Is Christmas Worth Celebrating?

by Jason Fam

It’s that time of the year again when we see Christmas trees being decorated and put up everywhere we look. Christmas lights would light up the night sky. Carols are heard in shopping malls. That could only mean one thing – Christmas is coming. Being celebrated on the 25th of December every year, Christmas is a day commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ celebrated among billions of people around the world. However, what is the true meaning of Christmas? What is the reason we can celebrate Christmas today?

Growing up, every Christmas we would put up a Christmas tree in our home, spend time and have a feast around the dinner table with family and friends, give and receive gifts, do some Christmas shopping, and sometimes we would travel overseas for vacation. Being born in a Christian family and being a Christian myself, we would celebrate Christmas in church, and we would sing Christmas carols with our church friends. Growing up with this tradition every year, I sometimes would ask myself a question: Is there more to Christmas than this or is Christmas just another holiday in our calendar?

Spending the past couple of Christmases during the COVID-19 pandemic really had me thinking of what Christmas really is about. If Christmas is about trees and presents, what about those who cannot afford them? If Christmas is about having a feast in the comfort of your home, what about those living in hunger and those living in the streets, with nowhere to call home? If Christmas is about spending time with family and friends, what about those who do not have people to celebrate it with, especially those in quarantine because of COVID-19? If all that is on our bucket list this Christmas is stripped away, do we still have a reason to celebrate Christmas?

I have good news for you. The answer is a resounding yes! Why do I say so? I’d like to personally share with you three reasons why Christmas is worth celebrating.

Jesus our Savior

Jesus our Emmanuel

Jesus our Reigning King

Jesus our Savior

“God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day.
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy!”

– “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

Firstly, Christmas is about God willingly sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, out of His love for us, to save us from our sins. In Matthew 1:21, God commanded for the newborn baby in Mary’s womb to be named Jesus (ישוע), which in the Hebrew language means “The LORD saves”.

Jesus did not just come to perform miracles and to heal the sick physically; He came to fulfill man’s greatest need: He came to restore our relationship with our Maker which was once broken by our sins. He came to redeem us from sin so that we can have peace with Him.

Why do we need Jesus to save us from our sins? Wouldn’t our good deeds be good enough to undo or outweigh them? Romans 3:10 says that “there is no one righteous” and Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. In other words, because of our sinful nature, no good deed or charity that we do, no matter how good and noble it is, can ever meet God’s standard of good. And sin is not merely just doing what is wrong or unlawful, but it is simply turning away from God. Isaiah 53:6a says that “we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” And the consequence of sin is spiritual death – eternal separation from God.

Because we cannot save ourselves, God sent His Son, Jesus, who is holy, perfect, and sinless to take the punishment of death that we deserved, so that we might have abundant and eternal life with our Maker. He saved us, not because of our own merit or human endeavors, but because of His grace and mercy, given to us freely (Titus 3:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-9). Unlike most beliefs that tell us that we have to do good deeds and work our way up to heaven, our salvation is freely given to us because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

Christmas is not just about celebrating the birth of a baby boy; it is about celebrating the birth of our Savior, through whom we receive the ultimate gift of eternal and abundant life through His death and resurrection. He came as the Light of the world so that those who have walked in darkness can now have the light of life (John 8:12). Because of what Jesus came to do, we can be set free from the bondage of sin and darkness, so that we may find light and life in God.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned.” – Isaiah 9:2

“Come Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart”

– “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley

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Several characters feature in this fast-paced story. Ahab, the wicked king of Israel was starting a war with Aram. Jehoshaphat, the wimpy king of Judah, was urged to join him. 400 prophets in Ahab’s court prophesied that God gave his blessings to go to war and that they would be victorious. One of them, Zedekiah, even showed off a prophetic sign to the effect.

