Vol 119 No 11 • NOV 2017
inside
this issue...
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 019/11/2017
New! at MWS: Branding approach, visual identity page 7
message.methodist.org.sg
Apostles’ Creed Its place and function
Across time and space The communion of saints
pages 16-17
pages 20-21
ETHOS PUBLIC CONFERENCE 2017
How justice ‘disturbs’ us to prayer and action Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
“W
hen Christians deprive others of legitimate rights, the Gospel is brought to disrepute,” emphasised Dr Philip Satterthwaite, Principal of Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST), as he gave the opening lecture at the ETHOS Public Conference on 30 Sep 2017. “When the Church fails to uphold justice, that is when it most fails to live up to its calling.” He acknowledged that many of us tend to feel uncomfortable when we hear the word “justice”. “I’m not one of nature’s activists,” he confessed. “But in studying Scripture, justice appears as a remarkably pervasive theme in the Bible” – necessitating our appropriate attention and action. This Conference, themed ‘Justice and the Common Good’, was the second one organised by ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity in conjunction with seven of the eight degreegranting seminaries in Singapore: Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS), BGST, Discipleship Training Centre, East Asia School of Theology (EAST), Singapore Bible College, TCA College, and Trinity Theological College (TTC). (The first Conference on ‘Human Sexuality, Marriage and the Church’ was covered in the September 2016 issue of Methodist Message.) Dr Satterthwaite set the tone for this year’s Conference, held at TTC, by tracing the theme of justice throughout the Bible. “Justice is a central theme in the Old Testament,” he noted.
The Rev Dr Simon Chan (left) of TTC and the Rev Malcolm Tan (right), Pastor-in-Charge of Covenant Community Methodist Church, gave pastoral responses to the four lectures.
“It is celebrated as something that brings healing. On the other hand, a lack of justice is a blight on the land.” He pointed out that justice (and its negative counterpart, injustice) remains a common Continued on page 15...
COMING UP
The Promise:
An Advent service
T
he people of God waited: Who would save them from the hostilities of the world? Who would liberate the oppressed? Who would bring peace and justice to the poor and needy? God’s promise to them was revealed through the prophet Isaiah:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him… and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” ~ Isaiah 11:1-3, NIV The time came for the promise to be fulfilled. Jesus, Emmanuel, was born in a stable. This was Christmas, the First Coming of the Lord! As Christians, we are called to observe the First and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In the Church Year, the season of Advent, spanning four Sundays, precedes Christmas. During this season, what are your plans? The Methodist Festival Choir invites you to ‘The Promise’, two Advent worship services where we celebrate the First Coming of Christ as well as listen to the promise of the Second Coming. The worship services centre on the prophetic words of Isaiah (Isaiah 11:110, 40:1-11 and 12:1-6) and the Good News of Christ’s coming in Luke (Luke 1:39-56). The celebration features carols and hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal, Lutheran Book of Worship, Lift up Your Hearts, the Taizé community, and a new hymn text (sung by the narrator) written by the Rev John Bell. Interspersed with the Scripture readings are choral anthems by Robert Howells, J. S. Bach, Peter Anglea, Patti Drennan, Philip W. J. Stopford, and Johann Pachelbel. Readings from Scripture will be explicated through the sermons of Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon on 3 Dec 2017 (Sunday), 5.30 p.m. at Pentecost Methodist Church, and the Rev Dr Gordon Wong on 9 Dec 2017 (Saturday), 7.30 p.m. at Barker Road Methodist Church. All are invited! n
The Promise: An Advent service 3 Dec 2017 (Sunday), 5.30 p.m. 4 Pasir Ris Drive 6, Pentecost Methodist Church, S(519420) Speaker: Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon 9 Dec 2017 (Saturday), 7.30 p.m. 48 Barker Road, Barker Road Methodist Church, S(309917) Speaker: The Rev Dr Gordon Wong Free admission, all are welcome! For more information, email festivalchoir.msm@msmusic.edu.sg or call 6767-5258.
Image courtesy of Methodist School of Music
The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated. Our address
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Let us have your views
Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Sze Chern, Chairperson, Council on Communications Editor Ms Grace Toh Sub-editor Ms Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Mr Jason Woo
Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and if appropriate, your contribution could be published.
BISHOP’S MESSAGE
One: The strength of connectionalism Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference for two quadrennia from 2008 to 2016.
“Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” ~ John 17:11b
S
ince assuming office almost a year ago, I have had the opportunity to attend several Methodist regional conferences as well as interdenominational meetings. These were eyeopening experiences for me as I witnessed the wonderful results achieved through various methods employed in the ministries of God’s Kingdom. I was also encouraged and moved by many touching personal testimonies of God’s people, across cultures and nationalities. Christ’s Church is universal and churches must not be parochial and sectarian. While the various denominations may have their respective distinguishing characteristics, they need not be prejudiced against each other. For various reasons, different denominations emerged during the Protestant Reformation. Some came about due to distinct views on doctrines. Others arose out of differences in liturgy and the expression of worship, while yet others were established over concerns regarding ordination and clergy structure, or even varying emphasis given to spiritual experiences of believers. While the branching out may have been inevitable, we commend instances where those differences had been handled reasonably and in the spirit of mutual respect. Over time and through
many trials, the various denominations today co-exist in mutual acceptance and harmony, bound by the love of Christ. The 240 or so members of the National Council of Churches of Singapore comprise churches from the various denominations as well as independent churches. That these member churches are able to meet as a group, to discuss issues, and to pray and worship together, is a clear testimony of the remarkable unity shared among them. The Methodist Church in Singapore is made up of three Annual Conferences. It is so designed because of the plural social context of our nation. We are not three separate Methodist Churches; we are one Methodist Church in Singapore, with one constitution, and one set of doctrinal statements. Our strengths and unique Methodist features must be put to good use so that with one heart, we may preach the Gospel and show care and concern for our neighbours, reaching our fullest potential of blessing our community wherever we are. Unity is strength. When we work as one Methodist Church, we are able to achieve far more than any Annual Conference doing it alone. The Giving Methodist Project, to be carried out over the next four years, will see the whole body of Methodists in Singapore partnering with the Methodist Welfare Services to bless our community. Let us come together as one, not only in worship during our yearly Aldersgate Sunday Celebration, but also in our daily actions to bless our neighbours, our nation, and beyond. n Picture by JacobLund/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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CHURCH PROFILE
Seletar Tamil MC:
Growing, preaching, and transforming lives Deborah David is a member of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church.
B
eing established for 82 years, Seletar Tamil Methodist Church (SELTMC) has a rich history. It was established in 1935 by the Rev Subramanian, the Rev S. M. Thevathasam, and the Rev Pakianathan. The first worship venue of the church was at Seletar Airbase, hence its name. After the British withdrew their forces from Singapore in 1971, SELTMC had to move out of Seletar Airbase as it was handed over to the Singapore Armed Forces. Consequently, the congregation moved over to Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church for their worship services. Through the years, SELTMC has worshiped in several other locations. These include: Syrian Orthodox Church (1980-1992), Salem Chapel (1996-2005), and St George’s Chapel (from 2005 till present).
