27/09/2024
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Sa paningin ng iba, there is nothing remarkable about the church. But the church has more beautyβand more valueβthan we can see with physical eyes.
Sa New Testament, ang kapahayagan ng halaga at ang pagiging kaibig-ibig ng iglesya ay galing karamihan sa mga letters ni Apostle Paul. This is surprising because Paul had a very complicated relationship to the local church. He once persecuted the church, and later on, he faced a lot of challenges with the church. Sa simula, pinaghinalaan siya ng mga church leaders (Acts 9:26). He suffered personal attacks from false-teachers and their disciples (2 Cor 10:10). May mga nakakaalitan siyang mga kapwa Kristiyano (Acts 15:36β40). He was disappointed by other Christians (see 2 Cor 11:22β29). At sa oras na kinakailangan niya ng karamay, walang kapatiran na sumama sa kanya (2 Tim 4:16). Paul knew by experience how imperfect and disappointing the church is, yet we can see how he truly loved the church.
Looking at Paulβs letters, we can learn four ways to grow in our love for the church even when itβs hard. The insights here are adapted from Megan Hill, π πππ’π€π¦ π΅π° ππ¦ππ°π―π¨: ππ¦π’π³π―πͺπ―π¨ π΅π° ππ°π·π¦ π΅π©π¦ ππ°π€π’π ππ©πΆπ³π€π© (2020).
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The same Paul who experienced disappointment and betrayal in the church is the one who calls the church "beloved" many times. Tinatawag niya silang mga kapatid. Paulit-ulit na pinapaalala ni Paul sa kanila ang katotohanan na sila ay mga taong tinubos ng Diyos. People who are bought by God. Despite its flaws, the church remains a community of people loved and saved by God. This truth could motivate us to see our fellow Christians beyond their faults.
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Ang pag-attend o church attendance ay napakahalaga. It is essential for our relationship with God and for spiritual growth. Ito rin ay pagpapakita ng pagmamahal natin sa church. Kahit nasa kulungan si Paul, nadoon pa rin ang kagustuhan niyang makasama sila nang personal (Rom 1:9β15; Rom 15:23β24; 1 Cor 16:7; Phil 2:23β24; 1 Thess 3:10; 2 Tim 1:4). Hindi lang basta inutos na tayo ay magkita-kita nang madalas (Heb 10:25), pinakita rin ni Paul na ang pagkikita-kita ay paraan para ma-encourage ang natin ang sarili natin na mas mahalin ang mga kapatid natin kay Kristo.
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Hindi lang sa salita makikita ang pagmamahal at malasakit ni Apostle Paul sa church kundi sa actions din. He worked tirelessly for them (1 Cor. 15:10), prayed night and day (1 Cor. 3:10), at handa siyang maging handog para lamang sa pananampalataya ng iglesya (Phil. 2:17). Hindi siya nagtatago o umiiwas sa mga kapatid. Instead, kahit malayo siya, he willingly experienced "daily pressure" because of his "anxiety for all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:28). Nag-aalala siya para sa kanila. We show our genuine love for the body of Christ by investing in it, just like Paul did. Maari nating ibigay ang ating oras, financial/ material blessing, at ang ating paglilingkod para sa mga kapatid natin kay Kristo.
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Isa sa mapapansin nating madalas sa mga sulat ni Apostle Paul ay ang thanksgiving niya sa mga churches. In almost all his letters, he gives thanks to God for the congregations to which he writes. Sa Rom 1:8, ipinagpasalamat niya ang tanyag na pananampalataya ng mga Kristiyano roon. In 1 Cor 1:4β7, Paul thanked God for their gifts and grace. Sa 2 Cor 1:11, he thanked God for their prayers. In Eph 1:15-16 and Col 1:3-4, he gave thanks for their love for other Christians. He also thanked God for their partnership with him in the gospel (Phil. 1:3β5), for their steadfastness (1 Thess 1:2β3), and for their growth in the faith (2 Thess 1:3). Despite ng lahat ng kapintasan meron ang isang local church, nakakahanap pa rin siya ng something beautiful about it na maaari niyang ipagpasalamat sa Diyos. Yes, madalas niyang punahin at ituwid ang mga pagkakamali nila, pero mas madalas siyang nagpapasalamat sa Diyos para sa kanila. Tinuturuan tayo nito na habang patuloy tayong nagpapasalamat sa Diyos para sa mga kapatiran natin, makakahanap at makakahanap pa rin tayo ng mga dahilan para mahalin sila.
Every church has its own imperfections and is still being perfected. Yet, the Bible tells us it is still beautiful. βHow good and pleasant it is when Godβs people live together in unity!β (Ps. 133:1).
