My dear readers,

(Excerpts from Building Firm Foundations, Dr SH Tow)

1. Study to teach

Dear parents, as pastors to your families, you must know certain basic doctrines of our historic Christian faith which was once delivered to the saints. Some parent might then say:

"But I am not a theologian. That is the job of the pastor." Quite right, and yet as a godly parent you will find it stimulating, challenging and edifying to know the basic Christian doctrines. Then you will not be misled or deceived by the false doctrines flooding the world today. It will also equip you to be a better teacher to your family.

Many sincere and loyal Christians in liberal churches are being held captive by false teachings preached by false teachers. This would not have happened if they had known the Word of God well. To such believers our message is John 8:31-32. The loyal disciple must continue in the teaching of our Lord. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Every believing parent who is well grounded in the truth will not be shackled by erroneous doctrines and practices. Know the truth and the truth shall make you free!

What are the doctrines that parents ought to know? We suggest here a minimum list to which your pastor may wish to add:

DOCTRINES OF GOD, MAN, THE BIBLE, SIN, HEAVEN AND HELL, JESUS CHRIST, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAYER, STEWARDSHIP, THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT, APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH, RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST.

Various useful books on these topics are available such as the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter Catechism, Theology for Every Christian by Timothy Tow and Jeffrey Khoo. For further advice your pastor should be consulted.

These are perilous days. Every believer must be equipped to face the threats and dangers ahead. The Church of Jesus Christ generally has been subverted. The remaining faithful believers must return to the Word in a new and meaningful way. Study to show thyself approved unto God. Teach yourself to teach others. DO IT YOURSELF!

Your best Teacher is the Holy Spirit.

2. We need godly homes in a godless age

In every age God has His chosenfew to stand against the tide. At no time has God been left without faithful witnesses on earth.

In Noah’s day, God spared not the old world, but saved Noah and his family. Noah walked with God. By faith he moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Heb 11:7).

The days of Noah are upon us. "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt 24: 38, 39).

The spirit of the age is a "replay" of the pre­flood situation; men and women are concerned principally with pandering to one another’s physical and carnal appetites. Moreover, we see from Genesis 6 that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and the earth was filled with violence. That is so today.

For us believers we have Noah as our example and warning. God has saved us as He had saved Noah and his house. God purchased our salvation at great price, and while we have received it freely – "by grace ye are saved" – yet we are not free to live as we please. Our Youth Fellowship’s motto "Saved to Serve" well expresses the role we are called to play.

In the present godless age, every saved person has a vital part to fulfil, as a witness to the faith of the Gospel. Every home where the name of Jesus Christ is named must set up a clear and convincing witness for the Lord. Young couples (and older ones too) are mindful of setting up adequate homes, catering to the physical, material and social needs of its members. Building on the Rock, Jesus Christ, is usually left to the last as an after­thought, or altogether conveniently forgotten.

This sort of neglect is fraught with the gravest peril. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it …" (Ps 127:1). Building apart from the Lord and apart from His Word is building on sand – which means "DISASTER AHEAD!" The Church of Jesus Christ must arise. Every believer must resolve and build! The answer to the perils of this present godless age is: EVERY HOME A GODLY HOME!

How godly is your home? What are you doing about it?

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor