In Conversation with A City Harvester

Thursday, 3rd June 2010

I don't usually blog on weekdays but will make an exception today.

I believe the biggest news amongst Christians in blogosphere is what appeared in the local press a couple days ago regarding what is currently the biggest megachurch in Singapore, namely City Harvest Church.

I will be very honest about this.  I do not like Kong Hee.  I love him as a brother-in-Christ, but I do not like the man.  His sermon series on antinomianism drove a wedge between his church and NewCre and also his recent disparaging remarks about Ps Prince not only insults Ps Prince but also the intelligence of those that embrace the grace gospel, and discredits the spiritual journey of discovering what the true gospel that people like yours truly has travelled in the past 5 years or so.

Anyway, I have been putting links on my FB status to articles about him plagiarising the works of other Christian authors without realising that it was only the tip of the iceberg.  When hell broke loose after the Asia Conference about the financial irregularities, I brought this to the attention of a handful of CityHarvesters.

One of them (who is an ex-colleague of mine) became upset and we had a conversation on Facebook as follows.  I have withheld his name to protect his privacy...

Miko, June 1 at 11:49pm
Dear Malcolm,
Seriously, I can't believe that you are still not over this debate over grace. Did the preaching of 10 commandments disgust you so much that you have to demean a pastor publicly? Do you have to be so mean?! And why are we even debating over a book that was written more than 2000 years ago?! When I first write to you, I thought you were something more than that.
I mean... Does it even matter what do you sincerely believe? We can go into the little details on our doctrine differences, argue till the cows come home and spit venom at each other but is it worth it?
Regardless where one come from or what kind of doctrine one is taught, I believe that when the time comes, we will all be in heaven. It doesn't matter which church you attend. New creation, city harvest or that neighborhood church just round the corner. Everyone attends a church not because we have too much time in our hand. I believe the reason why people will make time to be in a church every week is because the people have a genuine love for god. God is more intelligent than us... if we love God and love his people, we will be alright.
In the mean time, what we can do more with is tolerance for differences and love for his people. This is what the world needs. Not another f#$king debate about religion. Seriously...
I hope you get my point.
Sincerely,
Miko

Malcolm Loh, June 2 at 9:17am 
Hey Miko
Calm down now. You need not get so defensive over your pastor. At the end of the day, it is Jesus that rox, not Kong Hee or Prince or any other pastor.
Paul said in 1 Cor 15:56 that "the strength of sin is the law", so those that promote the 10 commandments do not realise that they are asking for a revival of sin! And that is exactly what is happening in your church, sad to say. What is the point of holding a conference of 100,000 Christians when the very next day, 100,000 pre-believers get pissed off with Christianity.
Paul also said in Rom 7:7 that he only knew what covetousness was when he was taught "thou shalt not covet"?
Don't you get it? Your pastor may have the best of intentions, but intentions, however noble, will have the worst outcome if he is law-based. Paul himself had good intentions when he went around arresting the early Christians; he thought he was doing His God a favour.
And so, it is no surprise to me that City Harvest is in the state where it is now. If you sow into the law, what you reap is sin. Plain and simple.
So you may ask how does one be directed if there are no ten commandments? The Holy Spirit takes over. He writes the commandment in our hearts and guides us on what to do and what not to do.
Hope you get my point...
Sincerely
Malcolm

Miko, June 2 at 10:44pm
Dear Malcolm,
I think anyone who reads my message will know that I am not defending my pastor. If he is wrong, he will be dealt with. I just find it strange that you are making so much noise in this saga than the people who contributed to the church funds. Did you even have anything to do with this thing?!
One more time just in case you are so blind not to see my point, I am not in anyway defending my pastor. What I am is that I am pissed with religious zealots who make it their life mission to correct what other people believe.
In this context, I think the islam extremists are even a level better than you. At least they display intolerance to other faith only. But in your case, your intolerance spreads even to other churches with a different teaching from yours though we believe in the same God.
Why can't we just accept each other's differences and shut up. Muslim, christians, buddhists, gay, straight or whatever. It doesn't matter. Everyone has the right to choose and we should respect their choice. This world will be a better place.
Just to turn you on, I give you right this time. I believe that what you say is true. The bible phrases that you quote is so profoundly true and encouraging. The church is in this state now because pastor kong preach the law. We should be all on our knees and repent.
I have totally lost my respect for you Malcolm. I hope you are happy.
Sincerely,
Miko

Malcolm Loh June 2 at 10:59pm
dear miko
may i remind you that it was your pastor who started finding fault with newcre's teachings. the series on antinomianism was him casting the first stone.
and please take note is not newcre or me thowing stones back. it is the cad and police that are doing the investigating.
all i am saying is that i am not surprised about what is happening because one who places so much emphasis on keeping the ten commandments ends up being the one who breaks them too.
and i do not need your respect for me, miko. what keeps me going is not the approval of man, but the assurance that God loves me and that newcre's teachings are correct :-)

[Afternote: subsequent to publishing this blog entry, Miko fired this final salvo]

Miko, June 4 at 12:34am
Dear Malcolm,

So this is what it is all about. Revenge. Like a kid who has not grown up. You are so cheap to deliver a low blow man. Your action and your mentioning regarding God disgust me. If I ever disown my faith, it is because of people like you who talks about God all day long yet shows no love to his people. Major contradiction, absolute stupidity. I hope that assurance of God will make you happy.
Fuck off...
Sincerely,
Miko

I was unable to respond to him because he had not only unfriended me on Facebook but also blocked me from doing so :-)

And the sad thing is that he is what the average CityHarvester is like.  Miko looks like he is in his late twenties, and has been attending that church for nearly 10 years. He is young, vibrant, full of energy, but sorely lacking in spiritual fundamentals.  Not once did he use scripture to back up his arguments.  (In fact, his only reference to the Bible was that it was a book written more than 2,000 years ago).  When I quoted him 1 Cor 15:56 and Rom 7:7, he did not do what the Bereans did in examining the Scriptures to see what I said was true, but instead mocked it off as though it didn't matter one way or another. 

And if his being a Christian is based on how charismatic his pastor is or his impression of other Christians rather than on Jesus Himself, then I shudder to think how many of the ?33,000 became "Christians" more so because they could be part of the monstrous social network that Kong Hee had built.

Do pray for Miko and the other CityHarvesters that God will help them to shift their focus onto Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, rather than on their pastor or other Christians.  An exodus is likely to happen, and may they find their promised land in One-North :-)