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 Sunday Service: 8.00 a.m. Tamil Bedok Preaching Point c/o Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church, 300 Bedok North Avenue 3, Singapore 469717 Genesis Room, 1-06 Sunday Service: 6.00 p.m. Tamil Contact us: Website: www.seletartmc.org
The church’s vision is: ‘To grow in His Word, To preach the Gospel, To Transform lives.’ The three aspects of the vision are essential pillars for the growth of the church. We are encouraged to grow in the Word for that would enable us to forge a stronger relationship with our Lord and Saviour. Next, as ambassadors of Christ, we are tasked to preach the Good News to the lost so that they too would be able to taste the sweetness of God. Lastly, Christ’s Great Commission compels us to work hard in transforming lives and making disciples of Christ. Two key ministries in SELTMC are Evangelism and Social Concerns. On 6 May 2012, SELTMC started a preaching point at Bedok. Every Wednesday, the evangelism team goes out to invite Indians living near Bedok to attend the preaching point. The Lord has indeed blessed the efforts of the evangelism team, as there has been tremendous growth in the preaching point’s congregation. Meanwhile, the Social Concerns Ministry aims at reaching out to underprivileged individuals in society by providing them with both financial and emotional support. Upon identifying the essential needs of lowincome families, the Social Concerns team heads over to their residence and provides them with welfare packs. Additionally, the team makes regular visits to homes for the elderly and spends quality time with the homes’ residents. Since SELTMC does not have a building of its own, our congregation has worshipped at several locations over the course of 82 years, and thus our members come from a variety
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church members visiting residents at Bethany Methodist Nursing Home.
of districts that include Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, and Serangoon. Despite having to move to St George’s Chapel located at Changi, our church members continue to stay united and are willing to travel further than usual. They, together with our pioneer members, have witnessed God’s marvelous ways in sustaining SELTMC. Just as Ephesians 1:22-23 reads, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (NIV), God is the head of SELTMC, and the church members earnestly seek His direction and His will in the growth of the church that He has graciously blessed us with. To God be the Glory! n
We continue our series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations.
Photos courtesy of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church
ONE MCS – ETAC HIGHLIGHT At the collective suggestion of our Annual Conference Presidents, the President’s Message column has now been expanded to highlight activities and authors from each Annual Conference. Let’s continue to keep each other in prayer as we grow and serve “Together as one in spirit and purpose”!
The connectional church From the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference President’s Office
‘C
onnectionalism’ is not about who knows who. It is not about making connections with influential people to climb the social ladder or for financial gain. Did you know that the Methodist Church is called “the Connection”? (It is sometimes spelled “connexion”, an accepted if archaic spelling that is unique to Methodists.) The United Methodist Church often uses this term to refer to the denominational association of Methodist churches. John Wesley believed in having a good system within an organisation; thus, the Methodist Church has a system of communication and accountability towards the one mission of the entire Methodist movement in the world. This means that local Methodist churches are connected through a neat structure that celebrates the uniqueness of each church and our unity in mission as one whole Methodist Church. The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) is structured into Local Conferences, Annual Conferences, and the General Conference. We are connected to the worldwide Methodist movement as a member of the World Methodist Council. We belong to a great family of Methodists! In September 2017, Tamil Methodist Church (TMC) at Short Street celebrated its 130th Anniversary. (Editor’s note: Stay tuned for TMC’s article on this joyous occasion in the December 2017 issue of Methodist Message.) As we reflected on TMC’s rich history and heritage, we gave thanks to God for the connectional system of the MCS. TMC was the second Methodist church to be established in Singapore, and the first church in the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC). TMC has been greatly blessed, and in turn been a blessing, all through the connectional system – it has been instrumental in planting the other seven churches in ETAC. From the beginning, ETAC has had the challenge of being a small community, meeting the needs of its growing Local Conferences and itself as an Annual Conference. These needs
included pastoral staff, leadership, finances, and even having a place of worship, in certain instances. We thank God for providing a Methodist connection that we can fall back on. The Methodist connectional system has provided us opportunities to be generous with our resources and use these to their full potential, in the following ways. The itinerant system: Ordained pastors of the Conference in full connection with the Methodist Church are committed to serve the Annual Conference wherever they are appointed by the President. This means that pastors do not have permanent appointments in any one church. Their tenure is usually for a year. Churches share their pastors for the sake of the ministry, and bless one another with their resources. In our context, the pastors even serve in more than one Local Conference simultaneously, and do so willingly. Leadership: We praise God for the men and women who are willing to go the extra mile to serve the Lord, not only through their respective churches but also sharing their gifts and talents through serving in the Annual Conference and General Conference. Their service on the various Boards and Councils has resulted in establishing healthy relationships with other Conferences, and the building of friendships. Financial: The central pooling system of our finances is one of our strengths in living out the expression of ‘one body’ as an Annual Conference. This system allows the received funds to be used in an equitable manner for ministerial support and Board programmes, thereby enabling even the smallest of our churches to continue ministering as a Local Conference. We praise God that we are a Connection! n
“But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 Picture by tai11/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY
What is a home? Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
T
he phrase “Many are houseless, not homeless” stuck in my mind after meeting the Director of an organisation providing services for women in one of San Francisco’s counties. She had said this in response to my observation of there being many homeless people in the city. This image ended up being one of the enduring memories of my week-long work trip to this beautiful town. Walking past the lines of men and women waiting to enter their daily place of shelter for the night, I was keenly aware that I was averting my gaze. However, I could not help but overhear their loud arguments, and be confronted by their presence as well as the lingering smells of urea and filth. I had been to this city almost 30 years ago and could well identify with the sentiments of the song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’. I admire the welllaid streets with their famous trams, and the iconic architecture that gives this American city its distinctive look, like the Coit Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. But what has changed today is the number of people who are living rough. They gather in some sections of downtown during dawn and dusk, very often the first of the city dwellers seen shuffling about. “Houseless, not homeless”, what an odd juxtaposition of words and ideas! How can people be without houses and yet not homeless? It questioned my concept of what a home meant. Must a home be made of brick and mortar, and not cardboard boxes and a sleeping bag? Must it be in a fixed location, or could it be a mobile one as evidenced by how many had all their worldly possessions piled on shopping carts? Who should be the other residents of a home? Should it be only family members whom one shares blood ties or members of a community whom one identifies with?
