~May Your Light Shine :D~

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Its close to midnight and I still have class tomorrow. Wasn’t sure whether I should be blogging but as I turned to do my quiet time, the Lord spoke to me.

I intended to blog about something else initially, the unfinished post is still somewhere on my computer. I started on this book, the life you’ve always wanted, before I had the chance to finish the post and I decided it would be better to post it another time.

Just came back from my church conference.

Its amazing to say the least. An absolute eye opening experience. I bet if some people from my church in Singapore came, they would be dumbstruck.

For starters, there were thousands of people there. Australians are surprisingly more kiasu than Singaporeans, reserving rows of seats using notebooks, coats and baby toys. Then comes the worship. For both nights I went, the first two songs were like a rock concert, both in style and decibel level. I seriously have no idea why they have to make it so loud that you can’t hear yourself sing. I believe most of them have some hearing loss. For goodness sake, some even bring babies and the babies still can fall asleep amidst the noise. If it weren’t such that I tremendously enjoy the other ¾ of the songs, I would very much like to keep my hearing.

Oh, by the way, Australians like to jump. I wonder how the stage does not collapse when almost everyone, song leaders, choir and musicians, are jumping. And I honestly felt like I was in a rock concert and I am surrounded by groupies.

Australians can get really loud, especially when they are high. Some of them were like on ecstasy the whole entire night. I am not just talking about the youths but middle-aged women, shouting, “yea!”, “Amen!” and who knows what else, everytime the person on stage says something. Lol, as if he can hear them. But knowing that 1/3 of South Australian youths take or have taken ecstasy, I very much rather people get high on God. At least there aren’t any harmful side effects.

Now you may be wondering, just what exactly did God speak to me? Cuz it sure doesn’t sound very holy to slam a church, much less your own. No, I did this to show you that my church is not perfect, no church is, for churches are all filled with imperfect people. But the reason I stay on is because I believe in what this church does.

Thank God for Pastor Danny, who believes in building a Monday church besides a Sunday church. Back home, the church I went to was confined to the four walls of the building. People went to church to get spiritually fed. But the question is, where is God for the rest of the week?

Over the past 2 years, Pastor Danny has led Edge church on various community projects, such as renovating a school and prison or simply buying a brand new car for a couple (who aren’t from church) in need. He does this not so that Edge will become famous, he does it simply because he wants to show the community God’s unconditional love. He does it not so that more people will come to his church, but he wants people to know that the Church, which is the body of Christ, cares. His vision is that churches of different denominations will work hand in hand to serve the community.

Can you imagine the impact it will make if Christians, of all denominations, worked hand in hand? Gosh, I can’t wait for that day!

The first commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbour as ourself. Now if we do not love our neighbour, we cannot love God. And who is our neighbour? Our neighbour is anyone in need. I believe that Pastor Danny’s vision fulfills these commandments.

To be honest, I do not think the churches in Singapore are loving their neighbours. You may say that renovation of schools in Singapore is the government’s responsibility. Cars with COE are far too exorbitant, besides we have an excellent public transport system. True, but even in affluent Singapore, there exists needs, if only we are willing to open our eyes and see. Kids from lower income families, whose parents cannot afford tuition. The elderly who have to fend for themselves. The sick and lonely in hospitals. Needs are everywhere, its only whether we want to meet them.

Jesus healed the sick, had compassion on the poor and commanded us to take care of widows and orphans. Are we doing likewise?

We are called to be the salt of the Earth, not salt of the church. Church shouldn’t be just about learning how to lead your life right, or knowing what is morally right and wrong. Church should be about leading your life right and doing what is right. We fail to be effective testimonies and often people have misconceptions about Christianity because we do not practice what we preach. We condemn but do not help. Who needs a church like that?

I would like to challenge churches in Singapore and churches all over the world, as well as all individual Christians, to love your neighbour.

Lydea blogged at 11:12 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...