JURONG OUTREACH - FEB 06

ARE YOU READY?
5 Feb 06

During the time of Christ the Temple was a very busy place. There was a constant flow of people coming and going. Many were there to sacrifice or pay tithes. Others came to observe what went on. Others came to socialize. When evening came the Temple became a much quieter place. However, there was still work that went on. The Temple area needed to be cleaned. Priests and Levites spent the night doing just that. There were also guards posted around the Temple to assure that no thief entered in. There were priests and Levites who spent the early morning hours preparing the sacrifices for the next day.

The priest whose duty it was to superintend (or oversee) the sacrificial arrangements might knock at the door for entrance at any time. When he knocked he was demanding admittance. He came unexpectedly and suddenly when no one would know. He did this to make sure that the priests under him would always be properly prepared to begin the preparations upon his arrival. (It is interesting that each priest was required to have completely immersed himself in a special ceremonial bath to make himself properly "clean". This was required even if the priest was clean on the outside by all appearances. This immersion was required before the superintendent arrived.)

The Rabbis in the Mishnah use very interesting wording to describe he unexpected coming of the Master, the superintendent. "Sometimes he came at the cock-crowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked, and they opened to him. Then said he unto them, All ye who have washed, come and cast lots." Any priest found to be sleeping or not ready suffered severe consequences.

In Mark 13: 35-37, we read, "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." This passage is in reference to the coming of our Lord at the Judgment Day. It is interesting that Jesus used words very much like those used in the Mishnah in reference to the night Superintendent of the priests. Jesus is our Superintendent. His coming will be suddenly and when no man expects it. Thus, we should live every moment as if Jesus will come that moment. If we are not prepared for his knocking, then we will suffer severe consequences.

The Backslider’s Calendar

JANUARY: I hereby resolve to start attending worship regularly.  Gotta get over the holidays first though.  They take a lot out of a fellow.

FEBRUARY: I am tired! Must get rid of the extra weight I gained from the festive goodies. I’ll go when I’m fitter. I can stay awake better during the sermon.

MARCH: Lots of sickness just now. Got to stay in and keep away those “bugs”.

APRIL: Easter...Big crowds,,, They won’t miss me.

MAY: Examinations round the corner. I’ll go when the examinations are over.

JUNE: School camps, CCA, tours….. I’ll spring right back when I come back from these trips.

JULY: Boy! The heat is terrible! Can’t stand warm church building with a lot of people in them.  I’ll start back to church when it gets cooler.

AUGUST: Preacher’s on vacation.  He’ll never know that I missed.  And I never like those guest preachers anyhow.  But when the preacher gets back…….

SEPTEMBER: Got to finish those assignments and start preparing for the coming examinations.  I’m up to my neck with work assignments. Once I’m done, I’ll…….

OCTOBER: Weather is terrible. Wet! Wet! Wet!. I’ll be there when the weather gets better.

NOVEMBER: I’ve worked so hard. Now I deserve to take a break and enjoy myself. I’ll start attending worship once I have rested.

DECEMBER: Christmas! I don’t have time now for church. Need to catch up with friends and hold reunions. Anyway, next month is January and I’ll resolve to start back next year.

Are we ready for the Lord’s coming or are we putting it off till tomorrow? Arise and do what is right TODAY!  (Heb 3:12,13; Heb 2:1)

IS DANCING SINFUL?
12 Feb 06

The question is often asked, “Is dancing sinful?” One would think that after many years of discussion on this subject, it would by now be a topic which no one would seriously consider a wholesome practice.  However, it seems that each year, about the time when students go back to school, this subject raises its ugly head once again.

Webster defines dancing as such: “A series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements performed to music.”

When two people of the opposite sex come together in the act of dancing, their bodies naturally make movements that are enticing to each other.  School dances such as: Homecoming, prom and others are no exception.

Some of the well-know psychologists defend the dance on the ground that it is a partial satisfaction of the sex urge.  Such arguments as this should prove that dancing and the “such like” should be avoided.  The Bible decries that such is not becoming a Christian, “They that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts thereof” (Gal 5:24)

As one looks at the idea of whether or not dancing is sinful, there are at least three words in the New Testament which must be considered. 

First, the word, “REVELLING” - revelling is defined as “boisterous merrymaking or festivity with dancing, masking.”  God’s children must not engage in the “such like.” Paul said, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”

(Gal 5:19-21). Paul states that “revelling” is a work of the flesh and that Christians must not be engaged in such activities.  Furthermore, those who do CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God.

