Issue 17 – Kallos

Rahab

Kim Eun Hee — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Her heart was beating furiously. She tried her best to remain calm. The king himself had sent a message to her that his men were coming. The king? Sending his men? To her inn? She was proud of her inn in the city wall. She saw all who came into the city and all who went out, and some of them would spend the night at her inn. And some … did more than spend a night. But why would the king have any business with her — a prostitute and innkeeper? The message was clear. The two new guests were spies, and she was to turn them over.

She didn’t have a moment to lose; she knew she had to act quickly and courageously. She called the two men to follow her up to the roof, where she hid them under the stalks of flax she had laid out. When the king’s men came charging in, she bought more time by sending them on a wild goose chase. Neither the fear of treason nor even death could deter her from hiding these men of Israel. She knew what was at stake — her life and the lives of her entire family. But she had heard of the God of Israel and the things that He had done for His people — rescuing them from slavery in Egypt and miraculously parting the Red Sea. Faith bloomed in her heart — this God whom the Israelites worshipped was certainly the only true God. She knew that she was a foreigner to them, an outsider. Yet she chose to place all of her hope on this God to free her from the chains of her own life.

When all was quiet, she went up to speak to the spies: “I know that the Lord has given this land to you. Everyone in our country is filled with great fear because of you and what we have heard of what God has done for you.” She concluded firmly: “For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Jos 2:9-11). She knew that the people of her city stood no chance against the all-conquering Israelites and their God. She realised that the only way to survive the imminent destruction was to risk her life first by hiding the spies. The great gamble paid off. The spies agreed to protect her and her family in exchange for her help. She had secured the safety of her entire family!

On the day Jericho fell, only one house was left standing, with a scarlet cord hanging from a window — Rahab’s inn. Her act of faith saved her life and the lives of her family. It was God’s plan for Rahab to be a part of His great purposes for His Kingdom. Her unwavering faith and wise action to protect the spies gave Israel courage to conquer the land. God honoured her faith and by His grace, He redeemed her past and gave her a new life.

Commended as one with exemplary faith (Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25), she became a matriarch in the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ (Matt 1:5)! Also, as the first non-Israelite (or ‘Gentile’) worshipper of God, Rahab points us to the great plan of God fulfilled through Jesus Christ to include ‘outsiders’ as God’s people (Rom 11, Eph 2:11–22), by their faith in Him (Rom 5:1; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8–9).

Many times, we may doubt ourselves and feel that our faith is insignificant. But Rahab’s story directs us to have the audacity to hope in God whose scandalous grace is for everyone who chooses to turn away from sin, believe in Jesus Christ, and follow Him.

Take the No-Disposables Challenge

Quek Shiwei — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

1. Track your usage of disposables for food consumption THREE days prior to the challenge.
2. For ONE WEEK, you are not to use any disposable items related to food consumption.
3. Find replacements for the disposable items you usually use, e.g. a Tupperware to replace takeaway food, a reusable cup if you’re buying a drink, cutlery etc.
4. Keep a daily journal of how you are coping.
5. Have fun!

Challenger: ABIGAYLE HUAN, 16

3 Facts:

1. Rate of disposable usage: Almost every single day!
2. Most-used disposable: Bubble tea plastic cup
3. Difficulty of challenge: 7/10

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I felt really self-conscious throughout the three days that I had to record the amount of disposables I used. I felt like every time I held something disposable, I had done something very wrong. I was more aware of the things I was eating out of, carrying, and so on. I’ve always thought that I was a pretty green person, being the kind of person that recycles old newspapers and such. Turns out that I actually use a lot more disposables than I realised!

THE CHALLENGE

Day 1: Successfully managed to avoid using disposables today! It was difficult to forgo my beautiful milk tea with pearls I could hear it calling my name as I walked home from school. The temptation was so great! But I managed to make it home safely, evading its evil plastic grip. School ended late so I ate all my meals in school on non-disposable plates!

Day 2: Today was relatively easy as I ate all my meals at home. My mum almost packed my breakfast into a (gasp!) disposable Ziploc bag!! Thankfully, I managed to stop her in time. I scared her half to death with my nonsensical blabbering as I snatched my sandwich away. At school, I had to avoid buying my favourite vegetable biscuits as they came in plastic wrapping.

