Quoted from John Nicholas Lenker, "Sermon of Martin Luther, Volume 1, Sermon on Gospel Texts for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany." (Grand Rapids, Baker Books)
Dr Martin Luther preached this when he was comparing Zech 9:9 with Matthew 21:4-5.
"...First we must keep in mind that the Evangelists do not quote the prophets word by word, it is enough for them to have the same meaning and to show the fulfillment, directing us to the Scriptures so that we ourselves may read, what they omit, and see for ourselves that that nothing was written which is not richly fulfilled. It is natural, also, that he who has the substance and fulfillment, does not care so much for the words. Thus we often find that the Evangelists quotes the prophets somewhat changed, yet it is done without detriment to the understanding and intent of the original." (page 29-30)
"The Holy Spirit led the apostles...so that we might be kept close to the holy Scripture, and not set a bad example to future exegetes ...Hence, with such incomplete quotations he directs us to the original book where they can be found complete, so that there is no need for everyone to make a separate book and leave the first one." (page 31)
"...We notice,therefore, that it is the intention of all the apostles and evangelists in the New Testament to direct and drive us to the Old Testament, which they call the Holy Scriptures proper. For the New Testament was to be only the incarnate living Word and not scripture. Hence Christ did not write anything himself, but gave the command to preach and extend the Gospel, which lay hidden in the Scriptures, as we shall hear on Epiphany Sunday. (page 31)
Dr. Martin Luther admitted that the Scripture were not verbatim, in quotation and translation by the Apostles.
Dr. Martin Luther said that the Apostles did not care much for the words.
Dr. Martin Luther's sermon was pointing to the Living Word.
23.2.09
Do not worry
Be honest, I am not a secret agent like you, because I am not educated. But you know, there is a anti-terrorist booklet in the blog space.
One writer wrote in that booklet:
Preface:
The police is not tapping our internet usage at all, and they do not know what is wireless or wifi, so blogger is hidden from the police's eyes.
And our hand phones and computers have no spyware and virus at all, and the they will not listen into our conversation.
And the undercover agent cannot drive a car to follow our journey, because they are blind.
And the thieve will not climb up the rooftop at night..because they are lame...
and they will not harm you because they are for peace...
and they will not cut your telephone line to hear and see what is happening in your brain...since they do not know where is your telephone line...
the secret agent will sleep at night like you, and they will not spy and keep watching on you...because they are not paid by anyone for this...
the authority will not pressing on your windows and doors at night, hoping the windows and doors are not closed at night...
and they do not know what is biological warfare, because they do not have any spectacles in their home, do not worry at all,
and the terrorists are kind and sweet at first look, so do not worry at all...and they do not run any website at all, they do not know how to sent messages through the cookies, so do not worry...
and they do not know how to denote a bomb so they put into their pockets and they carry the bomb around, so do not worry at all..
and they will pray and pray until fire ran down from heaven, and they say it is to kill and destroy those mental ill patients like me...do not worry at all..
and they will not hear what you say even you shout in your bathroom, because they do not know how to put an ear in the wall...do not worry at all..
and they are too busy to put any camera to keep watching a place, because they are keep on watching TV day and night.
and the terrorists are not so clever, they wrote a mark "VPP" at their forehead, and walking around like a zombie...so do not worry at all...
and all the teachers and headmasters, lawyers, every one you know or people you do not know, they are all good people, so do not worry at all, they are kind and good, do not complaint at all, so do not worry at all...all Bible-Presbyterian in Singapore, and all their scholars are reformed and faithful to the end, so you do not worry!
and the politicians are all clean and cleansed, so do not worry at all...
even so do not worry at all, the terrorists are not invisible, we can see them, they are not God, they are around us, living like us. Be normal, act normal, pretend to hear nothing, see nothing, speak nothing...living like a stupid man...so do not worry about them,
Why we have to worry? Since there is no terrorist in our country?
"Do not worry for tomorrow, tomorrow has it's own worries!"
"Why you worry about your Bible, worry about the Bible and its future ?"
If you still worry about this, worry about that, you little faith, remember your faith like a mustard seed still can move mountains.
Furthermore, even the Bangali bravely told us, do not worry, "My body guard is in heaven!"
"Why you worry?" "Do not worry!" ...."Say Be happy, say... No VPP!"
Say cheese, cheese, cheese!
Am I thinking rightly?
One writer wrote in that booklet:
Preface:
The police is not tapping our internet usage at all, and they do not know what is wireless or wifi, so blogger is hidden from the police's eyes.
And our hand phones and computers have no spyware and virus at all, and the they will not listen into our conversation.
And the undercover agent cannot drive a car to follow our journey, because they are blind.
And the thieve will not climb up the rooftop at night..because they are lame...
and they will not harm you because they are for peace...
and they will not cut your telephone line to hear and see what is happening in your brain...since they do not know where is your telephone line...
the secret agent will sleep at night like you, and they will not spy and keep watching on you...because they are not paid by anyone for this...
the authority will not pressing on your windows and doors at night, hoping the windows and doors are not closed at night...
and they do not know what is biological warfare, because they do not have any spectacles in their home, do not worry at all,
and the terrorists are kind and sweet at first look, so do not worry at all...and they do not run any website at all, they do not know how to sent messages through the cookies, so do not worry...
and they do not know how to denote a bomb so they put into their pockets and they carry the bomb around, so do not worry at all..
and they will pray and pray until fire ran down from heaven, and they say it is to kill and destroy those mental ill patients like me...do not worry at all..
and they will not hear what you say even you shout in your bathroom, because they do not know how to put an ear in the wall...do not worry at all..
and they are too busy to put any camera to keep watching a place, because they are keep on watching TV day and night.
and the terrorists are not so clever, they wrote a mark "VPP" at their forehead, and walking around like a zombie...so do not worry at all...
and all the teachers and headmasters, lawyers, every one you know or people you do not know, they are all good people, so do not worry at all, they are kind and good, do not complaint at all, so do not worry at all...all Bible-Presbyterian in Singapore, and all their scholars are reformed and faithful to the end, so you do not worry!
and the politicians are all clean and cleansed, so do not worry at all...
even so do not worry at all, the terrorists are not invisible, we can see them, they are not God, they are around us, living like us. Be normal, act normal, pretend to hear nothing, see nothing, speak nothing...living like a stupid man...so do not worry about them,
Why we have to worry? Since there is no terrorist in our country?
"Do not worry for tomorrow, tomorrow has it's own worries!"
"Why you worry about your Bible, worry about the Bible and its future ?"
If you still worry about this, worry about that, you little faith, remember your faith like a mustard seed still can move mountains.
Furthermore, even the Bangali bravely told us, do not worry, "My body guard is in heaven!"
"Why you worry?" "Do not worry!" ...."Say Be happy, say... No VPP!"
Say cheese, cheese, cheese!
Am I thinking rightly?
Meditation from the Psalm 43
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
.....