Second, the word, :”WANTONNESS” - this word means, “acts or manners; such as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females.” Once again Paul writes, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

Those who engage in wantonness are not walking honestly, but rather they are making provision for the flesh and not for the Lord.  It must be admitted that dancing is covered by the word “wantonness,” if not, why not?

(2 Pet 2:18) “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”

The third word is “LASCIVIOUSNESS” - which is defined as, “conduct and character that is unbecoming, indecent, unrestrainedly, shameless:

(Gal 5:19; 2 Cor 12:21) ”And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”

In all cases where the latter two words are used, they are always classified as being sinful.  If these words do not prove to your satisfaction that dancing is sinful, then the phrase, “and such like” (Gal 5:21) most certainly would cover dancing and thereby prove beyond any doubt that dancing is sinful.

In Exodus 32:19. Moses could see that dancing was sinful, for it was because of their dancing that they became naked (v25). John the Baptisit lost his head because of a dance (Matt 14:6; Mark 6:22-24).

Among so-called heathen people, the modern dance is regarded as very shocking.  These people recognize the power of dancing to arouse human passion as a prelude to sexual contact.

Based upon the evidence which has been presented, why would a Christian desire to be involved in any kind of dancing?  Think about what Paul said, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess 5:22)

A Love Letter to Non-Christian Friends and Family
19 Feb 06

Dear friend,

I have been contemplating this letter for a long time, and have only now gotten up the courage to wrote it. Even as I pen these words my stomach churns in nervous anticipation.  The reason for it is quite simple.  I want you to know about the very best thing that has ever happened in my life.  O want to make sure before I die that I introduce you to my “first love.”  You often comment that I seem so happy all the time.  Allow me a few minutes to explain why.  But before I explain, let me share with you why it has taken me so long to write this letter.

Our relationship stretches back through many smiles and many tears, and throughout that time I knew that you were someone I could count on.  Each one of those smiles and tears represents a lifetime of cherished memories.  You know my favourite foods, that l love laksa and don’t like liver.  You stood by my side on several occasions when it seemed like the entire world was against me.  You have lifted my hand high as we celebrated victories and held my hand through my defeats.  In many ways we are like two peas in a pod.  And it’s this relationship that has kept me from writing this letter.  I cherish our relationship so much that I don’t ever want anything to jeopardize it or see it falter.  So I beg you to read the remainder of this letter full of love, compassion, and an open mind—knowing that it was written out of my love for you.

You and I have a tremendous amount in common  - always have, and probably always will.  However, there is one thing that we don’t have in common.  A while back I made a decision in my life that started me down a different pathway—a pathway on which I desperately want you to join me.  Some time ago I began studying the Bible, and I soon realized that I was only “playing” Christian.  I was a member of a strong local church that had many members, and was there almost every time the door was opened.  However, it became evident fairly quickly that the church that I was attending was doing things that were not described in the Bible.  Sure, we met each Sunday for worship, and we sang songs of praise, but a great deal of the service was devoted to traditions that men had incorporated into the worship service. In fact, a large part of the worship service could be classified as entertainment.  As I read through the New Testament, I quickly discovered that entertainment, and these traditions of men, were not a part of the original church that Christ established.

I began looking in the Bible for examples of the church that Jesus built.  In Matthew 16:18 Christ told the apostle Peter that upon this rock (the rock of truth that He was the Son of God) He would build His church.  So I began investigating the details about His church.  I read in Acts chapter 2 where it was started in Jerusalem.  I continued reading in Acts to see how those early Christians worshiped and how others became Christians. And I began to see a divine a pattern.  I quickly realized that many of the books in the New testament were written to different congregations of this church that Christ had founded. Paul wrote to them with instructions and commands of things that we should and should not be doing.

For instance, I know that in many churches today, people officially “join” the church, or they vote you in. But I never found this process in my study of the New Testament.  In fact, the New Testament is very specific that God is the one who adds people to the church (Acts 2:47) However, He only adds those who have complied with His will.  And dear friend, it is with a humble and compassionate heart that I admit that I am scared that maybe you have not complied with His commands.  For instance, the Bible instructs that we must hear the gospel (Rom 10:14-17), and we must believe in Jesus Christ (John 8:24).  And while many people have done these steps, relatively few have taken the next steps of repenting of their past sins (Acts 3:19. Lk 13:3), and confessing the name of Jesus Christ (Mat 10: 32-33; Rom 10:9-10).  After someone has done this, they are ready to be buried with Christ in baptism, so that past sins can be forgiven. (Mark 16:16). In Ephesians 1:22-23 we read where the church is called the body (with Christ being the head).  My plea with you today is that you will do whatever it takes to make sure you are in that one body, and ensure that God has added you to the church (Acts 2:47). Read through the New Testament and see for yourself if you are a member of the church that Christ purchased with His blood? If not...why?

