Dissertation Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'm honored to have God as the focus and purpose of this dissertation research. His call to ministry has been my courage to finish the course. This study is my tribute to the Lord, my God and benevolent King.

I'm grateful to have many people who helped me in completing this research. Foremost is my family who was always there through sleepless nights. Going through the process of research and writing has been bearable with bottomless coffee flavored with sugar and love.

To my late father, Engr. Eleuterio C. Plastina, Sr. I'm thankful for his lifetime influence on me and his farewell words before his death: to unconditionally love God and others. To my mother, Nerlisa M. Plastina, you shaped me to be strong. Thank you for your discipline that partly made me who am I today. To my sisters, Hazel and Amor, see how time flies. I miss my time with all of you. I love you all.

Acknowledgements are also extended to my mentors who shaped me in the ministry. I'm grateful to Dr. Tereso C. Casiño, Th.D, Ph.D, for his theological, missional, and pastoral example that inspired me to go on with my studies and ministry. Also, I'm thankful to Dr. Lizette Knight who super-motivated me (and my fellow graduate students) to work on despite of my outstanding accounts; May God pour out his blessings upon you. To Dr. Engracio Samson, thank you for the seed idea that gave fruition to this research. This endeavor I owe to you.

To Bishop Oscar Magallanes, I'm thankful to God for answering my prayers to have a pastoral leadership mentor, a spiritual big-brother who exemplifies the heart of a pastor-leader and cares for young generation of called men of God.

I'm thankful also to Dr. Anne Windus who helped in binding up the wounded child in me. God knows how much your care has made me whole. It's more than money can give and yet you and your dad supported me indeed financially in my studies. Likewise, to Rev. Debbie Miller; thanks for the journey to recovery. Both of you and ma'am Anne are my spiritual sisters, a lifetime treasure to me and my family.

To Dr. Steve Tam, thank you very much for the monetary assistance. To Ms. Beth Agwayaway, salamat po for the timely reminders—especially on my outstanding debts and required assignments. To FCF family, fellow BABBCA pastors, and respected PBTS/ABGTS professors, gratias for the blessings, prayers, support, and friendship.

I’m also grateful to my outside reader, Dr. Jonathan Exiomo. To my faculty readers, Dr. Flint Miller and Dr. Lilian Molato; thank you. Of course, I also acknowledge the influence and effort of my Theology and Culture teacher, Dr. Nori dela Paz.

Finally, my deep gratitude is extended to Dr. Anthony “Bong” P. dela Fuente, for saving-my-neck as an orphan researcher and supervising this project. Your valuable help and opinion mean so much to express. Thanks for the patience and scholarly guidance.
May God make his face shine upon you all.

Dedication: To my beloved wife, Caroline F. Plastina, whose love and support gave me tenacity throughout this research; and to my beloved sons, Johnne Elliott F. Plastina, whose tantrums and sweet embraces are my comfort and joy and Grenz Joshua F. Plastina, who became our precious gift in celebrating the advent of our Lord Jesus, the Savior and King, all that I am I live for you.

LIFE JOURNEY AS THEOLOGY: A Commencement Message

The greatest joy of this life is: knowing God and make him known. That is why I can agree with 2 Tim. 2:15 translated as “study to show thyself approved unto God.” Although the English word “study” is closely related to being in school, seminary, or university, the Greek verb spoudason means “to be diligent.” It emphasized the discipline of “trying hard” or “doing our best” for God. (During my Bible school years, some students jokingly said that B.Th means Batang Trying hard.) But whether we like it or not, the context of being a “workman” of God does require diligence on our part.

This day, I look through life with fear and trembling—it’s like an experience of the holy. Fear in sense that God placed another blessing on me. And that also means responsibility. Trembling is added as I face my favorite question: what’s next? Whatever this life may bring as long as God’s grace is with me (or us), I see life as a perpetual discourse with God and declaration of God. In one word: theology.

Perhaps this is a post-modern approach to theology and preaching. Some might suspect the negative stigma of post-modernity’s excesses. But the method I applied now is simple: seeing our life story as “God-talk,” as a conversation about God and his activity in our lives—in other words, our life journey as a form of theology. [For helpful materials, see James Wm. McClendon, Biography as Theology; Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces]

I hold on to the belief that God’s disclosure of himself is mainly revealed through the Scripture; for that reason, it is not an intention of this reflection to demean or belittle the Bible, but rather affirm what it implies. The Holy Scripture itself reveals clearly that the Bible characters’ idea of God did not come from a vacuum, guessing, speculation or mere imagination. In fact, most of them came to know God through their personal experiences (or encounters with Him). It was not through concepts and confessions only, but mainly through lived experience.

Hence, our life journey can be a source of theology, perhaps for personal reflection or as a witness to God’s working. The fact that we talk about God in relation to our lives, it is theology. (And as I speak on this commencement exercise I “talk” of my journey as a story of God’s goodness and faithfulness.)

In using our lives’ journey as theology, we can actually see some major elements commonly shared by us as Christians or church leaders. This notable pattern, I believe, are God’s penmanship written on the heart and soul of a Christian leader—not on earthly ink but by the Spirit of God who is the source of divine revelation and life (2 Cor. 3:3).

