Perhaps you might allow me to engage you in some philosophical musings. What is a wrong answer? This question has many philosophical reverberations if you would allow me to expand on this idea further. Let’s take the simple arithmetic problem 2+2, for which the only, true answer is obviously 4, and with this framework derive an understanding of a wrong answer. It is clear that you can draw two conclusions.

First, there are infinitely many wrong, but only one correct answer. This is rather interesting because it is congruent with the biblical understanding of right and wrong. Jesus himself said that he is the way, the truth, and the light; nobody comes to the Father except through him. This truth is not only singular, but is also absolute, because narrow is the way that leads to heaven, but broad is the road that leads to destruction. This highlights a biblical standard – there can only be one absolute truth, the truth revealed to us according to the Bible. Another observation is that any wrong answer contains a degree of the truth. A wrong answer to the aforementioned arithmetic problem has to be related, in part, to the correct answer 4. For instance, the wrong answer 5 is a manipulation of the correct answer by adding the value 1. This is supported by the way in which the Devil tempts us to sin. If you recall Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, Satan did not tempt Jesus by opposing the truth; rather, he manipulated the truth in an attempt to bring Jesus off the straight and narrow. Sin, instead of being merely seen as the opposite of truth, should be understood as a deviation from truth.

The above perception of Sin has significant implications in the Church’s struggle with the world, especially the postmodern world of relativism. The Devil will continue to mislead us by feeding us counterfeits of the truth, deceiving us into thinking we are right, when we are, in fact, severely blinded from the one truth. The application of biblical statutes becomes Legalism, and discarded in the name of “Love”. Kingdom values are disregarded in order to sell Christianity to the masses. Truthful doctrinal stances become labeled as conservative and are slowly being engulfed by “Liberal Christianity”. It saddens me to see how issues such as dating non-Christians, masturbation, homosexuality, alcoholism and the mindless pursuit of wealth have become condoned, or worse, sacrilegiously justified over the pulpit. In the end, we designate these issues as “grey areas” of the faith, when these are simple black and white matters when understood from a biblical perspective.

In this light, it must be our utmost duty as Christians to be most firmly rooted in our biblical understanding of Christ. Paul refers to this process as the “renewing of the mind”. Only then are we able to differentiate the counterfeits from the original, and not conform blindly to the patterns of this world. Not only must we be knowledgeable, we must also be passionate for the light, and stay in the light (that is God’s righteousness). Let us not play around in the semi-darkness where we are most vulnerable, and let the devil gain a foothold in our relationship with God! Most importantly, let us encourage each other as a church to turn to the Bible and courageously wield it as the strongest weapon we have in our struggle with sin!

Lee Shaowen Joshua
Joshua Lee is currently studying medicine in the NUS. He is the head of the Powerhouse Ministry Team (PMT)

How do we do that?  One way is to be good examples of Christian witness to one another. Just as Paul was a good testimony and a role model to Timothy, so Timothy must have been a good example to those who came after him. All of us are Christians because of someone else’s effort. Therefore, we too should make the effort to ensure that the people around us know what a Christian looks like. All of us are examples and the only difference is whether we are good or bad examples. Therefore, why not choose to be good examples especially so when we have a loving Heavenly father who loves us and imparts his grace to empower us to live for him?

We should live that life now because we never know how our influence can impact the Kingdom of God. Faithfulness is living the Christian life now, not looking to do it in the future. William Carey was born into a Christian home but he never really knew Christ. However, while working as a cobbler, he had a genuine conversion experience through the faithful witness of a fellow cobbler. From then on, he was on fire for God and, fifteen years later in 1793, he sailed to India as a missionary. Today we call him the father of modern missions and study his life as an example of missions. But William Carey labored very hard in India. Only after seven years did he have his first Indian convert. Imagine plodding on for seven years before bearing fruit. Today, if we experience the same thing, we will say this is not God’s calling because God is not blessing the work. However, because Carey and others like him persevered, there are many Christians in India today. Carey wrote these words in a letter to his nephew “I can plod and persevere. That is my only genius. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”  Carey calls himself a plodder, one who moves slowly but surely. It was the same with Hudson Taylor who persevered and grew the church in China. When we purpose to live our lives as a blessing to the people around us, we will have eternal implication for the Kingdom of God. Is that not worth doing?  Never think you are one person and you won’t make a difference.

