Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2014 (part 5)

1. During Qing Ming festival, can we assist in ferrying the items or paraphernalia for prayer? If yes, aren’t we indirectly having a part in their activity?
The key in making such decisions is not the action itself but the biblical reasoning behind the action. If you are driving your grandparent or parent somewhere who has these paraphernalia with them, there is no issue; you are driving your loved one. However, if you are ferrying just the items, then you are considered to be participating in the festival.

The Bible teaches us that as children of God, we must not be a stumbling block; we must not do anything that will prevent others from believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. To participate in such activities would result in our being a hindrance. Believing in Jesus Christ is the most important thing in a sinner’s life. It is a matter of a destiny in hell or heaven. Therefore, all believers who know such a biblical distinction must do their best to never in any way be a hindrance to a loved one from coming to know Christ.

2. How can children be discerning when dealing with their parents who are quarreling?
This is a spiritual warfare whereby the changing of hearts is God's prerogative alone. Children who are born again must pray and bear a godly witness to their parents at all times. They must remain respectful to both parents regardless of any strained relationship. It is not natural for children to correct parents. If it needs to be done, it has to be done biblically. God's Word must be used and the correction delivered tactfully and respectfully.

· If the parents are Christians – After prayer and when the time is right, speak to each parent separately first. Appeal to them based upon their salvation. If they are truly born again in Christ, then they ought to apologize to each other so that the witness of Christ in their lives will not be jeopardised by their refusal to forgive one another in the Lord. Share with them the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-15. Highlight especially verses 14 and 15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." If they have truly received forgiveness from God, then they must also forgive each other. Not to do so means that their own salvation is in question! They have not really experienced God's forgiveness.

Follow this up with Matthew 18:21-35 (KJV), "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Then ask both of them to speak to each other on their own or if they so choose, the child could even be the mediator and bring both of them together. The above counsel is based upon the assumption that the child is a grown adult or at least a teenager or young adult. It the child is very young, he could pray and perhaps ask his parents why they quarrel so much and will not forgive one another if they are truly believers? Let their conscience and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit work in their hearts.
· If the parents are not Christians – The believer should pray for their salvation. If they are not saved, it is impossible to use the Word of God to help them because they cannot come under the teaching of God's Truth without the Holy Spirit helping them. Share with them the gospel whenever the opportunity arises.

3. My dad thinks he is a Christian, but lacks the desire to seek God. How can I counsel him to check his salvation, and encourage him in the faith?
Again, prayer is the key. Pray that God will move his heart. Invite him to church if he is not going to church. If he is, ask the pastor or someone mature to speak with him. Buy him books to encourage him, especially Christian biographies of godly men. Do this during special occasions like on his birthday or at Christmas time. Remember this is a spiritual warfare and his heart can only be moved by God.

4. How should I counsel my friend (she professes to be a Christian) who is dating a non-Christian and says that her parents (who are Christians) are ok with it. She knows it is not right to be unequally yoked.
There is little you can do if her parents do not object to the relationship. If you are very close to your friend and your friend is really born again in Christ, appealing to her salvation is a good start. Let her know that if she is really a believer, she must live a holy life for Christ. Her life is not her own to live anyway she likes. She must deny herself, carry the cross and follow Christ. If she is not prepared to deny herself and continues with the relationship, then ask her to make sure of her salvation. Jesus warns in Mark 8:34-38 (KJV), "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."She must be told how serious a transgression the relationship is and how great a damage she is doing to the name of Christ that she bears.

If she really cares for the boy, she must break off the relationship. She must care for his soul. If she persists and continues in the relationship, then she is selfish and does not really love the boy. He is dead in sin and does not know better. She has had her eyes opened to the truth. How can she be a stumbling block to her boyfriend by giving him the message that he means more to her than Jesus Christ who died for her?! By continuing in the relationship she is also sending the message that he is more important to her than Christ. How can she share the gospel with him when he already knows that he is more important to her than Christ. She has lost all moral and spiritual right to share the gospel with him. She has by her choice and action condemned him to die in his sins and in hell! She is being selfish and does not really care for him at all!

5. Can Christians partake in exercise classes, e.g. yoga, tai-ji, pilates, wushu?
Exercises are to keep the body healthy so that the believer can serve the Lord better. We do not exercise for exercise sake. Many unbelievers keep their bodies healthy in order to participate in sin, which makes exercising unhealthy. Believers must be careful and know that exercises are not the end all. They must be very clear about the motivation and reason for keeping healthy. If they keep healthy and do not serve the Lord, then they might as well not be healthy! They are in fact keeping healthy for carnal reasons so it does not matter what kind of exercises they do.

If they want to participate in the eastern type of exercises, they need to investigate diligently to see if there is any residual spiritual significance which, if they participate, might damage their testimony for Christ. Should Christians participate in an exercise that might hurt their testimony for Christ? The biblical guideline can be gleaned from these verses in the Bible -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (KJV), "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." And 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV), "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

6. Our Church often speaks of the Charismatics as assisting the work of Satan. I have friends who attend charismatic churches and who say they believe in Jesus. Are they saved or not?
The two issues are different. Just because a person attends Calvary Pandan or any other sound biblical church does not mean that he is born again. There are some people who defend the perfect Bible but may not be born again. There are pastors and elders, including seminary and Bible College professors, who believe in the perfect Bible and may know the Bible’s teachings very well but have been revealed to be not born again! Salvation is of the Lord. Jesus made this clear when He said in Matthew 7:21-27 (KJV), "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

A person has to show forth the fruit of the Spirit if he is born again. Jesus says so in John 15:1-8 (KJV), "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