Day 3: I was really, really, REALLY longing for those vegetable biscuits. It may sound gross but it actually tastes really, really good. Plus they are so addictive. As I stared longingly at the snack store, it hit me that everything was packaged in disposables, from the potato chips to the bread buns! I stood there for a good minute in dismay as I realised I would not be able to buy relief from the snack stall for another FOUR DAYS. As I watched my friends eat the mac ‘n’ cheese my school sells on Thursdays on disposable Styrofoam containers, I let out a very audible sigh. Eventually, I satisfied myself with “stealing” some macaroni from my friends.

Day 4: Today was RIDICULOUS. It was e-learning day so the Sec 4s were the only ones in school. As a result, all the food stores were closed except the snack store, drink store, and vegetarian store. It was a sad, gloomy morning. Even the sky cried. I managed to avoid buying food from the snack store, thus evading disposables. However, I fell prey to the sliced watermelon. It was held in a plastic bag. I hesitated before buying it and I tried really hard to resist. I eventually gave in. It was a sad, sad moment as my will proved no match for the sweet, juicy watermelon. I felt really disappointed that I had broken my no-disposables “streak”. However, at least I felt a little better after eating the watermelon.

Day 5: Today was a good day until I accidentally bought a drink in a disposable cup! I completely forgot about the challenge! I only remembered when my cup was already half empty. To redeem myself, I actually brought the cup home, washed it, and recycled it. I felt really bad for using more disposables. To make myself even more guilty, I did some research on how we are causing global warming with all our disposables, and watched some videos on how deforestation is destroying our planet. I felt really regretful. I also really wanted another drink.

Day 6: I managed to go the entire day without using any disposables. It was extremely difficult and I almost slipped up and bought a Milo in a PAPER CUP. At the very last moment, I remembered to ask the auntie for those stall cups that you can return to be washed. I felt good about that.

Final Day: Today I didn’t use any disposables. It was an anti-climatic end of the challenge as everything I bought today did not come with disposables.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This challenge has opened my eyes to the amount of plastics and disposables we use every day. I’ve always known that they are bad for the environment, but I never realised that I play such a big role in contributing to this pollution. Every day we get asked, “Would you like a carrier?” or “Do you need a bag?” and we nonchalantly nod, not knowing the impact that one tiny action might have. Over the course of these seven days, I learnt how dependent I am on man-made things such as plastics, and how they are in almost everything we use. I was also faced with the reality that choosing to make a change is difficult, and requires consistency, because even small changes feel weird at first. I now feel more conscious of what I am using and have decided to make an effort to cut down on my usage of disposables!

Why should I care about the environment?

The Bible begins with creation and ends with new creation. In the beginning, after creating everything and declaring it “good”, God told humankind to “fill the earth and subdue it” and to “rule over” it. Rather than a licence to exploit the earth and its resources, “subdue” actually means “manage” and “bring to order”, while “rule over” is about ruling in a way that reflects God’s rule as a servant king (Zech 9:9; Matt 20:25–28). Essentially, God is commanding humankind to care for creation! The final picture of heaven that we have in the Book of Revelation is in chapter 21. But here, heaven isn’t a place that we float towards in the sky. Rather, heaven descends to earth as a city called New Jerusalem. Creation has been renewed by God and freed from the effects of the curse of sin. Caring for creation is actually an integral part of seeking and participating in God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” That’s why we should care about the environment!

– Marianne Wong, Assistant Pastor at Mt Carmel BP Church

Beyond The Clique

Natalie Hanna Tan — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

The dreaded ‘H20’ game: one person tries to catch the others, and whoever gets caught links arms with her, forming a long line of catchers until only one person remains. I’ve always tried to get caught as quickly as possible. For one, I didn’t want to be “left out” of the big group of catchers, and also, we all knew that it was harder to survive if you were on your own.

Isn’t that how cliques work? We naturally gravitate toward groups because we know that is where we can be safe and secure. Within these groups, the ‘H2O’ strong bonds are a source of security where we can be certain that we belong. But if you’re one of those who aren’t in any group, it can feel dangerous, lonely, and vulnerable. Looking at these groups from the outside, those ‘H2O’ strong bonds seem almost impenetrable.

While cliques are a natural part of any bigger community, I’ve often asked myself, does it have to be this way?