Really? Jehoshaphat wasn’t all convinced and asked if there was any other prophet they could consult. Enter a nameless messenger who was tasked to bring the prophet Micaiah, whom Ahab disliked. The messenger told Micaiah what the 400 court-appointed prophets have prophesied and advised Micaiah that he should just go along with them. In effect, he told Micaiah not to rock the boat, to join the king’s elite band of yes-men and just climb the corporate ladder. After all, Micaiah, do you really think you alone are smarter than 400 others?

Lessons from the Lone Prophet

Can you feel the pressure? Can you imagine the consequences if Micaiah didn’t play their game? But dauntless, Micaiah was determined to say only what God reveals.

Before the 2 kings and the 400 prophets, Micaiah reveals that the war will end in disaster for them and that Ahab himself will die in battle. For prophesying God’s true message, which Ahab loathed, Micaiah was thrown into prison till Ahab returned from battle. Alas, Ahab was indeed killed in battle and never returned. And thus, though unwritten, Micaiah was left to die in prison. One prophet who prophesied truth, versus 400 who spoke lies, suffered while the rest went on their jolly way. “Super unfair”, one might say. So then, we ask ourselves. What would we have done in Micaiah’s shoes, or what can we learn from this lone prophet whom we never hear of again? What can we learn from the other characters?

First, be courageous with your (godly) convictions and do not compromise. Many are the allures and enticements if we would just “go with the flow”. Privileges, “unity”, even “peace”. But no integrity. We do not seek to be sore thumbs but we must stand up for truth, especially God’s truth. Yes, even if it is only one voice against 400 others!

Second, doing right might land us in hot soup. Ahab said Micaiah will be freed from prison only when he returned from war. Micaiah knew Ahab would never return, and thus, he would never be freed. Yet he didn’t back down and he suffered for it. The one who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6) and who is also “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14) didn’t back down from the hard road of doing God’s will too. Doing the God-thing can invite brickbats, not bouquets. Do it anyway.

All in or all out

Ahab played both sides. He wanted his war but he didn’t entirely dismiss Micaiah’s words either. So, he disguised himself without his regalia in the battle, hoping the enemy wouldn’t target him. In this way, he explored Micaiah’s prophecy “just in case”, but he didn’t embrace it. And just as prophesied, he was killed in battle. You see, merely sampling God’s truth, or sitting on the fence, or “standing in two boats” 脚踩两只船, isn’t smart at all. You’re all in, or you’re all out.

May we be courageous and unflinching in godliness and in upholding God’s word and his truth. May we persevere and rejoice even if we suffer as a consequence. And may his Spirit plant us firmly and wholly in his kingdom.

Blessings.

This blog post is authored by KH Mok.

The post Fancy going against 400 prophets? appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

The quote attributed to Epicurus sums up the sentiments of many people, especially atheists:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing? Then whence comes evil?

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

A quote by Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher.

The argument stated above is flawed. Many qualified people have ventured to give good Christian responses to the problem of evil. I am not a Christian philosopher or a professional theologian. Therefore, I will leave the comprehensive answers to the experts. But very briefly, on an atheistic worldview, what basis is there to complain about the presence of evil in this world? Think about it: if God does not exist, then there is no standard of right or wrong; there is no evil or good. Everything is arbitrary and there is no higher standard to appeal to. Why should someone bemoan the fact that there is evil in the world if that person thinks that there is no God? If I note and agree that evil exists, logically this means that there is a standard of ultimate good which I am appealing to, that is, God.

The Bible is not silent about evil. I would like to offer three responses from the Bible to the problem of evil.

We are asking the wrong question

We like to know the reason for evil. Why? Why? But Jesus directs us to the deeper issue: Have we repented of our sins?

Luke 13:1-5 records for us:

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

In other words, these people were asking Jesus about the atrocities perpetrated by humans, and natural disasters or accidents. Perhaps they were asking, “Why?”. In their minds, these Jews were pious people. They were offering sacrifices in the temple when they were slaughtered at the command of Pilate, the Roman governor. If these were pious Jews, why were they slaughtered? Similar questions were asked when the tower at Siloam collapsed, killing eighteen people. Jesus did not answer them in the way they expected. Instead, he told them that unless they repented, they will all likewise perish. Jesus highlighted that all people have sinned and needed to repent. The question comes back to me: Have I repented of my sins? Do I trust Jesus as my Saviour? What about you?

