Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

Questions from Pandan Annual Church Camp 2014--part 6

1. Some believers feel that it is not wrong to take on the ways of the world to reach out to unbelievers/backslidden friends. For example, going out for drinks with friends (citing the example of Jesus eating with tax collectors), or as a youth leader having a Mohawk hairstyle because he feels the youths will have an affinity to him and as a leader he can reach out to them better. How do we evaluate this and advise people with these views?
The key is in the meaning of the phrase "the ways of the world." If "the ways of the world" are sinful, then the believer cannot adopt or condone them because God will not bless the ministry of anyone who sins. He will not even hear the prayers of the believer who refuses to repent of his sin, and much more so will he reject the works of a believer when he sins. Psalm 66:18 says (KJV), "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." This is a spiritual warfare and not a man-centred exercise. When the apostle wrote that he is all things to all men, he definitely did not mean to cross the line into sin.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (KJV), "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." The apostle Paul was referring to the culture differences that Jews had with Gentiles. Paul would not allow culture to hinder him from witnessing for Christ. On the other hand, Paul would also not do anything that is sinful in the name of culture in order to witness. When he says that he was made all things to all men, he was referring to personal cultural preferences rather than mere identification whereby the believer's identity and witness for Christ becomes a compromise, i.e. a transgression. If by not eating certain meat he could be a better witness, then he would not eat meat. However, when it comes to eating food that has been offered to idols, Paul would not eat it at all.

We need to understand that salvation is of the LORD. He alone saves souls. The believer cannot. He is only an instrument. God saves souls by using a clean, i.e. holy, instrument to bring the Word of God to lost souls. If the "believer" is living in sin and commits sins and if God were to use him to witness, would that not mean that God condones what he is wilfully doing? The doctrine of Biblical Separation is a wonderful and most blessed doctrine to apply in witnessing. Vices like drinking, smoking and gambling must be forbidden in every believer's life, regardless of any noble motive. These activities do not just have the appearance of sin, they are sins, especially in our society today!

* going out for drinks because Jesus went out to eat with tax collectors -- The Jews were taught that tax collectors were traitors who served Caesar by collecting the taxes of the Jews on behalf of Rome. For this reason, these tax collectors were condemned by the Pharisees and scribes. They were considered as outcasts. Therefore, when Jesus ate with the tax collectors He did so in order to witness to them. Jesus did not sin by what he did. Now when believers drink with their unbelieving friends, they sin by their action and compromise. Their witnessing has been damaged by their drinking. Jesus did not damage His witness.

* wearing a Mohawk hairstyle as a youth leader to witness to youths – Again the reasoning is guided by faulty identification. If we are living in cowboy times in the 18th or 19th century USA and meet with Red Indians who have such hairstyles, the hairstyle would not have the same connotation as today. Today, such hairstyles have bad connotations such as rebellion and an anti-establishment attitude. By all means witness to them but let them know that what they are doing to themselves such as having Mohawk hairstyle is wrong. To be rebellious and anti-establishment is against the teaching of Scriptures. If they become Christians, they have to stop dressing in such a manner. The biblical guideline for this teaching is 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

2. If an unbeliever in my family dies (in his sin, without Christ), can I say "he died peacefully"? Is this theologically correct?
The issue is one of sensitivity and the right occasion. For example, if you are attending a vigil service, it is not the time to enter into a theological debate with the bereaved family members. It is not wise and not the right time. Do not be insensitive. In the case of a person who says that the loved one died peacefully, he could be saying it from the perspective of the external demeanour of the loved one who has just passed away. In moments of loss and sadness, people will say many things in order to deal with their loss. The Christian has to be sensitive to not say things in the name of "theology" or the gospel to avoid hurting or entering into an argument with the bereaved.

3. When you (Rev Quek) and your family would not attend your niece's wedding ceremony in the RC church and the lunch, you said that it was to show disapproval to her unequally-yoked marriage. If I face the same situation, would you advise me to do the same?
The reason we did not attend was because our niece did it wilfully even after knowing the truth. She calls herself a Christian. She was told about the errors of the RCC faith. Despite my teaching and counselling, she insisted on disobeying the clear teaching of God's Truth to not be unequally yoked. Our attendance would be seen as condoning her transgression. It would make us partakers of her sin and the shame she brought to the Name of Christ. Furthermore, there is nothing that can be said to her at her wedding other than a rebuke. We cannot say "God bless", or "have a blessed life together as husband and wife." For these reasons it was painful for us not to attend the wedding. We carried her in our arms when she was a baby and saw her grow up. It was not an easy thing for us to do. But for the sake of Christ’s Name and her soul, we did what had to be done, in light of eternity and God's truth.

The advice I give you would be based upon your circumstances. If all things being equal and you have explained the truth carefully, then I would advise you to do the same. But you have to do it with understanding and not blindly.

4. Can we attend weddings of friends who are Charismatics and the wedding is held in their church?
The Charismatic Movement is a confusing movement. There is a spectrum of belief in that not every Charismatic believes in every Charismatic doctrine; although many of them do share many common doctrinal beliefs. This question needs to be dealt with on a case by case basis. For example, there are some Charismatic churches with pastors who were formerly Baptists and became Charismatics and they have not been known to bring shame to the Name of Christ by their horrendous theology. In such a case, there is no harm in attending the wedding. Not so when they are the current mega church pastors whose understanding of the Bible is likened to that of unbelievers. We ought not to participate in their service. This also applies to vigil services conducted by these Charismatics. If we do attend for the sake of friendship and on compassionate grounds, it might be better to attend after the service is over.