THE MORE WE INVEST IN CLIQUES, THE MORE EXCLUSIVE WE BECOME

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING INCLUSIVE

Community is definitely necessary for all of us, but it’s not without its problems. It’s possible that the more we invest in these cliques, the more exclusive we can become. Whether we are conscious of it or not, an invisible boundary is drawn between the ‘in group’ and those on the outside; letting anyone in can feel uncomfortable. How then should we cultivate close friendships in the church setting while still being inclusive to all who come our way? Learning to be inclusive is especially important in church because we are called to love without walls. Perhaps one of the more prominent reasons why individuals leave the church is because of the lack of community and connection, and this is a sad scenario that isn’t unfamiliar to us. A friend once mentioned a time that he brought a group of friends to church. To his surprise, no one talked to any of his friends or welcomed them into the church — everyone stayed within their own cliques and made no effort to include his friends.

There’s nothing wrong with community, but when it prevents us from loving others the way Jesus calls us to, then we must reconsider the way that we behave in our cliques!

There is a difference between the way Jesus spent time with people and the way we fellowship in our Christian communities today. It’s easy to limit our interactions to those we know well and are comfortable with instead of opening up to those we are not as close to. In contrast, Jesus was constantly interacting with people outside of his twelve disciples, including them in conversations, and more often than not, intentionally seeking them out. In modern terms, we could say that the twelve disciples were Jesus’s ‘clique’ — they often prayed together, did ministry together, and ate together. Yet the sinners, the sick, the poor, and many more were all able to approach the twelve and also spend time with Jesus — no one was left out, and all were intentionally included.

Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from the way Jesus struck a balance between having a close-knit community and at the same time including anyone who wanted to be with Him.

IN VS. OUT

I’ve been on both sides of cliques — the inside and the outside — and have found that both sides have a part to play in rejecting exclusivity and building bonds beyond the clique. Here are some tips I’ve found helpful in my own life.

FOR THOSE ON THE INSIDE...

Remember to “jio”: When someone says “bojio,” it can be translated to mean “Why didn’t you invite me?” and can be a subtle way of expressing sadness for being left out. If you’ve noticed that someone isn’t a part of any group or would appreciate being in community, try reaching out to them. Most people are unlikely to force their way into a group, so a simple “jio” or invitation can go a long way in making the person feel included. Even if you know the person in question may not be available at that time, invite the person anyway! She will be sure to appreciate the thought.

Be interested: What is she passionate about? What is she working on at the moment? What excites her? Genuine interest in a person is a sure way to build bonds with someone, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and go the extra mile to get to know someone that isn’t a part of your group.

IF YOU’RE ON THE OUTSIDE ...

Reach out: When we feel left out of a group, perhaps the first (and best!) thing we can do is to assume the best of the group, set aside our pride, and reach out to make a connection. Most people aren’t intentionally exclusive, but as they are already comfortable in a group, they may not notice that someone else is feeling left out. Instead of throwing a pity party and wondering why no one asks you along, take the first step to start a conversation. Ask if you could join them for lunch after church or find ways to get to know some of the individuals a little better.

Give grace: 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that we ought to keep no record of wrong, and this means that we continue to love our brothers and sisters even when we feel hurt or left out by them. Friendships don’t change overnight. They need time and effort to grow and it is during this time that there are sure to be moments that make us feel neglected, rejected, or even lonely. In those moments, instead of getting discouraged or bitter, give grace to those who have hurt you and persevere in building connections.

The Acts 2 church is a picture of Christlike community that I hold close to my heart. They must have been incredibly diverse in their backgrounds, interests, and passions, yet they had one thing in common — a love for Christ and a desire to see His kingdom grow. Let’s begin to do community in a new way. Instead of feeding the exclusivity of different cliques, let’s see the love of Christ as the glue that binds us all.

Spotlight: Jaime Wong – The Transformed Tennis Champ

Quek Shiwei — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Despite being a woman of many accolades, Jaime was humble about her accomplishments and so eager to share about her transformation. As a former tennis champ and national representative, her glory days were full of excitement. However, a heartbreaking point in her life eventually led her to find Christ and changed her view of success. Today, Jaime stands as a living testimony of the work of Christ as her story boasts only of His unfailing goodness and faithfulness.

Hi Jaime! What were you like as a teenager?

As a kid, my nickname was … “Gangster”! I was a tomboy with a bad temper and spouted vulgarities all the time. In secondary school in particular, I was always breaking the rules and was in detention almost every week.

Describe yourself in three adjectives.