The phrase “houseless, not homeless” reminds well-meaning do-gooders that rather than attempting to place these homeless folks into clean and sterile – but also characterless – housing, perhaps we should take the time to understand their circumstances and choices. Some homeless individuals have been abandoned, rejected, and hurt by the very individuals who should care for them – their families. So after such traumatic experiences, they may be wary of receiving help from strangers. They may choose to live in settings that are physically substandard, but nevertheless are places chosen by them. This exercise of their free will may be just as important to them as having a roof over their heads, or having clean running water. Singaporeans in general may find it hard to understand the problem of homelessness. After all, we are a nation that prides itself on being able to provide public housing to most of its population. We have one of the highest proportions of homeowners within the citizenry, albeit many are still paying for their mortgages. But we do have our homeless too. They sleep in void decks, in stairwells, under flyovers, and along our beaches. Many more are ‘homeless’ even though they may stay with their families; these are the elderly who are lonely even though they live with their children. There are also those with disabilities, whether physical, intellectual, or mental. They live shut-in lives within their own rooms, not speaking to anyone for days, even though they live within close proximity to dozens of other flat dwellers. For these individuals, they may be living in the physical definition of a home, but they may as well be ‘homeless’, as there is little familial and emotional exchange with others. A relational definition of a home, then, means living in a place where one feels safe, valued, and acknowledged as a person. As a community of believers, and as people who have been blessed with so much, what should be our response to these troubled individuals? As Advent approaches, the Christmas story reminds us that the Christ child and His family were once homeless, too. May it prompt us to spare a thought for people who are in this sorry plight. n Picture by Bankrx/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES
ONE MWS By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team Starting 1 Nov 2017, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) will have a new branding approach which features a refreshed visual identity for MWS Our new branding approach: Being ONE MWS
F
or a stronger and more visible common identity, MWS has begun the process of bringing about harmonised branding for MWS and our 20 centres and programmes. All our centres will be renamed to include MWS in their new names. The first key element is revamping the MWS logo typeface for a bolder, and more modern and streamlined aesthetic. The traditional MWS blue has also been brightened for more impact and appeal. Each of our five impact areas will also be identified by a unique colour. While all our centres belong to ONE MWS, in their service domain, each of our impact areas has a unique role to play in impacting lives. The new names of our centres are listed on our website (www.mws.sg). The visual changes to assets such as signages, vehicles or buildings, and corporate/centre identity materials, will be implemented over an eight-month period until mid-2018. New MWS Vision and Mission MWS has also made fine amendments to our vision and mission statements to focus on our core passion more succinctly. VISION
Our new brand logo Our vision to be Christ-centred, in transforming lives and making a social impact, is symbolised by the cross on the highest point of the logo.
The letters M and W form the outlines of peaks, troughs and pathways that depict the challenging journeys that we take with beneficiaries, serving them through our integrated network of services.
New MWS Board of Governance: 2017–2019 During our Annual General Meeting on 16 Sep 2017, MWS elected the new Board of Governance for a two-year term. Please refer to the table below for the new and reelected board members. MWS expressed profound appreciation to two former MWS board members who have stepped down. They are Mr David Wong Cheong Fook and Dr David Foo Chee Guan. S/N NAME
OFFICE
1
Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon
Chairperson
2
Mr Eugene Toh Ming Hong, PPA (G)
Vice Chairperson
3
Mr Albert Lim Song Khiang
Honorary Secretary, BOSC Chairperson (TRAC)
4
Rev Jasper Sim Shenq Chyi
Assistant Honorary Secretary
5
Mrs Fong Loo Fern
Honorary Treasurer
6
Mr Terence Phung Tuck Chee
Assistant Honorary Treasurer
7
Mr Terence Wee Jin Zoo
Assistant Honorary Treasurer
8
Mrs Loh Chay Leng
Board Member
9
Mr Charles Loh Chee Khiong
Board Member
To be Christ-centred, in enabling the disadvantaged and distressed to have life to the full.
10
Mr Yow Chi Mun
Board Member
11
Dr Lee Wee Leong
Board Member
12
Mr Tan Chian Khong
Board Member
MISSION
13
Ms Christine Pushpam Tambyah
Co-opted Board Member
14
Mr Wendell Wong Hin Pkin
Co-opted Board Member
15
Mr Ronnie Gan Seow Khaw
Co-opted Board Member
16
Mr George Loh Chee Ping, PPA (P)
Co-opted Board Member
17
Mr Lam Wei Choong
Co-opted Board Member
18
Mr Raymond Khoo Peng Ann
Co-opted Board Member
19
Dr Tan Hai Chuang
Co-opted Board Member
20
Mr Samuel Tay
Co-opted Board Member, BOSC Chairperson (CAC)
21
Mr Wilson Sampath
Co-opted Board Member, BOSC Chairperson (ETAC)
22
Dr Teo Li Bee
Co-opted Board Member
23
Mr Darius Chua
Director
24
Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim
Secretary of the Trustees of the MCS
To enrich the quality of life for the disadvantaged and distressed, through integrated and holistic services in partnership with Methodist churches and the community. We pray that as ONE MWS and as ONE with the Methodist community, we will create greater social impact among the vulnerable and underserved as a testament to God’s love. n
For information on how you can be involved in giving or volunteering, please email ce@mws.sg. Visit our website at www.mws.sg. METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013
MISSIONS
The red roof The writer is a missionary with MMS in a Creative Access Nation. He is a Singaporean whilst his wife is a local national. They have been serving with MMS since 2005. Due to the sensitive nature of his ministry, acronyms have been used for names and places.
I heard God’s voice saying, “Go and build My church and I will give you a helpmate, I will prosper you, and you will build My church.” I hesitated, and said that I didn’t know anyone in the mission field that He had shown me. But God responded unequivocally, “GO!”
I
t all began with a dream, a vision from God. I was down with high fever and was praying for healing. I dreamt of a church with a red roof, beautifully decorated, and located beside a vast flowing river. I heard God’s voice saying, “Go and build My church and I will give you a helpmate, I will prosper you, and you will build My church.” I hesitated, and said that I didn’t know anyone in the mission field that He had shown me. But God responded unequivocally, “GO!” After a period of prayer, I decided to obey His calling. After my arrival at this bustling city of SGH, I met my wife who comes from ZJJ. God fulfilled the first of His three promises. Curious to see if His two remaining promises would also come to pass, I asked my wife about her home church. To my disappointment, she said it was a very old building, with a black roof and not beautifully decorated. Could my dream have just been imagination? I learnt to trust God and remain faithful to Him, believing that the vision I had was indeed from Him. My wife and I spent nine years in SGH. After worshipping there with 70 other believers, we decided to move on to a new challenge, to set up a fellowship in SHZ. By God’s grace and faithfulness, this weekly fellowship grew to a group of believers 100 strong. After seven years in SHZ, my wife and I decided to further equip ourselves through theological studies. However, things were not plain sailing as I enrolled myself in Trinity Theological College (TTC) while my wife attended a local seminary in HNN. For the next three years, we were apart from each other as well as from our children who were placed in a boarding school. The only occasion we could spend time together as a family was during the Lunar New Year. I was privileged to be able to spend time with my wife during my semester break, staying in a family room at her seminary in HNN. It was during this time that God opened new opportunities for us to serve, as I was invited by the HNN Christian Council to minister in the churches around HNN.
All the while, we had been serving with the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) as volunteers. Upon completion of our theological studies, we became full-time missionaries with MMS. We returned to ZJJ to begin our ministry. In God’s faithfulness, my wife received her preaching license in nine months, a process that would normally take two years! We were attached to the Christian Council in ZJJ, ministering to its 46 churches. In ZJJ, there are only four ordained pastors and 40 local preachers to serve the 46 churches. The challenge is greater as the churches are located across difficult terrain, making them highly inaccessible. As such, the churches celebrate Holy Communion only once every three months. We are planning to establish another fellowship in ZJJ city. The critical need is to equip and train the local leaders, most of whom are farmers. We have built a retreat centre that will cater to the spiritual needs of the mostly volunteer pastors and leaders. Farming is their primary source of livelihood and we have seen many who have left because of the financial need to support their families. Over the years of my ministry, I have learnt to trust and remain faithful to God. Today, the main city church in ZJJ now has a red painted roof and is beautifully decorated – just like the vision given to me by God. As for the vast flowing river, I believe it was a metaphorical representation of the growth of the church: always moving and not standing still. God always fulfils His promises; glory be to God! n
PRAY for: u more trainers to come and teach u the safety and protection of our missionaries u the local leaders to be spiritually equipped u a revival in ZJJ city Picture by a7880s/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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BOOK REVIEW
Singing through the storms of life Silas Wong worships at Wesley Methodist Church.