The THEOLOGIANS PREACHED:
Keep on fleeing youthful lust...apply to young mEn like us, we agreed totally, BUT THEN I try to put into the theologians shoes, "keep on fleeing theologian's lust. What is the theologian's lust? THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS A THEOLOGIAN'S LUST.
ELI, ELI, ELI, THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHY YOU FELL BACKWARD AND DIED? WHY YOUR SONS WERE SO CRUEL TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, THOSE WHO CAME TO WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE, YOUR SONS WENT TO DISTURB THEM? WHY YOU DID NOT STOP THEM? ELI, ELI, ELI?
Circle a right answer below to discribe the theologians in Far Eastern Bible College:
A. ABSOLUTE POWER ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION. MAKING FUN WITH THE POWER IN BP circle. Who is the head in Bible Presbyterian Church? Jeffrey or Charles?
B. They EAT TOO MUCH AND they are VERY FREE !
C. THERE IS ANOTHER Way, OTHER THAN CHRIST, theologian's SELF AND DOCTRINE OF VPP.
D. TO DESTROY BIBLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES AND Far Eastern Bible College.
E. TO PLAY GOD IN THE COURT ROOM, BIBLE COLLEGE, CHURCHES, SOUTH EAST ASIA, USA.
F. TO CREATE MORE QUARRELS AND DEBATES IN THE CHRISTIAN DOM.
G. MAKING HASTE THE BUSINESS OF GOD KINGDOM WITH MEDICAL DOCTORS, LAWYERS, POLICEMEN, PASTORS, PREACHERS, ELDERS, WITH SECRET AGENT LIKE JAMES Bond, IN THE CIVIL COURT ROOM.
H. TO HAVE MORE THEOLOGIANS WITH STRINGS OF DEGREES, AND PHD IN THE CHURCH.
THE THEOLOGIANS ARE EATING AND WRITING, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, TEACH..TEACH..TEACH..SLEEP TEACH AND SLEEP...AH... BUT THEN THEY ARE GOING TO TEACH SOME MORE IN THE CIVIL COURT! 9A GILTEAD ROAD, SINGAPORE, IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THEOLOGICAL DEBATES, THE CIVIL COURT ROOM IS BETTER, THE DOCTORS SAID WHAT, "RUBBISH IN, RUBBISH OUT!" POINTING THEIR FINGERS AT YOU, "YOU ARE REJECTED BUT NOMINATED FOR OSCAR!"
I TRY TO BRING THEM TO THIS CORNER OF THE WWW, WORLD WIDE WEB, EVEN IN THIS SMALL BLOG, TO SPEAK TO THEM, REMEMBER THE KOALA BEAR, THEY ARE SLOW A BIT. DO NOT BE CRUEL TO THEM, Those small ANIMALS LIKE THE KOALA Bear, they have life!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
.....
The THEOLOGIANS PREACHED:
Keep on fleeing youthful lust...apply to young mEn like us, we agreed totally, BUT THEN I try to put into the theologians shoes, "keep on fleeing theologian's lust. What is the theologian's lust? THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS A THEOLOGIAN'S LUST.
ELI, ELI, ELI, THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHY YOU FELL BACKWARD AND DIED? WHY YOUR SONS WERE SO CRUEL TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, THOSE WHO CAME TO WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE, YOUR SONS WENT TO DISTURB THEM? WHY YOU DID NOT STOP THEM? ELI, ELI, ELI?
Circle a right answer below to discribe the theologians in Far Eastern Bible College:
A. ABSOLUTE POWER ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION. MAKING FUN WITH THE POWER IN BP circle. Who is the head in Bible Presbyterian Church? Jeffrey or Charles?
B. They EAT TOO MUCH AND they are VERY FREE !
C. THERE IS ANOTHER Way, OTHER THAN CHRIST, theologian's SELF AND DOCTRINE OF VPP.
D. TO DESTROY BIBLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES AND Far Eastern Bible College.
E. TO PLAY GOD IN THE COURT ROOM, BIBLE COLLEGE, CHURCHES, SOUTH EAST ASIA, USA.
F. TO CREATE MORE QUARRELS AND DEBATES IN THE CHRISTIAN DOM.
G. MAKING HASTE THE BUSINESS OF GOD KINGDOM WITH MEDICAL DOCTORS, LAWYERS, POLICEMEN, PASTORS, PREACHERS, ELDERS, WITH SECRET AGENT LIKE JAMES Bond, IN THE CIVIL COURT ROOM.
H. TO HAVE MORE THEOLOGIANS WITH STRINGS OF DEGREES, AND PHD IN THE CHURCH.
THE THEOLOGIANS ARE EATING AND WRITING, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, SLEEP, EAT AND WRITE, TEACH..TEACH..TEACH..SLEEP TEACH AND SLEEP...AH... BUT THEN THEY ARE GOING TO TEACH SOME MORE IN THE CIVIL COURT! 9A GILTEAD ROAD, SINGAPORE, IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THEOLOGICAL DEBATES, THE CIVIL COURT ROOM IS BETTER, THE DOCTORS SAID WHAT, "RUBBISH IN, RUBBISH OUT!" POINTING THEIR FINGERS AT YOU, "YOU ARE REJECTED BUT NOMINATED FOR OSCAR!"
I TRY TO BRING THEM TO THIS CORNER OF THE WWW, WORLD WIDE WEB, EVEN IN THIS SMALL BLOG, TO SPEAK TO THEM, REMEMBER THE KOALA BEAR, THEY ARE SLOW A BIT. DO NOT BE CRUEL TO THEM, Those small ANIMALS LIKE THE KOALA Bear, they have life!
Time is near!
I remembered when I was still very young, in the neighbourhood, an Indian Catholic boy came to evangelise to me, he shown me a picture, now I refresh it, the picture is like this:
........An angel stepping out from the sea, one of the leg is on the land, and one of the leg is still in the sea......
Pain of labour is started to be felt...time is near, soon, the great judgement is nearer our own states, above the air and space! God, the Living Great One, please hear the cries of your people down under. All faces will be turned into pail faces! .....Then the angel will walks into the land, and he will free us from bondage!
how long we have to wait?
i AM EDUCATED!
1. One day I heard an Indian man spoke like this, "I will cut down your hands, tell you again, I am educated!"
2. Another day I heard an church elder rebuked a poor pastor, "If you do not work, please do not eat at all."
3. Another day I heard another Insurance Agent mocked a poor Christian like this, "If you do not earn money and provide for your family, you are worsen than an unbeliever.Haha..Haha..Haha..please buy LIFE insurance...."
4. Another day, I heard another old man TEASING a young fisherman, "You are catching fish in an aquarium, haha, haha, haha, no wonder..."
5. Another day, I heard another man speaking, "Perfect Queen English is belongs to Catherine Davis. No one else, lets hear FROM her, SHE speaks in BBC again."