We may not be like Paul the apostle or Carey but we can be like Lois or Eunice – Christians who lived the Christian life so that it was caught by those around them. Christians who witness whenever they can to whoever and wherever they can. That is what many Christians have done before us. May God help us to be faithful so that those who come after us may find us faithful examples.

In the middle of last year, I visited an old friend.  He is a successful professional who was once a leader in a church.  Today, he has become cynical.  He finds it very hard to believe in a good God when the world is chock- full of people who are suffering helplessly through no fault of theirs.  As we talked, he suddenly became very agitated as he grabbed an envelope, opened it and showed me a picture of a badly emaciated African baby.  “See,” he cried, “How could I believe in God when he does not even care to alleviate such unnecessary sufferings? I give to help these kids every year, and every year, more of these babies are found.  Where is God in all these human tragedies?  There are too many simplistic answers to my questions, and they simply do not help me to believe in Him anymore!”

A few days ago, a new friend I met from Australia wrote, after reading my book.  “I read your book and found many of the stories fascinating (e.g. the one of the militant atheist woman whose son ended up being a Christian).  Unfortunately, though, I do not share your positive experience of Christianity.  After reading a number of apologetics books, considering the various religions, and speaking to many pastors and other Christians with an intellectual bent, I concluded that Christianity is the least bad of the options available.  So I am a somewhat reluctant Christian and I suspect many evangelical Christians will not categorise me as a Christian at all.”  You see, this friend is also stumbled by simplistic answers.  In his case, he chooses the “lesser of two evils,” so to speak.  He chooses to be a “reluctant Christian.”

Today, I received a poignant letter from a dear friend requesting prayers for her sister who is in her final stage of cancer and is suffering severe pain and discomfort.  “She has been asking the Lord to take her home as quickly as possible and that the best thing would be to take her while she is on the operating table. She is sick and tired of the many hospital trips, the 17x chemo and all the discomfort and pain…Her faith in God is strong and unwavering. In spite of all this, she has been keeping her quiet time and prayers faithfully.” She is only in her forties.

What answers can we possibly give to such issues?  I have done my share of studies in apologetics. I have written and debated.  I know that there are many different intellectual answers we can give.  But none of these in any way take away the real pain and suffering of real people.  But I still need to respond and I did, assuring her that we have been praying. I said that we are saddened that after all these months of prayer, her sister is still suffering and the suffering is getting from bad to worse.  Then I added: “We also pray that God will strengthen your other sister as a care-giver, and you too as you share so much of the pain.  I cannot imagine what you sisters and family are all going through.  No words from me or anyone can take away your pain – only God can.  But as a pastor, I find myself reliving Psalm 89 all the time.  On the one hand, God is able and He can.  On the other hand, there is the reality of pain and suffering that is there all the time – even among people like your sister who clearly loves God and is faithful to Him.  The question of the Psalmist in v. 46 is your question and mine.  It is without doubt, your sister’s too.  ‘How long, O Lord?  Will you hide yourself forever?”.

But the Psalmist is also realistic about life and death. He remarks correctly in v. 47-48: ‘Remember how fleeting is my life.  For what futility you have created all men!  What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?’
 
The Psalmist starts with praises, then questions God, then is struck with the reality of the inevitability of death, then ends with praise again in v.52.  It is the story of our lives too.  How often in our journey of faith we move from belief to doubt, from praise to despair, and from despair back to praise and hope again.  I can only recall in humility Isa. 55:9, ’For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’.

I can only say, “I don’t understand but I still believe, help my unbelief.”