H Singing Through the Storms of Life Inspiring stories and reflections on hymns of faith from the 16th – 21st centuries by Mary Y. T. Gan Retails at $20 (incl. GST) at the Methodist School of Music – call 6767-5258 or email msm@msmusic.edu.sg Proceeds of book sales by MSM go towards the ministry of MSM.
Scan this QR code for a quick preview of what the book offers!
ave you ever wondered whether the hymns that we sing Sunday after Sunday have any real-world relevance for our lives? Or has it ever crossed your mind that the big, heavy hymnal you see in the wooden pews could help us to grow in our faith, just as a good Christian book or study guide would? Singing Through the Storms of Life is eager to show us just how much we have been missing when we physically and mentally shut the hymnal at the end of each service. This book by Mary Y. T. Gan, the Founding Principal of the Methodist School of Music, is a lovely reminder that hymns can be a powerful source of support and encouragement, especially during our darkest moments. Mary has selected 23 hymns from the 16th to 21st centuries, and provided the backgrounds of the hymns, matching them with Scripture references, reflections, and prayers. The result is a multi-faceted book offering inspiration and assurance. The themes covered are wide-ranging – from comfort, grief, and trust, to even natural disasters and war. Apart from regular favourites like ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ and ‘It is Well with My Soul’, there are some lesser-sung pieces like ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’, as well as more unknown pieces composed in recent years by living Asian and North American hymn writers or composers. Lest we think that great hymns were written only by old and renowned composers, the book ends with two very poignant testimonies by Ms Ellena Yeo and the late Mr Soo Ewe Jin, friends of the author. Ewe Jin wrote a new song, ‘Rainbow’, and Ellena composed a new tune, ‘YUXING’, out of their personal experiences of cancer and loss of loved ones respectively. Their new compositions underscore the relevance of hymns in whatever crises we may be going through. Another hymn that was of great interest to me was ‘When Memory Fades’, a song about Alzheimer’s disease, aging, and memory loss. It was specifically written for those struggling with the emotional turmoil of this merciless condition, whether as a patient or a caregiver. Again, this hymn speaks of a very real situation in life that some of us may be going through, as Mary did when taking care of her late mother-in-law, to whom she dedicated the new tune. Other than being a musician, Mary also writes simply and beautifully. For example, the prayers she has penned to round off each hymn are moving, biblically-based, and relevant, suitable for use in both personal and corporate devotions. Unsure what the hymns might sound like? The book makes accompanying tunes conveniently accessible through the use of QR codes that, when scanned, take the reader immediately to specially-prepared YouTube videos providing lyrics alongside the backing tracks. Through this book, may both hymn lovers and contemporary music fans be inspired to explore these 23 hymns and the many others that are the legacy of the Church at large, so that when the inevitable “Storms of Life” come crashing at us, we may be found “Singing Through” them with joy and gusto! n
Book cover artwork courtesy of Mary Gan
HYMNS & SONGS
Following Jesus’ call Jesus Calls Us
(The United Methodist Hymnal, #398) Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless, sea; day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow me!” As of old the apostles heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake. Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store, from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love me more!”
Dr Yeo Teck Beng is a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
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here was a joke shared among the young people in church some years back, starting with a question: “What brand of shampoo did Jesus use?” The answer was, “Follow Me.” While we may be tickled by the answer, Simon Peter and Andrew were not smiling when Jesus issued the call to them by the Galilean lake, to follow Him. Jesus said, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And immediately, they left their nets and followed Jesus (Mark 1:16-18, MEV). This was the Scripture text for a sermon by one distinguished churchman, the Rev William Alexander, who later became the Archbishop for all of Ireland. The Rev Alexander was planning to preach the sermon on St Andrew’s Day, which was and is still celebrated by the Anglicans on the last Sunday in November, commemorating the calling of Andrew by Jesus.1 While preparing his sermon, the Rev Alexander asked his wife, Cecil Frances Alexander (1823-1895), a gifted poet with amazing literary talents, if she could write a poem to reinforce the message of his sermon. Mrs Alexander, who had written more than 400 poems and hymn texts to teach children about the Gospel, did just that. But while her husband’s sermon may have long been forgotten, Mrs Alexander’s poem became a well-loved hymn, ‘Jesus Calls Us’, which continues to resonate in the hearts of the Church universal. The hymn’s central theme is the call of Christ. It is about priorities.2 Andrew responded to Jesus’ call and “turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.” (stanza 2) What is your response? Are you willing to sacrifice all to follow Jesus? In stanza 3, the heart of the hymn, Jesus calls us from the love of the world to a whole-hearted love for Him. Jesus is our first and only love. All other things – our days of toil and cares, joys and pleasures (stanza 4) – can hinder our devotion to the Lord. Jesus’ call comes to us today as clearly and urgently as it came to Andrew by the Sea of Galilee. Let us heed Jesus’ call as Andrew did and, in complete obedience, follow, serve, and love Him “best of all” (stanza 5). n
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these!” Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, Saviour, may we hear thy call, give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and love thee best of all. Words: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1852 (Mt. 4:18-32) Music: William H. Jude, 1874
“Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Mark 1:17, MEV enneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn K Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 343. 2 Frank Colquhoun, A Hymn Companion: Insight into Three Hundred Christian Hymns (Wilton: Morehouse Barlow, 1985), 227. 1
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OUR METHODIST CONNECTION
Growing and serving ‘Togeth Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
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id you know about this? “A member of any local Methodist church is a member of the total Methodist connection.” (¶108 of The Book of Discipline of The Methodist Church in Singapore) What does this mean? Fundamentally, it means: You are not alone. Most of us know this at some level; we know that the Holy Spirit dwells with us and in us as promised by Jesus (John 14:16-17), when we become believers in Christ. Many of us experience close fellowship with brothers- and sisters-in-Christ in our local church congregations, which helped inform our decisions to become members of a local church. (Read more about ‘The meaning of membership’ on P24 of MM Jan 2015.) But going beyond that, even our local Methodist churches do not stand alone. Having District Superintendents oversee our Local Conference meetings reminds us of fellow Methodist congregations in neighbouring areas whom we might work alongside, and of our accountability to the respective Annual Conference (AC) under which we are organised. The yearly AC Sessions in November (see P23 of this issue) are opportunities to hear about and support each other’s work in the Lord, and this includes reports from General Conference Councils and agencies which help resource churches and unify ministry efforts.