It’s funny that I can talk to total strangers about this—and have done so many times in the past and yet I remain silent around those to whom I am closest.  I never talked to you about heaven and eternity because I didn’t want to mess up what we had here on earth.  But see, I realize that this earthly relationship is temporary.  One day the memories that you and I share will fade away.  And I don’t want to leave this life without telling you about Christ, and how he changed my life.  Therefore I am penning this letter in hopes of extending our friendship into eternity.

Please do not be mad at me. Please do not shy away from me.  Please do not despise me.  For this letter was not written to drive a wedge into our relationship.  But rather it was written out of love and compassion, hoping that we can stand hand-in-hand before Almighty God.  Yes, I am a happy person— because I know and love my Savior, and He is my best friend.  Please consider what I’ve said.  Look through the scriptures on your own.  Examine where you stand.  For I want nothing more than to introduce my earthly best friend to my spiritual best Friend and Savior Jesus Christ.  Thank you for allowing me this short opportunity to tell you about Him.

A POLLUTED ALTAR
26 Feb 06

Our God has always been a God who desired worship, yet on His terms. When He brought the children of Israel out of bondage, one of the first things He did was to instruct them in proper worship. He dictated to His friend Moses, "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it" (Exodus 20:25). God's instructions were in sharp contrast to the ornate altars of Israel's heathen neighbors, such as the Egyptians. Moses faithfully recorded God's pattern concerning worship and followed it all his life (Heb. 8:5).

Approximately forty years later, Joshua, the successor to Moses, built an altar for offerings to thank God for the Israelites' victory over their enemies, in accordance with Moses's instructions. The writer records the manner in which the altar was constructed, "as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lifted up any iron" (Josh. 8:30-31). If Joshua had built an altar of hewn or dressed stone, would it have been pleasing to God? One can quickly turn to the example of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who tried to offer strange (unauthorized) fire in worship and find that Jehovah destroyed them (Lev. 10:1,2). They failed to follow the divine pattern!

More than one hundred and fifty years ago, men and women came out of the darkness of denominationalism and set about to restore New Testament Christianity. Using God's divine pattern, the New Testament, they cast aside their inherited ideas concerning salvation and embraced simple obedience of the Lord's command, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). By the all sufficient light of God's Word they left sentimentality and emotionalism regarding worship and sought to follow the example of the Pentecostians: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). They built their spiritual altars of unhewn stone. They became part of the "holy temple in the Lord" and a "habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21-22).
But soon, "educated, urbane" men came along introducing unauthorized worship in the church of God. They admired the melodious sound of their denominational neighbour's organ and despaired at the rough, unaccompanied singing of the church. However, they were challenged by the God-fearing who consulted the divine pattern and found only unaccompanied singing as authorized by God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16,17).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

These usurpers could not meet the challenge of God's Word so they left the temple of God to form just one more denomination among many, the Christian Church. To this day these spiritual descendants of Jeroboam "kiss the calves" of mechanical instruments of music (Hosea 13:6).

Now, almost 2,000 years after the New Covenant of Jesus Christ was given, modern day Nadabs and Abihus seek to change the worship of the church of Christ. Like their spiritual forbearers of the late nineteenth century, they imagine themselves exceedingly clever. Instead of trying to bring the piano in the front door of the church building, they are slipping it in the rear entrance by promoting "innovations" such as the use of choirs and solos. Yet these are just as unauthorized as the use of mechanical instruments of music in praise to God. On the surface they seem to be "unaccompanied" and "accapella" but in reality they are as much entertainment as a rock music band or a trained monkey doing tricks. They do not meet the requirements of congregational singing as commanded by the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. The New Testament requires we sing "speaking to one another" (Eph. 5:19, ).

In other words I sing to you and you sing to me. Anything else is just spectator religion. When will men learn to take God at His word and desist from engaging in "vain worship" (Matt. 15:9)? But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

God does not want altars built to Him made of the man-made stones of faulty reasoning and subjectivism. He wants us to worship Him "in spirit and in truth"  (John 4:24). God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

But by not following God's pattern for worship, these liberals have neither. They seek to magnify the Holy One on polluted altars.