Coalition of Christians for Change

22/10/2024

Protestantism was introduced in the Philippines after the United States of America defeated Spain in 1898. The United States took possession of the Philippines from Spain with the Treaty of Paris. American rule allowed more opportunity for missionaries to enter the Philippines than under Spanish rule. In addition, there was hostility against the Catholic Christianity of the Spanish and a greater acceptance of Protestant Christianity represented by the Americans.

In 1898 the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist leaders met together in New York to discuss how to bring the Protestant message to the Filipinos. The result was a comity agreement of the missionary enterprises, dividing up places of ministry to avoid future conflicts among themselves and their converts. This meant that only one Protestant church would be started in each area. The comity agreement, which led to the territorial division of the Philippines, was one of the accomplishments of mission enterprises in the Philippines. The meeting was followed by another gathering in 1901 by the early missionaries in Manila to further discuss the comity agreement with three specific major agenda items: (1) to organize the Evangelical Union, (2) to choose a common name for all Protestant churches, (3) to delineate the geographical work allotments for each church.

From 1898 to 1905 there were different Protestant mission agencies that arrived in the Philippines, namely: Methodists (1898), Presbyterians (1899), Baptists (1900), United Brethren (1901), Disciples of Christ (1901), Protestant Episcopal (1901), Congregationalists (1902), Christian and Missionary Alliance (1902), and Seventh-day Adventists (1905). More Protestant missionaries came later -– Assemblies of God (1926), Salvation Army (1937), Lutherans (1946), Foursquare (1949), Evangelical Free (1951), Christian Reformed (1961), Wesleyans (1968) and many others.

The first Protestant service held in the Philippines was on Sunday, August 28, 1898. Chaplain George Stull, a member of The Methodist Episcopal Church, came with the occupying forces. Although his primary duty was to minister to the American soldiers, he recorded in his diary that that first service, held in an old Spanish dungeon facing the bay, was attended not only by his own men but by some Filipinos as well.

11/10/2024

At Agape Life Group we learn that bad things in the world or in your life do not change the goodness of God. Our timetable for deliverance is not synchronized with God’s. But while we wait, we gain the opportunity to trust God and find Him faithful. We should expect trouble in this life. See you on Thursdays at 7:00 PM at Makers Cafe.

Agape Life Group is a weekly gathering of friends who desire to grow together in their faith, character, and relationships. We seek to be a group that is Loving God, Loving One Another, and Loving the Last, the Least, and the Lost. We meet at the Makers Cafe, Christian Bible Church of the Philippines in Quezon City.

15/09/2024

When it comes to the church, there is no us and them. There is only us. We ought not to count as enemies people with whom we will spend eternity.

This is the vision that Jesus cast for his followers from the very beginning—a vision for unity. A vision for a “big tent.”

Christian theologians would put it this way: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”

The goal has always been a big tent. As in, the biggest tent you can think of—every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. All of them with a million different views on a million different things, but all of them made one, just as Jesus and the Father are one.

Regardless of your political affiliation, or your views on Calvinism, mode of baptism, the nature of communion, the age of the earth, spiritual gifts, eschatology, or any other secondary issue on which we can disagree, we are still on the same team.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we all must occupy the same pews. When it comes to certain convictions, such as the role of women in church leadership, mode of baptism, or even perhaps the exercise of the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, it is simply impossible from an organizational standpoint to “both sides” every theological debate.

But the fact that we don’t all occupy the same pews does not mean that we have ceased to be on the same mission.

This also isn’t to say that secondary issues are unimportant. Indeed, how you land on any number of these issues has deeply practical implications for how you live out your faith on a daily basis, what your church teaches from the pulpit, and even how your congregation structures itself.

Further, there are certain theological stances and practices to which other Christians hold that I believe are not only wrong but also problematic and, at times, harmful. And most certainly, we should never stand for the systemic sins that exist within the evangelical movement.

Our goal isn’t a fragile coalition that can only continue to exist so long as we keep most of our actual thoughts and convictions to ourselves. Instead, the goal is an unwavering commitment to love one another, even and especially in the places where we have the sharpest disagreements.

Extending the right hand of fellowship to another believer isn’t a tacit endorsement of every detail of their theology or conduct. It’s just basic Christian behavior.

This kind of love doesn’t make any sense to the world. But it should make all the sense in the world to us. It is this kind of love that defines us. It’s how the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus. So instead of engaging in an endless battle for doctrinal purity, may we embrace the mess of a big tent, striving to love one another and to bring that love to the world.

Jesus apparently had very little compunction about emphasizing a “big tent” movement rather than prioritizing "doctrinal purity."

05/09/2024

Did God provide the means of salvation for all people, or only for a preselected few? Are the redemptive benefits of Christ’s death on the cross available to all, or only given to some? What does being saved by grace alone mean? How does belief in Jesus save a person? What is the difference between salvation by faith and salvation by works?