At least once each year, we have the opportunity to gather and worship God as a Methodist family at our keynote Aldersgate SG event, and be inspired for renewed discipleship, social action, and evangelism. Our 43,000-strong Methodist community in Singapore also serves our society in various ways including through our Methodist schools. Beyond our shores, we are connected to international Methodist bodies such as the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches, and the World Methodist Council – joining the global Methodist movement of more than 82 million people in 134 countries! (See our coverage of the 2016 World Methodist Conference on P12-13 of MM Oct 2016.) “Why does this really matter?” one might ask. “Our churches and members are serving God uniquely in their various ways – and doing so excellently! Why is it important to identify ourselves as part of the Methodist community?” To answer this question, let us consider the difference between one ant, a group of worker ants, and a whole colony of ants. An ant can carry up to 100 times its own body weight – powerful in its own right. A group of worker ants can collaborate in a task beyond a single ant’s ability, such as bridging a gap using only their bodies. But
her as one’ “A member of any local Methodist church is a member of the total Methodist connection.” – BOD ¶108 most significantly, ant colonies operate as a unified entity, collectively working together to survive and to thrive, often described as “superorganisms”. In other words, they appear to act as one body. You may recall the MCS 130 calendar which was printed in the P12-13 centrespread of Methodist Message (MM) in February 2015, in CAC News the same month, and distributed as a handout in Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference churches. In it, we included ‘Methodists in Action’ suggestions, positing the question: “If all [43,000] Methodists in Singapore lived out these acts of service monthly, what might be the impact on our nation?” Likewise, imagine the impact if all our 43,000 Methodists: • Participated in nation-wide movements like the GoForth National Missions Conference, 21-23 June 2018; • Actively supported ministries in each other’s churches, across ACs; • Donated to Methodist Welfare Services (look out for The Giving Methodist project upcoming); • Conducted mission trips and training with the Methodist Missions Society;
You are reading one of them right now – our official monthly magazine MM, which offers Methodist news, views, and opportunities to serve, and is also available online at message.methodist.org.sg. A veritable trove of information is accessible at a click at www.methodist.org.sg, our Methodist Church website. You can also connect with us as well as your fellow Methodists on our pages at various social media platforms: Search for “Methodist.SG” on Facebook and Instagram, for “MethodistSG” on Pinterest, and for “MethodistChurchSG” on YouTube. If you prefer email updates, sign up at methodist.org.sg/connect/mcsupdates.php Most importantly, we seek your partnership in prayer, for it is only in joining hands with God and with each other, through the Holy Spirit, that we are able to be “one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory” (‘A Service of Word and Table I’, The United Methodist Hymnal). Get prayer updates from methodist.org.sg/ connect/pray-for-us.php Come, take up your place in the Methodist Connection! n
• Nurtured students in Methodist schools; • Developed social enterprises through the Methodist Co-Operative Society Ltd; • Grew in worship and discipleship through courses with the Methodist School of Music and Disciple Agency; • Shared and learned from our rich history stored with the Archives and History Library; • Were continually encouraged and rejuvenated for spiritual growth and ministry wherever God has placed them. Can you imagine what a testimony we might be, as a Christian community in Singapore? What would be the potential for the Church in working together and growing in unity and ministry? It is for this reason that the Methodist connection (some prefer “connexion”) exists. Not for man’s glory, nor for the sake of counting numbers (see P24 of this issue, ‘Don’t count on this’), but in order that we may move “Together as one in spirit and purpose”, loving God and serving others with His love. “But I’m only one small dot in this huge Methodist connection,” you might say. “What can I do?” Firstly, stay connected with those around you: reach out in warm welcome to those in the next seat, in the next pew, in the next row. Secondly, consider how you might join your church congregation in ministry – do they need volunteers for prison ministry? Might the children’s ministry need more helping hands? Thirdly, build friendships with members of other Methodist churches; perhaps you might be the link that connects churches with a passion for similar ministries, and help reach more persons through pooled resources. Fourthly, stay updated so you can serve in step with your Methodist family, through our various Methodist Church platforms.
“If all 43,000 Methodists in Singapore lived out these acts of service monthly, what might be the impact on our nation?”
The Methodist family in Singapore More than 43,000 Methodists 1 General Conference 3 Annual Conferences 46 Methodist churches 16 Methodist schools Resource agencies in Discipleship, Worship & Music, Social Action, Missions, and more Find out more at www.methodist.org.sg
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SECONDARY ONE
Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 - 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).
Information Sessions
24 November 2017 3pm & 4:30pm,
25 November 2017 9:45am
61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides • Exceptional examination results; very strong value added achievement; and an all-round holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student : teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting; 12 Visual and Performing Arts; 12 Special Interest Groups • 25+ overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme
Achievements Include • Top students have achieved perfect IB scores of 45 points • 19 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
• Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IB Diploma with improved pathways to good universities
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Stephanie Hanrahan at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg
• Successes at national level this past year in Archery; Touch Rugby; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Debating; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Wushu.
What the Parents say … “We value the school’s deep heritage and strong values …their holistic approach provides an encouraging learning environment.” – Winnie Cruz-Ding
“Our daughter has become a person that we feel is ready for the world.” – Keith and Nancy Tan
“The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, the promotion of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school … made our daughter’s transfer most worthwhile.” – Vincent and Germaine Leong
“We love the smaller class sizes … and the many approachable, friendly, passionate, and dedicated teachers.” – Cecilia Chau
ETHOS PUBLIC CONFERENCE 2017 ...continued from page 1
concern in the New Testament. There, the same group of words is used to translate both “justice” and “righteousness”. In some familiar passages, such as in Romans, one could just as well read “the justice of God is revealed” (Rom. 1:16-17) or “the kingdom of God is… justice and peace and joy” (Rom. 14:17). He then delved deeper into particular texts such as Exodus 20-23, highlighting the underlying concern about community. Violence and injustice have the potential to rip society apart, and hence must be restrained, and appropriately dealt with when they occur. Referencing Deuteronomy 4, he noted that Israel was to follow these teachings on justice in order to reflect God’s just nature to the surrounding nations. This was further supported by the “deep structure” of the Bible’s teaching about justice – the inherent rights of humans as having been made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28); repeated injunctions to care for the ‘quartet of the vulnerable’ (poor, foreigner, orphan, widow); rights to fair treatment, freedom from oppression, food, shelter, and clothing (Isa. 58:6-7); and God Himself declaring: “I the Lord love justice” (Isa. 61:8). “Justice should disturb us,” concluded Dr Satterthwaite. “It should move us to prayer and action.” The succeeding lectures focused on different aspects of this call to action. Dr Fong Choon Sam, Dean of Academic Studies at BTS, spoke about ‘Justice and Immigration’, highlighting the complexity of immigration issues: differing views on whether immigrants have a positive or negative impact on host countries (as immigrants are not homogenous); how migration issues are often politicised; and the trade-off between security and freedom of movement. Said Dr Fong: “The Christian understanding of how to treat foreigners is derived from God’s compassion for the vulnerable, and the understanding of ourselves as pilgrim people.” God, through His law given to Moses (see Exod. 23, Lev. 19, and Deut. 24), places Himself as the compassionate advocate of the vulnerable, including foreigners. Jesus’ teachings re-established the spirit of this Old Testament ethic, even superseding it in some ways, like redefining the meaning of “neighbour” in Luke 10. The need is great for such godly compassion. In 2014, there were 49,000 foreign students in Singapore. More than half of ‘study mamas’ are divorced or separated from their spouses. There are foreign workers here who overstay out of desperation, and victims of human trafficking. “Do we have no room for those who are damaged by law and persecution?” questioned Dr Fong. “Do we accept only the best and brightest migrants? Can we extend our hospitality to others regardless of race?” The third lecture by Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok, Registrar and Lecturer in Inter-Cultural Studies at EAST, focused on ‘Justice and the Ecological Crisis’. The injustice of the ecological crisis is that those who suffer most may not be the ones causing it. “When there is change in the weather, the vulnerable in society suffer from it, as they can’t afford to protect themselves,” said Dr Kwa. This was starkly
From left: Dr Richard Goetz, Dr Fong Choon Sam, Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok, and Dr Philip Satterthwaite.
