Journal Entry 3
October 29, 2007
We’re just past fall break and headed into the “breaking” time of our studies. This past week and the upcoming few weeks are pounding, demanding, and crucial. I had a Greek mid-term last week, planned a chapel with my housemates from the Peace House, and handed in a homily to Old Testament. Our Christian Tradition Term Paper is due in less than 2 weeks, as well as a small interview project for Teaching Church. It’s relentless, but doable.
I’m tired and feeling somewhat small-minded. It seems I have to work hard to cram every detail into my brain. I’m praying that it can stretch.
On the other hand I can’t believe half a semester has already flown by. Day after day I am confronted with new things and new ways to see old things. I like that. One of the more thought provoking things I’ve learned comes out of the Christian Traditions class where we started examining the Church just after the time of the New Testament and will continue up to the present day Church. (The class spans two semesters.) In our study of the Early Church it was fascinating to learn how the Church grew! Because of various times of persecution, the church was meeting in houses, in secret sometimes. There wasn’t too much public display (unless you count the times Christians appeared in the stadiums as lions’ food), no blatant advertising, or no mega-churches, and everyone who wanted to be a Christian went through a long period of strict training to learn how to be one. Once there was proof that the student had learned something, he or she was baptized, and finally belonged in the Church. How does a church grow in these circumstances? Part of the answer lies in the changed lives of Christians. They were literally acting out the Gospel: helping widows, orphans, working with the poor, and sharing. I am troubled by how far away from this our church seems to be. And I am energized by the idea that we, together, can be the real Church again.
