Invading Philippines into Chritianity

The most fulfilling and praising event was the coming of Christianity in the Philippines. Without the desire of the foreign missionary and Filipino’s who went abroad and became Christian Christianity in the Philippines might not be this large in number now. But this critical for a missionary to share the gospel in the Philippines, it is because the Philippines under Spanish oppression and different languages, culture. This is so amazing, how to make this happened in a very mysterious ways that the Philippines became the Christian country.

According to the survey there were more ureached people group need the gospel. Still a lot people in this world need salvation, and need to hear God. I wonder what if each believer will take the challenge to share the gospel to each person each day? But sometimes this problem with people they have different lifestyle, works, and places. I think one of the hindrances for a people not able to take the challenge because some just follow Jesus but do not have the desire to share the salvation. The reason is they do not know how to share the gospel.

One thing that God put the desire in me is to train the young people how to share the gospel. Through the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, He will send these youth wherever places God put them. And it is the challenge for me also to train this young people in this days for the next generation. 

Revival

The work of the Holy Spirit in lives cannot be measured by mathematics but many thousands of people were swept into the Kingdom of God during this time; the clergy was reformed which set a new, high standard of pastoral care; agencies to promote Christian work were formed and missionaries.

Christian concern for the under-privileged grew - people were made aware of social obligations to other, like orphan care. In the Catholic Church Jesuit missionaries continued to expand through South America and parts of Asia to found Catholic churches - they were people with faith, vision and dedication. The Christianity revived and it spread even throughout Asia. We have noticed that we were the recipient of their effort.

The revivalist leaved an impression to the history as a great impact to the church. Since, today we experienced that impact in us, how these people originate the missionary work, pastoral care, and even promoting Christian work. I became the recipient of this impact that God put the desire in my heart to become a missionary. I am praying as God put this desire in me, He will also open the place where He wants me to be. My desire that not only to reach out other people, but first I must reach out my relationship to God or I must keep my relationship to God, closer and more closer. God’s lavishing love and grace inspired me and also ignites me to extend it to others.

Burning Desire

Many felt that Christianity at this time was in a permanent decline and would never recover. There was a dissatisfaction with the coldness of the established church, the collapse of personal faith and need for a move of the Holy Spirit. They did not take into account the mighty hand of God to touch hearts again. There was a desire to return to apostolic Christianity in these new movements in the midst of a spiritually dead period. The smouldering flame of God began to break into flame.

I learned that people at this point had the deepest desire to be ignited and they had the passion to be touched by God once again. People changes but the need does not change. The need of God is still the desire of every people. Every time I heard God’s message I had this feeling inside that God touched and struck my heart. Every word that came out from a pastor whom used by God as an instrument to deliver His message.

 The gospel is preach anywhere at this age but the most important is, not that how much message we heard, but how we apply God’s word in our lives. If those people felt their need of God, it doesn’t mean, I do not need God. I always remember that I have no choice not to follow and obey God, unless His presence is with me.

Science vs. Scripture

On this content it caught my attention with the period saw advances in science which sometimes brought conflict with church thinking. Galileo an astronomer and physicist argued that the planets revolve around the sun - a theory which brought him into conflict with the Inquisition, after which time he lived under house arrest until his death.

Isaac Newton the great English scientist is best remembered for his law of gravity. He believed that his scientific discoveries were communicated to him by the Holy Spirit and regarded the understanding of scripture as more important than his scientific work. He encouraged the belief that human enquiries into nature, unaided by Scripture could demonstrate the wisdom and power of the Creator.

It is indeed beyond human understanding to understand the happenings of our world. The world people itself could not distinguished his existence, but God made him known by made Himself known to the world. We cannot even define God through science. Science is by observation and due to observation in the laboratory. We can observe the activity of God, but we could not observe God in the laboratory. Therefore, the science itself is not beyond God, through the Scripture we can define God, because the scripture is the revelation of God. 

Bloody Mary

The fires never ceased to blaze whilst Mary was alive, and five martyrs were burnt in Canterbury only a week before her death. Out of these 288 sufferers, be it remembered, one was an archbishop, four were bishops, twenty-nine were clergymen, fifty-five were women, and four were children. It is a broad fact that these 288 sufferers were not put to death for any offence against property or person. They were not rebels against the Queen's authority, caught red-handed in arms. They were not thieves, or murderers, or drunkards, or unbelievers, or men and women of immoral lives. On the contrary, they were, with barely an exception, some of the holiest, purest, and best Christians in England, and several of them the most learned men of their day. 

This is the fact that this event proved how bloody Mary was, it was not about their rebels against her, but it was against her belief. It was sad story about those men and women died because of their belief as a Christian. There were no justice with their death, there was neither offense that they were worthy to be punished. I looked the mirror and ask myself, why this happened to them, why You (God) allowed this happened is this was part of your purpose and plan? The truth hanged me for a moment of pondering the deaths of this people. What if I was one of them died on that day? What will be my reaction or what would be the reaction of my family? I am sure because I am a Christian my family too would be punished. Then, is it my time to deny my faith just to save my life, and torment my soul for eternity? 

