I recently added another "gadget" to the left column of my blog entitled "Recommended Downloads".
These are PDF files that are recommended because they make very edifying reading and the feeding of one's spirit man.
1. A Review of Mt Sinai Resources
The author "reviews" six "fictional" "law-based" "books" with "titles" such as "The Wrath of a Righteous God" and "Salvation is NOT guaranteed" that can be found in a fictional bookstore known as Mt Sinai bookstore, and in doing so attempts to debunk the wrong impression some believers may have of Daddy God as a result of listening to legalistic messages that unfortunately have quoted parts of Scripture out of context.
2. Destined to Reign - Methodist Review and Response
This article consist of 2 parts: The first part is a review of Ps Joseph Prince's book that was done by a Methodist theologician. The second part is a response to that review by another Methodist who testifies how his life has been radically transformed after embracing the gospel of grace.
3. Having It All Is Not Enough
Read about how former MediaCorp actress Jacelyn Tay, who was previously deeply entrenched in Buddhism, came to embrace Christianity.
4. Logical Christian Responds to Antinomian Article
Read how Stan Wong skillfully uses Scripture to respond to an article that was written by a theologian in USA (and later on plagiarised by the senior pastor of one of the top 20 biggest churches in Singapore) that accuses grace-based churches such as New Creation Church of being antinomian.
5. Questionable "Questionable" Teachings
Read how Stan Wong again uses Scripture to respond to an article that was written by yet another theologian (who is the senior pastor of what is currently the largest church in Singapore) about whether what the latter considered to be questionable teachings are indeed questionable. Very thought-provoking.
6/7. The Holidays of God -- The Fall and Spring Feasts
Read about the Passover, Pentecost and other Jewish feasts and what they mean to us today as Christians. An excellent unveiling of what Christ has done for us.
6 comments:
quote: "(and later on plagiarised by another theologian, who is senior pastor of one of the top 20 biggest churches in Singapore)"
Hi Malcolm, I really think you should stop harping on this whole plagiarism thing. You talk so much about grace, but do you practice grace to a fellow human who makes mistakes as well? People who read your blog would jolly well know who you are referring to from your earlier posts. Even if you somehow seem to have made this person "anonymous", your intention seems to be out to tarnish his reputation.
I do hope that you can forgive him and stop publicising his mistakes on your very well-read blog. It is almost equivalent to sowing discord in the body of Christ.
Do take time to walk the grace message as much as you preach it.
Shalom.
Hi anon
Would you prefer I mention his name then?
It is not that I do not extend grace to him but he is not on the frequency of grace to understand and appreciate it. Those who insist on keeping the law should be dealt with by the law too. That is the reason why Jesus quoted the ten commandments to the rich young ruler, remember?
Maybe we should also ask Paul why he had to publicise his spat with Peter in Gal 2, so that generations of believers thereafter get to read about it? Some things need to be emphasised so that we realise that we cannot mix law and grace. Worse still, criticise the grace gospel by stealing the work of others.
Also, he does not need me to tarnish his reputation; he is doing a fine job of that on his own...
Anyway, if you want your comments to be taken serious, perhaps you should have enough courage to post with your real name. Better yet, join us for the next Grace United fellowship. Dessert at Stan's stall is on me.
Hi Malcolm,
First, i would like to know, if we are in a position to judge if someone is on the frequency of grace or not? what defines being on the frequency of grace? are we in any position to judge if someone understands and appreciates grace? are we in any position to judge how someone should be dealt with?
I quote you, "Those who insist on keeping the law should be dealt with by the law too." what do you define as keeping the law? The law is a right representation of God. Yes, our salvation is by grace and grace alone. However, the law is not forsaken just because we are saved by grace. In fact, we live out the law through and by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
It is true that Paul publicised his spat with Peter in galatians 2. However, what was the purpose of it? you got it right. Perfectly so.
Much as you might think this person is criticising the grace gospel. Fine, i cannot change your stand. You might be right. However, if you quote Paul, what you should be doing is just continue to preach and practise grace! Did Paul wash Peter's dirty linen in public? No he didn't. Instead, he spoke about Peter's misunderstanding. In the same way, don't you think you might be going too far by CONTINUOUSLY emphasising on the whole plagiarism affair? Continue to "correct" his doctrine, if i might put it extremely bluntly, but I think you should stop assisinating his name. Plus, I do believe strongly that Paul was led by the Holy Spirit when he wrote about Peter in his letter to the galatians.
Paul definitely wrote the letter out of love. There was no spirit of discontent behind it. You on the other hand, it seems very strongly that you are simply out to get your fellow brother in Christ.
everyone makes mistakes, my dear brother. In fact, the bible also teaches us to respect our leaders, those in position of authority. We have to recognise that leaders in the Body of Christ are all anointed by God. Much as we do not agree with them sometimes, what we can do is pray for them, and not publicly criticise them and put their name in a bad light.
I will refrain from putting down my name for reasons you need not need to know. If you choose to not take this comment seriously, well, I'll leave it then. It is not as though i'm typing junk. Do give it some thought. Preach not only the grace gospel. walk the talk. The grace gospel entails more than just giving out free books and sermons.