6. Another day, I heard another man speaks again, "ORIGINALLY BP churches IN SINGAPORE IS A PTE LTD COMPANY, now IT IS NO MORE A PTE LTD ...." We must have a perfect Bible!
Question for the theologians and doctors:
Among these 6 persons, Who is really educated and who is really the educator? Tell us the answer, since you said you are educated! And Why?
2. Another day I heard an church elder rebuked a poor pastor, "If you do not work, please do not eat at all."
3. Another day I heard another Insurance Agent mocked a poor Christian like this, "If you do not earn money and provide for your family, you are worsen than an unbeliever.Haha..Haha..Haha..please buy LIFE insurance...."
4. Another day, I heard another old man TEASING a young fisherman, "You are catching fish in an aquarium, haha, haha, haha, no wonder..."
5. Another day, I heard another man speaking, "Perfect Queen English is belongs to Catherine Davis. No one else, lets hear FROM her, SHE speaks in BBC again."
6. Another day, I heard another man speaks again, "ORIGINALLY BP churches IN SINGAPORE IS A PTE LTD COMPANY, now IT IS NO MORE A PTE LTD ...." We must have a perfect Bible!
Question for the theologians and doctors:
Among these 6 persons, Who is really educated and who is really the educator? Tell us the answer, since you said you are educated! And Why?
22.2.09
i HAVE NO PROBLEM !
One day I picked up a newspaper, which was thrown at the road side, and I started to read, lo and behold, and there was an article written by some badly mental ill patients. The head line of the article is "I have no problem !" I am very disturbed by this article, and felt those who wrote this article is actually the greatest maniac, they probably the greatest terrorist in our generation, beware of them! This is the article I read in that newspaper:
*************************begining of the article:
"I have no problem !"
I have no mental disorder, I am not crazy, if you disagree with me, you are crazy.I agree totally with the mission statement below, and I will keep silent, when anyone do these things, if anyone disagreed with me, it is because he or she is crazy, it is because he or he is having problems, I have no problem, my mission statement has no problem!
My Mission Statements:
1. Blowing up oneself and killing other is not a madness...if I can say, "God is great."
2. Shooting rockets everyday to disturb other is not a madness...if I can say, "I hate my neighbours."
3. 911 incident is not a madness...if I can say "Do not blame the pilots."
4. Corruption is not a madness...if I can say "I do not know what is corruption."
5. Racist is not a madness...if I can say "I am colour blind."
6. Taking more wives is not a madness...if I can say "I pay you."
7. Child abuse is not a madness...if I can say "I care for you."
8. Oppression is not a madness...if I can say "I love you."
9. And murdering is not a madness, if I can say "I am for peace."
10. Witchcraft is not a madness, if I can say "Amen."
11. I am always correct and right, because I have a perfect book in my hands and you do not!
My Schizophrenia is not a madness to me, it is your problem, it is not my problem! See how clever I am, I can still tell good lies, and nobody find it out, so I had no problem at all. I am not mad or crazy. because all my friends and families do these things, I am not crazy or sick, but you are!
****************************************end of the article.
Questions,
1.Do you think this is a good mission statement?
2.Do you see the problems of the author?
3.Where is the author now?
4.How to treat this author?
*************************begining of the article:
"I have no problem !"
I have no mental disorder, I am not crazy, if you disagree with me, you are crazy.I agree totally with the mission statement below, and I will keep silent, when anyone do these things, if anyone disagreed with me, it is because he or she is crazy, it is because he or he is having problems, I have no problem, my mission statement has no problem!
My Mission Statements:
1. Blowing up oneself and killing other is not a madness...if I can say, "God is great."
2. Shooting rockets everyday to disturb other is not a madness...if I can say, "I hate my neighbours."
3. 911 incident is not a madness...if I can say "Do not blame the pilots."
4. Corruption is not a madness...if I can say "I do not know what is corruption."
5. Racist is not a madness...if I can say "I am colour blind."
6. Taking more wives is not a madness...if I can say "I pay you."
7. Child abuse is not a madness...if I can say "I care for you."
8. Oppression is not a madness...if I can say "I love you."
9. And murdering is not a madness, if I can say "I am for peace."
10. Witchcraft is not a madness, if I can say "Amen."
11. I am always correct and right, because I have a perfect book in my hands and you do not!
My Schizophrenia is not a madness to me, it is your problem, it is not my problem! See how clever I am, I can still tell good lies, and nobody find it out, so I had no problem at all. I am not mad or crazy. because all my friends and families do these things, I am not crazy or sick, but you are!
****************************************end of the article.
Questions,
1.Do you think this is a good mission statement?
2.Do you see the problems of the author?
3.Where is the author now?
4.How to treat this author?
16.2.09
A cruel and murderous Indian nurse
There is a male Indian nurse living in a small town, and the poor christian came to know about him, the male nurse is working hard and earning money to sent his son to study medicine oversea.
People called this nurse as "doctor." He was only a nurse, looking after mental ill patients in the small town. One day the christian met a long time Chinese friend, she was very sad and angry about the Indian male nurse, because he had raped and molested her younger sister, her younger sister is having mental sickness, since her younger sister divorced with her husband, she went in and out from the hospital. She was under medications for a long time, once she was put under this nurse supervision, anyhow, she was raped and molested by the male nurse, because she was quite a good looking girl, the male nurse was tempted to do such a cruel thing on a sick and poor woman. The nurse raped many other women patients in his life as a nurse. And he punched and bitten those women, to silent those poor and helpless women, and he undercover his rape by using drugs on those poor women. The christian came to know about this matter. The christian is very sad about this nurse.
The male nurse became richer and richer, day by day he is happy with his life, never regret a bit about his wrong doings. One day, the nurse came to know that his wrongdoing was made known to the christian, the nurse started to become an enemy to the christian, and the nurse threaten to kill the christian and family, and he had done many things to disturb the poor christian mentally and physically, the poor christian pray to God until today, may God protect the christian from evil nurse and his harms.
Now the Indian said, it is becoming the christian's problem!
Who is seriously sick and need to be treated, the raped young woman, the nurse or the christian..
May God bless the nurse!
People called this nurse as "doctor." He was only a nurse, looking after mental ill patients in the small town. One day the christian met a long time Chinese friend, she was very sad and angry about the Indian male nurse, because he had raped and molested her younger sister, her younger sister is having mental sickness, since her younger sister divorced with her husband, she went in and out from the hospital. She was under medications for a long time, once she was put under this nurse supervision, anyhow, she was raped and molested by the male nurse, because she was quite a good looking girl, the male nurse was tempted to do such a cruel thing on a sick and poor woman. The nurse raped many other women patients in his life as a nurse. And he punched and bitten those women, to silent those poor and helpless women, and he undercover his rape by using drugs on those poor women. The christian came to know about this matter. The christian is very sad about this nurse.
