2008/4 FCM Newsletter Oct – Dec 2008

LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH

BY JASON LIEW

1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Introduction “eaten more salt,” endured much

There is a common
Chinese saying, “我吃的盐比你
吃 的 饭 还 多 ” (Translation: “I
have eaten more salt than you
more sufferings and accumulated
much more experiences in life. Inside this issue…
Proverbs 20:29 illustrates a nice
Let No Man Despise Thy 1,3
contrast, “The glory of young men is Youth
their strength: and the beauty of old Jason Liew

eat rice”). This aphorism should men is the gray head.” The gray head Editorial: When Things 2
Go Wrong
be familiar to most of us. is symbolic as it reflects wisdom, Jason Liew

Having grown up in a typical understanding, experience and

Bible Students’ Golden 8
Singaporean Chinese household, prudent counsels as opposed to Rules
Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa
we would have either heard that youthful vigor and vitality. This is
coming from our grandparents, exactly the picture painted in 1 Report on FCM 9
Combined Meeting &
parents, Chinese teachers, Timothy 4:12 where the aged Retreat 2008
Charlene Tan
Chinese drama serial actors or Apostle Paul now addresses his
even “Ah Peks” in coffee shops. spiritual son, the young Pastor God’s Problem?
Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
13

Such is the culture of our society, Timothy, to whom he wrote, “Let

News & Notes 17
where the older generation grew no man despise thy youth; but be thou
up going through much an example of the believers, in word, in Latest CD Releases
Calvary Tengah BPC
18

hardships and turmoil amidst a conversation, in charity, in spirit, in

A Student’s Prayer 19
nation’s transition from third faith, in purity.” Anonymous

world to first. It is without a

shadow of doubt that those who continued on page 3 » We Value Your Feedback!
Email: fcmnewsletter@gmail.com
are more elderly would have

 
1 
 
-[ Editorial ]-
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Dear FCMers,
In recent months, many things seemed to have
gone wrong. In September alone, mortgage titans Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac were nationalised, brokerage Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection,
Merrill Lynch was forced into a takeover by Bank of America, giant insurer AIG nearly collapsed
despite its US$1 trillion asset worth, Washington Mutual acquired by JP Morgan after its shares
plunged 90% and the historic 778-point drop on Wall Street prior to the $700 billion bailout, not to
mention the 159,000 jobs lost. Structured deposits continue to go bust and investment banks such as
Goldman Sachs are reinventing themselves into commercial banks in order to keep afloat.
Closer to home, AVA rigorously recalled legions of melamine contaminated dairy products
due to China’s milk scandal. The Straits Times Index plummeted to a three-year low. Amidst the
crisis, calamities and catastrophes continue. Marriot Hotel, Pakistan was bombed and hurricanes
horrendously devastate cities and destroy homes. Inflation rate persists at 7.5% and it was not too
long ago when food and oil prices rocketed sky high. Around the globe, civil upheaval, infuriated
taxpayers and screaming residents spontaneously spice up the pesky political climate as nations have
yet to recover from the subprime saga. With all these “hoo-haas” hogging the headlines, Iran silently
changes its “friends with Israel” position and charts a collision course for the Jewish nation.
What is happening? Friends, these are historic phenomenon and nothing short of an
apocalyptic alarm from the Almighty. It’s only beginning. The worst is yet to be. Think about it. At
present, America howls a US$10 trillion (and increasing) colossal debt. Who will bail the US
Government out when it goes broke? I do not wish to over-spiritualize or speculate but global
planners have long understood there can’t be a new one-world system until the old order has failed
and completely undone. Only time will tell.
2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair.” With all these happening around us, why are we not in distress or despair? Do we really
have that blessed assurance or could it be that we couldn’t care less? It’s happening in America and
not in Singapore, mind you! I have better things to worry about like my examinations in November. If
it were not apathy, could it be that sense of false security which easily envelops everyone who is in
their comfort zone? Texas is now submerged under water, but Singapore is still floating. The money
we put in banks didn’t disappear. So we’re alright! We let the safety, security and sovereignty of
Singapore give us a peace of mind instead of seeking refuge from God and acknowledging His
supremacy in our lives.
Friends, what do we do when things go wrong? It could be anything like a project group
squabble, broken friendship or even the loss of a loved one. Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor of Calvary
Pandan BPC, coined an interesting epigram, “When the outlook is bad, try the uplook!” As to the reason,
Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983) rightly remarked, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed; if you look
within, you’ll be depressed; but if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” In times like these, may we find
ourselves “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and let “Be Thou My
Vision” be our heart’s humble cry, for Christ alone has the power to deliver. Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now
unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

