Saturday 24 May 2014

Theological Education as Holistic Pursuit - Joshua Lee

The third and fourth day of the programme was dedicated to exposing us, the participants to the two major theological colleges in Singapore, Trinity Theological College (TTC) and Singapore Bible College (SBC). The objective of these two days was pretty clear with two talks explaining the importance of theological education and just what exactly it is about. I must say that these two days has been pretty effective in instilling a better sense of appreciation and understanding of what a formal theological education provides.  

In the same way when one goes to a secular school to learn, education not only comes from within the classroom setting but also from other sources such as the interactions one has with classmates. Studying in a theological college not only equips one with knowledge, skills and tool-sets but also provides a conducive environment for the progression of one's spiritual well-being. 

One goal of theological education which struck out to me was the holistic pursuit of education, in the sense that one should not specialise solely on one aspect. This got me thinking that the work that God calls us to do is often not exclusively in one area, especially when dealing with people.  One would of course need proper knowledge of the Bible, but in addition to that, additional skills such as how to properly counsel someone in a biblical way, and so on would be extremely helpful. Just as being a Christian does not mean merely subscribing to a certain religion, having a theological education should not just be additional knowledge or skills that one can use but rather the things that one has learnt should be integrated appropriately into one's life and eventually into the lives of others.

I will end off by observing that I am actually quite surprised that I could stay awake through the various lectures in the same day, which is definitely not the usual case for me in a school setting. I hope that this is not due to the novelty of having a few theological lectures but because of a genuine interest and desire to know more about God.

Joshua Lee

Theology As Shaped by Context and Culture - Shawn Eng

Speaking with Dr. Simon Chan over lunch at Trinity Theological College (TTC), it was interesting to hear how he reconciled his theological education in TTC with his background as a member of a Pentecostal Assemblies Of God (AOG) church. It was enlightening to hear his take on how the Pentecostal movement started and how the differences that were perpetuated were more from a sociological instead of theological root.
 
In light of the lectures the past week on the history of Christianity in South East Asia and Singapore, it is fascinating how our historical and cultural context shapes our theology. The case study of how the colonial powers had a major influence on the religious development of the South East Asian countries was intriguing in showing how a political-economical agenda can affect the faith of a country as well.
 
Having been exposed to glimpses of Christianity outside of Singapore in my missions and university travel, it causes me to question firstly, the differences in expression and understanding of Christianity across the world, secondly, what is the significance of these differences and thirdly, how should we respond to such differences.
 
I have yet to figure out how to answer these questions but I think it is pertinent there are two situations that is important for us to identify and differentiate. One is where the differences are exemplified by differing cultural context but the foundations are the same and we can embrace each other as being 'same but different' if we are able to overcome some of these cultural and intellectual boundaries. I think this might possibly be the situation that Dr. Chan had with regards to his evangelical theological education and his AOG background. This is illustrated in the figure below.


These squares are actually the same exact colour. Hold your finger over the boundary between the two shapes and the colours will be corrected. The Cornsweet illusion exploits a phenomenon in the brain known as lateral inhibition which creates more contrast between the two objects because of the differently coloured edges.
 

Another situation is when the culture has so permeated Christianity that while we perceive it to have a certain form, in reality it is not what we imagine it to be and we do need intervention and changes to see what it really is. This is the struggle I face with the 'version' of Christianity in an English educated, Singaporean Chinese, upper middle class, traditional evangelical church, that while we might think we are progressing in our journey with God, in reality we're just walking around in circles.

Shawn Eng

God Prevails Over the Unthinkable - Sharon Long

God Out of the 4 days I’ve been in STEP, today (22 May ’14) is a day which I received the most enlightenment, hence allowing me to reflect in several aspects.

One of the things that struck me today was when Dr. Violet James shared with us regarding how Christianity grew and slowly flourished in Southeast Asia. She mentioned about how the Japanese Occupation turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the local nationals were forced to take on leadership when the foreigners were made to leave. This ultimately led to the locals slowly converting into Christians through leadership and shepherding. 

It is really amazing how God works even during the Japanese Occupation when there was chaos, anxiety and unrest amongst the people. Who would have thought that having the foreigners to leave could become a factor as to why Christianity is now so prevalent in Southeast Asia? 

This once again reminds me of how able and mighty our God is. He allows His work to be done even during the most unthinkable situations and carries His plans through. It is comforting to know how wise and able our God is and it gives peace to my heart as I know that God always has the best plan for me.