5. With groups like VCF, Campus Crusade and Navigators "shining" so brightly in campuses today, what do you suggest we can do to shine the right light more brightly? After all, these groups seem to have a greater prominence than FCM. When the FCM (previously called FCF) was first started in institutions of higher learning in Singapore, the leaders tried to register it but there was too much red tape involved. Finally the application was abandoned when the leaders reasoned that since the primary purpose of the FCM was to cater to our own people studying in these institutions, there was no need to seek registration. If they have friends whom they wish to invite to the FCM meetings they are encouraged to do so.

But to set up a table on orientation day and have big banners and calling people to join our ministry is not permitted because FCM is not a registered body. FCM is not seeking prominence but to reach out quietly to our members so that their time in these institutions would be spiritually successful. They can still witness for Christ by inviting their friends and by their attendance.

6. How do you communicate with someone who is experientially driven that what he/she is learning from his/her church may be wrong? How do we restore them without giving them the impression that we are self-righteous, judgemental and unloving?

The way we render help is on a case by case basis. There is no "one size fits all" approach. The first thing to bear in mind is that many, if not most, of those who are in Charismatic churches are probably not born again. This means that to teach them about the errors of the Charismatic movement is premature as they are still dead in sin and trespasses. That means they will not be able to understand spiritual matters. It is important then to ask them about their salvation. Ask them to share when they accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Make sure that the gospel that they heard and believed in is the proper gospel and not the false gospel of the Charismatics which is believe in Jesus so as to be healthy and wealthy.

The next step is to deal with the common experiences such as health and wealth and tongues speaking. Ask them if they believe that Christians today are supposed to be healthy and wealthy. There is no Bible passage to support this wrong teaching. Share with them that sickness is part and parcel of the trials that God sends our way to either test us, to grow in faith, or to keep us humble. The prime examples are Job and Apostle Paul's thorn on his side (cf. 2Corinthians 12:6-9). Tongues speaking in the Bible were all languages. The gibberish sounds spoken today are not languages but are either delusions or demonic. Languages always have syntax and grammar. The languages of angels are Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. These are issues that must be very well studied and known to you. If you do not know more of the Scriptures than your friend, it will become a bigger problem. He/she might be deeply entrenched in "experiences". Remember this is a spiritual warfare. Always pray before and during the entire confrontation.

Do not be argumentative but be firm. Do not put the person down. Do not win the argument but lose a friend. There is a right time and the right place for reaching out and helping. Be sensitive to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who will lead and help you. He will guide you in all that you say. If the person is to be helped, it will be the Holy Spirit who can help. We are all instruments but we must be clean and well prepared instruments.

7. What are some practical steps that we can take to make our head knowledge transcend into heart knowledge?
Pray for an obedient heart. The key passage to help us do that is James 1:19-27 (KJV), "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

There are two steps: hear and do. When the Word of God is explained make sure that it is accurately explained to you. Do not resist the Word of God but submit to it. If you fight against it by being defensive or trying to justify what you are doing and refuse to be changed by the Word of God, you will hurt yourself and remain in sin. When the Word of God is heard by you, the Bible calls it the engrafted Word. It has already entered into your heart. Pray for a humble heart and a meek spirit. Otherwise the engrafted word will not bear fruit.

Then the next step is to do it. The Word of God is like the mirror that shows us where the dirt in our life is. Pray for strength from the Lord to apply it immediately. Keep studying and keep on applying. The power of the Word will change and transform your life. The same Word of God that brought this universe into existence out of nothing will do the same in your life to make you more like Christ. That is the outcome of the power of the Word. It begins with hearing and then obeying or doing!

8. In one of your messages, you mentioned that it is a sin to have a sex change. Is the biblical basis for this that men should not dress like women and vice versa?
That is correct. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV), "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." God made us male and female. Modern medical science has made it possible for man to transgress in ways that were impossible in the past. The moral standard of mankind has deteriorated exponentially. Man has now made himself God. In the past he always did what was right in his own eyes. But today, and with the help of modern scientific advancement, man's pride and arrogance know no bounds! People power instead of God's power has enveloped this world. It is here to stay until the day of judgement! Man will soon usher in the great Antichrist who will be allowed by God to rule the world for seven years. The ability to change sex is one of the ways that man demonstrates their power against God's power. God created man male and female. But man says we know better and we will decide for ourselves what we want to be! This is the way of idolatry! Romans 1:24-32 (KJV), "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

God has already prophesied in His holy Word that this will be the way of the world at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The days of Sodom and Noah have arrived. This world will be destroyed. The judgement of God is near. Luke 17:26-30 (KJV), "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

9. I recently saw on Youtube videos celebrating parents who "embraced" their children who think and act like members of the opposite sex. (Eg. a girl who only likes boy things and declared from aged 3 that she is a boy etc) What is the biblical advice to parents of such transgender children? How can Christian parents like us explain to our children about this if they see such videos?

Educate them from God's Truth about the sinfulness of such transgressions. The Bible made it very clear that these are the last days that we are living in. The best way to educate our children is to ensure their salvation. Knowing these errors is not the same as being saved in Christ. Without Christ as their Lord and Saviour they will not have the spiritual discernment and strength to do what is right even though they are taught what is right. Teach the positive and the negative. Teach the do's as well as the don'ts of the Bible. The most important thing is that parents must be holy and obedient to God's Truth. Otherwise they will lose their moral right to teach their children what is right and wrong according to Holy Scriptures.

In order to advise the parents of these transgender children, first ensure that these parents are believers. Without salvation, they cannot see and understand. If they are saved, show them from Scriptures why homosexuality and being a transgender are sinful ways of life that God categorically condemns. One of the best passages in the Bible to help us teach this truth is 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV), Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." [Emphasis added] Note that there were believers in the church in Corinth who WERE homosexuals in the past before they were born again. They had been washed and sanctified and justified by the blood of Christ and they were cleansed. They had to stop such sins. All sinners can be helped. The power of the blood of Christ is able to save all.