The male nurse became richer and richer, day by day he is happy with his life, never regret a bit about his wrong doings. One day, the nurse came to know that his wrongdoing was made known to the christian, the nurse started to become an enemy to the christian, and the nurse threaten to kill the christian and family, and he had done many things to disturb the poor christian mentally and physically, the poor christian pray to God until today, may God protect the christian from evil nurse and his harms.
Now the Indian said, it is becoming the christian's problem!
Who is seriously sick and need to be treated, the raped young woman, the nurse or the christian..
May God bless the nurse!
A good and kind doctor
There is a doctor living in a small town, he is very well known, people around the town talked about him, they are saying the doctor is a good doctor and a kind one. The christian one day visited him, and personally come to understand that, this doctor is really as kind as people said about him.
One day, this poor christian went to his clinic. The poor christian was asked by a friend, to sent 2 old man and wife to see that doctor. The christian waited with the old couples in the clinic. The old couples insisted the christian to see the doctor, since the christian was not feeling well at that moment.
The christian whispered to the old couples, that we had only a 10 bucks note in his wallet, it was not enough to pay the doctor. But the old couples told the christian, ".. need not worry about the money, the doctor is kind, tell him that you are poor." the christian was afraid that he will be mistreated. The old couple explained to the poor christian. People knew the doctor's father well, he was a very poor man, working hard to earn money, rising his family and one of his son became a doctor, the son was sent to oversea to study medicine, at last the son becomes a good doctor, the father knew that is not enough, before he passed away, he called his son the good doctor to his sick bed, and advice him, "You must help the poor, remember once we were also poor like them, when you were still very young, we were very very poor. Remember to help the poor and sick in your clinic" Later, the father passed away. The son, as a good doctor, remembered his father's word well, he became a kind doctor. He had been good and kind to the poor and sick for so many years in the town. This is a true story, the good and kind doctor is still living in the mountainous town, people still talk about him until today.
So after sometime of waiting, it was the christian's turn to see the doctor, the christian went into the doctor room, the doctor was a middle aged man, and he asked the christian, what is wrong with him, and the christian told him, he was not well for few days, and he told the doctor how he felt, and the doctor type into his computer, and without any hesitation and delay, the christian told the doctor, he is poor and he had only 10 bucks in his wallet, the doctor listen carefully, silently and noded a little bit, and still typing and typing. And prescribed the suitable medicine for the christian, and doctor gently, let the christian went out. The christian went out from the room, and later he was asked by the doctor's nurse, to pay a small amount of money to take his medicine. The doctor had done a good thing to a total stranger!
The christian went home with the old couples, comforted, and now he knew there is still, and believe there are some good and kind doctor on this earth, and the story about this kind and good doctor is true. The old couple told the christian nothing but the truth. The old couples need not to swear or take an oath in telling his truth, the doctor need not to swear and take an oath to say he is good, but by his kindness and goodness, people believe in him, and he had faithfully keeping his father's words, "Help the poor and sick, remember how poor we were."
A good doctor is not good enough? The father asked his son to be a kind doctor! Believe it or not?
One day, this poor christian went to his clinic. The poor christian was asked by a friend, to sent 2 old man and wife to see that doctor. The christian waited with the old couples in the clinic. The old couples insisted the christian to see the doctor, since the christian was not feeling well at that moment.
The christian whispered to the old couples, that we had only a 10 bucks note in his wallet, it was not enough to pay the doctor. But the old couples told the christian, ".. need not worry about the money, the doctor is kind, tell him that you are poor." the christian was afraid that he will be mistreated. The old couple explained to the poor christian. People knew the doctor's father well, he was a very poor man, working hard to earn money, rising his family and one of his son became a doctor, the son was sent to oversea to study medicine, at last the son becomes a good doctor, the father knew that is not enough, before he passed away, he called his son the good doctor to his sick bed, and advice him, "You must help the poor, remember once we were also poor like them, when you were still very young, we were very very poor. Remember to help the poor and sick in your clinic" Later, the father passed away. The son, as a good doctor, remembered his father's word well, he became a kind doctor. He had been good and kind to the poor and sick for so many years in the town. This is a true story, the good and kind doctor is still living in the mountainous town, people still talk about him until today.
So after sometime of waiting, it was the christian's turn to see the doctor, the christian went into the doctor room, the doctor was a middle aged man, and he asked the christian, what is wrong with him, and the christian told him, he was not well for few days, and he told the doctor how he felt, and the doctor type into his computer, and without any hesitation and delay, the christian told the doctor, he is poor and he had only 10 bucks in his wallet, the doctor listen carefully, silently and noded a little bit, and still typing and typing. And prescribed the suitable medicine for the christian, and doctor gently, let the christian went out. The christian went out from the room, and later he was asked by the doctor's nurse, to pay a small amount of money to take his medicine. The doctor had done a good thing to a total stranger!
The christian went home with the old couples, comforted, and now he knew there is still, and believe there are some good and kind doctor on this earth, and the story about this kind and good doctor is true. The old couple told the christian nothing but the truth. The old couples need not to swear or take an oath in telling his truth, the doctor need not to swear and take an oath to say he is good, but by his kindness and goodness, people believe in him, and he had faithfully keeping his father's words, "Help the poor and sick, remember how poor we were."
A good doctor is not good enough? The father asked his son to be a kind doctor! Believe it or not?
14.2.09
A doctor or a debtor ?
For so many years of Bible reading, I never come across Paul calls himself as a doctor, doctor of theology, or Phd, ThM, or medical doctor...but I remember he called himself as a debtor, a debtor of the Gospel, paying the debt of the Gospel.
Are you pursuing a Christian life? Or you are pursuing to be a theologian rather than a Christian? Are you pursuing to be a doctor or a debtor like Paul? Read the article below, about Paul, a debtor...
Life’s Greatest Adventure
by Dr. Adrian Rogers
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth . . . Romans 1:14-16 (emphasis added)
I believe that the greatest Christian who has ever lived was the apostle Paul. Before he was saved, he persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ — hauling Christians into prison and watching while some of them were literally put to death. But he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and when Paul — who was then called Saul — saw Jesus, he asked Him the two greatest questions anyone can ever ask: “Who are You, Lord?” and “What would You have me to do?” He spent the rest of his life discovering the answers to those two questions.
Paul became the greatest missionary the world has ever known. What was it that so transformed him? I think the key is found in Paul’s repeated use of the phrase “I am …” to describe himself in the first chapter of Romans.
I Am a Debtor
First, Paul said, “I am a debtor …” He was faithful to the obligations of the Gospel. But to whom or to what was Paul indebted?
He was a debtor to Christ. In verse one, Paul introduced himself as, “Paul, A servant of Jesus Christ . . .” He saw himself a bond slave to the One Who had died for him.
He was a debtor to the conquerors of the past. In verse eight Paul said, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Paul realized that there were others who had suffered, bled, and died that he might know the Lord Jesus Christ — including Stephen who had died a martyr’s death as he watched.