Another thing that struck me was also from what Dr. Violet James shared, regarding how people who converted into Christians were regarded as traitors and never felt home with their new faith. This made me think about how I have been treating the new believers in my church, whether I have been enthusiastic in welcoming them or if I tried to make them feel home in the church. 

Sad to say, I have always been in my comfort zone, unwilling to step out and talk to the new believers. After listening to what Dr. Violet James said, it made me feel very guilty towards God as I feel that I could be the one helping the new believer adjust into Christian life and secure his faith, and yet I chose to stay in my comfort zone. 

Lastly, Calvin Chong’s message reminded me that a church cannot stick to its old ways to function for the youth as the youth now has changed. As a relatively traditional church, it is difficult for the church to change and accommodate to the youth as many factors need to be considered, such as the older generation’s thinking and their responses. As such, I always feel that the youth are very stagnant and not as vibrant as it used to be. This gives me a space to reflect and possibly work on in the future by trying to incorporate more ‘in’ or ‘cool’ stuff to attract the youth.

Sharon Long

Theology, Discipleship, and Mission - Shawn Eng

The first week of the STEP program has been helpful in gaining a better understanding of what formal theological education entails and what are motivating factors for it. Hearing from the professors has given me another perspective to consider in my walk as a disciple of Christ.

This is important for me because I had been involved with Operation Mobilisation during my formative young adult years and the focus was very much on being used by God as we were and being developed on the job, our primary learning environment was not in the classroom but out on the mission field. 

The people I looked up to were not the ones who gave the most holistic and theologically sound answers, but those who had lived out their faith with life changing conviction, most of which did not have any formal theological training. 

The quote in the lecture by Dr Calvin Chong that 'we see the world not as it is but as we are' struck home to me as I became more aware of how my limited experience in the past with a handful of missionaries had skewed my view against formal theological education.

In reflection over the past week, the first devotion led by the Synod Moderator has been of help in reconciling my view of formal theological education to one that I think is a bit more holistic. In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus speaks three times and I believe these give insight on how to view formal theological education in light of our walk with God.

In verse 13, Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?".  This is the starting point of discussion and also where I feel formal theological education fits in. In understanding things from church history to systematic theology, we get a more holistic view of people's perspective of God, through human history and across cultures.

This in turn helps shape our answer to Jesus' next question, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" From a rigorous study of so many different views on who the God of the Bible is, we are then able to form informed personal convictions instead of just accepting the opinions of others as our own. This will then shape our personal experience of God in our lives.

The concluding statement by Jesus in verses 17-19 helps put the first two points of understanding people's and our own perspective of God into the kingdom perspective. In verse 17 Jesus says that Peter was blessed because the personal revelation of Jesus was not revealed to him by flesh and blood but by the Father in heaven. 

In the end, it has to be God that reveals Himself to us. It is heartening to know that it is not by our own effort, not by how much we learn or who we learn from, but it is God that ultimately controls our 'theological education', of understanding who He really is. Jesus also sets out a purpose in verse 18 and 19, so that we are not acquiring knowledge for its own sake. It is for the building up of His church and the right usage of the 'keys of the kingdom of heaven'.  My prayer is that as grow in our knowledge of God, we will put the knowledge into action, building up His church and participating in His will being done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Shawn Eng

Intense Internship! - Sharon Long

Honestly speaking, this is the first time I have been to a training this intense! I looked through the days of lectures and projects to be done, and it somehow felt like school again. I didn’t expect this internship course to be so demanding since I thought of it as a “holiday job” (where holiday = chill), so the amount of things to complete seemed a lot. So naturally, I felt very heavily committed and unsure of what I got myself into. 

After the first day, I got home and spoke to my parents about how stressful this course would be. Thank God for supportive and encouraging parents, they managed to speak some sense into me and I realised later on that the workload isn’t as stressful as it seemed to be (yay!). 

In addition, the company definitely makes up to the stressfulness of this internship course. It is really comforting to be in an environment filled with joyful Christians knowing that we have the same religious beliefs and serve the same God. The interns speak different languages and are also very knowledgeable with the Bible, making this programme a great exposure for me.
 
The visit to TTC was an eye-opening experience for me. I have always found it amazing how a person is willing to give up his stable and possibly good-paying job to enrol into TTC or SBC for the service of God. There are so many factors to be considered and so many things to be given up. 