The first two would be ‘passionate’ and ‘wilful’. In the past, my wilfulness was all about me; today, my ‘wilfulness’ is for God. The last adjective is ‘focused’. Once I have set my mind on something and it’s what I want to do, everything gets poured out into that.

What is your earliest memory of yourself and tennis?

My love for tennis actually began with my dad. Despite not being trained in tennis, he loved the game so much that he would read books and watch matches to learn how to play the game himself. I ended up loving it too. Every day when I got home from school, the first thing I did was drop off my school bag and go to the void deck to play two hours of tennis against the wall. The wall was my best friend! I eventually moved to the US because I wanted to pursue a career as a professional tennis player.

And you eventually did go pro! What were some of your biggest achievements as a competitive tennis player?

In terms of accolades and awards, I have received many — becoming Singapore’s youngest National Women’s Champion at the age of 12, and being the youngest representative at the 1995 SEA Games at the age of 13. To date, I have the highest winning percentage on the Singapore Fed Cup Team. I received a full NCAA scholarship to attend university where I was awarded the Total Person Award — the student-athlete who best exemplified excellence in Academics, Athletics, Character, and Community Service.

At that time, I believed I could do anything that I set my mind to. Up until then, I had accomplished and excelled in everything that I had set out to achieve.

You no longer play competitively though. What changed?

Eight years of intensive daily training in the US took a toll on me, both physically and mentally. At the time of transition between university and work life, I met someone here in Singapore (while I was on holiday) and fell in love for the first time at the age of 21. The person was a female and a Christian. I pursued this person with the same burning passion as I had for tennis as a child.

In less than a year, I gave up everything in the US to come back to Singapore to pursue the relationship — only to be told by my friend one day, “I’m sorry. I love you, but I love God. I cannot walk down this path with you.” I was an atheist so I could not believe that this friend would choose a non-existent God over me, a real and tangible person. I became very hostile towards Christianity and was determined to prove that there was no such thing as God and the Bible was nothing but a book of lies.

ONE DAY, I WAS SO TIRED OF LIVING THAT I SAID, "GOD, I GIVE UP!"

However, after two years of research, I was compelled to accept Christianity, because I realised that scientific, historical, and empirical evidence points to the God of the Bible as the God of this world. Unlike what people say about how it takes ‘blind faith’ to believe in God, I eventually became a Christian because it made intellectual sense.

But I was heartbroken because practically for the first time in life, I failed to achieve what I set out to do. Thus began my passive-aggressive rebellion against God.

Seven years later in 2013, I reached an all-time low and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Clinical Depression. I was suicidal and became reliant on long- term medication and sleeping pills. One day, I was so tired of living that I said, “God, I give up. I’m done with this life! I don’t want it. Take it! Do what you want with it.” For the first time, I surrendered my heart and my life to God; that became the defining moment for me.

As I surrendered to God, He began to repair my life. God led me through a miraculous journey of healing and deliverance. Since January 2014, I have been medication-free. I have also turned away from same-sex desires and a lifestyle of sin and immorality. All this could only happen because I experienced the pure and perfect embracing love of Jesus. When I first encountered His amazing love, I recall falling on my knees with hands lifted high, and as I cried tears of inexplicable joy, I said, “Thank you, Lord. I want to tell the whole world about You.”

Wow! So what do you do now?

Today, I am a Co-Founder and the Head Coach of Ignite Tennis Academy. In the past, I was driven to win matches, tournaments, awards, and trophies. But now, I am driven to win souls for His kingdom. I am filled with a passion to tell the world about the amazing love of Jesus. My desire is that Ignite will be a mission-focused place dedicated to sharing the truth about Jesus and the love of Jesus through our tennis programmes.

Do you have a word of encouragement for girls struggling with self-reliance?

When you are willing to completely empty your cup, then only can God fill your cup with Himself, the living water. As Pastor Edmund Chan once said, “The greatest incongruence in Christianity is wanting God but not surrendering to Him. Absolute surrender is the key to absolute victory!”

Strong Or Subservient? Understanding God’s Design For Women

Samantha Chin — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I grew up watching all sorts of television dramas, from local English and Chinese dramas to American ones. If I could point out one difference between today’s shows and those that aired years ago, it would be in how women are portrayed. In the past, female characters in dramas (especially those set in colonial times) were meant to be seen but not heard, dutifully submitting to male figures of authority, and always being careful not to offend them. These days, on the other hand, women in dramas are often independent and hold positions of power. However, they intimidate and despise men, proclaiming that they don’t need them.

