YOUNG PEOPLE’S FELLOWSHIP 2013
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:1, 2).
The Young People’s Fellowship (YPF) is a ministry of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church (TLBPC). The YPF ministers to young people ranging from secondary school students to young people in tertiary institutions. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Hence, by the grace of God, the YPF seeks to be a faithful and teaching Word-centred fellowship where “iron sharpeneth iron” (Prov 27:17).
Society dictates that we need to excel in every aspect of life. Thus, youths are hardwired to invest themselves completely in the rat-race of the world. Youths today are easily cumbered with their own set of stresses and cares of this world. They struggle with sin and youthful lusts, and can be weighed down by many issues, such as school work, relationships and peer pressure. The youths themselves do not have the strength to overcome the flesh. While exhausting themselves with the many cares of the world, the things pertaining to God and His Word are often relegated. Therefore, there is an urgent need for them to recalibrate their focus in Christ, and centre their lives on Him who has set the supreme example.
As Christians, we ought to guard ourselves from running such a worldly and deadly rat-race. In Vol VIII, No 19 of the TLBPC weekly, Pastor Jeffrey Khoo wrote, “Christians should know better. We should run a race to win, and this race is already laid out for us— the Christian race ‘that is set before us.’ … Running this race is not an option but a requirement. The moment we became believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are made to run this race, like it or not. The question therefore is not whether we are running this race or not, but whether we are running it well.”
Because of the above reasons, the YPF this year will study the book of Hebrews from Chapters 11 and 12 on the theme “Running the Race”. This study will be led by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo, and is an apt follow- up to the YPF Camp 2012 with the camp theme “Faithful to the End”. In addition, Brother Clement Chew will guide us through the book of Philippians, where we learn about pressing on in unity for Christ. Other messages cover topics pertaining to salvation, contemporary Christian theology, and practical youth issues. We will also continue with the combined Bible study meetings with Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church.
The Lord has provided a fellowship for young people in True Life to study the Word of God together and to encourage them to love God. Through studying God’s Word, we learn more about God’s love and holiness. Through the faithful teaching, we pray the Lord may work in our hearts to lay off and repent from our sins that hinder our Christian race and relationship with God. Through Christian fellowship, we pray that the youths realise that they are not alone in this spiritual race, and may encourage one another to press on by God’s grace.
Come and join us in the YPF! As we dig deep into God’s Holy Scriptures, may the Lord use His Word to help us live a consecrated and holy life for our loving Saviour who gave Himself for us and shed His precious blood to pay the price of our sin.
“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” (Eccl 12:1).
KJV UNDER ATTACK, AGAIN
Dr S H Tow
(Pandan News Weekly, 13 January 2013)
In 1998, when “Beyond Versions” went to press, I wrote: “Satan hates the King James Bible” and touched on how diabolical were the attacks mounted by the “father of lies” against God’s Word.
I reproduce hereat an excerpt from the 1998 printing: “Satan hates the King James Bible. His diabolical genius conceived a dark scheme: the King James Bible must be replaced! False teachers will bring forth corrupted Modern English Versions harbouring another message, ‘preaching another Jesus … another spirit … another gospel …’” (2 Corinthians 11:4), “and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light … his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
The latest attack comes from an anonymous pro-gay group which produced a distorted version of the KJB called the Queen James Bible. The following article is excerpted from CNSNews.com.
“Queen James Bible” scrubs Homophobic passages
Calling it “fabulous,” a publisher has come out with a new translation of the Bible that “resolves any homophobic interpretations,” deeming it the “Queen James” version.
“The Queen James Bible (QJB) is a big, fabulous Bible,” its website explains. Released on 27 Nov by a publisher named “Queen James,” anonymous editors say they “wanted to make a book filled with the word of God that nobody could use to incorrectly condemn God’s LGBT children.”
“And we succeeded,” they said.
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
The “Queen James” Bible changes a total of eight verses in the King James Version that deal with homosexuality, which it says are used by “anti-LGBT religious activists” to condemn homosexuals. “We edited the Bible to prevent homophobic interpretations,” the editors explain. For instance, the passage regarding Lot’s rescue from Sodom and Gomorra (Genesis 19:5) has been changed as follows:
— Original KJV: “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”
— Queen James Bible: “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may rape and humiliate them.”
“We side with most Bible scholars who understand the story of Sodom and Gomorra to be about bullying strangers” it states under “Editor’s Notes.”
“Rapes such as this one are common between men in prison; they aren’t sexual acts, they are power-dominating acts” the editors said. (perverse thinking – Ed).
The editors also argue that Leviticus 18:22, which labels sexual relations between two men an “abomination” would mean only “scandalous” in today’s world.
“The Hebrew word ‘to’evah’ from which abomination is translated simply means something that is ‘ritually unclean’ or a ‘taboo’” the editors write. “Given the definition of the Hebrew word … we suggest that by today’s standards, a biblical abomination would be understood to be ‘scandalous.’”
1 Corinthians 6:9, which states the “unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” has been changed from “abusers of themselves with mankind” to “promiscuous” … The book leaves the rest of the KJV unaltered. This self-described “Gay Bible” comes over 400 years after King James I of England commissioned 54 of the world’s most renowned scholars and clergymen to create an English translation of the Bible from the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic texts … (End of article – Ed).
“QJB—fabulous, diabolical poison”
The work of satanic minds, this latest addition to the “Modern English Perversions” of God’s Word will add “fuel to fire” in stoking the flames of the “gay fever” and sexual perversion now sweeping the world.
Sodom and Gomorra will find new comfort with “Queen James” supporters. Truly God’s judgment draws nigh.
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Lev 18:22)
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” (Lev 20:13)
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Rom 1:26-27).
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 7).