All creation was subjected to God’s curse

The apostle Paul writes that the creation was subjected to futility by God (Romans 8:18-25). Or as the NLT translates… “subjected to God’s curse.” There is comfort in knowing that the creation was subjected to futility by God. This means that all that is happening in the world is not occurring randomly but God reigns over all! God is sovereign. God is in control.

Because of sin, all of creation is corrupted. There is a hope that all of creation is waiting for. A time will come when all evil will be purged. Meanwhile all of creation groans. Not only the creation groans, “but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Are you groaning, my friend? Is there a holy dissatisfaction in your heart that tells you that you are not made for this world? This a pointer to God.

C.S. Lewis writes,

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952), C.S. Lewis

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There is a hope of glory coming

Paul writes, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) Friends, there is a glory that is going to be revealed to all of us who are in Christ. We are going to exchange our tents for buildings. This imagery is described in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5. Our mortal bodies are likened to tents. And in the tents of our mortal bodies, we groan! Tents are not permanent. We groan as we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothes. “..We await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21).

As we wait in hope, we are not left alone; God is with us in the midst of our sufferings and groanings. And we cry, “Our Lord, come!” (Maranatha!)

For those of you who are searching for an answer to your dissatisfactions and groanings, please contact us. We would like to point you to Jesus and welcome you into the family of God.

This blog is authored by Colin Kee on 10th August 2021.

The post Creation: from Groaning to Glory appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

Quest from the East

Matthew 2 tells us that the Magi from the east noticed a peculiar star which heralded the birth of the king of the Jews. These Magi were most likely Gentiles and they might have been astrologers or ‘wise men’ of some kind. They then traveled to Jerusalem and to King Herod to seek out this royal child. After all, where else could a king of the Jews be born if not in Jerusalem and in the ‘royal’ household? But what they heard must have shocked them!

There was no such newborn in Herod’s household! Furthermore, the chief priests and teachers of the law quoted the prophet Micah, that such a national king, the Messiah, whom all Jews have been anticipating throughout the centuries, would be born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem!

So, the Magi continued on their quest to search for the child in Bethlehem. But what about the religious leaders? Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, wrote “while the religious leaders know where the Messiah will be born, they do not join the Magi in their quest. These were the religious leaders, but they failed to act on their most critical biblical knowledge.” They utterly ignored their king and their Messiah and that is both outrageous and sad!

As for Herod, he felt his rule threatened by a ‘new’ king of the Jews. So, when the Magi failed to report back to him exactly where the child was, he ruthlessly ordered the slaughter of all Bethlehem boys under 2 years only. So, while religious leaders ignored the Messiah, the civil leader opposed him and wanted him dead! It clearly portrays Herod as a usurper to the throne that legitimately belongs to Jesus.

Is Jesus ignored

We can reflect on at least 2 ideas here. First, the priests and teachers of the law scored full marks in the Scripture quiz but they wouldn’t even travel the short 5-miles to Bethlehem to worship the Messiah. Gentile Magi would but not them; how ironic! How ironic too, that we may “know” our Scriptures, but completely ignore them or the Jesus they point to. Or that we may “know” how we should live according to God’s Word, but then disregard what it says anyway! Whether we are leaders or not, may we genuinely and earnestly seek to worship our King and Savior, and not take him for granted.

Is Jesus dethroned

Secondly, none of us would dare say that we want Jesus dead. But then, are we willing to give up our own throne to Jesus, or are we like Herod who plots and maneuvers to keep it for himself? Who sits on the throne of your life? If you are the one, then you usurp Jesus’ place. He will not dislodge you by force but if you yield it to him, he will take it because he is its legitimate King and owner!

Serve Him, Honor Him

If we claim to be God’s servants and we honor him in every way, then every day, Christmas or not, will be bright, joyous and rewarding.