 
2 
 
« continued from page 1
Why are Youths Despised?
Have you ever asked yourself this
question, “Why are youths despised?” To the
young, why do you think the older despises
you? Is there something that is corrupt and
innate within us that deserve to be loathed?
To the older ones, is there a reason why you
look down on young people? Especially for
fresh graduates who have just entered the
workforce or even those on internship stint,
they would have encountered how their
seniors gave them “the look.” If eyes could
speak, it would probably exclaim something
like… “You’re so young and inexperienced! A
complete greenhorn! What do you have to
offer? Haha noob! I think I know better than
you!” Yes, knowledge puffeth up indeed. “So
what if you graduated from NUS or NTU
with a First Class Honours? I’ve been in this
business for over 30 years…” Friends, these
are deadly forces not to be reckoned with.
Those seniors may be very “deep,” but not
“wide” enough; tremendously experienced,
but not accommodating enough. In the
corporate world, we see it happening all the
time. Hence the controversial “office
politics,” backbites and bickers.
In fact, we already see this happening
at the time of Jesus. Matthew 13:55-56, “Is not
this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary?
and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and
3 
Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?
Whence then hath this man all these things?” The
word “son” is significant as it is used in the
derogative sense, indicating someone who is
still a student, apprentice or protégé; young,
inexperienced and questionable. Jesus was
slightly over 30 at this time and it was not
very long ago that he was just a little boy. The
villagers watched Him grew up. Many of them
were much, much older than He was. Who is
He to come and teach them how to live? They
were probably offended and didn’t take Him
very seriously. And so they doubted His
credibility in the above two verses and
dismissed Him.
In like manner, Timothy, like Jesus was,
in his early thirties and was considered young
by the standards of Greek culture which
placed great value on age and experience.
Furthermore, his appointment for the office
of Pastor was set over the presbyters (elders)
who were way older them him—some
probably twice his age. Therefore, Paul
exhorts Timothy to conduct himself with that
gravity, prudence and decorum which might
gain him respect, notwithstanding his
youthfulness, and give no man an occasion to
think or look down on his ministry with
contempt. No matter what his age may be,
boyish playfulness must now be put away and
since he was been set as an elder, he should
act as an elder. Doing so will stop the mouths
of gainsayers and obtain a good report of
them that are without. To the church at
Corinth, Paul penned the same advice in 1
Corinthians 16:10-11, “Now if Timotheus come,
see that he may be with you without fear: for he
worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no
man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in
peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him
with the brethren.”
In the Jul-Sep ’08 issue of Read, Pray &
Grow, my Pastor, Rev Dennis Kwok, wrote,
“Being young in age does not mean one is immature in
faith. In the same manner, mature in age does not
mean mature in faith. Maturity has to do with one’s
level of wisdom, knowledge, value, spirituality and
ability to make good decisions in life.” No matter
our age, may we learn to heed the words of
Spurgeon, “Let the oldest saint look well to the
fundamentals of his piety, for grey heads may cover
black hearts: and let not the young professor despise
the word of warning, for the greenness of youth may be
joined to the rottenness of hypocrisy” (SME, Dec 18).
To the older ones, please don’t despise youths
like us. By the same token, youths must not
despise the elderly too. They have so much to
offer—all the years of experience. They have
gone through the school of hard knocks. The
practical wisdom they have is invaluable. We
have much to learn from them.
Youths are to be Examples of the
Believers
Apostle Paul, having instructed
Timothy to give no man an occasion to
despise his youth, now lists six areas where
youths such as himself may be an example to
the believers – in word, in conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity.
1) Example in Word – means
watching what we say. In Ephesians 4:29 we
read, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Not only so, the Christian must be conscious
to “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer
every man” (Colossians 4:6). To accomplish this,
we must think before we speak. Very often we
are opposite of being “swift to hear, slow to
speak” (James 1:19). Perhaps for this reason
God gave us two ears and one mouth. Our
speech is so important that Paul puts it first in
this list and also repeats it in his other pastoral
epistle to Titus. Titus 2:8,15, “Sound speech, that
cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary
part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of
you … These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke
with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
4 
A Word Spoken
A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill.
BUT
A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may brighten the day;
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.
~ Anonymous ~
2) Example in Conversation – refers
to our actions and behaviour. Those
unfamiliar with archaic English might be
misled to think that the “conversation” here
refers to our speech and justifies the “word”
prior to this as doctrine instead of speech.
This is clearly not the case as the Greek word
used for “conversation” refers to behaviour:
how we converse with one another and how
we conduct ourselves. This makes perfect
sense because not only must we talk the walk,
we must walk the talk. I must say, walking the
talk is not easy because of the sinful human
nature which still resides within us. However,
even though we are not sinless, we can sin less!
Ephesians 4:22-24, “That ye put off concerning the
former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the
spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.” Sinners saved by grace must no
longer behave like sinners but saints. “But as he
which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:15). We may
be in the world, but let us not behave like the
world.
 3) Example in Charity – is to love
God and man. John 13:34, “A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another.” How did the Lord love us? By the
greatest love ever! John 15:13, “Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.” Christ did not just die for His
friends, but His enemies! Romans 5:6-8, “For
when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man
