I will be teaching a religion course at Rochester College this fall entitled "Discovering the New Testament." This blog will be one avenue for candid discussion regarding faith, politics, life, and following Jesus.
To the students of the class-here is the class description from the syllabus:
This class will seek to allow the world of the New Testament to absorb the world we find ourselves in. The class will discuss the basic features of the Christian faith as presented in the New Testament. Special attention will be given to the Gospel in relation to mission, discipleship, poverty, salvation, trinity, and the church. The class will emphasize the uniqueness of the four Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John), the various writings of St. Paul and St. John. On occasion, the class will attempt to discuss the Christian faith in light of postmodernity and major world religions. It is my desire to capture the students’ imagination and appreciation for the story of Jesus (the Gospels) and the story of the Jesus Movement (the Church). I understand the level of exposure to Christianity will be of great diversity. I will do whatever I can to assist you in making this class a powerful experience. Not only am I committed to providing pertinent information, but it is my desire for each of you to experience transformation.
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Now...what is your experience with the Christian faith? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Harmful? Transformative? Fire away. Remember to be kind and respectful as we are all coming from completely different experiences.
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25 comments:
First off I would like to thank Josh for teaching all of us this year. I'm very excited about this class. Now to the question... My experience with the Christian Faith has been amazing! I've been raised in the church but never really understood what being a Christian was all about until I was about 15. I went on a retreat that changed my life. Ever since then I've strove to live a Christ centered life, which is never easy. It's a daily surrender of self to God. I came to a point in my life where I had to give God the pen and say, "Not my will, but yours Lord." It was that decision that led me here to RC. I grew up thinking I was going to be a photographer and attend art school. But the Lord has laid on my heart the desire to pursue ministry. So here I am at RC majoring in Christian Ministries with a minor in Youth and Family Ministry. I Love to study God's word, especially with other believers and I look forward to what God will do in this class.
Courtney Jenko ~Romans 12:2
Thanks for the feedback so far. You can post anonymously...I switched the settings this morning.
I look forward to reading more posts.
My experience with being a christian has had it's ups and downs. I was raised going to church of christ and for that I thank my parents for everyday. Even though they chose the church, I was still allowed the freedom to discover religion on my own and form my own opinions on it. I am very excited about learning more about the Bible in class, because for me at least, it is very hard for me to sit down and read just alone.
Thanks to the first two brave souls who've posted here. I look forward to getting to you know you better as the semester unfolds.
To: theMUHMEshow
You will be welcomed in this class no matter what. Please feel open to share your various insights during the course of the semester.
No stone throwing in this class. Glad you're on board.
Josh
Hi. I had a similar experience as the first commenter. I was raised in the church but never thought about what I was being taught. When I was 13 I was forced to go to church camp. At this camp, for the first time, the question was poised "What do you believe?" It was the first time I had ever thought about it, but I knew that God was real. Since then I have attended bible studies, youth group events, and entered into endless debates to find out what I believe, and that is this-Christ is life.
I've always considered myself a Christian for a pretty disgusting reason: it's the title I grew up with. But increasingly since I was twelve-- I was baptized at that age-- I've come to understand that God is really the only thing capable of satisfying me. Some part of me has always known that there's a bigger world than the one that I can see and feel.
My decision to follow Christ was not a spontaneous, thoughtless one (I'm a bit like Philip that way). It just seemed that every time I honestly looked for an answer about life's meaning, the only thing to hold any promise was an eternal, all-powerful God who had enormous interest and love toward us. (And, uhm, PATIENCE...) Nothing else fit with what I'd learned-- in science, in social studies, and through relationships and experiences, among oher things.
As it is now, I am more committed to the relationship God has with me than to any other thing in my life. And I want that to become more true all the time.
Long story, short summary. My experience began when I was about 9 yrs old. I was baptized and when I turned 13 I began to forget the Lord. I went through many trials, at one point (junior or Freshman year of high school) I was so frustrated with life and the environment I was growing up in that I refused to acknowledge God ever existed. Praise God; he brought me out of that pit. I was baptised over a year ago, and I am on fire for the Lord! I have been blessed with an unquenchable thirst for wisdom and revelation from the Lord. I am really looking forward to this class, and as Courtney said I look forward to what God will do in this class.
Wish I could take your class! It sounds great. I have had a super experience with Christ. Christians, on the other hand, have been difficult. Christ has continued to call to me no matter which side of the path I have wandered. He never gives up on me.
So far everyone's comments have been open and authentic. I hope for two things as this class and blog set-up contines. First, I will summarize a section of class or the whole class and post some discussion questions/contemporary applications (the War in Iraq, evangelism, etc.). Second, I hope this will generate good responses so that you all can begin to dialogue/re-post/email each other and continue the conversation.
See you in class at 240pm...don't be late!
I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. I can't think of a single event that really changed my life. I'm not really sure when, but my parents faith sort of became my own. I was raised in the Church of Christ. I was baptised when I was really young, I wasn't really prepared to make the commitment I should have. In the past few years I've tried to make my Christian faith my life, not just something to do on Sunday mornings.
