Reflection On Hospitality In Ministry

Reflection

Every time I eat, I am reminded not only of the goodness of God in providing for me but also my humanity. I eat because I hunger. All human beings are created by God and have a common need for food. When I eat, not only I rejoice in the fact that I am blessed that I can enjoy good food but the experience of eating itself should remind me to be humble before God and fellowman. At least three times a day, I can remind myself that I am mortal and that I am in constant need of sustenance and grace from God. Another truth that I learn is that when I eat I admit that I am equal with any fellow human beings. Eating should make me feel equal with everybody else. Sometimes I notice that I eat usually with someone I consider “equal”, someone who is just like me in qualification, profession, liking and age. Sometimes the preference for eating with certain “groups” of people is there. Through this module I am challenged by the Holy Spirit to fellowship over food even with people I don't usually mix with. I may eat different from what he eats, but the fact that we both eat, though we are different in many aspects, we are equal in the sight of God and should be equal too in our own sight.

Usually like eats with like. Eating is a gesture acceptance in the New Testament. With whom the people eat, tells us of their economic, social and even religious status. I am reminded that Jesus in the Gospel, eats with everyone. He is very different from the religious Pharisees. They only eat with their kind. To protect their purity, they must keep themselves from certain people. But Jesus eats with everyone, even those with questionable character. Would I want to eat with this kind of people? Am I embracing them just as Jesus has embraced them? Grace removes all social barriers and welcome all into God's Kingdom. It is not because grace ignores sin but it deals with it on the cross. Our sins have been paid for on the cross. Forgiveness is now available to whosoever, including those people I am not comfortable with. As I meditate on this truth, I am challenged by the Holy Spirit to relook at my attitude. As a minister of the Gospel, I am supposed to embrace all, but sometimes I don't. I would say that I value all, but my attitude says otherwise. I need to depend more on His love to mould me and empower me to love the way Jesus loves, to welcome others the way He does. I know I am growing in this area, but there is still a long way to go. Why does Jesus eat with everyone? It is meant to teach me something about Him. I thank God that through this module, I can see even more clearly the attitude of Christ my Savior towards all people.

I gain an understanding about the difference between tolerance and being hospitable. I used to think that they mean the same. When I am tolerant towards someone, I actually keep my distance away from him. I may not criticize or harm him in any way. I may not interfere with his views but I keep him outside of my box. Also by being tolerant means I occupy a place of power – I occupy the center and I push him away to the side. Tolerance reduces me to silent and inactivity. However, being hospitable means I am being pro active. I embrace that person and move him to the center. I may not agree with his views and conduct, but I still want to become his friend. I may embrace him though he is not a part of me. I can talk to him from my perspective and he can do the same from his. As I am thinking about this, again I am encouraged to study my attitude when I am ministering to someone. Sometimes pride may cause me to think I know everything about that person. The truth is I only see in parts just as I am only known in part. The Holy Spirit needs to teach me to be more discerning, not so that I can condemn the wrong in that person quickly but to diagnose the real issue that causes the person to be what he is and help him see the way out. I believe as a minister of the Gospel, I am an agent of change. But how can I bring about that change? Perhaps the first step is to allow His Spirit to strengthen my will to embrace the person I want to see changed.

Three Personal Reflections on Greek 1

Three Personal Reflections on Greek 1

The Value Of It

Understanding the New Testament in the original language helps me to know the intended meaning of the text more accurately. All this while I have been an ardent student of His Word, faithfully using many kinds of good study aids and translations. But through this class, I am more convinced that nothing replaces going to the text itself in the original form. It is most useful when I want to take a closer look at a word and a text. It is definitely time consuming (especially if you need to prepare a minimum of one sermon a week), but it is worthwhile.

Recognizing Greek Words

I was very happy that I could get acquainted with the 24 Greek Alphabet and pronouncing them. My excitement grew when I began to transliterate some Greek words on the first day of class, something that I never thought could happen. I must say that it was not easy. Language was never my strength. It is a challenge to me. Nevertheless I could see myself getting nearer and nearer of reaching my goal through taking this class - to understand the Word of God more accurately and teach it more clearly.