will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.” The Greek word for “charity” is
agape i.e. unconditional and sacrificial love.
Paul described the characteristics of Christian
charity in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave
itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
Remember Paul said, “without love, I am
nothing.”
4) Example in Spirit – refers to the
manner and disposition in which we do things.
(For your information, some Greek
manuscripts have omitted this word.) How
often is a holy or charitable work done in an
unholy, uncharitable, and peevish spirit? To
the doer, such work is unfruitful. To the Lord,
such work is unacceptable. If we have sinned,
may we like David pray in Psalm 51:10,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit within me.” Because
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an
haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be
of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to
divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs
16:18-19). We may have the right
intentions and godly desires, but we
must not do God’s work by trusting the
chariots of our qualifications, “But let it be the
hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet
5 
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1
Peter 3:4). Last but not least, we must be “Not
slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”
(Romans 12:11). Will you serve God today
with a right, humble and fervent spirit?
Job VS Ministry
If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.
If you do it only as it does not interfere with your other
activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means
letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it
was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognises your effort,
it is a MINISTRY.
It's hard to get excited about a JOB.
It's almost impossible not to be excited about a
MINISTRY.
An average church is filled with people doing JOBS.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in
MINISTRY.
Where do we fit in? What about us?
If GOD calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a
JOB.
If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.
God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB,
but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.
~ Anonymous ~
5) Example in Faith – means simply
to be faithful. “Not purloining, but shewing all good
fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10). In our time
and age, faithful men are few. Fidelity is often
regarded as contempt. Many lack the
courage to stand firm and hold fast to
the profession of our faith. Take our
denomination for example. How art
the B-Ps fallen! How many B-P
churches today still uphold the present-
day inerrancy and infallibility of the
Holy Bible and use the KJV which is
the most faithful and accurate English
translation? How many will the Lord find
finishing well? Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of
those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; there be any praise, think on these things.” Pure in
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful Body -- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee fornication.
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Will Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but
you be faithful unto death? The Lord he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own
promises those who do, a crown of life. May body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple
we “earnestly contend for the faith which was once of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). May the Lord God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with
find us faithful in passing down the historic a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
reformation tradition lest the future spirit, which are God's.” Are you pure in purity?
generations be enjoined to Rome and the Titus 1:15, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but
ecumenical order. Adam Clarke (1762-1832), a unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing
British Methodist Theologian, astutely advised, pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
“Be faithful to thy trust, to thy flock, to thy domestics,
to the public, to thy God. Fidelity consists in honestly
keeping, preserving, and delivering up when required,
whatever is intrusted to our care; as also in improving Youths can do Great Things for
whatever is delivered in trust for that purpose. Lose the Lord too!
nothing that God gives, and improve every gift that he
bestows.”
William Carey
(1761-1834), Father of
6) Example in Purity – is to keep
Modern Missions, has
ourselves pure in the chastity of life.
an interesting epigram:
Chemistry teaches us that impurities can be
“Expect great things from
destructive when they obstruct the working
God, attempt great things
nature of the material. Similarly, being defiled
for God.” God can use
by fornication, adultery and lasciviousness will
both the young and old.
hinder our walk with God. It is also
Therefore age cannot be a definitive
interesting to note that no matter the method
barometer of spiritual maturity and grace.
used, it is impossible to separate an impurity
Sometimes, younger saints have been cut
completely from a material. What chemists
down providentially in their prime and hence
can do is to increase the purity of a material to
their faithful testimony though short in
as near 100% as possible or economically
duration. Church History is strewn with
feasible. In like manner, the Christian is in a
youths across the spectrum who are willing to
sanctification process. We may not be perfect,
“spend and be spent” (2 Cor 12:15) for the Lord
but we must strive towards purity – in heart,
and have demonstrated, by God’s grace, a
words, thoughts and body. Pure in Heart --
remarkable witness for Christ whether it is in
Psalms 24:4, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure
life or death. Allow me to name a few.
heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully.” Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the
1) Lady Jane Grey
pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Pure in
(1537-1554), Queen of
Words -- Proverbs 15:26, “The thoughts of the
England, having ascended to
wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the
throne for only nine days in
words of the pure are pleasant words.” Pure in
1553, was arrested by Queen
Thoughts -- Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren,
“Bloody” Mary and given
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
the choice to either recant her Protestant
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
beliefs and live or face execution. She chose
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
the former and died at the age of 16.
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if