He was a debtor to those around him. He said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians . . .” Paul owed a debt to share the message of Christ with those around him.
I Am Ready
Not only was Paul a debtor, but he was flexible and ready for the opportunities of the Gospel. He was ready to preach the Gospel whatever it took.
He was ready to live. I hear people say, “I would die for Jesus.” But I want to know, “Will you live for Jesus?”
Paul was also ready to die. He was ready to preach the Gospel in Rome where I believe he lost his life. He knew the dangers, but he was ready to die for His Lord.
He was ready to go. In verse thirteen he said, “. . . I purposed to come unto you . . .” Are you flexible enough that God could step in and interrupt your plans and totally change the course of your life? Would you go where God leads?
Or he was ready to stay. In verse thirteen, he added, “. . . I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) . . .” He was kept back or restrained. We don’t just up and go. Sometimes, God says, “go,” and sometimes He says, “stay.” Paul was ready — as we should be — to do whatever
I Am not Ashamed
Finally, Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ . . .” There is one Person Who stands out above all of those who have ever lived or who ever will live, and His name is Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Gospel is to bring people to Him for salvation. And the Gospel, as we see in verse sixteen, is “the power of God unto salvation.” I am grateful for that divine dynamite. An atomic bomb with all its power could not blow the sin out of your heart; but there is a power that can make drunkards sober, crooked men straight, and profane men pure. And all anyone has to do is believe in Jesus. That’s it! All of the other religions of the world are spelled D-O, but Christianity is spelled D-O-N-E. It’s done! It is finished! Simply “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Thankfully, Paul was not ashamed of this powerful Gospel.
Paul lived his life to bring others to Christ. He knew his obligation; he was ready; and he was not ashamed? Jesus transformed his life, and he wanted to tell the world about it. Are you ready for an adventure?
Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/ministryaudio/love_worth_finding/1201/
Are you pursuing a Christian life? Or you are pursuing to be a theologian rather than a Christian? Are you pursuing to be a doctor or a debtor like Paul? Read the article below, about Paul, a debtor...
Life’s Greatest Adventure
by Dr. Adrian Rogers
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth . . . Romans 1:14-16 (emphasis added)
I believe that the greatest Christian who has ever lived was the apostle Paul. Before he was saved, he persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ — hauling Christians into prison and watching while some of them were literally put to death. But he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and when Paul — who was then called Saul — saw Jesus, he asked Him the two greatest questions anyone can ever ask: “Who are You, Lord?” and “What would You have me to do?” He spent the rest of his life discovering the answers to those two questions.
Paul became the greatest missionary the world has ever known. What was it that so transformed him? I think the key is found in Paul’s repeated use of the phrase “I am …” to describe himself in the first chapter of Romans.
I Am a Debtor
First, Paul said, “I am a debtor …” He was faithful to the obligations of the Gospel. But to whom or to what was Paul indebted?
He was a debtor to Christ. In verse one, Paul introduced himself as, “Paul, A servant of Jesus Christ . . .” He saw himself a bond slave to the One Who had died for him.
He was a debtor to the conquerors of the past. In verse eight Paul said, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Paul realized that there were others who had suffered, bled, and died that he might know the Lord Jesus Christ — including Stephen who had died a martyr’s death as he watched.
He was a debtor to those around him. He said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians . . .” Paul owed a debt to share the message of Christ with those around him.
I Am Ready
Not only was Paul a debtor, but he was flexible and ready for the opportunities of the Gospel. He was ready to preach the Gospel whatever it took.
He was ready to live. I hear people say, “I would die for Jesus.” But I want to know, “Will you live for Jesus?”
Paul was also ready to die. He was ready to preach the Gospel in Rome where I believe he lost his life. He knew the dangers, but he was ready to die for His Lord.
He was ready to go. In verse thirteen he said, “. . . I purposed to come unto you . . .” Are you flexible enough that God could step in and interrupt your plans and totally change the course of your life? Would you go where God leads?
Or he was ready to stay. In verse thirteen, he added, “. . . I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) . . .” He was kept back or restrained. We don’t just up and go. Sometimes, God says, “go,” and sometimes He says, “stay.” Paul was ready — as we should be — to do whatever
I Am not Ashamed
Finally, Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ . . .” There is one Person Who stands out above all of those who have ever lived or who ever will live, and His name is Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Gospel is to bring people to Him for salvation. And the Gospel, as we see in verse sixteen, is “the power of God unto salvation.” I am grateful for that divine dynamite. An atomic bomb with all its power could not blow the sin out of your heart; but there is a power that can make drunkards sober, crooked men straight, and profane men pure. And all anyone has to do is believe in Jesus. That’s it! All of the other religions of the world are spelled D-O, but Christianity is spelled D-O-N-E. It’s done! It is finished! Simply “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Thankfully, Paul was not ashamed of this powerful Gospel.
Paul lived his life to bring others to Christ. He knew his obligation; he was ready; and he was not ashamed? Jesus transformed his life, and he wanted to tell the world about it. Are you ready for an adventure?
Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/ministryaudio/love_worth_finding/1201/
10.2.09
Psalm 12 vs Proverb 12
Open your Bible to Psalm 12, the FEBC theologians used this Psalm to support VPP!
I proposed them to read Proverb 12, to refute their wrong view, the Verbal Plenary Preserving the Underlying text, greek and hebrew Text of the KJV!
Proverbs 12:1, talk about instruction,
12:2, some will be condemned.
12:3, there is wickedness, do not say none.
12:4, where is virtuous woman.
12:5, there is deceit.
12:6, for blood, not for peace.
12:7, they will be overturned.
12:8, HAVING perverse heart.
12:9, who is honouring himself?
12:10, THEIR mercies are cruel!
12:11, void of understanding!
12:12, TAKEN THE net of the evil man.
12:13, HIS LIPS. LOOK!
12:14, fruit of his mouth.
12:15, fool is right in his eyes.
12;16, a fool's wrath.
12:17, a false witness.
12:18, VPP, A piercing of a sword.
12:19, a lying tongue.
12:20, AN imagineD evil.
12:21, A mischief.
12:22, this is abomination.
12:23, proclaimeth foolishness.
12:24, I am slothful.
12:25, heaviness!
12:26, THEY ARE seduced.
12:27, slothful man.
12:28, there is life in the pathway.
Where is wisdom in these Theologians in FEBC, you know why they become like this? Is Proverb 12 mentioning them? What good manner in these theologian, in dealing with fellow Christian, even FIGHTING in court room, to witness about Christ? Do you still want to follow these theologian until to the court room? Stop!
If they do not know why they become like this, there is another verse, perfect description about them,
Proverbs 13:10, ONLY BY PRIDE COMETH CONTENTION, BUT WITH THE WELL ADVISED IS WISDOM.