This illogical reason that I would just deny my faith for the sake of my soul is not worthy, because I would rather deny anything and everything that is in me than denying my Lord. I am willing and ready to face world judgement of believing in Him and put to death. But before all those, I should spread the gospel and help people change, as what the Lord did for me before He takes my life. 

Puritans

The Puritans were English Reformers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were frustrated by the slow progress of the Reformation in the Anglican Church. They left a legacy of theological writing that is unsurpassed in church history. Their doctrine tended to be Calvinistic and Presbyterian. John Calvin encountered Luther's teaching and was converted in Switzerland-. A man with an intense love for God, he believed that all knowledge of God could only be found in the Word of God. He also believed in predestination. He believed in the final authority of God and that God has everything under control -how close and fundamental this is to our belief! 

These two men were not perfect! - Luther believed that babies were “born again” at infant baptism. Calvin had more than one opponent burnt at the stake for opposing his teaching. But through them and the division they caused in the church, came further expansion of Christianity. Renewal and reform cane at the cost of the break up of religious unity in Western Europe but was basis of modern religious freedom. Most denominations were born out of a search for truth rather then strife. Luther became father of Protestantism (so called because of taking the stand of protest) and also founder of the Lutheran church.

Calvin's work gave rise to the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and Netherlands and Puritan movement in England and America. What a prevailing truth that some of our doctrines based on these men, but usually to Calvin. This is the truth that these things happened for the sake of preserving the truth even between life and death situations, these people were willingly to give their lives. This reminds me that as a Bible school student what I should pass on to the next generation. It seems that I had no capability to impart my intelligent but hopefully my living testimony would speak through them that there is God. 

Radical Discipleship

Zwingli worked hand in hand with a group of radicals with Comrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and the others. They maintained a common front but the issues of the church and infant baptism divided them. It seems that Zwingli himself opposed infant baptism for a time but drew back when he realized that it is essential if a state church is to be maintained. After public disputation with Zwingli, they began to rebaptized believers. The infant baptism was the obvious point of disagreement but the issues were more fundamental. The Anabaptized rejected the state church, to which forced to belong. Christian faith was free and voluntarily, not to be restrained. The church is voluntary association of committed disciples. Baptism is not a requirement for the church to become a member of the church, but rather baptism is the professing of one’s faith.

Becoming a Christian (follower of Jesus), baptism is not the requirement, but it is an act of obedience of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When I decided to became a Christian, I declined to be baptized in the Baptist Church, because it is my own knowledge that when I got baptized in that Church, I will become Baptist also. My decision to follow Jesus is not about the church, but it was a decision to follow Him with all my heart. 

The Church is just a tool, where I can know God more. I thank the church who cater my spiritual needs and help me grow of my faith in the Lord. This I pray that I could do the same to others, which the desire of my heart to share the gospel to the unreached people and disciple them and lead them to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Under Construction

Wycliffe was the follower both Luther and Calvin and his disciples were called Lollards. The Lollards helped to prepare the ground for the English Reformation by spreading the English Bible and by fuelling discontent with Roman Church. Wycliffe influenced Jan Hus, who led a reform movement in Bohemia. He was burnt at stake as a punishment of 45 errors of Wycliffe’s teachings and dug up his body out from the ground and burnt. What a tremendous event with the council this body was already, but because of error they punished it again. 

Wycliffe and Hus were both persecutors of the Protestant Reformation in that they rejected the authority of pope and general council in the name of Scripture and to attack Roman Catholic doctrines. “It is one thing to be of the church, another thing to be in the church.” This clearly stated that, it does not follow that all living persons who are in the church are of the church. Some are in the church in name and Catholic obedient to Christ. Others are in church in name only. They were living like hypocrites. As if living as Christian but not living as Christian. This also applies not those time but even today, and I did not exempt myself for this. 

I am a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ, but my life is against to what I believe and profess in my mouth. Through God’s grace I know that God did not stop to change my heart. My prayer every day is my salvation (sanctification) of my life. He called me to become His minister, God did not called the qualified, but He qualified the called. God is not yet done with my life, everything I did was not an accident, but for His greater purpose.

Gospel-Centered

Christianity largely stagnated for nearly 500 years. Hundreds of year the darkest century intellectually and morally, in Christian history when Popes claimed to be superior to all men. Gregory the Great brought the first teaching on Purgatory...this is the theology that that sinful man, when dead must be purged from sin by fire for centuries before entering heaven. Families of the deceased, by making payments to the church could reduce their loved one’s time in Purgatory. This belief taught by a man who did also blurred by the truth and fact that one’s one life died his life does not stock in purgatory, but it directs in to different ways; to heaven or hell. Either these both soul will come, but it is an assurance that “those whoever believe in Him (God) will not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16. The life ends here on earth, but it will continue in heaven with the presence of our Mighty God.

