Nothing New

I know history is cool. I’m not actually one of those people who dreaded the study of history. Somehow, I considered learning about the past as fun, interesting, and mind-bugling. But I did not put into account nor cross my mind the benefits I can gain knowing the tale of the bygones. Though I found out and realized history provides us the understanding to better know our now by investigating our past. I’ve learned a lot of like blood been shed, not only the apostles, but of those who had believed and followed Christ Jesus. The persecutions that they had faced did not stop them from following the Lord yet it strengthens and spread the faith they had. Their endurance produced adherents and heighten the growth of their number. Another thing, I learned is that what actually we are facing now is not that strange not new at all. In fact, the church before had faced the same oppositions that we have now. However, the persecutions of today are being clothed in the modern fashion, it goes with the trend. That is why the words in the scripture are still applicable today because what actually happened in the past is happening today. There is nothing new at all.

Looking back to church history and comparing to the orthodox churches now. There are similarities that can be seen: Oppositions from other churches and people claiming there is no God, persecutions of the people who are proclaiming the gospel, discrimination of the Christians in the schools, universities, and colleges, being called Jesus-freak, these are just few of the present circumstances that Christians are facing in this era. Way back the first century Christians were considered as a threat. What is difference from the yesteryears? Almost nothing, it is just that circumstances evolved and suited itself in this age. The wisest king, Solomon, had expressed this already that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:10).

Knowing that nothing is actually new that has not dealt long ago, I can always refer back to what the Bible has said. Though the word of God, the Bible, is been an ancient writing but everything that is written in it are just as modern as it is. It has always something to tell about. It is our guidelines in living out our faith. There is no excuse that we could say, “I don’t know how to deal with this, this is a new thing”. Yeah, but we saw others experience that. Nothing is new.