The Paper Chase

A couple weeks ago, my Princeton educated Professor returned our first position papers. My class approximately holds about 22 to 28 people. The class is comprised of diverse people from different economic and ethnic backgrounds. Also, ranging from fairly new believers to mature saints, my classmates vary in bible knowledge and vary in Christian growth. Like other professors, he is quite opinionated and very knowledgable about his field. He's a great guy with a quick discerning wit. After distributing the graded papers, he lectured on the obligatory task to tell us about the importance of grammar and style. As well, he distributed an updated description page about what he wants in a position paper. Admittedly, I wasn't certain what he wanted, but I winged it and followed the instructions as much as possible. With God's grace, I got a B. I think that it helps when you pad your bibliography with numerous publications. It also probably helps that he was easy on the grading. The individual position papers are on average 9% of the class grade, while the individual quizzes are approximately 3% of the class grade. I wonder if it helps when numerous classmates are non-English speakers or international students.

I now have a quiz and a paper under my belt. That means I should have a sense of what is required for this seminary class. Let's hope I continue to do better. Balancing work, school and church are tremendous tasks, but God is surely helping me.

I am very humbled to be in this seminary class. Sometimes I think that I'm a mature Christian, then other times I feel that I'm a newborn learning the basic tenets of Christianity. Maybe, I'm both personalities. That's okay. God is working on me. Attending a theology class has given me certain insights about Christian theology education. It is about rational inquiry and systematic study on Christian religion. Another benefit for taking this class, it gives me an opportunity to declare and defend my faith. In other words, "Do I know what I believe?" Another thing that this class has taught me is that relationships are important to share the Gospel and minister to others. For most people, it's not the high, lofty theology or logic that will bring others to Christ, but it will be how you live your life as an example of God living in people's lives. If others trust you or watch how you live your life, then they will be able to see Christ working in your life.

Well, it's time to get back to my reading. Since I missed class last week, I'm catching up with school.

Today's verses: Acts 8:30-35 (New American Standard Bible)

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.