Blessings!

This blog is authored by Mok Kok Hoong on 28 July 2021.

The post The Dark Side Behind Christmas appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

The Befrienders is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide emotional support via telephone call. They are non-religious, non-judgemental and non-political in nature. Every call is handled with care and strict confidentiality. Callers can remain completely anonymous and need not to use their real names.

During the training phase, recruits were exposed and introduced to various subjects such as self-awareness, empathy, stress management, loneliness, mental illness and telephone skills. It is crucial for the recruit to complete every session in order to become a competent and skilled Befriender as one is dealing with human emotions and psychological well being. All recruits will be assessed through various role-plays and apply everything that has been taught into action. Successful recruits will then go through a probation period before being confirmed as a Befriender.

‘Why is the world so full of fake and toxic people?’

A caller asked when dialed into the Befrienders suicide prevention hotline

Despite being a new Befriender, I had the opportunity of speaking and listening to the stories of various callers. Oftentimes, all the caller really wants is just someone to talk to and pour their hearts out to another person. While the Befrienders are commonly known as a suicide prevention hotline, many who call in are facing depression, loneliness, stress and anxiety. These struggles hit across all ethnicities and age groups, ranging from teenagers to senior citizens. Issues can range from relationship, work, personal inadequacy and financial issues :

‘Why is the world so full of fake and toxic people?’
’My husband doesn’t love me anymore. I think he wants a divorce. ’
‘I lost my job and I feel so useless. I don’t know what to do anymore.’

Volunteering for the Befrienders is certainly not for the faint-hearted. One has to have a huge amount of patience, empathy, understanding and a generous spirit in listening to the stories of the caller whilst also being mindful of our own emotions and biases. This is especially important when the Befriender is dealing with suicidal calls. The call can quickly become intense and heavy as the caller takes the Befriender on an emotional roller coaster ride. Sometimes, the suicidal caller can hang up halfway through and the Befriender will never know the outcome of the suicide attempt. This itself can be a daunting challenge even for the seasoned Befriender.

While the global pandemic continues to prolong, so are the sufferings and stressors of life for the vast majority of us. For some, death has gotten the upper hand of their life situation. Suicide cases have been on the rise and many are crying out of desperation. As the world is focused on physical health in combating COVID, mental health has also become a very real issue with a rising concern. How then should we respond as believers of Christ?

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

In tough times like these, may we be reminded to be devoted to one another in love. Call up that estranged friend or family member, lend a listening ear to the downcast, be patient with the weak and show kindness to the poor. We have been blessed to bless others, no matter how big or small it may be. If you are in need of help, seek help! There is no shame in asking for help and assistance especially in your mental wellbeing.

As the saying goes, people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. One may be the most powerful, wealthy and successful individual but if no care has been shown, then nobody really cares about the former. In tough seasons like this, let’s learn to love one another by showing care and concern that is genuine and consistent, not just one or two times. May we love one another, just as Christ has first loved us.

For more information about Befrienders Penang, click here.

Watch Aaron Leong’s message on how to live a Victorious Christian Living.

The post Why I joined Befrienders appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

Why is mental health so often not addressed in the church?

Some unhelpful comments … although well-meaning

Many times, the church is ill-equipped to handle the issue of depression. This is due to a lack of awareness and training.

Let me share my personal story.

A Christian leader once remarked in my presence, “I do not understand people who are depressed. They should just snap out of it.”

Wow. That really cut deep.

I never dared to share my own battles with depression thereafter.

I felt that as a Christian, there must have been something wrong with me.

After all, should not the joy of the LORD be my strength (Nehemiah 8:10)?  Then, why am I not feeling it? I am a “bad” Christian?

Depression in the Bible

God is not afraid to address this topic in the Bible.

Numerous persons in the Bible faced depression although the word “depression” is not used directly.

When confronted with Jezebel’s death threats, Elijah prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV).

