Since I graduate today, I figured that I would post one of the many essays that I wrote this time around in college. Personal Reflection Essay Leiloni Schulz Grand Canyon University: EDU 465 June 23rd, 2017 Introduction According to Google the definition of faith two definitions are found, either as complete confidence in something, or as a strong believe in God or some type of religion. For this personal reflection essay, both meanings will be reflected as having complete confidence and belief in God and the Bible. In reflecting on personal faith it is imperative to contemplate what faith means, the relationship between faith and actions, and who I am based on my faith. What is Faith and Where Does it Come From Faith comes in many shapes and forms, but in this self-reflection the emphasis will be on the Christian faith as based on the Holy Bible. In Luke 18:8 is states: ‘’…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’’ (King James Version). There is some debate in this verse at to what was meant by the word faith. Faith can mean a group or movement, or it can mean a body of truth or a noun (Mappes, 2010). In this essay, the term faith means a belief that one lives by. However, when researching the definition for this topic it was found that, ‘’faith is not reducible to belief, though belief is one component of faith’’ (James, 2011. P. 454). Faith:What it is and What it Isn’t states that faith and morality are not the same thing, though morality may be guided by faith (James, 2011). Faith not only means what someone believes, but it also means how someone behaves, or at least if it is truly believed, then it should influence a person’s decisions. The Relationship Between Faith and Actions In the Bible it asks the question in James 2:14-26 that how does faith benefit without works: does it feed or clothe those in need? (King James Version). Faith without works is dead is a common term for those determining if faith in needed in order to earn a place in Heaven. It states in James 2:20 and in James 2:26 that faith without works is dead. What this means to each individual religion and in each individual person is different. Some feel that people are only save through Christ, and that actions do not matter. Sadly, there are many that will never even consider the religion of Christianity because they feel that the Christians that they know are hypocrites that do not practice what they preach. Neither belief is good. A person’s faith should make them want to serve others. According to one study on faith-based organizations and their actions matching their beliefs, is that being involved and serving the community is the best way to exemplify the Christian faith. ‘’The results can be empowering. Honoring community pride, building a community support base, and recognizing and building on the existing resources and assets hold benefits for all involved’’ (Lambert-Pennington, 2010). Actions in Life that Are and Have Been Affected by My Faith As I grew up, I was raised in a Mormon church. Because of all of the different rules, how I was raised, and my strong-willed personality, I rebelled against all religion. Luckily, as I became a mother, I found what I believed and began a faith based on the Bible and prayer, and none of the rules found in the Mormon religion. Now the actions in my life are formed based on reading the Bible, attending non-denominational church services, and prayer. Who Am I Who I am as an Educator Some people state that college can change a person’s faith. In a study that worked to figure out what affect higher education on faith it was found that most students did not change their faith while at college, however, different aspect of their faith may have become more liberal (Hill, n.d.). Luckily for me, I choose a Christian college to attend and did not have to worry too much about overly liberal professors and/or fellow-students. I have dealt with many other liberal people in my life, including parents of the children that I have taught. When teaching preschool, I worked carefully with parents when celebrating holidays with children. Some parents were ok with the celebration of major holidays as long as we did not discuss the religious aspects of them. For Easter, we could do jelly bean sorting or plastic egg matching, but could not discuss Jesus. I did work with families differently as other parents did not care if we discussed religious aspects of holidays. The parent handbook for the in home daycare and preschool that I ran did mention that we were a Christian household, and would pray before meals, but would not require that all children participate. If working in a public school, things would be different than working in a privately owned educational setting. Who I am as a Person of Faith I believe that because of the trials that I have been in life, and the foundation in the belief of Christ that my families gave me, I have a strong belief in Christ. I cannot imagine my life without this belief, and even though I continue to make many mistakes, I am currently trying to do better at following the Holy Spirit in order to become the person that I am meant to be.
References :
Lambert-Pennington, K. (2010). Practicing What We Preach: The Possibilities of Participatory Action Research With Faith-Based Organizations. NAPA Bulletin, 33(1), 143-160. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4797.2010.01045.x. Retrieved from: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=71689430&site=eds-live&scope=site Mappes, D. A. (2010).
What is the Meaning of Faith in Luke 18:8? Bibliotheca Sacra, 167(667), 292-306. Retrieved from: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001798223&site=eds-live&scope=site Hill, J. (n.d).
Faith and Understanding: Specifying the Impact of Higher Education on Religious Belief. Journal For The Scientific Study Of Religion, 50(3), 533-551. Retrieved from: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edswss&AN=000294563200008&site=eds-live&scope=site James, A. (2011).
Faith:What it is and What it isn’t. Perspectives in Religious Studies. 38(4), 454-456. Retrieved from: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001892572&site=eds-live&scope=site