Another “Born-Again” Experience?

Another “Born-Again” Experience?
Brian Nunis (English TEE MCM Student)

Enrolling myself into STM’s Master programme after retirement, has definitely been one of my life’s best decisions. With each passing module, I have gradually been soaking in the brilliance of the knowledge nuggets, learning about who our God is, and who I am to Him. It is simply amazing, I tell you! Coming from the Charismatic side of the body of Christ, with a “moving in the Spirit” inclination, I have been made to dive deep into the orthodoxy side, and with each covered module, I was one fathom deeper. Lo and behold, it had dawned on me, I was in some kind of a limbo, torn between these two sides (my Charismatic heritage and my new-found love for God’s Word), and the tussle continued.

Early this year, I noticed “Spiritual Formation & Christian Character” by Pastor Moi Lee was up for grabs, and wanting a breather from the heavy modules, I enrolled for it in a last-minute effort. We (students) were each required to deliver a 15-minute presentation on “Reflection on My Personal Spiritual Journey.” In preparing my PowerPoint presentation, I was really surprised to see how rich my spiritual journey has been, thus far. Before this, I never realised that besides how my life’s big events had shaped my spiritual formation, the nitty-gritty things too, added to the important fine-tuning. The marvel of it all, was realising that throughout my life thus far, God has been there all the while, perhaps, behind the scenes, most times. There have been good measures of joy and sadness, achievements and failures, falling down numerous times and getting up, and the list goes on. I stand in awe of Him! One cannot stop wondering the Scripture text “who is man that You are mindful of him?” (paraphrased). Anyway, with permission for all, my presentation was extended beyond the given time.

Another thing I recall during class, we were learning about “Lectio Divina”, something totally alien to me, and seemingly mystical. From my research, I found out it is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. Anyway, I was responding to Pastor Moi Lee’s question of a given Scriptural text with a typical Seminary student upbringing, and her immediate response was, “don’t be evangelical, Brian,” which took me aback. Oh well, I just ate humble pie, which was bitter. Then, we were required to prepare a written Lectio Divina on a given Scriptural text. While I was apprehensive, wondering how I was going to fare, I remembered Pastor’s words, “before you start, pray and rely on the Holy Spirit.” And so, I began my monastic experience with John 5:1-14. I kid you not, I was having a ball of a time with the Holy Spirit (in reverence), being the invalid and having an amazing encounter with Jesus by the pool, and by His spoken word, I was healed, after thirty-eight years. Truly, in Pastor Moi Lee’s words, I will never forget this Scripture text for as long as I live. It had come alive to me.

At the end of my presentation, I mentioned that going through this module was like another “born-again” experience for me. I have come to realise that there are no Charismatic and Orthodoxy sides in the body of Christ, as many in Christendom make it out to be, and thereby dichotomising the body. I know that God’s Spirit and His Word are in sync, and I must now press on along the rest of my Spiritual journey, fully dependent on God’s double-barrel empowerment, His Spirit and His Word, and knowing that He will see me through.

All honour and glory to You, my God!