Very much like my “reluctant Christian” friend, what choices do I have?  If I reject God because of the pain and suffering because I cannot see beyond that existential reality to the existence of a loving God, what does that leave me?  In believing in a God who sacrificed His own Son for my salvation, I am at least assured that I am praying to a God who understands pain and suffering.  Now, if I reject even that, I will have no meaningful God to talk or cry to.  Facing a void and crying to a void cannot be better than crying to a God who experienced human pain and suffering in the death and suffering of Christ. It is not difficult to sink into the abysmal depths of sorrow and unbelief.  I personally find it “the least bad of the options available” to choose the positive path of belief which brings hope.  The other path is unbelief and more despair.

Is this another simplistic answer?  If it is, it is the only answer I have. It helps me to believe.

Yet when I was a young Christian, the display of even Chinese dragon signs and symbols was disapproved and depicted as a symbol of Satan in the Bible – “the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Rev 12:9). As a result, having Chinese dragon symbols on your clothes for Chinese New Year and sending greeting and invitation cards with such symbols was not approved. Is such an application being true to God’s Word? I doubt so. We need to understand context and cultural setting when we apply the Bible.

Chinese dragons are seen as auspicious symbols of power and fortune. In the Chinese language, esteemed people are compared favourably with a dragon. It is always seen as good and full of promise and energy. More importantly, it is portrayed as a benevolent creature, never as an enemy of mankind. In contrast, European culture typically depicts the dragon as evil and sinister. It was a destroyer, spouting poison or fire and an enemy of man. This European dragon is the creature mentioned in Revelation by John. His symbolism of an animal, known for its malevolent nature to describe Satan, the father of evil, would have been clear to his Greek and Roman readers.

Thus, we need to be careful in applying the symbolic dragon linguistically and across the board in all circumstances. To do so indiscriminately would reduce the Christian faith to mere ritual and superstition. Instead, I believe on the occasions where Chinese culture comes to the fore as in weddings, festivals, auspicious occasions, not only is it not wrong for the dragon symbol to be displayed; it is also good to do so.

It is important to read the Bible with understanding of its context and setting. The Bible has been and will continue to be read to oppress and hurt others with terrible consequences. The preacher can sometimes preach his own prejudices as if they were the Word of God. One example was the white South African Christians who preached apartheid from certain Biblical stories. They felt it right that they were God’s new chosen people, capturing the new African Promised Land. This gave them cause to subjugate the Africans, just as the Israelites had subjugated the Canaanites at God’s command. To guard against such sinful misuse one has to be alert to the context – both the biblical context and our own cultural context. This is because what may have been God’s Word to his people in a different cultural context may be totally misunderstood and applied by us in another cultural context.

Of course, there will always be some subjectivity in Scripture reading. This is because we can never know 100% about the original context. However, I try to read with one principle in mind – Jesus came to set us free (John 8:32). Therefore one way is to question how the text is to be applied. Is my interpretation/application setting people free from their burdens (Luke 4:18)? Or am I further burdening or, even worse, oppressing them? (Matt 23)

May God’s wisdom guide us in all that we do!

The Lord’s will for Jesus goes all the way back to Isaiah 52 and 53 where Isaiah prophesied that the King would be a Suffering Servant who would be “numbered among transgressors.”  This Servant of the LORD in Isaiah, would identify with sinners, take their sins on Himself and justify them through His suffering. Jesus knew that His baptism was the beginning of his mission to save the world. He, the Sinless, would take the place of the sinner in baptism.

After a few seconds of going down the water and coming up, the heavens opened and the Spirit of the Lord descended upon Jesus, followed by the Father’s voice affirming Jesus as His Son with whom the Father is pleased.

Two lessons can be gleaned from this unique event:

1.    Do God’s Will. Jesus did not have to be baptized. That’s why John told him, “You should baptize me. Now you come to me?”  By submitting to John’s baptism, Jesus made it clear that he was committed to the task God gave Him and He was prepared for the consequence.  As Jesus made a decision to follow God’s will in His life, we can learn from Him. You and I will have to make decisions small and big concerning our lives, families, homes, and Christian service. Jesus calls us to make decisions that are aligned to God’s will. We can make the right decisions because He never leaves us alone. He provides the Holy Spirit to empower us in our decisions and walk with Him.