Why these theologians become like this, today? Answer is "Pride," but they will say they are humble, they are faithful. BUT they are "PROUD," AND BEHAVING LIKE THOSE MEDICAL DOCTOR.THESE THEOLOGIANS WHO ARE TEACHING VPP, IS GIVEN DRUGS AND PILLS, BY A MEDICAL DOCTORS, SO THEY LOST CONTROL, INSANE, HAVING FALSE IMAGINATION, CONTROLLED INDIRECTLY BY A MEDICAL DOCTOR. PRAY FOR THESE THEOLOGIANS, SO THAT THEY WILL Stop TAKING those DRUGS AND PILLS any longer.
WHAT KIND OF PILLS, THEY ARE Taking? Since YOU ASKED ME, LET ME TELL YOU, PILLS OF 'PRIDE,'Tablets of "pride," Soup of "pride."
Pride, pride, pride. Not VPP, but PPP!
I proposed them to read Proverb 12, to refute their wrong view, the Verbal Plenary Preserving the Underlying text, greek and hebrew Text of the KJV!
Proverbs 12:1, talk about instruction,
12:2, some will be condemned.
12:3, there is wickedness, do not say none.
12:4, where is virtuous woman.
12:5, there is deceit.
12:6, for blood, not for peace.
12:7, they will be overturned.
12:8, HAVING perverse heart.
12:9, who is honouring himself?
12:10, THEIR mercies are cruel!
12:11, void of understanding!
12:12, TAKEN THE net of the evil man.
12:13, HIS LIPS. LOOK!
12:14, fruit of his mouth.
12:15, fool is right in his eyes.
12;16, a fool's wrath.
12:17, a false witness.
12:18, VPP, A piercing of a sword.
12:19, a lying tongue.
12:20, AN imagineD evil.
12:21, A mischief.
12:22, this is abomination.
12:23, proclaimeth foolishness.
12:24, I am slothful.
12:25, heaviness!
12:26, THEY ARE seduced.
12:27, slothful man.
12:28, there is life in the pathway.
Where is wisdom in these Theologians in FEBC, you know why they become like this? Is Proverb 12 mentioning them? What good manner in these theologian, in dealing with fellow Christian, even FIGHTING in court room, to witness about Christ? Do you still want to follow these theologian until to the court room? Stop!
If they do not know why they become like this, there is another verse, perfect description about them,
Proverbs 13:10, ONLY BY PRIDE COMETH CONTENTION, BUT WITH THE WELL ADVISED IS WISDOM.
Why these theologians become like this, today? Answer is "Pride," but they will say they are humble, they are faithful. BUT they are "PROUD," AND BEHAVING LIKE THOSE MEDICAL DOCTOR.THESE THEOLOGIANS WHO ARE TEACHING VPP, IS GIVEN DRUGS AND PILLS, BY A MEDICAL DOCTORS, SO THEY LOST CONTROL, INSANE, HAVING FALSE IMAGINATION, CONTROLLED INDIRECTLY BY A MEDICAL DOCTOR. PRAY FOR THESE THEOLOGIANS, SO THAT THEY WILL Stop TAKING those DRUGS AND PILLS any longer.
WHAT KIND OF PILLS, THEY ARE Taking? Since YOU ASKED ME, LET ME TELL YOU, PILLS OF 'PRIDE,'Tablets of "pride," Soup of "pride."
Pride, pride, pride. Not VPP, but PPP!
9.2.09
A VERY SAD STATE OF THE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SINGAPORE TODAY
copied from http://www.gracebpc.org.sg/weekly/2009/Jan%202009/1101/gwc.htm
A warning from Pastor
I was raised a B-P Church member since 1960 when I first attended Galilee B-P Church in Pasir Panjang. I got to know Rev Timothy Tow at a very young age. I remembered Rev Tow visiting our family when we were living in No. 5 Pasir Panjang Road.
In 1974 the Lord called me into the full-time Christian ministry and I began my theological education in the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC). I graduated in 1977 and served in Grace B-P Church. I have been in the B-P Church ever since.
I have seen the many good sides of the B-P Church. I have been blessed by her strong doctrinal teachings. FEBC was once a strong school of theology, producing many Bible believing pastors and full-time workers for the church. I am thankful to the Lord for FEBC and her fundamental teachings in those days.
The changes today in the B-P Church
Something has gone terribly wrong with the B-P denomination today. Just about six years ago, a new teaching was introduced into FEBC by some young lecturers. The Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) teaches that God has preserved certain Greek and Hebrew manuscripts which underline the King James Version (KJV). So these people say that God has given the English speaking world only one Bible, the KJV. To them, the KJV is the "inspired" Bible for the English speaking church. All other versions namely NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, etc, are corrupt versions. They will condemn anyone or any church that uses a version other than the KJV. They have even gone to the extreme to say that other Bible versions present a different Jesus from the KJV.
I have never, in all my life, in the B-P Church seen such extreme teaching which had led to church splits, name calling, and the soon to be, public court battle between FEBC and Life B-P Church.
This VPP teaching has been a curse in the B-P Church. Once upon a time, we were all united and growing strong together as a denomination. Today it is a laughing stock to the Christian community in Singapore.
This year especially is bad for the B-P Church as news of both FEBC and Life B-P Church's public court case have been announced in the papers. This is against God's Word. See what the apostle Paul has to say about this matter in 1 Cor. 6: 1- 6
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!"
(NKJV)
How could believers who know God's Word do such a thing?
The VPP teaching has not been a blessing to the B-P denomination. Instead it has caused trouble and disunity.
For your information, a large majority of B-P Pastors are not supporting this teaching. We strongly oppose it. Very few B-P Pastors and B-P Churches are for this teaching. They should rightly call themselves the VPP B-P Church and not be confused with those of us who are the original B-P Church.
Churches which are for VPP:
" Calvary-Pandan BPC, Calvary Tengah BPC, Gethsemane BPC, True Life BPC, Truth BPC, Berean BPC
B-P Churches that are not for VPP:
" Life BPC, Olivet BPC, Grace BPC, Shalom BPC, Nazareth BPC, Galilee BPC, Maranatha BPC, Sharon BPC, Gospel Light BPC, Moriah BPC, Emmanuel BPC, Herald BPC, Calvary-Jurong BPC, Eden BPC, Jireh BPC, Macedonia BPC, Sembawang BPC, Zion BPC (Serangoon Gardens and Bishan), Faith BPC, All the Tamil B-P Churches, All the Mountain B-P Churches (i.e., Hebron, Herman, Mt. Carmel BPCs etc).
Be watchful
We live in the last days. The Bible warned of many false teachers coming into the church who will deceive even the elect. And sad to say, many will follow their pernicious way (2 Peter 2: 1-2).
The VPP Traits
We should know that these people are a very combative group.
One of the traits in this group of VPPers is to fight anyone who disagrees with them. The recent and earlier editions of "The Burning Bush", a publication of FEBC, and the writings and the correspondences of some of these advocates of VPPs resonate their argumentative attitude. "The Burning Bush" is targetted to combat non-VPPs. It was once an edifying magazine, but today, it is used to put down B-P pastors and elders who are not supportive of their cause. There is nothing edifying in this magazine which publishes only about VPP.