After listening to Pr. Maggie Low share about how she got her calling and ultimately responded to it, I was once again reminded of how real and alive our God is. Perhaps I will find my answer in the future when I receive God’s calling. For now, this remains a mystery to me.
 
Lastly, something that enlightened me was what Pr. Simon Chan mentioned about teaching only the truth to the church and not the untruth. As a leader myself, it is one of my greatest fears to teach the untruth to my group members. Usually, I would prepare beforehand my bible study materials so that I can teach the right things to my group members. 

However at times, I would be lazy and rely on my own biblical knowledge, which could be very dangerous as I might unknowingly convey the wrong teachings to my group members. This message came to me as a wakeup call to be a more responsible leader and continuously rely on God’s words and not solely on my strength.

Sharon Long

Friday 23 May 2014

Importance of Theology and Ever-Changing World - Sarah Tan

Having entered into the third and fourth day of STEP, I have learnt a whole lot of very interesting and thought-provoking issues which I doubt can be expounded on in this space. Thus, I will pen down the two amazing things that struck an accord with me. 



On the third day, we gathered in the Trinity Theological College to dwell deep into God's Words. We were brought into 'The Importance of Theological Education for Church Ministry and Social Engagement' by Dr. Simon Chan. It was the latter that spoke to me because I personally love helping others in my own small ways. 
When I first felt the need to be more aware in bringing joy in others through my actions, it was nothing more than a "I should do this because it is right" rather than what it truly means. 


Dr. Chan reminded us on Romans 12:13 that says, "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality," and on Hebrews 13:2 which states, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without  knowing it." 
How true it is when we say that doing good is an expression of Christian hospitality to strangers and Christians. I believe our actions are our thoughts manifested and as others cannot testify to our thoughts, but surely they can testify to our actions. 


Dr. Chan also made a statement that if social work reflects the goodness and love of God, social engagements with societal issues reflects the righteousness and justice of God. 
Therefore, I feel that ultimately, we do good to others because it reflects the image of God in us. As for me, this is what I want to be; More and more like Him. 



Moving on, on the fourth day we were soaking in the abundance of God's teachings in the Singapore Bible College. Dr. Calvin Chong led us through the topic on 'Youth Ministry in Transition' which I found the most interesting of all talks for today. He rightly points out that the world is in its peak of transition and acknowledges the challenges that we face and the certain responses the youth ministries need to take into consideration.

http://pennyjhood.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/cholutecafullbridge2.jpgHe used the example of the Choluteca River Bridge in southern Honduras after Hurricane Mitch devastated the area. What happened after the Hurricane was that the river was shifted off the boundaries of what the bridge covered. 

This can also reflect how the world is in its rapid transition and the position of where churches are at. The shifted river represents the fast changing globalised world and the river bridge then represents the traditional religious institutions. 


This is very true because it is an obvious problem that surfaces in, I believe most if not all, churches especially in Singapore. We are so easily and quickly influenced by the forces of this world that the churches are having a hard time to adapt and keep up, as well as to teach us the right, holy and godly way of living when the world shouts at us otherwise. 
And once this problem becomes serious enough to act as an excuse, we see people leaving and this is a very sad situation. I have seen this happen before in my home church and others, and it is my prayer that I may be able to reach out to those who have left and bring them back.

Sarah Tan

Presbyterian Disctinctive and God's Faithfulness - Sarah Tan

http://truthonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Faithful-God.jpg
Having been through the first two days in STEP, I must say that I am really looking forward to the rest of the programme!



To start off, Joshua Woo made clear to us the Presbyterian Distinctive which I found rather assuring as a Presbyterian. They are Mission and Church Planting, Literacy and Education as well as Reforming based on Scripture. It further strengthens my knowledge about my own identity as a Presbyterian. 

Also, one of my church member, Adriel, shared with me that the word "presbytery" comes from the Greek word "presbyteros", which means "elders". And that was rather interesting as I have never dug deep into what exactly do the words "Presbyterian" or "Presbytery" means. 



The question that strikes us most often is, 'What does being a Christian or a Believer mean?' rather than the specifics of our own denomination. So the speakers on the second day of STEP have brilliantly expounded on the Presbyterian history and what does being a Presbyterian mean, which I have greatly benefited from. 

And I think it is really important to know what being a Presbyterian means. And how we may have certain practices that are different from other denominations. 


Personally I have came across friends who question about Presbyterianism and how it differs from Catholism, of which the school I attended in Primary and Secondary level believed in, and of the Methodist or Baptist faith, where many of my friends in the prayer point in my Junior College believes in. I believe the answers that I have now are much clearer than the muffled thoughts I had previously. 