Remembering All The Rules and The Vocabulary

I can remember “the rules” and the vocabulary in one or two chapters from the notes. But more than that, I struggle in remembering. There is always something I will miss. I guess there is no short cut – I must keep at it. I believe that as I revise my lessons consistently,  I will get more into my memory. It takes consistency and daily practice. My hope is that these lessons will not be forgotten after the final exam, but will be continually applied when I prepare for my sermons or seminars.

Reflection On Romans

Four Interesting Concepts from Romans Class

The Wrath of God

His wrath is never like my wrath. Mine is based on my imperfections as a human being. It is usually my retaliation towards someone or something that I don't like. It is an emotional outburst in the heat of the moment. On the other hand, I understand His wrath to be based on His perfectly holy nature. It is His natural and necessary respond towards what is not right in His eyes. It is never an out of control outburst. It is always manifested in a controlled manner since He Himself is slow to anger. I believe that his wrath is a manifestation of His grief on sins. The reason God is angry towards sinners is not because He hates them, but because of what sins have done in theirs lives. Not only sins are so contrary to His holy nature, they cause us to be less then what God had intended for us to be. Sins mar the image of God in us and eventually destroy us. Sins separate us from Him who always desires to have a close fellowship with us. I believe that His wrath is so connected to His love for us. His wrath lets us know His never ending desire to remove what is destructive in our lives.

The Righteousness of God

Through the class, my understanding of the phrase “the righteousness of God” has expanded. Understanding this phrase will help to solve the problem of guilt in our lives. I believe we need to grasp with our hearts how accepted we are in the sight of our Holy God through Christ. Paul when writing this letter must have thought of how this phrase was used in the Old Testament (Is. 46; 51). The phrase can refer to God's upright attribute – He is always faithful to fulfill His promises. But it also can mean His saving action in putting people in the right relationship with Him on the ground of faith. Because of Jesus, we are declared “not guilty” in the sight of God at the point of new birth, rescued once and for all from condemnation. He faithfully views us who are in Christ as innocent of all our sins. When He justifies me, I am no longer a discharged criminal, but restored to a position of favour before His eyes – God treats me as though I had never sinned. On top of that, Christ's own righteousness which is always perfect, is imputed to my account. Therefore today, I have holy boldness to approach my Father in heaven in fellowship and prayer without an ounce of guilt, not because of my own righteousness which is likened to filthy rags but because I have put on the robe of Christ's own righteousness.

Predestination in Romans. 8:29, 30

I have read many writings about Divine Election based on these verses. However through the class, I am reminded again about their context. While the doctrine of Election is certainly taught in the Bible, it is not taught here by Paul. I believe that here Paul is not actually talking about God determining who can be saved and those who are damned. First of all I notice that Paul is writing to believers. The believers are those whom God foreknew and also predestined. In the original, “foreknew” has the connotation of “intimate knowledge”. This word has the same idea as God knows us, loves us and chooses us beforehand. Paul is reminding the believers here that they are very special before the Father, already loved and chosen by Him. He has something wonderful in mind for all us His children – we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. We are all are destined to grow into Christ-likeness. The “predestination” here is not unto salvation, but spiritual growth. No one among believers is exempt from growth. God has predestined all believers to be on the road towards spiritual maturity.

Christians and the Law

I am not under the Law in the sense of having my life regulated by the dos and don'ts of the Ten Commandments. The Law is still God's holy standard for me, but my relationship to it is different now because of Jesus. First of all, Jesus has fulfilled the Law for me. No one alive can fulfill completely the Law's demands. Everyone has fallen short of God's standard and is condemned. But since He has fulfilled the Law for me, the Law cannot accuse me of any shortcomings. His perfection covers my imperfection. Also I have died to the Law in Jesus's death and arose from the dead with Him to live a new kind of life – a life under the control of the Holy Spirit (Romans. 7;8). It does not mean I live a lawless life. It just means there is a new way of living for me – my life is now being regulated through the Holy Spirit within me. When I was born again, God gave me a new heart, put His Law and His Spirit within me (Ezekiel. 36:26). If I walk in the Spirit, surrendering more and more to Him, the requirement of the Law will be fulfilled in my life. Indeed Christians don't reject the Law, instead we uphold it by living in the life of the Spirit.