2.   Please the Father. If we follow God’s will in our lives, this pleases the Father. What is God’s will for you today in your studies, your relationships, your speech, your dressing? What is God’s will for Hope? You may love someone now, but he is not a Christian. Is he God’s will for you? What is God’s will for your marriage? As you and I seek to do His will in our personal and corporate life in Hope PC, do know that He will equip us with His Spirit to do what He has called us to do.  Sometimes, God’s will does not make sense. In this case, saviours don’t ask to be baptized. But Jesus did and it was the right way for His ministry to begin. Seek Him. Proceed in His will. Do it His way. Commit the outcome to Him. This pleases the Father. 

In the same way, we Christians should also “mind the gap” that can exist between the way we lead our lives and the teachings of the word of God. The Bible is our rule of life and faith. Living in accordance to its standard and teaching is so fundamental in our relationship with God that there is simply no substitute for it. We can say that we love God or “claim” His love (whatever that means). We may proclaim confidently that God has blessed us. Well and good. Nonetheless, all these count for little if there is no genuine desire and effort to live our lives in accordance to the teachings of His word, the Bible.

So, what are some of the “gaps” that we may have in our lives? It may be the way we treat our parents. Is it with love and respect (cf. Eph 6:2-3)? Do parents teach their children the word of God, or things that are contrary to the word of God (cf. Deut 6:7)? Such as teaching them to behave like the world does, however so subtly or unconsciously? Do we speak the truth or tell lies (cf. Col 3:9)? At the workplace, do we cheat our employers, our workers or our clients (cf. Jas 5:4; Mk 10:19)? Do young dating couples engage in sexual activity before they are married (that is adultery; cf. Gal 5:16-21)? These are but some examples. You may have some other examples of your own. The world may be more liberal about such things (our nation’s law does not punish those who commit adultery). Christians, however, live not according to the world’s standards, but according to biblical teaching.

In Josh 1:7, the Lord gives this instruction to Joshua: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” See also Deut 5:33, which is a command given to the nation as a whole. At the root of the relationship between Yahweh and His people is the stipulation that His word is to be obeyed. What is told to Joshua and binding on him is also told to the Israelites and binding on them as a people. Yahweh is their God, and they are His people, and they are to obey his decrees and commands.

That is not to say that God does not have compassion and that He treats His people harshly when they sin. Otherwise, He would not have stipulated the ways and means by which His people can be restored in their relationship to Him when they sin, either through the offering of sacrifices (in the OT), or simply through confession and repentance, or through the ecclesiastical process of restoration. But it is one thing to struggle with our sin, and quite another to live our lives as if sin does not matter.

May the grace of God be with you as you deal with the “gaps” in your life! Amen.

Rev. Leonard Wee

It is good to be back in Singapore after our 3 years’ stay in Colorado.  God has been faithful to our family and we are thankful to Him for His provision and His protection.  We thank God for new friends, ministry opportunities, enriching experiences and  exciting adventures during our stay in Colorado.  God has shown Himself to be faithful to our family. Words cannot describe our heartfelt gratitude and praise for His loving hands in providing for our every need and for the precious opportunity to serve at Cherry Hills Community Church in Colorado. We had the privilege of leading a group of International families that grew from 2 families to an average attendance of 60 adults, youth and children. We were so amazed by what God has done in and through the group.  When we step into His calling, He provided the means and ways for the ministry to grow.  When we step out in faith to answer God’s call, He bless the desire of our hearts and this desire becomes a manifestation of the work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, as a family, we have been led to love and obey God because of a deep sense of God’s loving-kindness and grace.

Leading a group of faithful people from various walks of life, culture, background and journey of faith was also not an easy task. Serene and I have come to love this diverse group and we shepherded them with our whole heart and soul. They have been a great encouragement to us by their love, care and fellowship in the Lord. We trust that God will provide this group with a good team of leaders to carry on the ministry that God has graciously enabled us to establish. It is sad to leave behind a group of people without a shepherd but we trust that God will raise up new leaders to shepherd His people. Throughout the Scriptures, God Himself bear witness to the fact that He will never fail to prosper His work on earth despite the difficulties and challenges.