You might want to call these patterns a matrix of meanings, but I’ll just simply call it “the Spirit’s markings” or “the divine thumb print” upon us. Let’s journey together and see these markings of the Spirit in the pages of our lives.

I. OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL. I’m inclined to believe that real life begins when we hear the word of God and respond to it (Rom. 10:9-14; Rev. 1:3). In contrast, non-response to the voice of God is a mark of death and life in darkness (John 8:42-47). I could not imagine myself: Where would I be, if God did not call me? (or where would you be, if God did not call you?)

To some, calling is too broad to understand. So let me enumerate various callings that we commonly shared.

First, is the call unto salvation. Here, we respond to God’s call as the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our personal encounters with Christ came through various events, circumstances, and means. But the bottom-line is clear: there was a call and we respond to it. We were called from darkness to light, from death to life (Rom. 1:6-7; 8:28-30; 2 Thes. 2:14; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:9).

Second, is the call unto service. Popular slogan says it, we were “saved to serve” or “made to minister.” But there were some who honestly believed that God called them to do special services in God’s kingdom, e.g. Pastor, teacher, evangelist, missionary, etc. Whatever your conviction on these, there was a spiritual call to serve God and a few responded (Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:15; 1 Cor. 1:1).

Perhaps, it is appropriate to add another. This is the call to study, as a form of training. Some of us left our comfortable jobs, let behind some lucrative offers, or personal business. As Paul encouraged his protégée to, “study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV), some of us heeded the call to study and be shaped to serve, equipped to empower, learn to lead.

In fact, learning is the essence of being a disciple, an essential part of being a follower, a matetei.
If Jesus is the divine didaskalos (teacher), are we his faithful matetei (students)? I want us to sharpen or answer to this call. Why are we studying? To become scholars or servant-leaders? (or both?) To be educated or executives? To be missionaries or moneymakers? To be teachers or traders? Prophet or profiteers? Pastors or position holders?

Yes, study can be a part of our calling because leaders need to learn. We can be students, at best, educated and experiencing God’s presence and power to do His will. That is why, we have to ask hard questions (and get out from our comfort zones). Where is God in this seminary life? Why am I here in this institution? What is the purpose of training here?

For me, I have been resolved: I came to learn while I lead as God’s servant. That means education and experience go together. But devotion should precede degree. Whether I spent years in three seminaries until I got this far, learning is a lifetime process. I consider it as part of God’s calling so that I can serve him better and fulfill his kingdom purpose.

II. OUR RECOVERY THROUGH GUIDED CRISES. This is the second element commonly shared in our life-journey as Christians. As every folk hero heard a certain call, each one of them went through a crisis. But I would like to emphasize “guided crises.” As spiritual leaders in the making, God guides us through the valleys of crisis for a purpose. They are often painful, but they are worth it all.

Few crucial examples, first, are the severe trials to strengthen our core of being (James 1:12). To make our feeble faith strong, we have to go through—and it’s the only way—to be tried and make ourselves strong in faith (seminary life continually shows that the real test of our core being and values are not the written exams, but our behavior when we experience uncomfortable circumstances in life).

Crucial also, second, is the ongoing spiritual toning to shape our character. A child watched for several hours a man sculpting a marble turning it into a fine image of an elephant. The child, bewildered, asked the sculptor: “How did you know that there was an elephant inside that stone?” The man simply said, “I just removed those things that don’t look like an elephant.” To chip away those un-Christlike manners in us, God as the supreme sculptor has to do a continuous “spiritual sculpting.” (1 Pet. 4:12:19) For God knows: aptitude is not a replacement for attitude.

Nevertheless, we also go through, third, a special training to supplement our competence. This is made possible through several “helpers” who took part in preparing us to serve and lead. They are the godly teachers whom God used to instruct us; they can be our mentors in the ministry who exemplified godly leadership for us to learn. They are our “big brothers”—not that they spy on us but they watch and work with us as we seek accountability and integrity in the ministry (1 Tim. 4:6-16).

How do you respond to life’s crisis? Is your calling affected? Do you feel like a failure when you fall? Hold on. Before you knew that God called you, he knew already your weaknesses, frustrations, and failures. He even knew whether you will finish or not. And yet, He called you anyway. Not because you are perfect, mighty, or gifted, but it’s His choice. It is a divine prerogative. If ever we will endure the storms in the ministry, it’s all about God, his grace, and his goodness.

III. OUR REDEMPTION FOR THE GREAT COMMISSION. We might go through several challenges and we might find ourselves riding on a roller coaster of life (or in the Filipino concept of “gulong ng palad”), but life is like that. We are not always winners (not even Tigerwoods or Manny Pacquiao). We commit mistakes; we fall; we fool around; we fluctuate in faith (Ecc. 7:20). But God is not just a God of second or many chances; he is the God of change. As long as there is chance, there is change. His redemption is not an experience on a once-for-all basis. He saves continually, daily, and in many accounts—until the process of transformation is complete; our ultimate salvation will be fulfilled in the unveiling of his kingdom.