 
6 
 
 2) Margaret Wilson (1667-1685),
Scottish Covenanter, was tied to a stake and
drowned for refusing to swear that King
Charles II was head of the Church rather than
the Lord Jesus Christ. She died at the tender
age of 18 with these words from Psalm 25:7
on her lips, “Remember not the sins of my youth,
nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy
remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O
LORD.”
3) Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758),
American Theologian, penned
his renowned resolutions in
1722 when he was 19 and
became Senior Pastor of the
Congregational Church in
Northampton, Massachusetts
(the most influential church in New England
at the time), in 1724 at the age of 21. He was
also instrumental in two revivals, including the
Great Awakening of 1740-1741.
4) Charles Spurgeon
(1834-1892), Prince of
Preachers, then only 20 in
1854, just four years after his
conversion, became Pastor of
London’s famed New Park
Street Church (formerly
pastored by the famous Baptist theologian
John Gill) and frequently preached to
audiences numbering more than 10,000—all
in the days before electronic amplification.
5) John Calvin (1509-1564), French
Reformer, was at the age of
27 when he wrote the
Institutes of the Christian
Religion, his magnum opus,
which is considered by many
to be the finest theological
work in the history of the
Christian Church. Calvinism, or “Paulinism
systematised” (as what Rev Dr Timothy Tow
calls it), forms the theological pillar of our
Bible-Presbyterian belief. Calvin himself is
also the French root of our B-P heritage.
7 
6) Jim Elliot (1927-1956), American
Missionary, was gruesomely
speared to death at 29 years
old, along with four others,
while attempting to evangelise
the Huaorani savages in
Ecuador through efforts
known as “Operation Auca.”
They carried guns for protection against wild
animals and yet retaliated not in human attack.
Equally astounding were the missionary
widows, who undeterred by their personal
loss, boldly ventured into the Ecuadorian
jungle again with their young children to face
their husbands’ murderers with the power of
God’s love to turn violence, fear and tragedy
into hope, forgiveness and reconciliation thus
eventually winning the entire tribe for Christ.
Elliot insists, “He is no fool who gives what he
cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Conclusion
As you may have already noticed, these
people who honoured the Lord in their lives,
no matter their age, nationality, denomination
or differences, have been used by Him to do
“great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Similarly, can the youths of our Bible-
Presbyterian Churches in Singapore
accomplish great things for the Lord today?
YES! Don’t give ourselves excuses saying
“Here am I, send him” because he is an
Edwards or Spurgeon. God is no respecter of
persons (Acts 10:34). The Lord gave to you
and me the same 24 hours / 1440 minutes /
86400 seconds per day as He did to Lady Jane
Grey, Margaret Wilson, Jonathan Edwards,
Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin and Jim Elliot.
Although some of their testimonies were
short-lived, they made their lives count for the
Lord. And so the proper question we need to
ask ourselves is, “What have we been doing
with our lives?” How have we been using our
time? Jesus warned, “For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21, Luke
12:34) Dear friends, have you been using your
time, talent and treasure to build the kingdom
of this world or the kingdom of God?
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Mark 8:36-37, “For what shall it profit a
man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?” King Solomon, who literally had an
entire kingdom before him, having realised
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of
vanities; all is vanity” in Ecclesiastes 1:2, begins
his conclusion of the last chapter with these
words, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of
thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in
them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). How can we
remember our Creator in the days of our
youth? Start by attending the Youth
Fellowship (YF) regularly, if you have not. If
you are studying in a polytechnic or university,
may I encourage you to attend the
Fundamental Christian Ministry (FCM)
faithfully. Give out tracts to your whole class
and invite them for gospel rally or Christmas
cantata (I did this in poly and I found 2 other
B-Ps in my class of 16!) or go on a mission
trip together and it will surprise you what the
Lord can do through and in your life.
Remember, if you don’t do it now, then when?
Before you realise it, your youth will soon be
over.
Should youths be despised? Of course
not! Age does not determine spiritual maturity.
Young or old, what matters most, is to glorify
God. If you honour the Lord, the Lord will
honour you… even in the days of your youth.
May we be inspired by the lives and
testimonies of Lady Jane Grey, Margaret
Wilson, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon,
John Calvin and Jim Elliot and make our lives
count for Christ. 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man
despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit,
in faith, in purity.” AMEN.

Jason Liew is the Overall Student Coordinator of FCM

and a member of Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church.

BIBLE STUDENTS’ GOLDEN RULES

BY REV DR TOW SIANG HWA

01 Study with an objective and attain it. Never read aimlessly. Summarise, summarise, summarise.
02 Your teacher is the Holy Spirit. (Jn 14:26; 15:13)
03 Always pray before, during, and after studying.
04 Memorise Scripture. (Ps 119:11)
05 Live the Word. (2 Cor 3:2,3)
06 Never spend time to debate with heretics.
07 Do not strive. Be gentle. (2 Tim 2:24,25)
08 Never “wrestle Scripture.” It is fatal. (2 Pet 3:6)
09 Be humble. (1 Pet 5:5)
10 Be a soul winner, to the glory of God.

 
8 
 
 A REPORT ON
FCM COMBINED MEETING & RETREAT 2008
TEXT CHARLENE TAN PHOTOS JOEL LIM & JAMES TAN

4th Row: Samuel Goh, Leow Beng Wee, Leong Kin Meng, Lim Hong Zhuang, Elliot Chin, Jeremy Chan
3rd Row: Karen Lee, Debbie Tay, Teo Shulin, Laura Tan, Zhou Yuheng, Eileen Chee, Ko Lingting, Cindrey Liu, William Quah, Lim Zhongyan, Elvin Siew, Eugene Oon
2nd Row: Sophia Huang, Joy Ng, Charlene Tan, Teo Jun Zi, Sharon Leong, Carol Leong, Elena Ang, Serena Ng, Abigail Quek, Alanna Quek, Jonathan Ng, Jason Liew
1st Row: James Tan, Aunty Helen, Rev Wee Eng Moh, Paul Ferguson, Ko Ling Kang, Joshua Yong

This was of course not

before our spiritual feeding
along the lines similar to
overcoming and resisting the
temptations of the world. We
know that with Christ, we shall
overcome the world, even our The two messages
Supper was a highlight faith, which overcometh the delivered at FCM
for this year’s FCM’s first ever world (1 John 5:4). Combined Meeting 2008 by
back-to-back Combined
Brother Paul Ferguson, an
Meeting & Retreat, as campers
FEBC ThD candidate, was
were surprised with a spread of
an encouragement to
delicious night snacks such as
continue persevering for
fancy doughnuts, chicken
Christ till He comes again.
nuggets from McDonald’s and
The first exhortation,
specialty egg tarts. It was a test
entitled “Victory in Christ:
to resist the mouthwatering
Rising from Spiritual Defeat”
temptations.