Learning In Christian Community

Three Paradigms of Learning

I learned about the relatedness between the three paradigms of learning, namely instruction, construction and co-construction. I understand that if the goal of learning is change, then I really cannot separate these three. I see them as a three legged table. If I take one leg off, the table will not stand. To have a strong and stable life of learning, I need all three. Each of these contributes to the overall growth of a total person – intellectually, emotionally and even spiritually. One paradigm is not more important than the others. Each has its own place and purpose in my overall learning experience.

I dare say that everyone of us experiences some “instruction” that is quite effective. I will start with my parents. I know that no parent is perfect, but most parents will try their best to teach their kids the art of living. They are the authority in our lives at least for the first few years. Granted that the focus during those times of learning is Dad and Mom. Some will concur that those times were not the most enjoyable times. But years later, I could admit that if it were not for those times, I will be worse off as individual. I learned many precious values, mannerisms, skills of life from my parents, teachers, pastors and others. Frankly I don't have problem with figures of authority. I recognize that some of them are not commendable. However God in His goodness has given me and all of us good figures of authority throughout our lives to teach us the good path. I think “instruction” builds a foundation in my life. It teaches me what and how to think about certain things. It forms my values in life. It equips me with a basic knowledge that I can expand later on through my own “construction”. It serves as a spring board to a greater and richer knowledge and experience. I am grateful for the many instructors God gives me along the way.

I consider myself self-motivated learner. It seems that I don't need external factors to push me to do self-study. However I notice that many times good “instruction” encourages me to dig in deeper and explore wider. I recognize that good “instruction” is often the basis of good “construction”. Whenever I learn something good from a good teacher, especially a teacher who not only knows his material but also walks his talk, I get into the mode of reflection. Not only will I keep thinking about he has taught me but I will remember his life example. I will ask my self this question, “...If it is good and it works in his personal life, what about applying it in my life?...I might experience the same thing he has..”. What I have heard and seen in my teacher further strengthens my desire to read further about the subject. I begin to want to find the answer for myself. I will want to make the discovery myself. I remember I was being taught about faith and love by a certain teacher in a Bible School. Though this happened nearly 20 years ago, I could still hear his teachings in my ears and see his walk in my mind today. Not only I still remember what I have learned from him, but till today I still do my “construction” on faith and love.

What about “co-construction”? I am convinced that “co-construction” is very much needed for maximized result in learning. It takes my learning further still. Though forming a group that is cohesive, like minded and with which I am comfortable takes time and effort, the benefits easily outweigh the challenges. I believe that such a group is a possibility if each member approaches it with the attitude of faith and humility – God can change us when we are humble enough to welcome His help. Through “co-construction”, the knowledge and understanding that I have acquired from “instruction” and “construction” are challenged. My team members will bring their various perspectives on the table. My views may be corrected but always for the better. My views may be correct, but will be deepened and widened. Group learning builds more accurate knowledge and the learners themselves. I may see something from just one angle alone. But in a group, I see things from different angles from my group mates. It's like climbing a mountain – If I climb alone and reach the top, I will get to see a certain view. But if someone else climbs the same mountain from a different side, he will get another view. Group learning is like a group of us climbing the same mountain from different sides. When we reach the top together, we will see not just “my view and “your view”, but a complete view, a 360 degree view. On top of that we all are changed in our character through the process. Our EQ will be developed further. My team members and I will learn to be gracious with our differences, to speak the truth in love, putting aside our personal interest for the sake of the common interest for the common glory of God.