Do either of these extreme depictions accurately portray what God had in mind when He created women in His image (Gen 1:27)? I believe not. So, what’s a girl to do? The conflicting messages that “women are lesser than men” on one hand and “women don’t need men” on the other fail to capture God’s heart for us girls. Instead, we need to turn to His Word for a true understanding of our roles as women. While I’m far from an expert on godly femininity, my hope is to shed some light on God’s special design for girls.

A HELPER IN NO WAY INFERIOR

You’ve probably heard of women being called “helpers.” What exactly does this mean? Let’s go back to Genesis 2:18, where “The LORDGod said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’” Does this imply girls are somehow inferior to boys, who are supposed to be the heroes running the show while we are nothing more than sidekicks?

I’ve learnt that this is far from the meaning of the Bible verse. The word “helper” here is actually the same Hebrew word (“ezer”; most of the Old Testament is in Hebrew) used to refer to God as — yes — a helper to His people (e.g. Exod 18:4; Deut 33:7; Hos 13:9). If God Himself is described as a helper, this means the biblical role of women is of high importance too! Indeed, we are created to stand with men as equal before God, forming a community that enables and encourages each other to glorify God with our lives. We can reflect the nurturing, caring, and compassionate nature of God; we can seek not to think only about our own desires, but to look out for the needs of those around us.

IF GOD HIMSELF IS DESCRIBED AS A HELPER, THIS MEANS THE BIBLICAL ROLE OF WOMEN IS OF HIGH IMPORTANCE TOO!

SUBMITTING IN LOVE

You might have also heard the word “submit” to describe the relationship between women and men (e.g. Eph 5:22; Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1). “Submit” — here is yet another term that tends to have a negative connotation, linked with a life of silent misery. Actually, the word is used in the Bible to mean giving way to each other out of love, whether they are your nearest and dearest, other Christians, or elders (e.g. 1 Cor 16:16; 1 Pet 5:5). Submission in this sense is actually a beautiful thing. In fact, Ephesians 5:21 calls on both men and women to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. Submitting doesn’t mean we are weak or passive and subservient doormats; we are actually displaying strength of will and character by choosing to yield to one another in humility and faith.

I recently completed a Bible study on the Book of Esther and noticed how she was never depicted as being brash or disrespectful to others. Instead, she was courageous, wise, strong, compassionate, and yes, humble. Although the king was caricatured as a drunken and almost ridiculous character, Esther still respected his authority. In addition, she obeyed her cousin Mordecai’s instructions by not revealing her background (Esth 2:10), and deciding to follow his instructions to appeal to the king for the sake of the Jews even though it risked her life (Esth 4:8–16). (Mordecai in turn follows all of Esther’s instructions in verse 17.) Some may tell us that only those who are aggressive and dominant can accomplish great things; however, we know without a doubt that “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5). He desires that women, filled with the quiet determination, wisdom and strength that comes from loving like Christ, fulfil His purposes here on earth.

IT IS SOMETIMES TEMPTING TO THINK THAT WE DO NOT NEED MEN ANYMORE...

WORKING TOGETHER, NOT APART

Now, let me address the other extreme — of being individualistic women with no need for men whatsoever. Many ladies these days have the privilege of good-quality education and widespread recognition for our efforts. Not only that, we constantly hear the demand for equal rights and equal treatment as men. It is sometimes tempting to think that we do not need men anymore; aren’t we capable enough to do everything ourselves?

As we have established, girls are equally important in God’s eyes as boys, and we need to help each other. We should not be disrespectful and dismiss them. Esther humbly listened to Mordecai’s wise advice. At the same time, she made a plan and executed it with wisdom. Both of them were needed to make change happen in that situation. The next time you are tempted to disregard a guy’s opinion because ‘he’s just a guy,’ think instead about how both of you can work together and make things even better. Candice Watters, co-creator of Boundless. org, writes, “… biblical femininity requires first, understanding what God designed woman to be and second, deciding to become that woman and living it out.” As we understand more about God’s wonderful design for us girls, let’s strive to live it out and daily desire to become more and more like Christ.