 
9 
 
(taken from 1 John 5:4) was a
call to obedience unto the
Lord as we build our faith in
Christ. Brother Paul taught us
that the audience whom the
Apostle Paul was writing to
was being enticed by false
teachers who had left the
church. He urgently wrote a
letter to them to assure them
of the truth they had embraced
- Christ.
Likewise, the snares
that threatened the church
then, are similar to what we
face today in the 21st Century.
For example, being overcome
by the world’s practices in
terms of dressing, music and
the company we keep. Amidst
all these, we believers must be
convicted to stand firm and
keep God’s commandments.
Failing which, we would fall
into the same predicaments of
Bible characters such as
Samson, Lot and Abraham
who were disobedient to God,
even if but for a brief moment.
Brother Paul stressed that
every detail and character
penned down in the Bible is
selected to teach us important
lessons. Thus, we should
wisely take heed.
The Apostle John
revealed in 1 John 5:4 that the
surest way to overcome the
world is by our faith in Christ
alone. In earlier references in 1
John, other practical “tips”
John offers are to keep God’s
Word (1 John 2:5), do the will
of God (1 John 2:17) and a
reminder from 1 John 2:27 that
we are given the Holy Spirit, to
be equipped to be found
faithful in obedience to God’s
Word. In his notes, Brother
Paul point out 6 important
things concerning a believer:
(1) Belief – Must have had
experience of New Birth in
Christ alone
(2) Obedience – We must not
only know our doctrine but we
must obey it
(3) Overcome the world – We
are called to this
10 
(4) Failure to being an
Overcomer – love for the
world, erroneous doctrine,
lack of faith
(5) Consequences of failure
– wasted years, defective
character, affects others
(6) How to overcome the
world – Word of God,
Obedience, Power of Holy
Spirit
After pondering on
how we can overcome the
world, we were ready bright
and early on Saturday
morning to receive more of
God’s Word as Brother
Paul brings to us the FCM
Retreat 2008 message,
“Vessels for Christ: Meet for
the Master’s Use” (taken
from Jeremiah 18:1-6) and
encouraged us to be
effective vessels for the
Master’s use. He explained
to us the reality of how
much we needed Christ
because Jesus is the Master
Potter and we are but
vessels. In his notes, he
pointed out the following
about these vessels:
(1) Vessels are made by a we should always strive to
Potter – God is Sovereign in choose spiritual things over
election, all souls are His (Eze fleshly pursuits.
18:4), no evolution

(2) Vessels can be good or evil

– wheat and tares, carnal and
spiritual, etc

(3) Vessels are for the use of

the Master (v21) – we are
God’s servants or slaves
(4) Vessels can be marred by
misuse – dishonour Christ (Jer
18:4). There are things we are
to (i) flee, (ii) avoid (iii) follow
(5) Vessels need to be
prepared and moulded –
“purged” and “prepared unto
every good work” (v21) and
Jer 18:3. This requires
sanctification and the Hands
and Feet of the Potter
(6) Vessels have no use
without being filled from an
external source – Holy Spirit,
Christ
(7) Vessels when used
properly can affect others (v25)
– being used by God is the
greatest honour
We are reminded that
God is the one in control of
our lives. Our practice of life
reveals the doctrine of our heart
and reflects the extent to which
we believe this truth. The
spiritual battle becomes more
challenging when the lie Satan
throws at us is the delusion that
we are in control. Brother Paul
cautioned us to be wary because
Satan offers the good things to
keep us from the Best things
(which are God’s).
The warning given
to us in 2 Timothy 2 is to
flee youthful lusts, avoid
foolish and unlearned
questions but instead to
follow after righteousness,
faith, charity, peace (2
Timothy 2:22). Thus, we
are admonished to cleave
to the Lord because apart
from Christ, ye can do
nothing (John 15:15), and
to be filled with the Holy
Spirit.

(8) Vessels can be discarded if

they become worthless (Jer
18:6) – we are in God’s Hand
In 2 Timothy 2:20, a
strong cautionary to be aware In closing, Brother
of is that vessels can be both Paul challenged us to give
for honour or to dishonour. of our life, youth and time
Brothers and Sisters–in-Christ, to something that will last.

