Case Study: Man The Christian Believer

My Significant Learnings in ReEd 40: Man The Christian Believer

1. God is love.
God is love. I place this one on top of the list because these three words summarize the entirety of the lesson. God is different form the god of Greece and other gods with superhuman powers. He is not like Zeus who has a lot of women. Our God is the loving god. A loving God looks for the good and the benefit of his people.

2. Christian love does not only depend on feelings but also in actions.
Christian love is not only a mere feeling. You cannot say it is love by means of emotion and thinking. Christian love is a love that requires action. There is a saying that actions speak a thousand words. This Christian love can be done through simple ways. Teaching
There is war because of selfish ideals and beliefs. God wants to unite us because he loves us. He loves because we are his children. God is a father. It is difficult for a father to see his sons and daughter fighting with each other.

4. Jesus performs miracles because of love and not because he is God.
Jesus does not perform miracles because he wants to proclaim that he is God. Jesus’ humility and love brought him to perform miracles by healing the sick, making the blind see, letting the lame walk and others. During Jesus’ time, acquiring sickness and disabilities is equal to committing a great sin. Through His miracles, Jesus showed to us not only to help other people but also to forgive sins.

5. The Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer.
I have learned that the Holy Mass especially on Sundays is the highest form of prayer. Eventhough we always pray at home, attend Bible studies or doing community service, there is no other form of prayer greater than the Holy Mass. God only asked one day and one hour to attend the mass. The Holy Mass is a communal prayer. It is like praying as one, big whole family. God is like a father inviting His children to have a reunion and to be united as one. Through the Holy Mass, we can be united as one
Transcendence means that God does not belong to this world. Immanence means God is among us. God becomes transcendent because of the sin of the people. It is sin that pulls us away from God. Because of the love of God, God becomes immanent. He showed His immanence through his word, through his pope and bishops, and through the Holy Eucharist. Eventhough we commit sin, God would never leave us.

10. God gives his only Son because of his love for us.
God expressed His great love by giving his own son Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, the will of God and the unity of the people become more compact. The expression of love through Jesus is clearly felt among the people. God’s love is so great. His purpose of giving His son to us is to show how really loves us. It is a great sacrifice for God to see His son suffering on the cross. That clearly show how he really loves us. Because it is not easy for a father to see his children dying.
Course (ReEd 20) Assessment

ReEd 20 is all about the love of God through Jesus. The expression of love through Jesus can be seen in the New Testament especially on the Gospel. With this, it is not only studying the Bible but also applying it in our daily lives. Studying the Bible would define a theology class and not a ReEd 20