Dear Kallos: I Often Feel That I Don’t Measure Up To Others — I Never Feel Good Enough

Alina Teo — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

“I often feel that I don’t measure up to others, and I never feel good enough. I keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel like comparing myself to my friends has become a habit I can’t kick. I don’t want to be stuck in this comparison game, but I don’t know how to get out. Help!” – Stuck

dear Stuck,

The first thing I want you to know is that you are good enough! No matter what you may feel or think, you are good enough because you are made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). God made you the way you are for a great purpose and I believe it saddens His heart that you want to be someone else. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are to “praise God because [we are] fearfully and wonderfully made; God’s works are wonderful, [we] know that full well”. You may have come across this verse before, but look at the words carefully and let these truths speak to your heart. God made you with such delight and you are His wonderful workmanship (Eph 2:10)! In this generation where social media is such a big part of our lives, comparing ourselves to others may come naturally and it can be crippling when we think about all the ways we don’t measure up to others. During these moments, seeing ourselves from God’s perspective is so key and liberating. Our security is found in Christ who loves us just as we are and who has given each of us different talents for His purposes (1 Pet 4:10). God didn’t make a mistake with you, dear sister. You don’t have to compare yourself with anyone else!

Is forgiveness really that important? Some days, it feels impossible to forgive no matter how hard I try. What can I do about it? – Hurt

dear Hurt,

I’m sorry that you have been hurt and are struggling to forgive, but thank you for your honest question. Forgiving is never easy, and it is especially difficult when the hurt is deep. So why do we still do it? Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Just as Christ set the example for us by forgiving others, we as disciples should do likewise, and in doing so, we are showing the world who our God is — One who is gracious and full of love. That is the reason why we forgive even when it feels so difficult! In moments like that, there are a few things we can do.

Firstly, confess your bitterness to God. Tell Him, “God, I’m sorry for bearing a grudge against _______. I forgive _______ for ________. I commit this person into your hands.” It is a simple prayer, but there is so much power in confession and you might be surprised how difficult it is to even utter these words. Secondly, pray continuously for the person whom you feel has wronged you. As you ask God to bless him or her, I believe that your heart will slowly soften again to love the person as Christ does. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it is something that Christ has modelled for us to follow. Don’t give up; persevere in forgiveness. We pray that this relationship will be restored soon and filled with the love of God.

Dig Deeper: Who Wrote The Bible? Can I Trust It?

Kallos Team — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

In 1 Peter 3:15, we are exhorted to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” In today’s world where knowledge is king, more people are seeking solutions to their questions through science and logic. Can we still be sure that our faith is grounded upon truth? In Part Two of tackling this question, KALLOS seeks to discover who the author of the Bible is, and why we can trust it.

Inspired by God

The Bible has many different books but they all tell one grand story — the story of who God is, His plan to save us from our sin, and how then we should live. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read that all Scripture is “God-breathed”. Thus, the holy book is inspired by God. He is the ultimate Author behind each book of the Bible, orchestrating one story, even though the books of the Bible were written at different times by different people.

Penned by man

Imagine having to explain what the ocean is to an ant. You would have to speak in ant language and use the ant’s experiences with drops of water to help the ant understand what the ocean is. Similarly, we are like the ant! In His love, God used our ‘ant language’ to communicate His divine thoughts to us. Some may think that God must have literally dictated the Bible word for word to each writer, but this is not how He chose to speak to us. Instead, He inspired a variety of writers from different times and places, with unique personalities and styles, to express His thoughts. The writers are from many backgrounds — there are poets, fishermen, masters, servants, shepherds, and many others. They wrote in different genres — songs, prophecies, letters, stories, and more. Using the full range of our ‘ant language’, the Bible was completely guided by God and turned out the way He intended. Though physically penned down by man, God inspired the books, and thus together they tell a consistent story of one God who loves all of humankind.

Recognised as divine

The Old Testament books were not a selection of random writings. They were recognised among other writings by the leaders of Israel as divine. They were seen to hold divine authority because they recorded divine visions and commands, fulfilled prophecies, and miracles — real experiences with a real God. Most importantly, the books were recognised by Jesus, the Son of God, as sacred. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus states that “all the Law and Prophets” (a phrase used to refer to the Old Testament) hang on the two greatest commandments of loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves. In Luke 24:27, He refers to “Moses and all the Prophets” as part of “all the Scriptures” that spoke of Him. (“Moses” is another way of referring to the first five books of the Old Testament.) Both references show that Jesus himself saw the Old Testament as Scripture and submitted to their authority.