We are certainly looking forward to re-connect with our families and friends upon our return.  We are encouraged that many of you have continued to express your love, prayers and support for God’s calling upon our future ministry in Singapore.  Although we do not know where we will be serving God in the months to come, God has never failed to amaze us with His creative plan and calling.  Serene and I look forward with anticipation and expectation that God will place us in a ministry where He wants us to be and where we can continue to serve Him with our gifts and talents.  God’s faithfulness continues to compel us to be faithful in wherever He is calling us to. As we face a new year with new challenges, let us always REMEMBER God’s faithfulness in our lives.

Pray for us as we continue to seek God’s divine will, plan and direction for our family.

The account of the Israelites crossing the Jordan is a familiar one (Josh 3). The Levite priests carry the Ark and the people follow behind, symbolic of God leading the nation. When the soles of the priests touched the water’s edge, the water stopped flowing, enabling God’s people to cross over dry ground and claim the Promised Land.

What does this mean to us? Firstly, Israel entering the Promised Land is a picture of our entering into a new life in Christ by faith. Just as the Israelites leave Egypt and the wilderness behind, we leave behind the world systems based on lust for money, power and success. We unite with Christ in a kingdom system based on love for God and love for God’s people. Just as the Israelites were to become one nation instead of a group of clans, we too are now one nation, with Christ as our king. And just as the Israelites needed God to perform a miracle for them to cross into the Promised Land, we also needed a miracle to help us cross from death to life. God stopped the Jordan’s waters from flowing to deliver the Israelites. But God allowed the precious blood of his Son to flow from the cross at Calvary to deliver us. Can you see what a beautiful picture the Israelite crossing of the Jordan is for us?

Do you feel thrilled that God has delivered you from death? Does it make your heart beat faster to know that Jesus loved you enough to die for you? Consider what Christ has done for you as we gather together facing the year 2012 ahead of us.

2012 will be a transition year for many, if not all of us. Some of you will find yourselves in new stages of lives, new schools, new jobs, new neighborhoods or even new cities. Each situation has its own challenges. Remember though that God has put you there to reclaim his territory and defeat his enemies. Scripture tells us the whole earth is the Lord’s. Therefore, God has empowered us to reclaim the earth for him. That was the task God gave the Israelites in the Promised Land. In 2012, this is the task that God has also given to HPC – to redeem the areas that he calls us to.

This can be scary because we do not have a complete road map. That’s how God operates, expecting us to walk by faith. He called Abraham to leave home with no road map. He called David to be king without giving him a plan or time frame. We may not have all the details but we believe that God will accomplish his will.

The word “consecrate” is a verb meaning to dedicate someone or something to a special purpose or service. We should consecrate 2012 to him then.  In our small groups or in our own quiet time, let us dedicate ourselves to hearing God’s voice and to doing his will. Let us do that beginning today.

What amazing things do you see God doing among us in 2012? I don’t know but I do know that if we consecrate ourselves, he will do amazing things among us. This is because his power is already at work in us. So let us be available and ready for Him to do all these things among us, through us. 

This new monotheistic (“There is no other God but Yahweh”) society was asked to live by the laws of Yahweh. Hence, the Ten Commandments would reveal to us that with obedience comes blessing and with disobedience, comes curses.

But the Jews, with a history of stubbornness, complaining and disobedience turned away from God. In His grace, God always preserved a remnant among the Jews every time the latter were dealt with because of their disobedience.

He preserved a remnant because He entered into different covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. He swore to Noah never to destroy the earth through the flood. He promised Abraham that that he would be the father of all nations and his children would be as numerous as the stars. He promised Moses that Israel would be God’s possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. God would fight for Israel and treat her with grace and mercy. He told David that He would build His house on David’s throne. David’s own flesh and blood would occupy the throne and he would fulfill David’s desire to build a house for God—a house that will reign forever. This was prophetic of Jesus’ coming.