1 Kings 17:12 is one occasion that is very similar to the desperation resulting in the White Flag movement in Malaysia. It was during a time of drought. The widow of Zarephath said to Elijah the prophet, “As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” We do not have a famine in July 2021 in Malaysia. However, many people are in dire financial straits with continued lockdowns and job loss. Some are surviving on their last pieces of biscuits (or cookies in American English).

Others in the Bible who faced depression were Job (Job 3:11, 20-22), Rebekah (Genesis 27:46; 28:5) and quite possibly, mighty King David (Psalm 22, 69).

Depression is a battle

Depression is like any other health battle in our lives.

We do not go around asking a cancer patient, “I do not understand why you have cancer. You should just snap out of it.”

Friends, we cannot just snap out of depression.

If you can snap out of what you are feeling at that moment, you are not experiencing depression.  You may just be feeling what people call “the blues”. A temporary low feeling or mood is normal. It may even be good for us. It allows us to process a negative event in a healthy way. We can often distract ourselves by doing something we enjoy or by talking with a friend.

Depression, however, is a condition that you may need to find help for. Some symptoms of depression include:

• Depressed mood, sadness, or an “empty” feeling, or appearing sad or tearful to others
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, or significant weight gain (for example, more than 5% of body weight in a month)
• Inability to sleep or excessive sleeping
• Restlessness or irritation (irritable mood may be a symptom in children or adolescents too), or feelings of “dragging”
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating, or indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide

(source : WebMD)

Depression Treatment: When Should You Get Help?

If you have five or more of these symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily activities, you may have major depression. Your primary care doctor is a good place to start. Your doctor can screen you for depression, and help you manage and treat your symptoms so that you can feel better.

If you are in Malaysia, some resources that you can reach out to are as below:

• Befrienders is offering emotional support 24 hours, 7 days a week to people who are in despair and having suicidal thoughts. Their nationwide number is +603-76272929. The phone number for Penang is +604-2910100 and other contact methods can be found here.
• This next resource is for our children. They are facing greater pressure than ever with online learning as well as social and physical isolation. Buddy Bear Childline by Humankind is manned by Psychological First Aid (PFA) trained volunteers and provides a safe space for children and teenagers.  Their toll-free line is 1800-18-2327. Humankind is a registered social enterprise based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  They are on a mission to improve the social and emotional well-being of all communities especially communities that are underserved and vulnerable.
• Georgetown Baptist Church’s CareNet ministry https://old.gbcpg.org/ministries/carenet/ . You can contact Susie or Tong Ik at +604-2287110.

There is no shame in taking care of your mental health. Reach out. You are not alone. We can get through this. Together.

This blog is authored by Poh Yoke Lo on 14th July 2021

The post The Church and Mental Health appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
 the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
 Day after day they pour forth speech;
 night after night they reveal knowledge.
 They have no speech, they use no words;
 no sound is heard from them.
 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
 their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4 NIV)

Each morning, the sky is like a canvas with the many hues and bursts of colours all so wonderfully displayed. One cannot help but lift up one’s eyes to admire the wondrous beauty of the bold strokes of colour that no human hand can create. There is a meditative silence all around us as the clouds glides slowly against a background of the emerging golden rays of the sun that is rising above the horizon. It is such a celebration of Joy!

“When I consider your heavens,
 the work of your fingers,
 the moon and the stars,
 which you have set in place,
 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
 human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Indeed, what is man that God is mindful of him! Who am I that God is mindful of me? The joy of knowing that God who in all His majesty is also a God who knows and cares for me is Joy unspeakable!

I am reminded of what Jesus said in John 15:9-11 – to remain in His love so that His joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11 NIV)

As the love of God and the joy of the Lord fill our hearts, let us rejoice in the Lord and choose to spark Joy

The fullness of joy is the assurance of God’s love for us as we remain in His love. It is often said that the joy of the Lord is our strength. As joy fills our hearts, our countenance radiates joy, hope rises in our spirits and we are strengthened to go on in our journey.