 
11 
 
And that is none other than
the giving of ourselves to the
Lord. For our reward is in
heaven, therefore, work for
what will last through to
eternity and be careful
stewards of our time,
continually growing and
maturing in the grace of God.
Truly, the FCM retreat
was a comforting respite from
Charlene Tan, FCM NTU/NIE, is a member of New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church.
work/schoolwork and a time to
recharge on the Word. Other
snippets to take home from the
retreat and enrich our learning
were the passages by Spurgeon
on the sweetness in persevering
in prayer and shining forth for
Christ. Helpful also, was
Brother Joshua Yong’s morning
devotion on being watchful so
as not to fall into spiritual
12 
slumber. It is my hope and
prayer that the FCMers
who came and have been
blessed might continue to
be mindful of the lessons
which we have learnt. Let
us all press on and enjoy a
close spiritual walk with
God through much prayer
and the reading of His
Word.
 New Testament and Greek at Wheaton
College, a neo-evangelical school. At Wheaton,
he began to question the inerrancy of
Scripture when one of his professors
suggested that there are mistakes in the Bible.
Finally he went to a notoriously liberal
seminary—Princeton Theological Seminary—
where the inerrancy of Scripture is totally
denied. At Princeton, his study of historical
GOD’S PROBLEM? criticism and textual criticism under
BY REV DR JEFFREY KHOO unregenerate professors like Bruce Metzger
led him to reject that Jesus Christ is God and
Saviour altogether. Here is a man
God’s Problem (HarperCollins
who started off as a fundamentalist,
Publishers, 2008) is the title of a
became a neo-evangelical,
book written by Bart Ehrman. So,
degenerated into a liberal, and ended
God has a “problem”? What
up an agnostic.
then is “God’s problem”? The
subtitle of the book answers: Actually it is quite ironical that
How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Ehrman should call himself an agnostic
Most Important Question—Why because an agnostic is one who says
We Suffer. God cannot be known and His existence
cannot be proven. If you were to ask
Ehrman this question: “Does God exist?” He
will reply, “I don’t know, probably not; but if
Who is Bart Ehrman? He does exist, we cannot know who or what
Bart Ehrman is He is.” But this one thing Ehrman knows for
James A Gray sure, “This God, if He exists, cannot be Jesus
distinguished professor Christ, or the God of the Bible.” Now, how
of the Christian Religion can Ehrman know this for sure if in his mind
at the University of God cannot be known in the first place? This
North Carolina, Chapel begs the question: How can you know what
Hill, USA. He is something is not when you do not know what
someone who knows it is? Well, this is the self-refuting and self-
the Bible and theology inside and out. But his defeating thinking of Bart Ehrman. God
story is quite a sad one. He testified how he describes such thinkers well, “Professing
became a “born again” fundamentalist as a themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Rom 1:22).
teenager, and believed in the total infallibility Ehrman began his treatise on “God’s
and inerrancy of Scripture. His commitment Problem” by asking this question, “If there is
to the Christian faith led him to study an all-powerful and loving God in this world,
theology at Moody Bible Institute, a why is there so much excruciating pain and
fundamentalist school. Later he studied the unspeakable suffering?”

 
13 
 
Why Suffering?
Yes, no one denies that suffering is a
fact of life. Why is there so much suffering in
this world? Where is God in all this? What is
He doing about it? Where are the answers?
Only God has the answers and He has given
us the answers in His Word. The Bible tells us
that suffering in this world is due to a number
of reasons: the primary reason being Sin (with
a capital S). God created this world very good,
but man made it very bad by sinning against
God (Rom 5:12). Our first parents—Adam
and Eve—broke God’s law by eating the
forbidden fruit (Gen 2:16-17, 3:1-7). Their sin
and disobedience plunged the whole of
humanity into misery, pain and death (Gen
3:16-19, Rom 6:23). Human beings
throughout the ages experience suffering
because they are living in a sin-cursed world
which is populated by sinful people who are
bound by sinful thoughts and feelings and
bent on doing sinful things (Rom 3:10-18) .
No one is innocent; all without exception are
guilty (Rom 3:23). God, being holy and just,
has to condemn and punish sinners, and the
judgement began from the time man fell in
the Garden, and continues until the present,
and will end in the fiery destruction of world,
and the casting of the finally impenitent into
the lake of fire for all eternity (2 Pet 3:7-12,
Rev 20:11-15). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).
The Bible makes it very clear that the
problem of suffering is man’s problem, not
God’s. Ehrman keeps questioning why the
wicked prosper and the innocent suffer? Why
do bad things happen to good people? But in
God’s sight and by His standard, none is good
or innocent. “As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one: There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
14 
They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no,
not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their
tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is
under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and
bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the
way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of
God before their eyes. … For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:10-23).
Ehrman’s Problem
Who is good? Only God is good and
just; all men are bad and wicked. No matter
how good any man might appear outwardly,
God sees the heart (1 Sam 16:7), and God
tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).
Nonetheless, in Ehrman’s mind, there are
good people who do not deserve the pain and
misery that they go through. Although there
are other biblical reasons why bad things do
happen to “good” people (e.g. Job), he
questions why God permits suffering and
does not intervene to punish the wicked and
deliver the righteous immediately. For this
reason, Ehrman feels that the God of the
Bible cannot be truly almighty, loving and that it would have been no more difficult for
good since He does not intervene to stop all God to preserve the words of scripture than it
the suffering right here, right now. would have been for him to inspire them in
the first place. If he wanted his people to have
The problem of suffering has led
his words, surely he would have given them to
Ehrman to lose his faith. What Ehrman
them. … The fact that we don’t have the
thinks is “God’s Problem” is actually his very
words surely must show, I reasoned, that he
own, which is the problem of not believing
did not preserve them for us. And if he didn’t
what God has said in His written words. He
perform that miracle, there seemed to be no
confessed, “I came to a point where I could
reason to think that he performed the earlier
no longer believe … I realized that I could no
miracle of inspiring those words.” In Ehrman,
longer reconcile the claims of faith with the
we see a clear case of how the logic of
facts of life. I could no longer explain how
unbelief in denying the Biblical doctrine of
there can be a good and all-powerful God
Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) would
actively involved with this world, given the
naturally and eventually lead to a denial of the
state of things. For many people who inhabit
doctrine of Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI).
this planet, life is a cesspool of misery and
suffering. I came to the point where I simply
could not believe that there is a good and
kindly disposed Ruler who is in charge of it.”
God’s Solution to Man’s Problem
Ehrman’s problem is the same
problem of many unbelieving people who do How do we respond to Ehrman’s
not believe the whole Bible to be the 100% attack on VPI and VPP? The only biblical way
perfect Word of God without any mistake to to respond to such an attack is to quote the
the last word and letter, and therefore Scriptures, “let God be true, but every man a liar”
absolutely and supremely authoritative in all (Rom 3:4). We will all become like Ehrman if
matters of faith and life. Ehrman himself we do not live by faith, and faith alone (sola
confessed that he sees the Bible as “a very fide). The sinner or the unbeliever lives by
human book with all the marks of having sight, or by “science” so called—“I see in
come from human hands: discrepancies, order to believe.” But the saint or the child of
contradictions, errors, ….” God lives by faith, “For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
In an earlier book
The just shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:7). If we
of his titled—Misquoting
want to see and know God, we must begin
Jesus—he argued, “If one
with faith, “I believe in order to see.” And
wants to insist that God
the Christian faith is not blind because it
inspired the very words of
is based on the truth. What is truth?
scripture, what would be the
God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).
point if we don’t have the very
How can we know the truth about
words of scripture? … This
origins: how did the world begin,
became a problem for my view of
and where did we come from? It is only by
inspiration, for I came to realize
faith, “Through faith we understand that the worlds