In the past 2 days, I have learnt many important things. However, one that really stood out was that God is really so faithful! Dr. Lee Soo Ann enlightened us on how the British won the Chinese in the first opium war which brought about a revelation in the Chinese community where there were many converts. This happened in 1839-1842, which till date 2014, has been more than 170 years, and we can look back in history (and in awe and amazement of God) and testify the good works God has installed for us in the coming ages. Surely He is a faithful God who has never, and will never, leave us nor forsake us. 

Also, what spoke to me, was the fact that the conversion of many Chinese during the first opium war was not by the most peaceful means.
This reminds me that all of us may have a rough start in something but eventually, all will fall into place and we can be sure of His faithfulness and goodness towards each and every one of us! How much more should we raise our arms, wide open, and thank God for being ever so faithful! 

Sarah Tan

Church Clique, Culture Shock, and Applicable Head Knowledge - Joshua Lee

http://www.sfvcbc.org/uploads/1/8/4/3/18438789/3208115_orig.jpg
While I have had participated in various events that had participants from different churches, this was the longest (and most intensive?) of such a programme that I have taken part in. Thus, there was the ever present anxiousness of not knowing how this would turn out, having been mostly confined to working with people from my own church. 

I am thankful for the large number of people from my church that are participating in this programme with me, although I do recognise that this could prevent me from getting to know the other participants better, especially when as an introvert I much prefer to socialise with people I know. I do pray that I will make the effort to get to know the participants from the other churches.

The first culture shock I got was when the first day's devotion was done in Chinese. Having a general lack of competence of the language due to the lack of use (and possibly my roots in ACS), I was definitely taken out of my comfort zone (which I guess might be the one of the objectives of this programme?). Interacting with participants from Chinese congregations is also something that I have rarely done, so it was a new experience for me too. 

After hearing about the history of the Presbyterian church in Singapore, my eyes have been opened to the realities of the strength and numbers of the Chinese congregation in the Presbyterian family in Singapore. This has definitely given me a reason to brush up on my Chinese, as was mentioned that one of the biggest mission fields in Singapore are the Chinese speaking free-thinkers and the Chinese immigrants.

My original intentions for joining this programme were mostly intellectual, to satisfy my curiosity, but after the first week, I have definitely been challenged in ways that I did not expect. My hope is that the knowledge gained during these three weeks will not just stay in my head but will also be applied to the spiritual aspect of my life.

Joshua Lee

History, Identity, and God's Purpose - Adriel Yeo

For the past two days, I have been spending time learning about the history behind Presbyterianism and how it started in Singapore. There are occasions when I question the need or the importance of studying the history of my local church. After all, it neither represents me nor defines me. Or does it?



In the Old Testament, Israel was repeatedly called to remember their past because it was through their history that they could remember the Lord’s faithfulness to them, the nation they currently were and the nation that they were meant to be. Similarly, I think the significance of remembering our church history is to recall the original intended purpose of the church, to remember God’s goodness and also to plan and make the necessary amendments so that the church may be what it is meant to be. 

Whenever the question “who are you?” or “what kind of person are you?” is posed, my mind flashes back to the past recalling all the different activities that took place. In the same way, when we ask “what kind of church is this?” or “what is the identity of this church?”, I believe the answer lies somewhere in history. 

During a short course on a survey of the New Testament, I remember the lecturer saying, “The history of the church is the history of the people of God.”

 Whether we like to be associated or defined by our past, is not the point. The fact remains that whatever way we want to define ourselves as a church, history reveals who we truly are. 

But I think history also brings another thing into the picture. Just like how we see God at work in the nation Israel and later on within the churches, we must not fail to realize that God is currently still at work even today. God’s work continues through the early church extending all the way to the 21st century. It is through the study of history that we see how God uses the most ordinary people to do the most extraordinary things. From one church to many, and eventually a synod. But not only that, history also reveals to us the times that we have fallen astray from God’s intended purposes. It is in some way, a slap to our face. A wake up call reminding us that we are sinful and at times have neglected God’s mission and purpose for us. But history does not confine or trap us in that identity. 

For those who do not agree with the current impression that the church gives off, something can be done. Change can be made resulting in a new identity so to speak. This however, must be built upon the foundations of prayer and the very word of God because it is through these that we may discern God’s will for us as proven in history.