illustrated by how crop failure in India has led to nearly 60,000 farmer suicides over the past 30 years. Christians have a responsibility for justice and creation care. “As Christians,” she said, “we must do the right thing, not the expedient thing. By taking steps to counteract this crisis, we are acting for the common good, for humanity.” Among the related justice issues she raised, two stood out. “Justice means counting the full cost of our actions,” being willing to pay more for goods and services that take into account the full cost of production, including environmental cost e.g. proper waste disposal. Also, “justice means intergenerational justice”. “We need to start taking steps to curtail climate change now,” emphasised Dr Kwa, “or else our children and grandchildren will suffer.” The last lecture by Dr Richard Goetz, Associate Professor in the School of Theology English at TCA College, focused on the nature, origin, and basis of human rights, positing that human rights in general can and should be supported by Christians. The specific discussion on human rights arose in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and led to the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 Dec 1948. However, the principles and thinking underlying these rights had been discussed as far back as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine of Hippo, going on to Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, etc. Often, the discussions debated the existence of a Natural Law that preceded social and political systems, or surrounding issues such as the state of human nature, ‘just war’, the harm principle, etc. Also influential were the English Bill of Rights in 1689, the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. The Bangkok Declaration of 1993 posed a challenge with its emphasis on collectivism and communitarianism. In summary, noted Dr Goetz, human rights are grounded in the person of God and in His nature as good and just; by extension, they are grounded in an objective universal morality. “In North America and Europe, some rights claims are excessive,” he acknowledged, “but libertarian individualism and the harm principle are not the problem: a failing cultural and religious ethic is the problem. In South East Asia, Confucian Asian Values and a multi-religious ethic provide strong cultural values which hold libertarian individualism and the harm principle in check.” The Conference closed with a panel discussion moderated by Dr Roland Chia, Theological and Research Advisor of ETHOS Institute. n
Editor’s Note: This article has been shortened due to space constraint – read the longer version on message.methodist.org.sg Photos courtesy of the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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The Apostles’ Creed: Its place and The Rev Dr Simon Chan is a part-time lecturer at Trinity Theological College, and was formerly the Earnest Lau Professor of Systematic Theology there. This is the first of a two-part series on our Christian creeds.
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ecently, I was asked to conduct a seminar on worship for church leaders, including worship leaders. This church observes a certain order of service on Sunday which includes recitation of the Apostles’ Creed. I began by bemoaning the fact that many modern Christians could not appreciate the richness of a traditional liturgy, because they do not know why they do what they do. To prove my point, I asked: “Why do you recite the Apostles’ Creed every Sunday?” Not unexpectedly, no one could give me an answer. The Apostles’ Creed was originally a baptismal creed. It was taught to new converts preparing for baptism. The first Christians were Jews who knew their Scriptures; they understood that the Christ (Messiah) whom they worshipped was the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. But as the Church moved from its epicenter in Jerusalem to the far reaches of the Roman Empire and beyond, it encountered a pagan world far removed from the world of Jewish Christianity. In pagan territory, it encountered a world where sexual immorality, homosexuality, pederasty, drunken orgies, and mystery religions of all stripes were rife. The answer of the Church was to put new pagan converts through an intensive process of catechism. Initially, it consisted of instructions concerning the Scriptures, especially on important themes like the history of salvation, and Christian morals based on the Sermon on the Mount. But over the years, three subjects came to feature regularly in catechetical instruction: the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. These three cover three basic areas of Christianity, namely, Christian belief, ethics, and spirituality. They are utterly essential to becoming a fully-formed Christian. The catechetical instructions would last up to three years depending on the situation.
function in the Church This is the context in which to understand the Apostles’ Creed. The practice of instilling the essential Christian beliefs continued into the Reformation in the 16th century. For example, the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) of the Reformed churches asks in Question 22: “What is it, then, for a Christian to believe?” And it gives this answer: “All that is promised us in the Gospel, which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in sum.” The articles of faith are summed up in the Apostles’ Creed which the Catechism explains point by point in Questions 23–58. Before a convert is baptised he needs to know the faith of the Church. Without being deeply immersed in the faith, he comes out of the waters of baptism a wet pagan, still! There is, in fact, no better way for an adult preparing for baptism to be inducted into the faith of Church, than using the Apostles’ Creed. But there is another function of the Creed when it is recited every Sunday at some point in worship. In some churches it is done at the beginning of the worship service, while in most other churches, such as the traditional Lutheran and Reformed churches, it is recited or sung after the reading of the Gospel. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is recited or sung after the preaching. Its different locations in the liturgy perform different but related functions. When it is recited at the beginning of the service, the Creed functions very much like what singing the national anthem does for a nation. School children in Singapore sing the national anthem every morning. It is a way to inculcate a sense of who they are and to forge a national identity: We are Singaporeans who belong to the nation of Singapore! Similarly, the regular recitation or singing of the Apostles’ Creed at the beginning of worship is a way of instilling in Christians a sense
of who they are: We are a Christian people who belong to a community called the Church. But when the Creed comes after the Gospel reading or the homily, it serves as a response to the Word. It is a way of saying: “We have heard the Word from God; this preached Word is summed up in the Creed that we now profess.” In an implicit way, the Creed also serves as a solemn reminder to the preacher to preach what is consonant with the faith of the Church. It is this faith that makes us who we really are. It is what defines our most basic identity: We are an ecclesial community worshipping God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The preacher must always focus on the Gospel; he is not free to preach his pet subject. We live in an age where people are bound by loose associations based on common interests: virtual friends in social media, drinking buddies, or strong associations with powerful lobby groups that seek to sway people to their cause. Some of these are highly dubious; others may be quite legitimate even if sometimes taken to extremes, especially in the West. Christians do share some of these legitimate concerns, but these concerns do not command Christians’ absolute allegiance. The Apostles’ Creed reminds us of what our most basic identity is: as Christians. In reciting the Creed, we are making a claim, bearing testimony to who we really are. Our basic identity is based on the fact that we are a people who were baptised into Christ; we belong to a community which confesses God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Apostles’ Creed is a clear and unambiguous affirmation of Christian identity. In an age where identities are shaped by loose associations or no associations at all, the modern Church needs to sing again the Apostles’ Creed. It is the time-tested way of regaining our Christian identity. n
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
SOUNDINGS
Body dynamics Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor for the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg).
