My Dear Readers
As you all know I have been pressurised to resign from Life Church after 53 years of service as predicted by what an elder told my son last year, “We’ll make your father pastor emeritus.” The word emeritus is a polite word but points to my being now put on the shelf.
For nearly a year a controversy has raged in Far Eastern Bible College between younger lecturers and those who stand with the Principal on the question whether the Bible has some mistakes or without any and absolutely perfect. As I take the view of a 100% perfect Bible and stand with Dr Jeffrey Khoo, more squabble developed on August 20 at Life Church Session meeting which drove me to my resignation.
Not desiring any further contention and following our Lord’s example, I determined to leave Life Church and begin anew with a fresh Service. The Lord wonderfully provided a place not far from Gilstead Road at the RELC, down Orange Grove Road from Shangri-La Hotel with immediate occupation. We take it as a positive sign from God.
So here you are this morning and following your pastor’s footsteps, and not being forsaken. I am specially delighted that Eld. Han Soon Juan is able to chair the inauguratory Service. May God unite us together to broadcast the good news of life everlasting to a lost world. We cannot tell how He will increase us in the days ahead, when we serve Him anew to rebuild His Kingdom. Bless the LORD, 0 my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Ps.103:1).
Your affectionate pastor
Response to “Summary of Facts” Relating to August 2003 Session Meeting and Other Issues
By Rev Timothy Tow
My truthful answer to Session’s release of the Summary of Facts enumerated according to the numbering in the “Summary”.
2. At the August Session Meeting (20 August 2003), I was lambasted for one and a half hour by opposing elders and deacons mostly for not restraining Dr Jeffrey Khoo from publishing his new booklet KJV Q&A and not sticking to the terms of Reconciliation. As it is a universal law that there must be freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I have no right to bind him. Moreover, there were no such restrictive terms to silence anyone in the Statement of Reconciliation.
In view of the fact that both sides have agreed that the KJV is the very Word of God and fully reliable, his plea that we have a 100% Preserved Word should be quite acceptable. I was taken to task on many other issues including my preaching that Eld. Han Soon Juan protested, “You people are putting Pastor on trial” and he walked out. It was so unbearable to me that I tendered my resignation, three times, not preplanned as declared by Rev Charles Seet.
3a. I never used the pulpit to attack any church member. This it is alleged relates to my message on 27 July 2003 at the 10.30 am service. I am said to have chastised a YAF member because of an email to all pastors. As the YAFer did not like my sermons she would switch to the 8am service. I wished her well to hear especially the two assistant pastors. But I am accused of being “unbiblical” as it goes against the parable taught by Jesus that a true shepherd will leave his 99 to look for the lost sheep. The YAF member now has two better pastors to feed her, how is she lost? The reason why I referred to her was her query about my preaching at Christmas/Easter where more non-believers would come. Should I still preach? I answered I specially appealed to non-believers to receive Christ at the 2002 Christmas Service. I called it an annual amnesty offer to them to prove I am concerned about non-believers at Christmas or Easter.
3b. The double-talk of an elder who does not hold to the Perfect Bible view, yet saying that he doesn’t say there are any mistakes now accuses certain FEBC lecturers of teaching a Perfect Bible as dogma. We agree either as personal preference. What’s wrong by saying “Is the Preservation of Scripture a Doctrine Worth Dying For?” To comment such a question for terrorism is malicious.
4. Since 1997, we have been paying tax on the unauthorized structures I have constructed at the back of our church under pressure for more living rooms. Now they are all taken down to the happy satisfaction of the authorities. Apart from allowing one unauthorised long open shed, three rooms attached to it are also permitted, shows the compassion of our Government. To state that I threatened to resign if these structures were removed is the first time I’m made aware of! And where is the shame I have brought to our Saviour’s name?
5. The complaint that the ministry of hospitality of Beulah hitherto exercised by me with meticulous care of church warden Yiew Pong Sen is wrong because some are non-Christians. But the Bible in Psalm 84 says unclean birds like sparrows and swallows have found a nest in God’s House proves we are right. Our giving them a place at Beulah is to bring them to church and our Saviour. I have personally baptized four, three from Communist China and one Malaysian and three Chinese relatives by Calvary (Mandarin). I have been deprived of this sacred duty now, as in other areas, to my dismay.
6. FEBC was established in 1962 under British Law which has given us wide freedom in exemption from Registration. For 42 years no one has bothered us. FEBC is not under Life Church and it has its own Directors under Dr (Eld) Tow Siang Yeow.
Finally, following our Lord’s Example, Lk. 4:25-32 and Matt. 13:57, 58 we are worshipping at RELC 10.30 this morning. We say the sheep will come along, not forsaking them.
God be with you. Good-bye.
HOW JESUS TAKETH PUNY MEN IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS
X. Who Can Forgive Sins But God?
“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this
fashion.” (Mark 2:1-12)
Commentary
Action Speaks Louder than Words
Verse for the Week:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct \thy paths. Prov. 3:5-6