When doors have to close to assemblies in church, we also lost the togetherness of fellowship lunches and friendship teas, the cacophony of children’s voices and the hearty exchange of conversations in the hallway. It is now Silence! The unutterable silence fills the empty hall now devoid of people. Many are closeted at home to stay safe. Loneliness, fear, anxiety and worry arise out of prolonged isolation. Is there someone in need of a word of encouragement, a word of cheer, a helping hand, or just to hear their name being spoken?

As the love of God and the joy of the Lord fill our hearts, let us rejoice in the Lord and choose to spark Joy. Will you reach out to a friend, a relative or a colleague and be the sparkle in their life?

“Though the fig tree does not bud
 and there are no grapes on the vines,
 though the olive crop fails
 and the fields produce no food,
 though there are no sheep in the pen
 and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
 I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

This blog is authored by Mary Phuah on 30th June 2021

The post Don’t hold back, let us spark Joy! appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

“Why do I believe what I believe?”
“Why am I here in this world?”
“What is the basis of what I believe?”
“Why am I a Christian?”

I feel that it is healthy to wrestle with these thoughts rather than to “sweep them under the carpet”. It is unfortunate that many kids or even adults were told never to ask such questions. Hence it is a blessing that I was able to wrestle with these questions since I was young. To my surprise, the outcome of such reflection strengthened my faith rather than blunted it.

Personally, there are three main reasons why I am a Christian. There are many other reasons but these three reasons feature very prominently in my spiritual life.

Work of the Holy Spirit

Firstly, the ultimate reason why I am a Christian is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Although I was brought up in a Christian family, I never would have trusted in the Lord Jesus without the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in my life. As Scripture says:

And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:13-14 ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1: 3 ESV)

As the Lord opened Lydia’s heart, so the Lord opened my heart to hear the Gospel. According to his great mercy, he caused me to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. As I reflected on this, it brought me to my knees in worship. Salvation is of the Lord!

Resurrection of Jesus

Secondly, I am a Christian because of the resurrection of Jesus. According to 1 Peter 1:3, this new birth into a living hope comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Gary Habermas writes:

When considering the life of Jesus, we can be very confident of these three conclusions: Jesus died by crucifixion; Jesus’ followers truly believed the risen Jesus appeared to them; and people who were not Jesus’ followers truly believed the risen Jesus appeared to them (Paul and James).

The resurrection of Jesus is central to our Christian faith. If Christ has not be raised, then my faith is futile and I am still in my sins. If Christ has not been raised, what are the alternatives to the three conclusions above? As I reflected and read about the resurrection of Jesus, the alternative theories of his resurrection are implausible. There are many good books and articles written about the resurrection of Jesus. May we use the wealth of the reading resources available.

No other alternatives

Finally, I am a Christian because there are no other alternatives for me. I recall the exchange between Jesus and the twelve disciples in John 6:66-69 (ESV):

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

If I am not a Christian, what are the alternatives? If I want to go away from Christ, where shall I go? Atheism has always seemed very illogical to me. A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my balcony of my apartment. There was a potted plant before me. It was flowering and the flowers were not typically shaped. They were small and red, shaped like a bird. As I gazed upon the plant and its flowers, I started to laugh in awe and wonder. The design of the flower was so beautiful and intricate that, to my mind, there was no way the flowers existed by chance. There has to be a designer, a creator. I would be a fool to think otherwise. Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Other worldviews do not seem reasonable to me and are not intellectually satisfying.

So, I will run with endurance the race that is set before me, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. By the grace of God, I will finish the race and keep the faith.

What about you, my friend? Why are you a Christian? It is good to ask ourselves this question from time to time. You would find out that the answer is satisfying to the head and to the heart. And for those who are not Christians but are seeking the truth, won’t you come to Jesus? And if you need answers, never hesitate to reach out to us to walk alongside you in the faith.

To God Be The Glory.
Colin Kee

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We admire famous entrepreneurs who fought their way in the world of business against the odds. Against stereotypes. A recent example is Indra Nooyi, former chairperson and chief executive officer of PepsiCo. A leader who rose to the highest position in a Fortune 100 company. She has been consistently ranked among the world’s 100 most powerful women.