"The Burning Bush" has also been blasting the newly setup "Asia Seminary for Ministry" (ASM), in which Rev. Goh Seng Fong, Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Dn. John Chin and myself are the founding members. "ASM" has been accused of being neo-evangelical and ecumenical.
The aggressive nature of their correspondences in the many emails I have read is unbecoming of a Christian leader.
Split Churches
The issue of VPP creates a huge problem and results in split of Churches. This is witnessed in the States as well as on our own shores. Since the day VPP came to the B-P Church in Singapore, we had seen with our own eyes the problems encountered by Life B-P Church, Calvary-Jurong B-P Church and Calvary-Pandan B-P Church.
A Lack of Love
Another of their trait is the lack of love in dealing with fellow B-P pastors and elders over this issue. To them, this matter of VPP is life and death. If the B-P Pastor or Elder is not supporting them, they are swiftly condemned as neo-evangelicals or neo-fundamentalists. Their names are highlighted in their magazines and church weekly, etc. There is no personal and friendly conversation over how to solve this issue in a loving manner.
Name Calling
They are quick to call anyone who are not for their cause, neo-evangelicals, neo-fundamentalists, ecumenical, etc. They have also labelled fellow B-P pastors as liars. They have published openly the names of Bible colleges, seminaries and gave them such names.
Claim to possess the truth
They claim to have the perfect Bible. They have the "inspired" KJV with them. So long as other Christians do not use the KJV, they do not have the truth. To these people, all other Bible versions are corrupt and don't have the the Word of God. They are the only ones who have it because they use the KJV. So they have the truth. Is that so?
Martin Luther, the reformer, did not use the KJV. Did he have the truth of God's Word? What about Christians of other races, like the Indonesians, for example, whose Bibles are in the Indonesian language, do they have the truth of God's Word? What about Christian leaders like John MacArthur who uses ESV or NASB? Is he teaching the truth from God's Word?
Do not fear at all, my brethren! We have the truth of God's Word in other Bible versions and diverse languages. God did not give us one Bible version only, i.e., the KJV, even though we may love this version.
"In the first place, then, let it be said that we believers in the plenary inspiration of the Bible do not hold that the Authorized Version or any other form of the English Bible is inspired. I beg your pardon for saying anything so obvious as that, but, do you know, my friends, it is necessary to say it. There are scarcely any limits to the ignorance which is attributed to us today by people who have never given themselves the trouble to discover what our view really is. Let it be said then very plainly that we do not hold that the Authorized Version or any other form of the English Bible is inspired. We are really quite well aware of the fact that the Bible was written in Hebrew and in Greek. The Authorized Version is a translation from the Hebrew and the Greek. It is a marvelously good translation, but it is not a perfect translation. There are errors in it. The translators were not supernaturally preserved from making mistakes. It is not inspired."
"Is the Bible the Word of God?"
(A quote by J. Gresham Machen taken "The Christian Faith in the Modern World" 1936)
Claim to defend the truth?
VPPers like to see themselves as defenders of the truth. It seems that they see themselves as the only ones who have the perfect and "inspired" Bible (the KJV) and they are defending this Bible version. Anyone who speak against this version is immediately taken to task.
Conclusion
Has not the original B-P Church been defending the truth since the days of Rev. Timothy Tow? We have been taught and we will continue to teach our B-P Church members that God has given to us the inspired, inerrant Word of God in the original autographs. This is VPI (Verbal Plenary Inspiration). We have never heard of VPP which is a new and strange teaching that has infiltrated the B-P Church some years ago. We have defended the truth of God's Word and we will continue to do so. We will defend our flock against this teaching of VPP. That is what the original B-P Church is doing today. So who is the original B-P Church? Are we not the ones?
Rev Tan Eng Boo
Pastor, Grace B-P Church
January 2009
p.s. please read other articles at his website.
A warning from Pastor
I was raised a B-P Church member since 1960 when I first attended Galilee B-P Church in Pasir Panjang. I got to know Rev Timothy Tow at a very young age. I remembered Rev Tow visiting our family when we were living in No. 5 Pasir Panjang Road.
In 1974 the Lord called me into the full-time Christian ministry and I began my theological education in the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC). I graduated in 1977 and served in Grace B-P Church. I have been in the B-P Church ever since.
I have seen the many good sides of the B-P Church. I have been blessed by her strong doctrinal teachings. FEBC was once a strong school of theology, producing many Bible believing pastors and full-time workers for the church. I am thankful to the Lord for FEBC and her fundamental teachings in those days.
The changes today in the B-P Church
Something has gone terribly wrong with the B-P denomination today. Just about six years ago, a new teaching was introduced into FEBC by some young lecturers. The Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) teaches that God has preserved certain Greek and Hebrew manuscripts which underline the King James Version (KJV). So these people say that God has given the English speaking world only one Bible, the KJV. To them, the KJV is the "inspired" Bible for the English speaking church. All other versions namely NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, etc, are corrupt versions. They will condemn anyone or any church that uses a version other than the KJV. They have even gone to the extreme to say that other Bible versions present a different Jesus from the KJV.
I have never, in all my life, in the B-P Church seen such extreme teaching which had led to church splits, name calling, and the soon to be, public court battle between FEBC and Life B-P Church.
This VPP teaching has been a curse in the B-P Church. Once upon a time, we were all united and growing strong together as a denomination. Today it is a laughing stock to the Christian community in Singapore.
This year especially is bad for the B-P Church as news of both FEBC and Life B-P Church's public court case have been announced in the papers. This is against God's Word. See what the apostle Paul has to say about this matter in 1 Cor. 6: 1- 6
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!"
(NKJV)
How could believers who know God's Word do such a thing?
The VPP teaching has not been a blessing to the B-P denomination. Instead it has caused trouble and disunity.
For your information, a large majority of B-P Pastors are not supporting this teaching. We strongly oppose it. Very few B-P Pastors and B-P Churches are for this teaching. They should rightly call themselves the VPP B-P Church and not be confused with those of us who are the original B-P Church.
Churches which are for VPP:
" Calvary-Pandan BPC, Calvary Tengah BPC, Gethsemane BPC, True Life BPC, Truth BPC, Berean BPC
B-P Churches that are not for VPP:
" Life BPC, Olivet BPC, Grace BPC, Shalom BPC, Nazareth BPC, Galilee BPC, Maranatha BPC, Sharon BPC, Gospel Light BPC, Moriah BPC, Emmanuel BPC, Herald BPC, Calvary-Jurong BPC, Eden BPC, Jireh BPC, Macedonia BPC, Sembawang BPC, Zion BPC (Serangoon Gardens and Bishan), Faith BPC, All the Tamil B-P Churches, All the Mountain B-P Churches (i.e., Hebron, Herman, Mt. Carmel BPCs etc).
