Reflections

Reflections
James McDermott
Indiana Wesleyan University

It has been my experience throughout my life, that God presents opportunities to both believers and non-believers. These are opportunities to gain insight. These are opportunities that offer a change in perception. These are opportunities that present the chance to gain wisdom. I can say these things because of my life experiences from the times I was not a follower of Jesus Christ to the present, trying to live a life that is worthy as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Interestingly enough, God may show me and someone else the exact same opportunity, yet the two of us will come away with a very different experience. I believe this to be a part of God’s plan in furthering the Great Commission. For if we all came away with the same idea or thought, we would not be anywhere near as effective in spreading the Gospel, as we will all see things, hear things, feel things, different than everyone else.

Therefore, as I go about explaining the three areas of intellectual, emotional, and willingness to life change, these are mine and mine alone, though some may be similar to others, they are still different within the plan of salvation and the spread of the Gospel.

When we talk about intellect, I struggle in this area the most. I struggle in memorization, remembering specific facts, and/or sequence of events. The area that has changed the most within the intellect portion of this assignment is how we “do” church. I believe that we have made church into something that is difficult for those who struggle in their faith to find cceptance, because of the fear of being judged, or behind the times. I believe we have taken church from being a body of believers and have attempted to make it an institution for which it is not supposed to be. I speak out of my own personal experiences: from what I have observed and heard about from friends’ experiences. Can the institution of church be effective in spreading the Gospel? Yes, but I also believe this provides an inroad for pride, gluttony of material possessions, which could be a building, to the increase of power over such an institution.

While reading about the church during the days of the Apostles, how wonderful a picture the book of Acts painted of how they “did” church. It was an all inclusive, all for one and one for all mentality. People helping people in need, no questions asked, no judgment portrayed. I am a very literal person, so when I read things, such as in the Bible, I take them at face value. I need to be careful in some areas of the Bible when they use examples that are not a fact of their way of life back in their time, and are just using them as a means to help us learn more about God’s character and His meaning in our life.

This leads me to my emotions about Christ and Christianity as a whole. Personally, I feel more broken and unworthy now, than when I began this specific class. I do not see this as a bad thing, but as a means to bring glory to God. His conviction over my brokenness, can only lead to people seeing His glory at work in my life: whether it is through His mercy and grace, or forgiveness and trials, or all of the above. All these things, though they may be difficult for me, will strengthen my relationship with Christ.

They will help to build a stronger foundation, as I learn to rely on Christ more and let my worldly self-go. It is pushing me to build relationships with other Godly men, so that I have God-fearing people to rebuke me when necessary, to hold me accountable in my walk with Christ, and to share fellowship with, to have the opportunity to love others in Christ, as they love me, as Christ loves me.

Therefore, despite feeling more broken and unworthy, I know that Christ is at work in my life because of these feelings. If I did not have these feelings, then I would need to worry! I can apply these feelings about myself towards Christianity as well. Those who claim to be Christian are also very broken and unworthy. The difference is that I see Christians who do not claim their brokenness; they do not realize they are unworthy. When this is the case, people who do not believe do not see the Glory of God, they see Christianity as being broken and something they do not want to be a part.

This is very similar to my experiences with people and police officers. So many people I have come a crossed have had such poor experiences with police officers, they treat me as if I was the one who miss treated them in their time of need, or their time of needing rebuked. This makes my job much harder and more difficult to help or rebuke if necessary. We need to be able to take the mercy and grace Christ gives us and give it to those around us. Then and only then will others really want to get to know what makes us different.

What part of my life am I willing to change to make me different? As I look back over much of my life, I see Jonah. I have run, tried to hide, and right out kept my mind closed to the opportunities that God had presented me. Never the less, here I am as a forty four year old man going to college to obtain a Bachelors in Biblical Studies, so that I can be a more effective disciple for Christ. Despite my being closed minded, God, through a series of unfortunate events, brought me to a point that I could no longer deny His presence in my life. I could no longer run, hide, and keep my mind closed. God has been more than patient with me. I realized this when I was reading His word in the Book of Timothy.

I read this scripture and it hit me like a ton of bricks:

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (New International Version)

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the

world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy

so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an

example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Therefore, when I speak of mercy, forgiveness, and patience, I speak out of my relationship with
Christ and how He has been with me. With that said, I need and want to be willing to change in anyway shape or form His wishes. This has been evident in my process of sanctification, which has been long and slow, and anything but instantaneous. God has been weaning me off my worldly ways. He has been pushing me and encouraging me to a point that I have no doubt that what I am doing is what He wishes me to do. From being single, to selling much of my possessions, to educating myself to better serve Him. He has led me to a men’s group, which will not only be a benefit in the area of fellowship, but also accountability. There is sin in my life He has been encouraging me to drag into the light. I have prayed for Him to give me the person that I can trust and that will be encouraging and not harmful. He just did not give me one person, but a whole group men, some of which have the same struggles. With events like this, I know He is at work in my life, so I need to be willing and ready to work for Him as He sees fit.

This class has been a huge benefit for me in my walk with Christ. This class built nicely upon the prior classes that I have taken here at Indiana Wesleyan University. Therefore, I sit back and think about all that I have read, all that I have thought, and look forward to what is to come. I know that as long as Christ is at the center of it, I will not be bored, I will be molded into a better person, and that it will more than likely involve change.