Reflection Paper
Jacobsen video on global Christianity provides an outline for recollecting the different experiences of Christians throughout the globe. The video focuses on the five big continents, of the two Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, detailing the various modern experiences as well as cultural theologies. In the present period that is occasioned by large and dynamic problems, such an accessible and thought volume opens up a platform for Christians globally to hold the gospel, and one another more firmly. I have been able to conclude from the class the study on hermeneutics, and from personal exploration, that the penultimate of the storylines of the Bible, the implications of world history in the present century, and theological meanings of Christian missions can be tersely described in one given way. I came to realize from the video that global Christianity signify a single faith, in one Lord, conveying itself in different shapes and expressions. There is no greater show of diversity in unity that can exist, and the global church consists of a multicultural communion that have since emerged the world over, a sought of church without borders. As a Christian, I have a great sense of pleasure knowing, from the video that there are other Christians throughout the world, and when the video was being played, a sense of solidarity with the other brethren from different parts of the world overwhelmed me, seeing believers from every corner of the globe. Certainly, the triune God has fashioned for his glory a global temple, and is fulfilling His immense covenant to beckon to him, and dwell in them. Apart from just being global, Christianity in God is eternal, and the followers of Jesus Christ among the nations of the world are live as lieutenants in the globalised world.
Discussing something that was Difficult
Obviously, I have faced a number of grey areas throughout my time in class. In particular, the Nicene Creed has been one area that has proven a tough nut to crack. Nicene Creed is a difficult concept to grasps owing to historical discrepancies on its content when it was actually developed. Sources seem either to conflict on the document linked with Council of Constantinople of 381 A.D. or the other one produced in 325 A.D. at the council of Nicaea. Well, there are even some other claims that the A.D. 381 council only met to revise the earlier creed. Nonetheless, there are other assertions that the council in A.D. 381 did not meet to update the earlier document, but to establish the creed. If the first or the second scenario were right, then it would be incorrect referring to either as the Nicene Creed (Sampson 28). The filioque clause that was apparently included, has been rejected by the Eastern churches, yet from personal experience, I have come to realize that it is an intricate part of the worship. I have failed to understand why the Eastern churches think of it as a theological error, when the mainstream western denominations have retained it throughout the years. Often, the creed is individually personified by the Catholic church, while the Eastern churches use a plural form. The Roman Catholic Church insists that the term, ‘and the son’ would actually be apostate if applied with a Greek word ‘emanate’, a term used by St. Gregory and kept by the Council of Constantinople. On the other hand, filioque is not considered apostate when linked with the term ‘I proceed’. The Nicene Creed is a forty line affirmation of faith that is linked with a massive historical and religious linked, but always remains controversial owing to the differences it emanates from the churches in the East from those of the West.
Something I want to learn in Class.
Actually, I am hope that this class shall be instrumental to me towards heaping more knowledge in Christianity and religion as a whole, and more importantly, the contribution of Christian apologetics in the growth of the word and that of the gospel. I know the basics of apologetics, and I know that it is a term that was coined from a Greek word apologia, and during the medieval Greece period the word was used in reference to self-legal defense. Hence, within this context, the term refers to a system that is use in the defense of personal actions, beliefs and faith. Meaning that a Christian apologetic is a logical exchange and development of an argument for the truth and awareness about the religion of Christ, and absurdity and false manufacturing of the others with the aim of magnifying the faith to nonbelievers and reconsider life under Christ. Apologetics is traceable to Justin Martyr (100-164) A.D. a gentile from Samaria, who converted to Christianity and produced great defense, after his journey in pursuit of truth, and was buried a martyr in Rome. The apologetic writer is referred to as an apologist, and the apologist, pens his or her work in defense of the Christian faith from falsehoods and employs arguments for the truth of the messages of Christ. Religion is indeed central to human culture, and God embraces people who are evangelized and calls into people who are not yet, saving them from their reliance on polytheistic, atheistic, idolatry, animistic and pantheistic means. Apologists are known to pen down powerful apologetic materials that emphasize the Christian worldview and reproach other pluralistic arguments brought forth. It is valuable knowing the basis people acknowledge and appreciate the Christian worldview, and the logical absolutes are universal and abstract linked to human experience, meaning that they must outdo human experience, meaning that they support the notion of Jesus being the only savior.
Works Cited
Sampson, Carol Avery. Group Spiritual Direction: The Theological Foundation. 4th ed. Vol. 3. N.p.: n.p., 2009. Print.