Renewal came through monasticism. They set the atmosphere for change when many of their beliefs rejection of clergy as intermediary; preaching from Bible in local language; conversion experience to Christ, - would later enter mainstream of Protestant movement like: Francis of Assisi and his followers (Franciscan monks) who ministered to the poor and needy and were declared as heretics by the Pope. These monastic orders were dedicated to spiritual renewal and church reform and helped prepare a base for raising the spiritual level of the church and new missionary movement. They stressed a return to apostolic Christianity based upon Bible teaching. The medieval Catholic Church responded by repression and persecution. The monks believed that they were more closer to God, by being a monk it will bring them closer to God. 

The reality was the curtain was torn into pieces, the moment Jesus crucified and died on the cross paid for our sins. God allowed everyone to come closer to Him, not by the priest anymore to make us closer to Him. But by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross that made us cleanse and forgiven. I realized how important the gospel to me; I believe in the gospel and I should live into deeper understanding of the gospel.

Sacraments or sacrifice

The Roman Catholic list seven sacraments. In the early church sacraments was used both in a restricted sense referring to baptism and the Eucharist, and in a wider sense referring to many other rites such as the Lord’s Prayer. But what is sacrament? According to Augustine, sacrament is a sign of a sacred thing; a sacrament is the visible form of an invisible grace; a sacraments bears a likeness of that thing those sign it is. To sum up this thought sacrament which is a sign of the grace of God and a form of invisible grace, so that it bears its image and exists as it cause. It is instituted for the sake, not only of signifying but also of sanctifying. It is a means of increasing humility, instruction and spur to activity. 

The Roman Catholic believed that sacrament is a channeling grace of God, because through sacraments they could submit himself out of respect to God’s command and through outward visible form the mind may be taught to understand the inward invisible virtue. The reality is as Christian I believe that God could give grace to man without the sacraments and has not tied his power to them. It gives me more clarity of viewing God’s grace, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by God’s grace . . .” This statement denotes that God’s grace is extended to those who believe and have faith in Him, and not by the sacraments. God’s grace is a mirror of Christian living. 

Therefore, as believer and follower of Christ we can inherit God’s grace not by our own effort, it is by the word itself, meaning “unfavorable gift from God”. What a promising word from God that, I am God’s recipient of His kindness, goodness and love. A person who is bound to the grace of God is more fulfilling and satisfying, because we are in the hands of God. I should not seek more than anything else, but rather is to seek God with all my life. God doesn't need to follow sacraments because He is the one who made the sacrifice, for me to be saved. 

Radical Change

When Emperor Constantine made Christianity official faith of the Roman Empire, this led to conflict with Pagan customs. At the same time cult of saints and martyrs grew, with an attendant superstitious search for relics, like saints bones, cross and etc. Because of this there was now came a radical outward change in the church, really the fall of the church from apostolic purity to new direction. Emperor Constantine got involved in doctrinal disputes and ordered what was to be or not to be believed. 

Many converted because those who were unbaptized and unconverted were the anti-Christ., due to this fear of death, in place of Christ-pseudo Christ. He transferred the capital to Rome and established himself as supreme head of Christianity. Before then Christianity was dominant religion of the Mediterranean world. Only one century later, the extent Christianity would change drastically due to the spread of a new religion, the Islam. From the world of Christianity it shifts to the world of Islam. 

It is sadly, but it was more sadly that the image of Christ changes to pseudo conversion. These two events in the history provide the reality that it is not granted that one’s you are a Christian, you are a Christian. Just like the thought that God is our DNA but our actions and attitude is like Satan’s DNA.

Born Again

Frankly speaking I don’t have any knowledge about Church History. Until I was enrolled in BTC, having the knowledge of the Bible is good but behind this faith in God the people of the past gave me more knowledge of the Christian history, and how it is preserved until now. I was born again with the knowledge and born in heart. There are two things I could define them, spiritual birth and birthed of knowledge. First, it really struck me when I knew the true meaning of the word “Catholic”.

I was born with Catholic faith; my parents were both Catholic and had been raised by their own parents as well as a Catholic. We grew in their influenced of faith in Catholic foundation. This is my first encountered of knowing the real meaning of that word, the Catholic word means, “universal belief and orthodox (embracing the apostolic teaching). We were taught that Catholic is the only religion who can be saved; apart from this Church you are not saved.

Second, it really described by our teacher, how this people in the past brought and stand in their faith and willingly to be martyred just because of their faith. This truth was a heartfelt transforming and grieving my heart of the truth that, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Rom. 8:39. It is true that those people do not just believe, but they live the gospel. It does not only gave me knowledge such things, but it change the way I thought to understand others and to live life of the life of Christ.