I'd just like to give props to Mr. Graves for this idea. It lets people talk without feeling like they have to be responsible for what they've said or feel intimidated by other students.
Now then, I'd have to say I'm on the same page as a couple of the bloggers so far. I was raised in the Church of Christ and baptised at 10. I've never felt doubt. I've always believed firmly, but at times I feel so far from God. It seems to become a given to me that I'm a Christian and I'm going to Heaven even if I don't put any work into it. That needs to change. Occasionally I do get my act together, but right now I'm in the process. I look forwrd to this class being a great excuse to back in the word and closer to God. I plan to come out of this class transformed.
I have grown up in the Church of Christ however, I was still allowed to choose my own religion. I was baptized when I was 9 years old, some say thats young but through a family crisis I felt that God had to be real his Son had to be real, I could feel how he saved my family. I love being a Christian and going to a Christian college.
When can we get into the "War in Iraq" that is something that I am looking forward too VERY VERY much...
~Muhme
Professor Graves changed my life. I am sure that he will change yours also. He is real, so be ready to be real. And don't play him in basketball either.
Love you Josh!
my experience with the Christian faith has been very good....it's all about love...when that happens and it is geniune it is hard to go wrong.
Its a blessing to read these post's, and a blessing to attend a Christian college. The difference between Rochester and secular is significant. Im looking forward to the class embracing Christ together regardless of our "religious" differences created by denominations. It is a little intimidating attending this class; with such a diversified denominational mix. I pray that myself and the entire class will accept eachjother's faith and love in Christ and not ponder on denominational difference and beliefs.
I have to agree that the class is intimidating, but for slightly different reasons. I graduated in a class of 9. Yes, I said 9. So my biggest class ever has probably been 20. I know 45 is by no means a big class, but it is for me. It's going to take me awhile to adjust to 90 eyes staring at me when I talk as opposed to 18 last year.
Kate, totally understandable...although I graduated with a whole heck of a lot more people...believe it or not, this whole thing is intimidating for me too...but for the reason that this is really my first time ever in a Christian school setting, not even to mention that I don't really know that much about the bible, so when people ask questions about it...I shut my mouth quick, lol which is totally unlike me...but still, ISN'T IT SO MUCH FUN???????!!!!!!
My experiences in life have been very tragic, but no matter how bad that my experiences were, my christian faith was always there for me. My mom was in a motorcycle accident in Ohio by herself, she was hit by a car. God was definately with her during this though. There was a nerse, helicopter, trauma doctor wih a trauma kit, and police all on the site of the accident. You could say that this was all just a coincidence, but i think not. People all the way from California heard her story, and they prayed for her. She was discharged from the hospital with 7 broken ribs, 2 skull fractures, broken colar bone, brken shoulder, broke sholder blade, brken thumb, and road rash, all these injuries healed in less than a weeks time.
Another experince very recently in life was my girlfriend Sara's mom just passed away from fighting cancer for 7 years. She passed away in the end of June. On July 4 Sara was comming to my house in Milford, on her way she got in an accident on I-275 and rolled her car twice off the freeway. Her mother gave her a "Driving angel" that hangs on her mirror, but this was too small for her mirror so she tied it on somethinf else. After her accident her "Driving angel" which was tied to the mirror somehow untied and landed in her lap. Her dead mother saved her life. Sara walked away from the accident with only a few scrathes and briuses
My experience with the Christian faith has appeard throughout my life in stages.First, with something that seems out of reach,changing into a personal relationship with Christ.I look forward to see what will come about through my time here at R.C.!
A.J.
I have had the opportunity to grow up in a Christian school, family and church. Chirst and the Bible was always a huge part of my life. I know a lot about the Bible, but the amazing thing is, you can always learn more. I'm looking forward to this class. It's always interesting to hear different teachings and how we can apply them to our lives.
Iam having a hard time finding new topics, whenever I get on this site, I dont see any new posts. What am I doing wrong? Could you please spend a little time explaining how to get to the blog that has been posted for each particular week{or maybe we could meet before/after class}.Tanx Josh, I apreciate it, I don't want to be left out on this.
A.J.
This is just a genral thougt,I have been thinking alot about contemporary views of sin.The church is definately divided on this topic.Some churches hold tight to a more old testament view while others focus more on a new tesament view.
While I think that we should take both views into account in trying to determin weather or not certain topics,not directly addressed in the bible(advancement of scociety and techknowledgy have brought about a variety of new topics),I think it is important that we don't lose sight of the fact that we now have a new covenent (or a new contract)with our God.
Jesus came to counteract our inability to meet the demands of the old testament.I think by focusing on keeping up with the old demands is not only self-defeating(we are obviously incapable of this, or God would not have made a new deal), but it also diminnishes the role of Christ and questions the judgement of God! We should be more careful!!
A.J.
I have grown up in a Christain home and church all of my life. So I have had the opportunity to be taught Gods word starting at a very young age. Many times, I just took it for granted. Now that I'm in the "real world" I feel like there is so much more I have yet to learn. I'm enjoying this class very much. I like to learn religous perspectives from other peoples point of views. It's been interesting and I've learned alot.
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