In a sense, if we are defeated in one battle, (and in some cases, the hero dies, like Neo of Matrix trilogy), God “resurrects” us. Sometimes, God will allow us to go through several deaths so that we will die to ourselves with nothing to boast upon. Not unless we die to ourselves, our redemption and “spiritual resurrections” will not take place or be completed.

Christ’s call to the weak and fools (1 Cor. 1:26-31) to fulfill the Great Commission is still a mystery to me. The context of the passage (Matt. 20:18-20) tells us that even up to that point, many doubted Christ. And as far as God is concerned, they—the disciples—have to die from their faithlessness (or lack of faith) and be delivered from the darkness of unbelief. A many disciples were still shrouded with doubt. But just like us, God knows that we stumble and fail and yet his call is not conditioned by our performance, but through his purpose. Failures are a full proof of our humanness or fallen nature. Nevertheless, God called us to fulfill his kingdom purpose, primarily, the Great Commission.

Our redemption necessitates commitment to the great Commandment and the great Commission which, I believe, are the key kingdom-purposes of God. Even if our redemption is only by God’s grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), our salvation is not the end in itself. God’s salvation must also flourish to our lost neighbors and to the un-reached people groups simultaneously.

IV. ON RAISING OF THE CROSS. To most of us, a three-year seminary training is not a journey to Calvary—it is Calvary. How much more if the training requires four or five years? I believe our ministry is our Calvary. This is the place where we raise the cross daily. Whether we are in the ministry or missions, we lift up the cross of Christ and proclaim him who was crucified. Of this, we are not ashamed for the Gospel is God’s power for humanity’s redemption (Rom. 1:16-17).

Our life journey as theology (or God-talk) is directly related to the theology of the cross. When we talk about the cross apart from our life, we are only talking about history, a distant event, or an abstract idea. But the cross is not an abstract theory, it is God’s story. It is His-story. And we are the offspring of this story of God. Thus, raising up the cross involves telling and re-telling of God’s story in Christ and, effectively, in us (1 Cor. 1:18-25).

That is why Jesus said we have to “take our cross daily” (Luke 9:23; Mark 8:23) or as Paul puts it, “I die everyday” (1 Cor. 15:31). This is part of our redemption: we die to ourselves—our self-sufficiency, autonomy, and independence.

Christ’s journey towards Calvary is an epitome of what this “journey as theology” all about. His was three years of ministry, intact, fast-paced, and to some, short-spent. But with God, there is no correlation with time and effectivity. He can maximize ministry with minimal time-frame.
Christ was so passionate with the purpose of God. If the Father wants him to stay two months, weeks, days, or leave behind, nothing will deter him to stay. He keeps on moving towards a focused destiny—Calvary. Not through his own volition, but through the Father’s decision. Until his last breath and his spirit gave way, Christ served the purposes of God through the cross. Only through his death the battle is won, victory is declared; only through the cross, the cause of God is completed.

Christ was “called” to be the hero of God’s saving journey. He responded affirmatively. Through time, he was accompanied by his disciples who would be the very “helpers” to propagate what he started. But the battle on the cross requires death, the death of the hero. However, his death is not a sign of defeat. It is the capital for victory. For if death is the ultimate enemy, now, death is a defeated foe.

The cross as the Roman symbol of shame, became a divine seal of honor for the Son of God laid down his life at the seemingly end of the journey. It’s a “seemingly end”—at least in the eyes of the witnesses, but it’s not in the eyes of God. It’s far from over. The wooden cross stands still. And you carry it with you!

V. OUR REWARDS FOR COMPLETION. When Manny Pacquiao won his ultimate battle with Morales, (Nov 19, 2006) he spoke of his victory as a “bonus from God.” It is a classic example of victory and reward (or “boon”) as the hero takes his price.

The same principle applies to us. Our rewards for completion are given as we faithfully accomplish the tasks given to us. As a matter of point, there is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself with a simple gift to celebrate personal accomplishments. But the student’s delight is to finish the course and receive the affirmation of his mentors and alma mater. Most of all is the approval of God. This is the ultimate reward that we can receive from him (Matt. 25:21).

A laborer deserves his wage; the investor earns his interests; any athlete has to finish his game. A student has to graduate.

This moment is one of the many rewards God has granted to me. My seminary training has been a blessing, rather than a burden. I have been a janitor of a Bible school—sweeping a wide parking space for three years just to support myself—and held several leadership position as a student, it took me five years to earn my B.Th (during those years I failed in Sight Singing class for four years), two years for my M.Div. academics, and four years for my Th.D at ABGTS (Thank God, no more music subjects). Almost 90% of my bills, I could not pay personally. [I remember when my wife was anxious when she saw the bills went up high as P72,000+.]

But of this one thing I’m sure: When God calls, he enables (1 Thes. 5:24).

[When the church prayed for it, it took two months only for the debt to go down 0.00.]

The people around us can be God’s rewards for us—gifts of love.
They can be categorized into our families, friends, fellowship, faculties, etc.
As long as we have these people around us, we can enjoy knowing and making known God in and through our lives.

May our lives be a dialogue and declaration--not just about God but—of God.

Why? It is because one of the best theology that you can show to the world is...your life journey with God.