The Charismatic Movement is not of God but of the evil one because of its doctrines and practices. They have been evaluated objectively against the Bible and nearly every one of them is unbiblical. Their gospel message is one of health and wealth. Their pastors and theologians have preached it from the beginning of the movement. Many believe in Jesus Christ because they want to be healthy and wealthy on earth. Their restoration of the offices of Prophets and Apostles is another error and they continue to add to Scriptures. The Bible warns that when the Bible is completed, these offices will cease. For the Charismatics to teach that these spiritual gifts can be restored is deadly and dangerous. The Bible warns in Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV), "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." These two verses are found at the end of the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. They are a warning to all to not meddle with God's Word. The Charismatics’ speaking in tongues has been used by the evil one to unite all churches together regardless of the doctrinal differences. They speak gibberish and are taught that they are speaking to God when no one knows what anyone is saying at all! It is not a language with syntax and grammar. It is utter nonsense. This is the delusion that God says will be found in the last days before the Lord returns. The Bible reveals in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (KJV), "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Do not be deceived. The Charismatic movement is definitely not of God. Only some of their erroneous beliefs and practices have been mentioned. There are many more. If you have friends and family members who belong to the movement, you have to warn them to get out. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV), "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

7. You have mentioned many churches in Singapore which are not godly. Can you please name some of the more biblical and godly ones like Calvary Pandan?
Naming them is of little consequence because churches change. Today they might be fine but tomorrow they might change. The key is to know how to evaluate all churches to find out which are acceptable and which are not. Not all B-P churches are sound and biblical. The evil one has successfully infiltrated into all denominations. The B-P movement in Singapore is no exception. The Bible says that before the Lord returns there will be a falling away of Christianity which has already occurred with the formation of the World Council of Churches and the Neo-evangelical Movement in 1948.

A sound biblical church or para-church organization must have the following key elements in practice and not just in their Constitution. They must at least believe in all the following:-
* the Bible is perfect at inspiration and preservation;
* Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and Son of Man;
* Jesus Christ is born of the virgin Mary and the only Lord and Saviour;
* Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day for our justification;
* the church must practise the doctrine of Biblical Separation;
* the church must not participate with any organization that is part of the World Council of Churches like the Navigators, Varsity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, etc.;
* the church uses the KJV only for the English speaking congregation and CUV only for the Mandarin speaking congregation;
* the preaching must be against sin and to promote holiness;
* the church exalts Christ alone in all her teachings and preaching.
* the pastor must preach the whole council of God without the fear of man but with the fear of God in his heart;

Many of the above elements can be checked from the church’s website. Listen to their pastors and invited speakers. Check from their church bulletin the kind of para-church organizations they promote and encourage their members to support.

8. What are some of the practical steps one can take in assessing the needs before we make contributions to churches, bible colleges, missions and students?
The first assumption is that these are all sound and biblical ministries. Based upon this assumption, we need to pray for God's guidance to make the important decision of where/who to give to. We need to give an account to God for all the material responsibilities entrusted to us. They need to be used for the glory of God and the extension of God's kingdom. One of the ways is to ask the key person or persons directly. If it is with reference to a mission work, then ask the pastor relevant questions. Ask for specifics because no ministry is like a bottomless pit. Once the amount of support is reached, the support should end. In the case of the Bible College, ask the principal, faculty or Board members who have inside information about the student or needs of the College. Again, one must ask for specifics. This applies to all ministries.

The reason is that when funds are given without thought and indiscriminately, it can ruin the recipient. If too much is given, it may hurt the person more than bless. Thus the giver would have transgressed by giving without prayer and exercising proper due diligence before giving.

9. How should we treat a 60 year old Christian man who has married a few times, i.e. married-divorced-remarried (a very young wife, less than half his age)?
If he was divorced before he became a believer, do not be too hard on him. He did not know better. Now that he has become a Christian, and if the wife is also a Christian, he needs help more than condemnation or a judgemental spirit. The Bible does not specify the age between the husband and the wife in marriage. If they are truly in love and love the Lord, they need acceptance and understanding more than anyone else. We need to show love and help them integrate into the life of the church.

This is one of many scenarios that must be dealt with on a case by case basis. There are too many variables in every situation, thus it is not possible to have a one size fits all formula. The basic Christian principle in all situations is to help them in the Lord that they might become godly witnesses because Christ died for all sinners without distinction!

10.What can a sister in Christ do if she is aware of a man (professing Christian and is 'serving' in a particular ministry in church) who refuses to change and stop his drinking habit even after hearing many messages on this subject and many have advised him about it. The same person is also involved in fornication - but church leaders are reluctant to discipline him because they claim there is no concrete evidence despite knowing the pair is living together, not being married?
The nature of the service is important in this case. If he is in a teaching ministry, then he has to be suspended from service. Such behaviour from teachers of the Word will teach the children under their care to sin. This man has to be counselled to stop drinking, for it is a sin to drink in our age and time. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV), "Abstain from all appearance of evil." All believers must dissociate themselves from the drinking and drunken stupor that is so common in the world today.

As priests and royalties, all believers must stop drinking. This was the instruction for priests in OT times and applies to all believers today because they are the priests of God in NT times. Leviticus 10:8-11 (KJV), "And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." Kings were forbidden to drink as well in the OT and the principle applies to believers today because we are royalties in Christ while we remain on earth. Proverbs 31:4-5 (KJV), "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted." This is how God describes all believers: 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV), "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

The second question is contradictory. If the leaders know that they are living together and have clear evidence that it is true, then they cannot claim that they have no evidence. The church leaders must speak with the couple immediately. If the couple is guilty, then they must be commanded to repent of their sin and to stop with immediate effect as evidence of the sincerity of their repentance. They should be asked to stop serving and to stop taking the Lord's Supper until they have shown genuine fruits of repentance in their lives. This is the process of restoration for the couple. Again, it is difficult to give specific advice when there is insufficient information.