 
15 
 
were framed by the word of God, so that things which
are seen were not made of things which do appear”
(Heb 11:3). We simply believe the words of
our Creator who said that He created the
whole universe out of nothing by the power
of His Word in the space of six literal 24-hour
days, and all very good (Gen 1).
Without the light of God’s Word, and
without believing in the veracity of God’s
Word, man will only misinterpret the facts
and evidences in the world. Man in his
intellectual folly thinks that he comes from
the apes. He thinks that since he looks like
them, he must be in some way related or
linked to them. Therefore, based on human
observation and reasoning, the apes must
have been man’s ancestors. Thanks to
evolution, human beings are actually glorified
monkeys! It is no wonder God says this of
sinful men, “Because that, when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts,
and creeping things” (Rom 1:21-23).
The only way to please God is by faith,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”
(Heb 11:6). We must begin with faith and we
must end with faith if we are to live and not
be lost forever.
The problem with Ehrman is his
blindness towards God and His Truth
because of His intellectual pride. He gives his
own distorted definition of who and what
God is; and when his own idea about God
does not square with his worldview, he
16 
blames God and finds fault with His claims.
Indeed, “Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools” (Rom 1:22); “Ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2
Tim 3:7). Ehrman has become too clever for
his own good.
Logic of Faith
Let us not end up like Ehrman who
“lost his faith” (theologically speaking, he
never had it in the first place). Let us make
sure we have the right starting point which is
faith in God’s Word. In all our thinking and
reasoning, we must begin and end with God’s
Word, believing in all that it says without
question, without doubt. Faith is “God says it,
that settles it, I believe it.”
God’s Word is 100% perfect, without
any mistake, forever infallible and inerrant to
the last syllable and letter, even today. How
do we know this? God says it in Psalm 12:6-7,
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver
tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou
shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them
from this generation for ever.” Jesus said, “For verily
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled” (Matt 5:18). “Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt
24:35).
 Applying the logic of faith based on
God’s truthful words and promises, we
believe that the Bible was not only very pure
in the beginning, but also very pure today. By
so believing, we are very sure of the 100%
inspired and 100% preserved words of God—
what they are and where they are. We are very
sure of who God is. He is none other than
our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
who “died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4).
Let us then live by faith in Christ and
His words, and not by “science” or
“scholarship” so called. “Let God be true, but
every man a liar” (Rom 3:4).

Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo is the Academic Dean of Far Eastern Bible College and Elder at True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church.
The above sermon was preached at True Life BPC on September 14, 2008, originally published in their Church Weekly
(Vol V No 52) dated September 28, 2008 and is reprinted here by permission of the author.

NEWS & NOTES

Congratulations to Benson Ang, FCM NTU/NIE (2004-2008), and Felicia Ong who were
united in Holy Matrimony on September 6, 2008. They are both members of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian
Church. The wedding was officiated by their Pastor, the Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy.

The second FCM Combined Meeting 2008 was held at Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church on
September 19, 2008. Paul Ferguson, a Doctor of Theology (ThD) candidate at the Far Eastern Bible College
(FEBC), delivered the Lord’s message. He spoke on the topic, “Victory in Christ: Rising from Spiritual Defeat.” It
was the first ever back-to-back event with the FCM Retreat 2008 which was held within the same premises on
September 20, 2008. The second message Paul delivered was “Vessels for Christ: Meet for the Master’s Use.”

Calvary Tengah Bible-Presbyterian Church inaugurated its Mandarin Worship Service on October 5,
2008 under the charge of Preacher Kelvin Wong, a Master of Divinity (MDiv) graduate of FEBC. A mandarin CD
entitled “重温主恩” was also released on the same day and contains 17 tracks sung by Elder Boaz Boon. Kindly
approach any of the Student Coordinators if you have not obtained a copy of the CD.

 
“The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts;
the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos;
the church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors
will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption.
The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray.”

