JURONG OUTREACH - Apr 10

Misconceptions concerning Christianity: Introduction
4th April 10

Back in Klang, a member once shared his experience in meeting a visitor during the baptism of a person a few years back. While talking to her, she commented on how she cannot accept the fact that the Bible teaches that everyone is born in sin because they inherit the sins of their forefathers, all the way up to Adam. The member then pointed out to her that the Bible does not teach that and subsequently showed some verses to support his claim. 

A brother also once recounted his experience whilst at a service several years ago. He asked another brother concerning the subject of baptism. The teacher responded that baptism is not the core of Christianity, but the love of God is. 

We may also have encountered times when people ask us, “Are you a Christian?” and when we affirm it, they continue by asking, “Are you a Catholic or Protestant?” or “Which sect are you a part of?” or “What denomination are you from?”. 

The above situations are but few examples of the many misconceptions that not only those out there, but also members of the church have about Christianity. This will serve as our motivation for the next few articles – clearing misconceptions about Christianity, both among believers and non-believers. It is hoped that by the end of this series of articles that we will all have the ability to at least help unbelievers to see what Christianity really is all about, as well as helping us as Christians clear up some doubts we may have had about what the Bible teaches concerning certain topics but have yet to find an answer and also encourage us to continue searching and studying the Scriptures, because it contains the words of life which will reveal God’s will for us and eventually lead us to heaven. 

Throughout these discussions, it is also hoped that we will be able to see the simplicity of God’s word and how easy it is to understand the plain teachings of the Bible if only we take the effort to search and read for ourselves. Notice that when Jesus was on earth, He did not reach out to the royalty, or the people in the “high places”. He reached out to so-called ordinary people, laymen like you and me. His disciples were fishermen, tax collectors, and the like. Some were well-educated, but others were not. Likewise, the Bible was also written for everyone. We can read and understand the Bible! 

Throughout this series, we will consider various areas like misconceptions concerning the Bible, worship, salvation and several other doctrinal issues. As mentioned earlier, we will focus on misconceptions both by Christians and non-Christians alike. 

May the Lord bless us all as we seek His favor in our lives!

Faith & Works

There was an old man who operated a rowboat for ferrying passengers between an island and the mainland. One day a passenger noticed that he had painted on one oar the word "Works," and on the other oar the word "Faith." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this.

    The old man replied, "I will show you," dropping one oar, rowing only with the oar named "Works." Of course, the boat just went around in circles. Then he switched oars, picking up "Faith" and dropping "Works." And the little rowboat went around in circles again­this time in the opposite direction.

    After this demonstration, the old man picked up both oars "Faith" and "Works," and rowing with both oars together swiftly coursed over the water. He looked at the passenger and said, "You see, that is the way it is in life as well as in rowing a boat. You got to keep both oars in the water, otherwise, you'll just go in circles." 

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1 Thessalonians 1:3
We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

Misconceptions concerning Christianity: Is truth relative?
11th April 10

In this day and age, there are many things that are being re-examined. Homosexuality, for instance, which used to be an abomination among society is suddenly regarded as an alternative way of lifestyle. Premarital sex which was once condemned and considered shameful among the community is now something which is not only acceptable, but it is being promoted more and more. These and other issues are one of the factors that have caused people to come to the conclusion that truth is relative, and no longer absolute. Therefore, everything becomes relative in their eyes. Morality becomes a subjective issue. They will live by the principle that there is no right and wrong, but that we can never know truth absolutely, and that it all depends. Is it wrong to lie? It depends. Is it wrong to steal? It depends. Is it wrong to have multiple partners? It depends. Is this true? Is this what the Bible teaches? 

Suppose this is true, that truth really is relative. Then, we are contradicting ourselves when we claim that the Bible is our all-sufficient guide in our lives. This is because by claiming so, we claim that it tells us how we ought to live our lives to be well-pleasing to God. However, if truth really is relative, and morality is subjective, then we don’t need the Bible at all, because since everything is subjective, we can do anything we feel is right! 

Next, we should note that not only does the Bible not teach this, but the statement in itself cannot be logically true! If the statement was true, then that statement, which is truth, is absolute, which is a contradiction. If it is not, then truth must be absolute.  

Furthermore, the Bible speaks plainly that we CAN know the truth and that it must be absolute. Not only all over the Bible, but also in our everyday lives, we deal with absolute truths. If the price of a plate of chicken rice is three dollars, then we must pay three dollars to get the plate of chicken rice. This is an absolute truth! Can you imagine going up to the chicken rice stall owner and telling him that truth is relative, so the price of the chicken rice can be anything you like it to be, and so you pay him only a dollar? That is absolutely ridiculous! 

The Bible records the words of Jesus in the book of John. In John 8:32, Jesus told them, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” Jesus told them that they shall know the truth. The word “shall” denotes future tense, and also implies absolute certainty. The disciples will surely know the truth. Likewise, we will know the truth! In John 17:17, we see that Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.” The Bible tells us that God’s word is truth! 

In 1 John 2:21, John wrote, “I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” John stated clearly that the recipients of his epistle knew the truth! They knew the truth. Paul also wrote, in his letters to Timothy, that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), and again in 2 Tim 2:25, “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.”

If truth really was relative, then how can God expects us to know the truth? It would be an impossible task! But God has promised us that we can know the truth, and desires for us to do so. Therefore, let us stop giving excuses and continue searching for the truth so that we may be well-pleasing to Him. God bless.