they called the first Roman emperor who was a Christian. With that, we also learned the positive and negative effects of the Christianized Roman Empire. In the lives of Clement of Rome, Iranaeus and Justin Martyr, I was glad to hear their stories and their contributions in Christianity today.

 Iranaeus wrote “ Adversus Haereses” or Against Heresies and one of Justin Martyr's contribution was writing the “Apology and Appendix”. I learned that as they were living their Christian lives, they observed the need within their surrounding and acted upon it by defending their faith through writing books. Then I thought to myself, I observed a lot of problems and commotions attacking our Christian faith in our country and much more in my community alone and I haven't even done one thing that could defend it. In 1 Peter 3:15 its says that we must always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks for the reason of the hope that is within us and do it with gentleness and respect.This reminded me of one of the reasons why I studied in Baptist Theological College. I had a friend who asked me back then when I was still in high school, yet I couldn't give an answer for her because I lacked knowledge, so I thought that I would study so that I could give them an answer someday. As I look back I evaluated that this is really important to help others know about the truth.

My students always asks questions about God, heaven, and eternal life but I would tell them that we would discuss that next time because that is not our lesson for the day. In application of what I have learned, I plan to discuss or answer in one of our sessions in our outreach to answer their questions. I will try my very best to answer their questions by teaching my students of the truth that I have known. I also planned to answer my friend back in high school of the questions she asked before and teach her about the truth that she's seeking. I just hope and pray that my heart would be open for God's working in my life and help me accomplish these plans, not just for defending my faith, but to make sure that they understand why they believe what they believe.

Stand Firm

Martyrs of the Church history - courageous, committed, self-giving, and sacrificial. They are those who love the Lord that stood firm for the truth of the gospel. During our Church history class discussion, I have learned that it is truly important to study and learn the history of the Church for we can see how God's plan of redemption work out from the past until our present day by using the martyrs. I was amazed of how God has used His people in the past for the gospel to be spread out to all nations. Even to the point of being martyred, they did not renounce nor recanted their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have also learned to appreciate that God did not just used His people, but He also used the culture, language, and the government of the Jews, Greeks, and Romans in order to fulfill His plan. Even if the Roman government and Roman soldiers have persecuted and executed a lot of Christians in the past, they were still part of God's plan. Maybe because if not for them, Christianity wouldn't bloom and reach to this present day.

As I've learned the lives of some martyrs, such as Ignatius and Polycarp, I felt very small. As I compare my Christian life with theirs, I could say that there's a really big gap in between. If I try to place myself in their situation wherein I'll be asked to recant my faith in Jesus or curse Jesus Christ, I wonder if I would be like them, standing firm in their faith. Would I also be like Polycarp and boldly say “How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”. As I evaluate myself, for 21 years of my existence, I have only been living my life in the safe zone under the four corners of the building of our Church. True, I have been going to missions and taught the gospel to children every summer, I am an outreach teacher to young people every Saturday and lead worship during Sunday or teach Sunday school, but I wonder, “Have I been efficient, effective and productive in the ministries that God has entrusted to me?”. Sometimes, I go out to the field unprepared but sometimes I do prepare for my lessons. Sometimes I'm fired up to share the gospel, but most of the times, I'm not. I realized I lacked consistency and that my motive for doing such things are sometimes out of track. “Why am I like this when I'm in a democratic country where I can freely express my faith and beliefs, and free from persecutions when I would share the gospel to my fellowmen?”. “Am I standing firm in my faith and beliefs when I'm like this?”, still asking myself knowing the answer that I'm not.

I don't want to be complacent and be passive about the result of the ministry that I am handling right now, so I planned some steps to help me become efficient, effective and productive. Before anything else, I would strengthen my relationship with God and pray for each of my students and acknowledge that it is His ministry and I need to responsibly handle it. First is to evaluate my student's spiritual growth. Second is to assess the spiritual need they have right now. Third is to prepare my lessons according to their need ahead of time. And lastly, evaluate each lesson through updating the students of what they have learned. Though I may not be a martyr, I hope that as a follower of Jesus Christ, I would be someone who is committed, self-giving, and sacrificial that would really show and shine Christ in my life and be able to stand firm in any trials in life.