Do continue to pray and uplift your leader in prayer, that God might reveal to him the gospel of grace in His own time.
Hi anon
Thanks for taking the effort to write.
Paul said that Christ is the end of the law in Rom 10:4. How do you interpret that verse?
For me what it means is that Christ has already fulfilled the law on our behalf. We are no longer under the old covenant of law but under the new covenant of grace.
It is interesting that you said that this person should be given due respect because he is a church leader. So why did he not extend that same respect to Ps Prince when he accused New Creation of being antinomian and had that published in my church's quarterly newsletter, which is a publicly-available document? Should not what is sauce for the goose be sauce for the gander?
Unless to begin with, he does not consider Ps Prince to be an anointed man of God. By the same token, please allow me to think likewise of him.
You are right that the grace gospel is more than giving out free books and sermons. It sometimes also means having to come strongly against those who mix law and grace like the way Paul did.
Hey malcolm,
Yes Christ indeed IS the end of the law. The law is and was fulfilled by Christ. I fully and completely agree with you that Christ has already fulfilled the law on our behalf. I fully agree with you that we are no longer under the old covenant of law but under the new covenant of grace.
HOWEVER, being Christians, we are in Christ and Christ is in us. If we are to live out Christ, it means to live out the finished work of the cross in our lives. In the same way, Christ fulfilled the Law for us and therefore we also should live out the law in our lives, NOT by our own strength, but by the strength that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit! That is the message of grace! That we no longer have to work to find our salvation, rather, we have already been saved just be simply believing, and thus, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, empowering us to live out and fulfill the law in our lives. That's grace!
Well bro, like i said, everyone human makes mistakes. Yes, this church leader MIGHT have missed the mark when he "accused" NCC. BUT does it mean that just because he did that, you have to do the same to him? What happened to the forgiveness that Jesus taught? What happened to the extension of grace and mercy to those who have fallen? Galatians 6:1 says that "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of GENTLENESS."
Bro, what you are doing to him seems to be the total opposite of what Paul wrote to do. Yes he might have wronged you on many counts, but the grace message speaks of forgiveness and all. Jesus did not teach to give another a punch if he gave it to you. Jesus did not teach retaliation. Even when His disciples lashed out at the servant of the priest, Jesus did not cheer them on. He healed the man.
In the same way, shouldn't we learn from Jesus? His heart of love and forgiveness.
quote: "It sometimes also means having to come strongly against those who mix law and grace like the way Paul did." Well as i have mentioned in my earlier comment, if you did not see, Paul wrote it in a spirit of love. Well bro, to be blunt with you, it doesn't take a child to see that you are still bitter. Hey bro, seriously, we all want unity in the body of Christ. Forgive and just leave it. Let us live out grace.
Wow, another anonymous writer? Where do all these "mice" come from :-)
If I am coming across as bitter, then that is the risk I have to take. You are entitled to your own opinion as much as I am entitled to mine...
Those who know me personally will know that I am far from bitter. I may have been at one stage, but not anymore. Why should I be when God has so blessed me? Just ask my parents, wife and kids.
But what I do feel is despair for the church of my forefathers, that it is not growing as fast as it should because its current senior pastor has rejected the gospel of grace. Many others have packed up and gone, but I can't because of the roots that go back five generations.
Let me be real candid here. Methodist pastoral appointments are itinerant in nature, and I am so looking forward to Rev Peter Koh being posted out and someone else who is grace-based taking over. Nothing against him personally, but against his appointment as senior pastor of my church. Enough damage has been done in his 4 years here already. He has undone all the good work that Rev Wee Boon Hup helped to establish before he went off to take over the TRAC presidency.
The sheep are so malnourished that they so gladly lapped up what Ps Edmund Chan had to offer at the recent Ohana Camp. Come and listen to Rev Koh's sermons for yourself if you do not believe me.
Why should NewCre be the only church in Singapore to experience phenomenal growth? Why can't it happen in my own home church? If I sound envious of NewCre, guilty as charged.
If I am bitter with Rev Koh, would I be inviting him out for lunch? He is the one who has not accepted the offer. Heaven, I will even attend his farewell party and make a video of it, the way I did for the previous youth pastor, Rev Barnabas Chong. After he goes on to pastor another church, he is no longer of concern to me. But while he is still pastoring my church, it is my concern.
If those are actions of a bitter man, then let's see you do better. I would suggest you stop passing judgements, meet me in person and get to know me better. Six months later, then come to a conclusion. If you are not willing to do so, then please do not begrudge me for not taking your comments seriously either.
A very good example is Ps Reuben. Before he stepped into PLMC, he was already told all kinds of bad things about me by the outgoing youth pastor. But to his credit, he did not just take his word for it but gave me the benefit of the doubt and took the effort to get to know me in person, like what a true shephard should be doing in getting to know his sheep. Why don't you ask him whether I am a bitter person? :-)
Envious of NewCre? Guilty as charged.
Bitter with Rev Koh? Sorry, but I plead not guilty.
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