Development

           This chapter 11 of the book church history by Leslie Hill is a chapter that explains what just happened to Christianity in the Philippines under the rule of the Americans.  It also talks about the effect of World War 2 in the Philippines in terms of denomination and the development of the churches. In this chapter, I also learned about the beginnings and the rise of denomination in the Philippines. I never thought that Iglesia ni Cristo is one of the churches in the Philippines that developed and founded by one of the GOMBURZA. As expected, the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines are established in the Philippines during this time. The independent churches in the Philippines are also founded during this time.

            Thinking about this development that flourished among the Philippine churches, I just figured out that there were good and bad aspects.  Some of the doctrines of the denominations were changed for good and some were for worse. Some of their practices were subtracted and some were added. In short development sometimes drives us to move forward and to change. But the change depends if it is for righteousness or for wickedness. What I want to do for myself knowing this development is that I want to develop myself in all aspect so that I can be used for God’s glory. I want  to be mature and to be more responsible. Even if it means I need to go through more testing in life to grow.

            For me to attain development, first of all is to accept problems. Welcoming them and solving will help me so. Another thing to do is to accept responsibility. Through responsibilities, I will grow in leading and in giving care to someone. Lastly, I will accept correction. The more correction I get, the better person I will be. By these three things, I hope and pray that I will grow and develop.

Revival Impact

             The chapter 8 0f the book “Church history for leaders” talks about the revival and controversy. In this chapter also, it talks about people who made an impact to revive the evangelicalism within Christianity. There were different people assigned in different places that moved the revival for evangelical Christianity. These persons were John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield. They made great impact in the revival of Christianity. There were other persons involved as stated in the book that made an impact in revival. Some of them came from their own places and moved the revival.

            Upon knowing the works of these people, I just realized that I can make a significant impact towards my place. Great or small, it doesn’t matter as long as it glorifies God. If John Wesley made an impact in organizing, Charles Wesley in making songs, and George Whitefield in preaching, so why can’t I? Though I am just an ordinary person, I could make an impact in the field that God had placed me.

            In the Field that God placed me, I could still make an impact to the people that ministered me. To the young people in the church, I can be a good leader to them. I can be a good kuya to the younger ones in the church. I could be a good influence to them. I could be their spiritual brother. In the Ministry in A. Lopez, I could be the light there. I could show to them good works and deeds to them. I could show to them what a Christ like attitude by helping the needy. I could also set a difference to the ways how people lived there. Through this, I could make a difference in that place.

Prompting Song

          “Hark the Herald Angel sing” was one of Charles Wesley song. I just know that this was one of his works. The church that I am in sings this song every Christmas. We sing many Christmas songs every Christmas but among them “Hark the herald angel sing” is one of my favorites. This is because the message of the song really touches the very reason why we Christians celebrate Christmas. Another thing is that, as I studied each stanza of the song, it says something about doctrine and biblical truths. Just like in stanza one, it says God’s birth brings God and sinners reconciliation. In second stanza, it says that Jesus is our Immanuel which is a doctrinal thing. In the third stanza, it declares that Jesus is the prince of peace. In the fourth and five stanzas, it talks about prophecy about Christ birth. Because of these messages in each stanza, it made me love the song more.

            As I reflected on the message of the song, I was just reminded of the importance of the birth of Jesus. If God didn’t send His Son, I wouldn’t be reconciled to him. No matter what I do, it will not make sense to Him. No matter what I do, it will not bring reconciliation. I was reminded also that He is with me all the time. It’s a secure feeling that you are with your Savior. I was reminded also that without Christ, there will be no peace in my mind. As I receive Jesus Christ, I know for sure that whenever there is confusion, trouble, and disturbance in my life, peace will just come into me by prayer because I know that He is the prince of peace. Christ has already been prophesied from the very beginning. As Adam and Eve sinned, the promised messiah which is Jesus was already promised. It made me feel that there is no other person I should put my trust on. It’s only Jesus that I will commit myself in service to him.
            Singing it once again will give me another impact into my life. There is that reminder in my heart and in my mind about the importance of Christ birth. There is also that different feeling before that I’ve never felt before when I was singing it. Once I sing it again, it will be different kind of worship that I will deliver to God.

Encouraging Movement

            As far as I understand the book, Pietism is a movement that encourages internal revival within Christianity during the period of Enlightenment or the age of reason that they should live what Christianity stands for. Christianity is rich in knowledge about the truth in the Bible. Christianity has made study of the bible and formulated doctrines that will help Christians understand the scripture. But it does not end in understanding. It should be practiced by a follower of Christ.  The result of studying it should be seen by his life. That’s what the movement is all about. That is what the Pietism is encouraging to the follower of Christ. It is not a group, organization, not any higher rank in position. It is simply a movement that encourages people to take a stand and make people’s stand work. In short, it is simply telling Christians to act.

            Upon learning this movement, I was reminded that Christianity is not just about facing and studying the scripture. We should act out what we have learned. It also reminded me as a Bible school student that when we minister to people, it’s not just about teaching people about the bible and sharing the Love of God towards people. It’s not just about simply telling Jesus and share the gospel to the lost. Our life as a follower of Christ matters also. Our head, hearts, and hand matter also. What we think, feel, and do, are  factors that impact our Christian walk.

            So as I live my daily life, I should walk my talk, I should practice what I preach. By this, I know that I am making a part in the Pietistic movement. Simply obeying God by action will also encourage other Christians to follow and obey Christ. When I teach about the love of God to the people, simply by loving the street children by giving them a candy or crackers will encourage other Christians to love others. They may do it to someone that they love but at least they do it. There are a lot of things to teach but the important thing is to check first whether we do it or not.

Great Mediator

           If there could be a mediator between man and God, it would be Jesus alone. This should not be done by a mere person. If a mere person, not divine, mediate mankind for our sins, I doubt that mere person’s request will be answered. The reason for this is that the gap between man and God is too great that there should be someone that is human and divine to mediate for us. If Mary would be our mediator instead of Christ Himself, I think my sins will not be forgiven and my prayers will not be answered.

            In pages 99-100 in the book Church History volume two third editions by Leslie Hill that Titles “the happening at Cana”, I think this is true and for me it’s no longer new. In my life, I have already encountered people who have the same faith as the couple described in the article. That couple, which I admire because of their hospitality, has this devotion to Mary. They even share these verses to prove Mary’s work as a mediator.

            Pondering this article made me realize that people in this world must know the real mediator. If this is the kind of mediator that they have, I think salvation will not be available to them. So I think, as a Christian believer, I should tell my friends about the true and the only mediator.

            To do this, I will start with my common friends that are not yet saved. I will not be dynamic with this but I’m going to make sure that they get my point. I’m going to make sure that the bottom of my point is that Jesus is the mediator that we need to put our trust. There is no other mediator but Jesus. Of course, not everyone will accept it. But at least I shared the truth.