Be watchful
We live in the last days. The Bible warned of many false teachers coming into the church who will deceive even the elect. And sad to say, many will follow their pernicious way (2 Peter 2: 1-2).
The VPP Traits
We should know that these people are a very combative group.
One of the traits in this group of VPPers is to fight anyone who disagrees with them. The recent and earlier editions of "The Burning Bush", a publication of FEBC, and the writings and the correspondences of some of these advocates of VPPs resonate their argumentative attitude. "The Burning Bush" is targetted to combat non-VPPs. It was once an edifying magazine, but today, it is used to put down B-P pastors and elders who are not supportive of their cause. There is nothing edifying in this magazine which publishes only about VPP.
"The Burning Bush" has also been blasting the newly setup "Asia Seminary for Ministry" (ASM), in which Rev. Goh Seng Fong, Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Dn. John Chin and myself are the founding members. "ASM" has been accused of being neo-evangelical and ecumenical.
The aggressive nature of their correspondences in the many emails I have read is unbecoming of a Christian leader.
Split Churches
The issue of VPP creates a huge problem and results in split of Churches. This is witnessed in the States as well as on our own shores. Since the day VPP came to the B-P Church in Singapore, we had seen with our own eyes the problems encountered by Life B-P Church, Calvary-Jurong B-P Church and Calvary-Pandan B-P Church.
A Lack of Love
Another of their trait is the lack of love in dealing with fellow B-P pastors and elders over this issue. To them, this matter of VPP is life and death. If the B-P Pastor or Elder is not supporting them, they are swiftly condemned as neo-evangelicals or neo-fundamentalists. Their names are highlighted in their magazines and church weekly, etc. There is no personal and friendly conversation over how to solve this issue in a loving manner.
Name Calling
They are quick to call anyone who are not for their cause, neo-evangelicals, neo-fundamentalists, ecumenical, etc. They have also labelled fellow B-P pastors as liars. They have published openly the names of Bible colleges, seminaries and gave them such names.
Claim to possess the truth
They claim to have the perfect Bible. They have the "inspired" KJV with them. So long as other Christians do not use the KJV, they do not have the truth. To these people, all other Bible versions are corrupt and don't have the the Word of God. They are the only ones who have it because they use the KJV. So they have the truth. Is that so?
Martin Luther, the reformer, did not use the KJV. Did he have the truth of God's Word? What about Christians of other races, like the Indonesians, for example, whose Bibles are in the Indonesian language, do they have the truth of God's Word? What about Christian leaders like John MacArthur who uses ESV or NASB? Is he teaching the truth from God's Word?
Do not fear at all, my brethren! We have the truth of God's Word in other Bible versions and diverse languages. God did not give us one Bible version only, i.e., the KJV, even though we may love this version.
"In the first place, then, let it be said that we believers in the plenary inspiration of the Bible do not hold that the Authorized Version or any other form of the English Bible is inspired. I beg your pardon for saying anything so obvious as that, but, do you know, my friends, it is necessary to say it. There are scarcely any limits to the ignorance which is attributed to us today by people who have never given themselves the trouble to discover what our view really is. Let it be said then very plainly that we do not hold that the Authorized Version or any other form of the English Bible is inspired. We are really quite well aware of the fact that the Bible was written in Hebrew and in Greek. The Authorized Version is a translation from the Hebrew and the Greek. It is a marvelously good translation, but it is not a perfect translation. There are errors in it. The translators were not supernaturally preserved from making mistakes. It is not inspired."
"Is the Bible the Word of God?"
(A quote by J. Gresham Machen taken "The Christian Faith in the Modern World" 1936)
Claim to defend the truth?
VPPers like to see themselves as defenders of the truth. It seems that they see themselves as the only ones who have the perfect and "inspired" Bible (the KJV) and they are defending this Bible version. Anyone who speak against this version is immediately taken to task.
Conclusion
Has not the original B-P Church been defending the truth since the days of Rev. Timothy Tow? We have been taught and we will continue to teach our B-P Church members that God has given to us the inspired, inerrant Word of God in the original autographs. This is VPI (Verbal Plenary Inspiration). We have never heard of VPP which is a new and strange teaching that has infiltrated the B-P Church some years ago. We have defended the truth of God's Word and we will continue to do so. We will defend our flock against this teaching of VPP. That is what the original B-P Church is doing today. So who is the original B-P Church? Are we not the ones?
Rev Tan Eng Boo
Pastor, Grace B-P Church
January 2009
p.s. please read other articles at his website.
7.2.09
True color
The brown color face brother is good at politic, and the yellow color face brother is good in bussiness, and the black color face is good at philosophy..and the other small brothers have their talents each. They are living in a small long house, so they grumble and grumble, because, their parents did not have enough food, drink and clothing for each of them. Later they separated, and build their own family.
One day I met the black color face brother in the town, he is selling cars in the town this moment, and he smiles to me because he find out that I am sick and weak, he told me, in order to have better life, he said it is better for a man to take more wives, he had 2 wives, and going for the third, he said, more wives, means he can get more services and cares from his wives, and his health is better taken cared by those wives! More wives, he said, longer life. I look at him with a shock. Cultural shock!
Another day, I met with the yellow color face brother, he told me another story, he said, the feng shui teacher and sin sheh in his town, told him, due to the feng shui in the town, the man in this town and the nearest coastal areas are encouraged to take 2 or 3 wives. More wife, more luck, means more money! I look at him with a shame. Cultural shame!
No matter what the color of a snake, to kill a snake, we must strike the head, not the tail, smash the snake's head, the body and tail may continue to move, later it will be stopped. When the head is striked, the snake is finished! No matter how big is the snake, we must strike the head first. Do not just look at the skin color, the vernom is in his feng! Do not just look at the human skin, the evil heart is hidden under his chest, no one know that heart, accept God Himself.
One day I met the black color face brother in the town, he is selling cars in the town this moment, and he smiles to me because he find out that I am sick and weak, he told me, in order to have better life, he said it is better for a man to take more wives, he had 2 wives, and going for the third, he said, more wives, means he can get more services and cares from his wives, and his health is better taken cared by those wives! More wives, he said, longer life. I look at him with a shock. Cultural shock!
Another day, I met with the yellow color face brother, he told me another story, he said, the feng shui teacher and sin sheh in his town, told him, due to the feng shui in the town, the man in this town and the nearest coastal areas are encouraged to take 2 or 3 wives. More wife, more luck, means more money! I look at him with a shame. Cultural shame!
No matter what the color of a snake, to kill a snake, we must strike the head, not the tail, smash the snake's head, the body and tail may continue to move, later it will be stopped. When the head is striked, the snake is finished! No matter how big is the snake, we must strike the head first. Do not just look at the skin color, the vernom is in his feng! Do not just look at the human skin, the evil heart is hidden under his chest, no one know that heart, accept God Himself.
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