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ne of the most interesting concepts peculiar to Methodism is ‘connectionalism’, a neologism coined to describe how the Methodist Church is ordered and organised. At the practical level, connectionalism refers to the ways in which Methodist churches support each other by sharing their resources – pastors, leaders, and financial support – so that they may fulfil their common mission to spread the Gospel. Seen in this light, this concept points to the symbiotic relationship between different local congregations. Connectionalism, therefore, is the way in which the unity of the Methodist Church is made manifest. Some have described it as an aggregate model of unity where different groups – local conferences, Annual Conferences, ministry networks – are denominationally bound together in a network of relationships. While this practical aspect of the concept is generally well understood, more attention must be directed at its theological foundations. As Methodist historian Russell Richey has rightly observed: “Seldom unpacked theologically, this practical and practiced ecclesiology can be an extraordinary resource for self-understanding and for Christian unity, but only if Methodists think about it seriously.” (emphasis added) Connectionalism should not be seen merely as a pragmatic arrangement, an ecclesiastical polity that is practically appropriate but not in any way theologically grounded. Rather, it expresses what the Church in essence is, and what it should always strive to be. Put in slightly more technical terms, the concept points to the Church’s ontology, its very being. The most important image of the Church in the New Testament that helps us to understand the essence of connectionalism is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Once a believer puts his faith
“Soundings” is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the Gospel and Christian understanding.
in Christ and is baptised, he becomes a member of what theologians like Augustine of Hippo call Christ’s mystical body (Latin: Mystici Corporis Christi). The believer becomes a member of God’s universal (‘catholic’) Church by becoming a member of a particular church, for example Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, through baptism. The believer’s vertical fellowship (Greek: koinonia) with God results in his horizontal fellowship with God’s people, the Church. The body of Christ metaphor portrays the members’ communion with one another in a relationship of love, mutual responsibility, and interdependence, with Christ as their Head. Each member is equally important (1 Corinthians 12:14-20), and the relationship obtained by the power of the Holy Spirit is such that “if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Now, the metaphor ‘the Body of Christ’ is used for the local church as well as the universal Church. This means that the local church should never be regarded simply as merely a part of the larger Body of Christ – the local church is the Body of Christ in the fullest sense, regardless of its numerical size. Nowhere is this more clearly stated than in a paper titled ‘The Church: Local and Universal’ by a joint working group of Roman Catholics and Protestants. In paragraph 14, we read: “The local church is not an administrative or juridical sub-section or part of the universal Church. In the local church the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church is truly present and active.” However, although complete in itself, the local church also participates
in God’s universal Church. Conversely, the universal Church (which stretches across space and time) may be said to be a communion of particular churches. Here communion must be understood theologically and not simply from the standpoint of organisation or affiliations, formal or otherwise. This means that the universal Church must not be seen simply as a sum of particular churches, a web or federation of churches. Thus when we speak of the universal Church as a communion of churches, we are pointing to its essential mystery. As the Roman Catholic document on communio ecclesiology puts it: “… the particular Churches, insofar as they are ‘part of the one Church of Christ’, have a relationship of ‘mutual interiority’ with the whole, that is, with the universal Church, because in every particular Church ‘the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and active’.” As a neologism, ‘connectionalism’ is at first blush admittedly clumsy and theologically unsuggestive. It gives the impression that it is only of practical – administrative, organisational, utilitarian – import. But when the concept is unpacked theologically, connectionalism expresses the very essence of the Church, its mystery. It points to the Church’s organic unity. n Picture by Unknown author/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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The communion of saints Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon was Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) from 2000–2012. He previously served as a medical doctor, church pastor, Principal of Trinity Theological College, and President of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS).
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local church applied to be a member of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS), and as a result representatives from the church came for an interview. When asked how old their church was, one of the representatives replied, “We have been around since the first century.” True, their local church belonged to an ancient denomination in the family of Oriental Orthodox churches. Nevertheless the answer should make us think about the question, “What is the Church?” and how we view this Church. In an age that has confused personal faith with individualistic faith, we need to re-examine what we say we believe. In the Apostles’ Creed, we declare, “I believe... in the communion of saints…” What do we mean by that phrase? The term ‘communion of saints’ has become a technical doctrinal phrase, the exact meaning of which this is not the place to discuss in detail. Suffice to say, it refers to biblical teaching that the Church is the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12), and that this Body, the ‘communion of saints’, comprises all believers across time and space, both living and departed. If we believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord, we are then baptised into this wonderful Body and become its members. We are then a part of God’s holy family that is found in every corner of earth and heaven. What is more important for us here is to see how this should affect our daily lives and faith. Firstly, our knowledge and worship of God cannot be confined to the limited depth and breadth of our own individual experiences.
Take, for instance, worship. When we gather to worship, the depth of our worship experience cannot be limited merely by what we knew of God and how we felt that particular Sunday morning. If you are not feeling good, and don’t feel like it, you can still worship God that day because of the faith, knowledge, and experience of others. When the Scripture is read, you can still say “Amen” to whatever truth was written long ago by people who had felt the breath of God in their hearts. When you sing hymns, you can still sing along, even though you may not find feelings in your heart that resonate with the hymn, because you can still join in the worship of the people of God, and anchor your own life in that worship. And as you do so, God brings you into His light and glory. Suppose you wake up one morning and find that a spiritual doubt had entered your mind like an unwelcome fly that refuses to be chased out of the chambers of your soul. What can you do? You can think of the communion of saints to which you belong. They stand around you like a cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1), encouraging you to run the race faithfully, assuring you of the truths of the faith.
Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, your old Sunday School teacher, your late granduncle, and a host of others remind you of the truth and reliability of Scripture, of eternity, of the great old doctrines of the Church, and of the reality of Christian experience. Though you may not feel the strength of faith that morning, you can still stand on the shoulders of saints from every age and shore, and be lifted by the living faith of the dead. Our personal faith must be anchored in the collective historical faith of the communion of saints. In this way, we find ourselves, not swimming alone in the sea of life, especially when it is particularly stormy, but in good company, in the company of saints. What they knew and have experienced of God gives depth and stability to our own knowledge and experience of God. Secondly, we must realise that the communion of saints is significantly larger than our own informal groups and organised churches. Our view of the Church must be as big as the entire Body of Christ, spanning space and time. Only then can we be saved from small-mindedness and grossly limited visions. When we become disillusioned and frustrated with the organised versions of the Church, it would also help us to know that we belong to the larger Body of Christ that is being prepared like a bride for Christ, the heavenly Groom (Rev. 21:2). The Reformers struggled with the question of how to deal with the spiritual quality of the church, for the church had both believers and others whose faith was not evident. They were reminded of the Lord’s teaching that the wheat and the weeds will be mixed until the day when the Lord shall come to remove the weeds (Matt. 13:24-30). One day, the sheep and the goats will be separated (Matt. 25:31-46). But until then, the local, organised, and temporal church must think of the larger communion of saints, and be strengthened by drawing on the faith and life of that communion. Our eyes must be lifted higher to recognise that glorious communion in our midst, and experience its life amid our fractured and imperfect lives, and present communities. Finally, the central underlying truth is we must know that we are part of the communion of saints by becoming identified with and attached to Christ our Lord. He is the Head of the Body (Eph. 4:15). It is through His Spirit that we are baptised into the Body (1 Cor. 12:13). Hence, though we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, we are urged to keep a steady gaze on Jesus, the Shepherd of our souls (Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 2:25). In other words, we must look even higher – beyond our own selves, our organised churches, even beyond the communion of saints – to gaze at the glorious sight of Jesus our Lord, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. And as we gaze at Him and run our races faithfully, we shall become like Him (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:18). In the background we would hear the silent roar of the clouds of witnesses urging us on, on bright sunshine days and on dark painful days, reminding us that the One we are looking at is the One who is the Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2), who will have the final word in each of our lives, and in history. n
Following Jesus in a Fallen World by Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon is available at $18 (before GST) on Armour Publishing’s web store at www.armourpublishing.com Special Promotion for all Methodist Message Readers! Purchase any of Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon’s titles at the Armour Publishing web store and get 20% discount for each purchase! Simply key in the promo code MMOFFER20 at the checkout page – valid only from 1-30 Nov 2017.
We must look even higher – beyond our own selves, our organised churches, even beyond the communion of saints – to gaze at the glorious sight of Jesus our Lord, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. And as we gaze at Him and run our races faithfully, we shall become like Him.
