Ministry Update – July 07

I’m writing a response to my earlier entry where I mentioned a topic that some consider “taboo.” I questioned the spiritual discernment of some Christian leaders I know and some friends offered a lot of wisdom and it really helped me confront this issue better. But I still am finding it difficult to reconcile several obvious aspects. Before I go any further, perhaps I need to attempt to “clear the air” a bit. I was referring to an outreach work across the bridge in the main land.

Most Christians would think that to question spiritual authority is an act of non-submission. I agree to a certain extent. I’ve been in the pastoral ministry before and I’m well aware of how leadership is often bombarded with criticism from all sides. But we need to differentiate helpful criticism from harmful criticism. There is no place for spectators in the Christian journey, only participants. Because of that, I consider an opinion is only of value if it comes from a participant, not an observant (in any ministry). And through my few limited years of Christian pilgrimage, I have acquired quite a bit of discernment to distinguish spirit-controlled ministry vs. human-abled work. I think most Christians who seek after God would have similarly acquire such “ability.” I doubt any of us can feel nothing when confronted with something that is spiritually not right. All of us should re-act. It’s a matter of how we re-act. God did not make us to be like robots, instead, we are created in His image. I can be honest to question Him and raise my doubts because I am limited in my understanding. And I see no reason not to raise similar doubts concerning other fellow creators.

I believe that when God gave us brains, we are meant to be thinkers. And to think Christianly is no easy task when we are surrounded by worldliness. This is a challenge for the church today. This is a challenge for the maturing church in Malaysia…to think for ourselves, and to self theologize so that the Malaysian church is authentically Malaysian. Christians must definitely learn to think Christianly or the world is going to do the thinking for the church!

Ministry Update

The previous month was one busy month. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were continuous activities in campus, dinners with church friends and colleagues, preaching engagements, and a short mission trip. I’m now preparing for the next module of STCM. The BM school will start a week later. There will be weekend activities at every weekend, culminating with another short over-the-weekend mission trip (last month was up north but this month it’ll be down south). At the close of STCM, there will be several missions teams traveling to various missions locations. I’m participating in a team to Indonesia.

I hardly have time to work on my thesis. I’m revising the first draft & seem to be stuck at the concluding chapter. Anyway, my supervisor will be away to Africa for the next 3 weeks, so it doesn’t matter if I drag it a bit. But in a week’s time I’ll be attending the last classroom course. Yeah! Then no more classroom courses…as a student that is?!

There is one issue that I’ve been confronted with recently. If any of you can lend some wisdom, I will greatly appreciate it. I can’t elaborate publicly this matter but I’m questioning the lack of spiritual discernment on the part of several Christian leaders I know. I don’t know whether it is because I’m too idealistic, too futuristic, or too naïve myself but when a situation contradicts the Biblical mandate (or advice) I think it’s extremely foolish to pursue that matter. I believe the church should be influencing the world, however, many circumstances in the church today reveal that it is the world that is influencing the church! If God prompts you to think along this line, do share your thoughts with me.

Updating you briefly this month…SB