In Matthew 1:16, we see how God established Jesus’ genealogy. Jesus’ claim on David’s throne depended on Joseph being His father. But Jesus was virgin-born. So, the Lord miraculously intervened to create Jesus’ family and establish his claim to the Davidic throne.

In Jewish culture, a betrothal is considered a marriage. Only a divorce could invalidate such betrothal. This is consummated after one year when the “wife” lives with the “husband.” Before Mary could come together with Joseph, the Lord supernaturally intervened through the Holy Spirit so that Mary conceived (1:18). When Joseph learned of this, he planned to divorce Mary quietly (1:19). But God intervened through a dream. He is to marry Mary. Joseph is the son of David (1:20b). God’s son will be Joseph’s son. He will legally name his son Jesus whose mission it is to save God’s people from sins, i.e., Jesus will fully and permanently establish the Davidic Kingdom (1:21). Matthew says that Jesus’ conception and birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecy about the Davidic Kingdom. (1:22-23).

Joseph obeyed and took Mary (1:24). Jesus became Joseph’s son (1:25).

In Jesus, the kingdom has come. This kingdom will never end. We, as Christians and as the seed of Abraham, reign with Christ in this kingdom.

God did all these! God is continuing to do this not only because He loves us but because of His promise to build His kingdom forever.

Would you consider becoming a part of God’s work in kingdom building? A simple way of doing this is to pray for someone you can invite for our Christmas service. Go the extra mile and make the invitation. Let God do the rest.

He did all these through the years, and He will continue to do it because of us and His name!

Ps Jingle Cortes

… A time to be quiet and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7b

Since I entered into vocational Christian ministry in 1992 after 8 years in the Singapore Navy, I have had the privilege of serving the Lord in a number of different ministries in the last 19 years. It has been a rewarding season even in spite of some frustrations and disappointments. From planting an international church to working with the youth at Hope, God has graciously blessed our often feeble efforts. However, on hindsight, I realise now that I had failed to pace myself by building intentional times of rest and renewal before embarking on each new ministry opportunity. So instead of a series of 3 – 5 year ministry assignments, this year particularly, felt like the end of an extremely long 19 year deployment. Coupled with the challenge of caring for my ageing parents, as an only child, I have felt worn out many more times this year than I have in the past 18 years.

Our 3 day staff retreat in Batam in May provided much needed respite and helped me realise that I needed to make significant changes to my lifestyle and ministry if I hoped to continue to be useful for the Lord in the remaining years of my life. At the retreat, I realised the need for an extended time of rest, reconnection, reflection and refocusing. As I sought counsel and prayer, it became evident that I needed to seriously consider taking a sabbatical from ministry.

The possibility of a mid-life crisis crossed my mind especially since I turned 50 last August. But after much counsel and prayer, I believe this is not the case. It is ‘ministry burn-out’ – the result of my inability to protect the boundaries of rest and renewal. It has been a systemic problem and dealing with it will take time as my ministry has defined my sense of self-worth rather than my identity as a child of the Most High God.

As I have not met the service requirements of our church to qualify for a paid sabbatical, I have applied for 6 months of unpaid leave of absence. After prayerful consideration, our EDC has graciously given its approval to my request and will also be extending a love gift of $1000/month for which I am very grateful. I will begin my leave on 1 Jan 2012.

God has made this possible by providing a team of more than 20 dedicated adults and young adults to mentor and guide our 11 Youth & JUMP CGs. He has also provided 2 committed and very capable adults (Lawrence Loh and Luke How) to advise the Powerhouse Ministry Team as well as Pastor Luke, who will provide pastoral oversight of the Youth ministry during my leave of absence.

Please pray with me that I will submit myself to what the Lord has for me in the next 6 months as I rest in Him, delight in His presence and seek His face.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;

   they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31. English Standard Version

Ps Paul Teoh