The Webster’s dictionary states that the word author means “the beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator. The one who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler”.

Based on this definition alone, it tells us that we cannot be the author of our lives. We are not the originator of our lives. We were not even a part of the decision-making process that caused us to be born!

Proverbs 19:21 – New International Version (NIV):
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Clearly, the only person who can write anything about our lives is God. From the moment the sperm penetrates the egg and the process of formation of a human being commences. Up until the moment of death.

Through all life’s events, we have little control over what happens to us.

What should our response be, therefore? Our response is dependent on what we believe about God.

Firstly, we need to establish the idea that God is SOVEREIGN. Whether He does what we perceive as the best for us or otherwise is not a matter of contention. He has every right to do that which He wants. He is preeminent. We are not.

Secondly, we need to settle in our minds that God is OMNIPOTENT. He is in control over all matters that is happening around us and to us.

Thirdly, God is all knowing – OMNISCIENT. He is not just all knowing but He is all wise. Romans 16:27 (NIV) states “to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.” Knowledge is about knowing information. Wisdom is about knowing how and when to use knowledge, being able to put situations in perspective, and how to impart it to others for good. Therefore, God always wants and does what is best for all that He created.

3. Now what?

Many of us do not fully read the user manual of objects that we buy. Just a check on the internet brings up user hacks for anything from our pressure cookers to our cell phones! Well, if you know that there is a life manual for you to unlock the secrets to live out your best life, written by the Author of your life, would you not want to know what is in it? Reading a manual can be very daunting! It may seem so exhaustive … and exhausting … to read.

In this article series, we will share some tips on unlocking this user manual for living our best life. We want to engage you, dear reader, on this journey. So come and share with us your thoughts as we walk this journey together!

This article is authored by Poh Yoke Lo. Poh Yoke has been worshipping at GBC since 1989 and serves in various ministries. In her latest contribution to the GBC Writers Corner, she writes about practical Christian living.

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The ‘comments’ in these volumes (as Dr Carson calls them) have been tremendously helpful to me because they direct me toward thoughtful reading & reflection of Scripture. Many have been blessed by these writings and I’m sure you would be too. Here is an extract from the Preface:

“More seriously yet, the rising biblical illiteracy in Western culture means that the Bible is increasingly a closed book, even to many Christians. As the culture drifts away from its former rootedness in a Judeo-Christian understanding of God, history, truth, right and wrong, purpose, judgment, forgiveness, and community, so the Bible seems stranger and stranger. For precisely the same reason, it becomes all the more urgent to read it and reread it, so that at least confessing Christians preserve the heritage and outlook of a mind shaped and informed by Holy Scripture”.

For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word

This is a book to encourage that end. Devotional guides tend to offer short, personal readings from the Bible, sometimes only a verse or two, followed by several paragraphs of edifying exposition. Doubtless, they provide personal help for believers with private needs and fears, and hopes. But they do not provide the framework of what the Bible says—the “plotline” or “storyline”—the big picture that makes sense of all the little bits of the Bible. Wrongly used, such devotional guides may ultimately engender the profoundly wrong-headed view that God exists to sort out my problems; they may foster profoundly mistaken interpretations of some Scriptures, simply because the handful of passages they treat are no longer placed within the framework of the big picture, which is gradually fading from view. Only systematic and repeated reading of the whole Bible can meet these challenges.

That is what this book encourages.

So, I heartily commend these 2 volumes to you and trust that you will indeed benefit deeply through them. The last time I spoke with Dr Carson (about 2 years ago) he said he was working on volumes 3 & 4. I’m looking forward to that! Praise God for using this wonderful servant and teacher, and I thank God for Colin Kee too who first introduced these volumes to me.

Soli Deo Gloria

This message is prepared on 18 May 2021 by Mok Kok Hoong, a former pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church, 2011-2021.

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