A.W. Tozer

 
17 
 
 LATEST CD RELEASES
BY CALVARY TENGAH B-P CHURCH

Onward Christian Soldiers

Price: Free for FCMers
Availability: In Stock
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Released: February 29, 2008
Language: English
Description: Choir
Total Running Time: 55:18mins
Track Listing
01. Is Your All On The Altar?
02. Take My Life And Let It Be
03. Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?
04. Lord Here I Take My Cross
05. Sound The Battle Cry
06. Marching To Zion
07. Lead On, O King Eternal
08. Onward Christian Soldiers
09. Who Is On The Lord's Side
10. Hold Forth The Word Of Life
11. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
12. God The Omnipotent
13. The Banner Of The Cross / Stand Up For Jesus Medley
14. Faith Is The Victory
15. Pressing On
16. Hold The Fort
17. Day By Day
18. Safely Through Another Week
19. May The Lord Find Us Faithful
20. Lord Dismiss Us

重温主恩
Track Listing
01. 人算什么
02. 神爱世人 + 诗篇一二一
03. 上帝有情，人生有望 （闽南语）
04. 山区教会
05. 纪念恩主歌
06. 诗篇一三三
07. 田地里的庄稼
08. 中国的早晨五点钟
09. 走进新的一天
10. 恩雨（广东语）
11. 主耶稣啊想起了祢
12. 再不为自己活
Price: Free for FCMers 13. 最知心的朋友
Availability: In Stock
Format: Audio CD
14. 耶和华祝福满满（闽南语）
Discs: 1 15. 给我一颗中国心
Released: October 5, 2008
Language: Mandarin 16. 主我们深深的知道
Description: Male Solo 17. 相约在主里
Total Running Time: 71:45mins

Previous Releases

 
18 
 
 A STUDENT’S PRAYER
BY ANONYMOUS

“ Lord, grant me a quiet heart,

To all FCMers this
poem is affectionately
dedicated. Let us pray
for one another.
-Editor
Psalm 94:19, “In the
multitude of my thoughts
within me thy comforts
delight my soul.”
before the exams start.
Lead me to use my leisure hours,
to invigorate my powers.
My mind from daydreams liberate,
give me the will to concentrate.
From all distractions set me free;
that in my studies I may be
a student with a sole fulfillment,
to make my work a sacrament.
From my faint heart in love expel,
all failures fears that therein dwell.
And from my pillow drive away,
all dark foreboding of the day.
Help me in faith to rest so deep,
that I may have untroubled sleep.
While notes and lectures I prepare,
may I not lost my zest for prayer.
And may I not forget to look,
for guidance in Thy Book.
And may I ever grateful be,
to all who daily pray for me.
While for myself I intercede,
for other students too I plead;
so may exams find
each one alert in heart and mind.

Thus inward joy and peace possessing,

May exams prove a source of blessing.
Amen.

”
 

 
19 
 
The FCM Family AY 08/09
Contact Information & Bible Study Groups

Overall FCM Coordinator Eld Dr Boaz Boon (Calvary Tengah B-P Church)
℡ 9824 7681 boazboon@mytengah.com

Assistant Advisor Dn Peter Phoa (Calvary Tengah B-P Church)

℡ 9758 1469 peterphoa@mytengah.com

Overall Student Coordinator Jason Liew (Truth B-P Church)

℡ 9017 8213 jasonliewyf@gmail.com

FCM NUS FCM SMU/UniSIM/LaSalle

Bible Study Leader Bible Study Leader
Ko Ling Kang, BTh cand (Calvary Pandan B-P Church) Joshua Yong, DipTh, BRE, MDiv cand (Truth B-P Church)
kolingkang@gmail.com yongbkj@hotmail.com

Student Coordinator Student Coordinator

Joy Ng Jonathan Ng
℡ 9112 1760 ℡ 9190 0473
ngwenlijoy@gmail.com jonathanng.2006@business.smu.edu.sg

Venue & Time Venue & Time

School of Computing, NUS, Block AS6 (Room 0208) Home of Mr & Mrs Arthur Ng (Dining Area)
Computing 1, Law Link, Singapore 117590 32 Burgundy Crescent, Singapore 658745
Every Wednesday, 5.30pm / Dinner @ 7.30pm   Alternate Fridays, 4.00pm

FCM NTU/NIE FCM Poly

Bible Study Leader Bible Study Leaders
Rev Wee Eng Moh, BTh, MRE (Berith B-P Church) Lim Jun Sheng, BEng, CertRK (Calvary Tengah B-P Church)
emwee@singnet.com.sg sa_jurong@hotmail.com [for SP, NP @ NP]

Student Coordinator James Tan, BTh cand (Calvary Tengah B-P Church)
jamestty@gmail.com [for RP, TP, NYP @ RP]
Teo Jun Zi
℡ 9299 9501 Student Coordinator
teojunzi@gmail.com
Samuel Goh
Venue & Time ℡ 9181 7471
Blk 63, NTU Hall of Residence 13 (Eld Sim’s Home) eleven_blue@yahoo.com.sg
32 Nanyang Crescent, #03-1255, Singapore 637658
Venue & Time
¡ Every Monday, 6.30pm / Dinner @ 5.30pm
Ngee Ann Poly (Teaching Hub, Blk 56, Study Area near Canteen 1)
535 Clementi Road, Singapore 599489
¡ Alternate Wednesdays, 7pm / Dinner @ 6.15pm

Republic Poly (Outside Main Library)

9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964
¡ Alternate Wednesdays, 6pm

Newsletter Advisor : Eld Dr Boaz Boon

Editor : Jason Liew

 
20