This article is an excerpt from the book Following Jesus in a Fallen World (Singapore, Armour Publishing, 2009, chapter 42). Reprinted with permission.
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POEMS
Forgiven Dr Oliver Seet is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and a Board Director of the Metropolitan YMCA. Driven by desperation for the healing touch of Jesus for their mutual friend pinioned perniciously by paralysis, and caring little for the august assembly of pharisees and teachers of the law from every quarter of the land, who had gathered to see this spectacle, this man of miracles, they sought to bring their friend to Jesus hedged in now by multitudes.
Gazing in wonder at their love and faith as they lowered their friend through the roof right to His feet, Jesus then looked at the paralytic discerning that sin was the root cause of his bondage. But when Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven, He saw the surprise and disapproval in the faces of the priests and teachers and read the accusation of blasphemy in their minds.
Demonstrating His authority to forgive sins He told the paralytic to arise, take up His mat and go home. Speechless with astonishment and awe when they saw the paralysed man made whole they praised God that the Son of Man indeed has the authority to forgive sin. But it was true friendship that brought the sinner to the Master for forgiveness and healing.
Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26; Matthew 9:2-8
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November IS THE MONTH FOR PRAYING FOR THE 42ND SESSIONS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES
10–11 Nov (ETAC); 13–16 Nov (CAC); 20–23 Nov (TRAC), various times Tamil Methodist Church (ETAC); Foochow Methodist Church (CAC); Wesley Methodist Church (TRAC)
Scan here to see events online!
Pray for clergy and lay delegates as a Methodist family as they gather at their conference venues annually to worship God, share about their ministries, and discuss future plans as a conference. Representatives from General Conference councils and Methodist-linked organisations will also be sharing about their ministries. Organised by Annual Conference offices. For more info, please contact your respective Annual Conference office.
nov
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UNITING IN PRAYER WITH THANKSGIVING AS CHRISTMAS NEARS
23 Nov (Thursday), 7.30 p.m.
St Andrew’s Cathedral, 11 St Andrew’s Road, S(178959) The Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) event was started in 2004 by a handful of Christians who wanted to bring the message of peace and joy of Christmas back into an otherwise commercialised occasion. Through the years, this annual event held at Orchard Road became a hallmark of the Christian community in Singapore in reaching out and blessing the community with the message of love. As we look forward to another CCIS programme in 2017, come join the Body of Christ as we start the Advent season with a Prayer and Thanksgiving Service! Organised by Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS). RSVP at ccis.sg/invitation-to-prayer-thanksgiving-service-2017 as there are limited spaces available.
nov
23
CELEBRATING MSM 20 WITH ANNUAL SCHOOL CONCERT
30 Nov (Thursday), 7.30 p.m.
Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive, S(038981) The Methodist School of Music (MSM) invites you to join in the celebration of its 20th Anniversary with its Annual School Concert, themed ‘Celebrate 20!’ Mark your calendar now to join us for our Annual School Concert 2017 celebration! Organised by The Methodist School of Music. Admission is by ticket only. Fee: $25 per ticket For more information, please email msm@msmusic.edu.sg or call 6767-5258.
nov
30
RESTORING THE WONDER OF GOD’S GLORY IN YOUNG WOMEN’S LIVES
21-22 Dec (Thursday-Friday), 9.00 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) Are you feeling increasingly bored, disillusioned and hopeless? KALLOS CONFERENCE 2017 Calling all girls who desire to restore the wonder of God's glory in your lives. Come for authentic sharing and workshops on how an awakened wonder can restore our self-image and love for God's Word. Delight in His majesty, discover our true identity in Christ and be set apart for a God-given destiny!
21 & 22 Dec 2017, 9am - 6.30pm Faith Methodist Church (Commonwealth MRT) Early bird till 31 Oct: $35 | Regular: $45 | Group of 5: $5 off/person
The theme for this year’s Kallos Conference – ‘His Glory, Our Wonder’ – came out of an inspired desire to restore the wonder of God’s glory in the lives of young ladies. Come find out how an awakened wonder can restore your self-image and love for God’s Word, and to be delighted in His majesty, while discovering your true identity and understanding that you are set apart for a God-given destiny.
SPEAKERS:
Quek Shiwei Director Kallos Ministry
Jason Wong
Founder Yellow Ribbon Project Dads for Life Movement Elijah7000
Aarksara
Worship Leader Singer-Songwriter
Belinda Tan
Adjunct Lecturer Singapore Bible College
For more info and registration:
www.kallos.com.sg/kallosconf2017 @kallosmag | #KallosConf2017
dec
Benita Lim
Pastor True Way Presbyterian Church
Organised by Kallos. Fees: $45. Group of 5 gets $5 off/person To register and purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.kallos.com.sg/kallosconf2017 or follow Kallos on Facebook or Instagram @kallosmag for updates.
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METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2017
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THINK
Don’t count on this The Rev Dr David W. F. Wong is Senior Pastor of Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church, Leadership Mentor of Finishing Well Ministries, and author of a dozen books. He is married to Jenny, a pre-school consultant, and they are blessed with two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.
W
hen King David numbered his fighting men in a census, he was punished for committing a grievous sin (2 Samuel 24). Today we count and announce numbers relating to church membership, worship attendance, and offerings. Are we then committing the same sin in making numbers the measure of our growth and spirituality? One of the principles of biblical interpretation is to distinguish between narratives and commands. Not everything that is required or forbidden in a narrative is universally applicable. We need to consider the immediate context as well as other parts of Scriptures where there are clear commands or prohibitions. Moses also took a census of the people (Numbers 1). What King David did was judged wrong, but what Moses did was not. What makes the difference? The clue may be found in the response of Joab, the commander of the armies, when David ordered the census. Joab asked the king why he wanted to do such a thing. Presumably, David had fought and won all his battles, his kingdom had secured peace and no threat remained. The reason why David wanted to know the size of his armies could be to match the size of his ego. He had lost sight of God and was counting (pun intended) on the might of his armies. The Bible warns against taking a census. A halfshekel, token “ransom” money, is required for each person counted, to be paid to the Lord (Exodus 30:11-16). Such a provision was probably put in place to ensure that the attitude behind taking a census was right. No glorying in numbers – every person is there by the grace of God.
As to numbers recorded and made public in churches, the practice is not necessarily bad. They may not be the ultimate or foolproof measure of spiritual growth, but they serve as useful indications. Why should we be afraid of numbers when there is a book in the Bible called Numbers which contains much numerical information? Jesus’ disciples counted the number of people fed, of fish caught, and of converts baptised (Mark 6, John 21, Acts 2). At a practical level, there are dangers in avoiding numbers as there are in relying on numbers. Of course, glorying in big numbers plays into the hands of pride and presumption. Yet careful and honest interpretation of numbers can help us know where we are in our growth path and pattern. For example, a church which has not seen significant numerical nett growth over, say, 10 years, should be concerned. So should a church whose giving is meagre in proportion to attendance, though both numbers may appear large on their own. Only God sees the heart and knows the true picture of each church or organisation. But since we are not God and cannot perceive things perfectly, we depend on numbers to help us. As long as we take numbers as helpful indications, and not precise measures of spirituality; as cause for self-examination, and not for self-glory, we won’t be guilty of wrongdoing. n Reprinted with permission from IMPACT Magazine, Apr/May 2013, Vol. 37, No. 2.
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