✅ Join us for an Online Webinar entitled "Conversations on Salvation, Grace, & Faith" | LIVE VIA ZOOM

✅ October 26, 2024 | SATURDAY | 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM | Manila Time Zone

✅ OPEN FOR ALL. FREE ADMISSION.

✅ SIGN UP now to get the ZOOM link by scanning the QR CODE or by clicking this link: www.gsot.edu/conversations-on-salvation-grace-faith

✅ BONUS: Free e-book entitled "Grace For All: Understanding God's Plan of Salvation" to all who signs up and attends the webinar.

Speakers:

👉 On Salvation | Dr. Ken Wilson | Author, “The Foundation of Augustinian-Calvinism”

👉 On Grace | Dr. David Anderson | Author, “Free Grace Soteriology”

👉 On Faith | Dr. Fred Chay | Author, “The Faith That Saves: The Nature of Faith in the New Testament”

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GRACE for ALL Coalition is a cross-denominational collaboration of various Non-Calvinist Evangelical Christians. We desire to be a theological voice against teachings that limit the saving grace of God only to a chosen few, against theologies that teach that Christ did not die for all of humanity, and against doctrines that say that the Gospel is actually good news only to preselected individuals, not for every person. https://www.facebook.com/GraceForALLCoalitionPH

Grace School of Theology is committed to develop spiritual leaders in every nation who can teach others about the love of Christ, a love that cannot be earned and cannot be lost. It is a ministry committed to enriching students spiritually, intellectually, and professionally so they are prepared to serve God in a global and culturally diverse society. https://www.gsot.edu/

15/08/2024

How can we know God exists? How can we be confident the Bible is true? How can a loving God allow evil and suffering, and torture people in hell? How can we prove that Jesus is the only way to God?

We need a gathering place where people are welcome to wrestle with difficult questions like these, and allow people to explore truth together.

Starting August 28, 2024 we will begin the Aletheia Life Group — a safe space where people can doubt, disagree, dialogue, debate, and discover answers in a friendly environment without being condemned for their inquiries and questions.

👉 The Case For Faith: Investigating the Toughest Objections to Christianity

👉 Aletheia Life Group | Wednesdays | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

👉 Makers Café #60 Eugenio Lopez Drive, Corner Samar Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City PH

👉 Requirements: Come with an open mind, humble heart, friendly attitude, and gracious spirit.

👉 Open for all. Free admission. Limited seats. SIGN UP NOW to reserve your seat here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciRrLSJHEqV99ziwx0aaTvoQL53ar_LX_v76p5sibLxa9HTw/viewform



*What does "aletheia" mean? | "Truth" in John 17:17 is the Greek word "aletheia", which means "reality, the manifested, unconcealed essence of a matter." Truth is the reality lying at the foundation of a righteous example. It is pure unadulterated reality.

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Group Rules:

1) No bashing or bullying. | We make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments will not be tolerated. We will avoid hurtful speech, ad hominem language, and hateful attitudes.

2) Behave like adults. | We want as much freedom and maturity as possible to discuss the issues in this group. Don't act like children. Instead of throwing insults at people that you disagree with, use intellectual counterarguments. Improve your reasoning skills, instead of dumping emotional outbursts.

3) Be kind and courteous. | We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let's treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. You do not have to agree on everything to be kind, respectful, and gracious. We need to agree to disagree, and disagree agreeably to all people.

4) Humbly listen to other views. | We seek to be a safe space where people can doubt, disagree, dialogue, debate, and discover answers in a friendly environment without being condemned for their inquiries and questions.

30/07/2024

"Do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith. So do not think that something strange is happening to you. But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings... When people insult you because you follow Christ, then you are blessed. You are blessed because the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is with you... if you suffer because you are a Christian, then do not be ashamed. You should praise God because you wear that name". (1 Peter 4:12-16, ICB)

30/07/2024

John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a sea-change from the past; the wind is no longer on our back but in our face. This is creating a cultural climate in the West in which persecution of Jesus’s followers, simply for their allegiance to Him, is no longer unthinkable, whether in family, community, or workplace.

This is confusing to some and frightening to others, but, as Gene Edward Veith points out: "One of the greatest paradoxes in Christian history is that the church is most pure in times of cultural hostility. When things are easy and good, that is when the church most often goes astray. When Christianity seems identical with the culture and even when the church seems to be enjoying its greatest earthly success, then it is weakest. Conversely, when the church encounters hardship, persecution, and suffering… then it is closest to its crucified Lord, then there are fewer hypocrites and nominal believers among its members, and then the faith of Christians burns most intensely."

Tom Tarrants raises the important, albeit disturbing, topic of persecution for the sake of the gospel during the process of discipleship.

29/07/2024

"For YAHWEH is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you— so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!" (Psalms 100:5; TPT: The Passion Translation)

25/07/2024

"Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1, Word English Bible)