Adriel Yeo

Presbyterian's History, Church Unity, and My Proactivity - Chin Wei Jun

It had been an interesting two days for me, especially in learning about the history of the Presbyterian churches. I am impressed with the historical significance that shaped the Presbyterian churches of today. 

While we learnt about Presbyterian distinctiveness today, I am glad to be able to relate to many of the pointers raised. Much of what the Presbyterians strive to achieve, such as mission works, and reforming based on scripture are close visions to independent churches like mine. (Perhaps less of literacy and education for my relative young re-startup church.) Having to deal with refugees in Thailand, I see the importance of missionary work in reaching out to the people in less developed areas in the world and how the love of God will be able to bless and reach out to these people in poorer regions.

It amazes me too that the Presbyterian churches have such unity amongst themselves. The long history and structure of running church together through Synod had provided a good foundation for unity to happen. 

Along the course of the two days however, I questioned the rationale behind focusing on the separation of denomination in churches. We were ultimately called to be one church in Christ. How then, do we achieve unity within different denominations of churches in Singapore? 

An overemphasis on the separation of denominations might alienate or mark differences between people (hence brings about conflicts or might repel unbelievers, or even believers, from churches). A good historical account of events that happened (such as the lectures provided) is necessary for individuals to fully comprehend why differences exist. At the same time, I realized that there are simply different ways of doing things, and ultimately believing in the same goal---to win hearts willing to build a relationship with God.

Having said that, I reflected upon how much further can I do for God on an individual basis in my church. We ended today’s session by sharing on what we have been doing in our respective churches, and though not actively serving in a ministry, I have been slowly accustomed into my “home”. In this transition period of my church currently, I feel that I should step up and help my church to strengthen in terms of building further, stronger relationship with the people who are staying and especially those in my immediate relation. In this period of changes in my church, there is a need for assistance in perhaps many aspects and I should start by being proactive wherever possible, where help is required.

Chin Wei Jun

First Week's Reflection - Joshua Woo

The inaugural Synod Training & Exposure Programme (STEP) has completed its first week (19-22 May). Along with the week's theme, 'The Entrance', we had the opening ceremony held at Singapore's first Presbyterian church, the 171-year-old Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church. 

This is symbolically very significant as STEP is the first internship programme intentionally designed to inspire and equip emerging leaders of local Presbyterian churches! It is not only an entrance for our 30 participants (from 11 different churches) into STEP but marks the new phase of leadership revitalization that Singapore's Presbyterian community is entering through this programme. Our Presbyterian congregations have been struggling for too long due to the shortage of both lay and clerical leaders. It is my prayer that STEP will address this situation.

On the first day, we had the Synod Moderator and Vice President of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, Rt. Rev. Philip Leow Khee Fatt to grace us with the opening message. Then followed by a series of orientation programme before we end with team building games. 

As one of the emphases of STEP is to expose the interns to Presbyterian heritage, we have crafted out a list of topics pertinent to our denominational identity. Yours truly gave a brief introduction on Presbyterian history and distinctive, Willy Lau (Synod's Youth Executive and my co-architect for STEP) talked about the organizational structure of the local Presbyterian Synod, and Dr. Lee Soo Ann (Senior Fellow of National University of Singapore) spoke on the history of the Presbyterian movement during the colonial time. These took place at the Synod House at Mt. Sophia. 

On the third and fourth day, the interns visited Trinity Theological College (TTC) and Singapore Bible College (SBC) respectively. The two colleges have graciously hosted us, showed us around their campuses, and deployed their esteemed lecturers to talk to us. We are very grateful to TTC's Dr. Ngoei, Dr. Simon Chan, Dr. Maggie Low, Eld. Eunice Low, Dr. Leow Theng Huat, Judy and Yicong, and to SBC's Dr. Clive Chin, Dr. Violet James, Dr. Calvin Chong, Ting Ting, Billy Chiang, and Veronica.

For the last session of the first week, we had Pr. Gideon Teo from Providence Presbyterian Church to guide the interns on how to develop their own ministry project in their own local church. As part of the objectives of STEP, we want our interns to either be involved in an existing ministry or initiate new ministry. This would provide them with practical experience which at the same time benefits their home church.

I hope that the first week's programme has served as a good entry point for the interns to gain a glimpse of what a wholesome Presbyterian ministry is or can be; which is historically rooted, theologically robust, and socially relevant. 

Pr. Joshua Woo
Chairman of STEP 2014