New Testament writings were also recognised as divine by the early church if they were written by one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, or someone closely related to them. They were seen as reliable because they had the closest contact with Jesus and his teachings. The books were consistent with other recognised Scriptures on the power and love of God. Internally, the books themselves affirmed one another. For example, the apostle Paul treats the apostle Luke’s writings as Scripture (see 1 Tim 5:18 and Luke 10:7). Similarly, Jude (a brother of Jesus) does the same with the writings of the apostle Peter (see Jude 18 and 2 Pet 3:3).

A single story

All in all, the validity of the Bible is proven by how a single story is told through the words of many. It is a collection of 66 books written by many diverse writers over a period of more than a thousand years. Imagine that! There is so much room for error, and yet the Bible still has a consistent storyline through different writings concerning God and His relationship with humankind. In His sovereign wisdom and love, God divinely inspired many writers to put this book together for all humankind to learn of His ways and truths.

The Courage to Love Extravagantly

Jiamin Choo — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it means to embody ‘femininity’? The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the quality of being female” or “womanliness.” Fashion magazines portray femininity through women who are beautiful, independent, sexily-dressed, and in high heels. Others may link femininity with females who are good with kids, sweet, and marriageable. But true femininity must mean more than these stereotypes and idealised qualities.

Among Christians, there are also different ideas about what ‘godly femininity’ should look like. Many may think of the wife described in Proverbs 31:10–31. But if she is the ideal, godly woman, the bar is set so high that it is unlikely any of us can reach it! Others may think of prominent women in the Bible such as Queen Esther, Ruth, Sarah, Rebekah, and Deborah the judge. But that angle tends to focus only on the strong, successful parts of their lives to emulate as godly women.

When I look at my own life, I feel far off from meeting such high standards. I remember struggling as a single throughout my twenties. As I watched my friends get married and start families, I wondered, “Am I less of a woman if I don’t have a boyfriend, husband, or kids? Can I, as a single woman, embrace femininity even though I’m not a wife to someone? Even though I’ve made mistakes and don’t have a beautiful track record, can I still be a godly woman?”

The answer came when I read about the nameless woman in Luke 7:36–50.* She had a reputation as an immoral woman and was openly labelled “a sinner.” When she knew Jesus was having a meal at the house of Simon the Pharisee (an expert in Jewish laws and traditions), she braved her way there to meet Jesus in person. In her hands was an alabaster jar of perfume, which was rare, expensive, and precious. She stood behind Jesus, crying. As her tears fell onto Jesus’ feet, she began wiping them with her hair, kissing and anointing them with the perfume, honouring Him in public.

Simon looked down on the woman, thinking how unclean she was to touch his guest. In his heart, Simon also judged Jesus for allowing “a sinner” to touch Him. So Jesus told Simon a parable about extravagant love as gratitude for the forgiveness of sins, then proclaimed that the woman’s many sins were forgiven. Jesus even blessed her by saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

To me, despite her blemished past and mistakes, this nameless woman embodies ‘godly femininity’ as she loved Jesus extravagantly. We can learn from her what a godly woman is like:

1. Intimacy with Jesus: She draws near to Him at all costs.
2. Courage: She dares to be who she is and honours Jesus in the way she can, regardless of what others may think.
3. Humility: She humbles herself in faith to bring her brokenness to Jesus, knowing her sins will be forgiven.
4. Generosity: She pours out her love for Jesus, offering her best, not leftovers.

Like this woman, I too have been freed from my sins through Jesus. Through faith in Him, I can rest secure in my identity as a daughter of God. How ‘godly’ I am as a woman is not limited by my broken past, nor defined by peoples’ comments or social expectations about how I should look, dress, or behave. Who I am is because of Whose I am, and so I can love God extravagantly. This is what ‘godly femininity’ really is.

PRAYER

Thank You, God, that I belong to You. Teach me what it means to pursue godly femininity. Grant me the courage to love You extravagantly. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME

Read the account of the nameless woman in Luke 7:36–50. What lessons can you learn from her?
Jiamin has identified four characteristics of a godly woman who loves God extravagantly. Which one do you think you can work on and practise in your own life?

DELVE DEEPER

Read and reflect on these passages for more about loving extravagantly!

Luke 7:36–50
Galatians 5:13–26

HANDLES

Want to delve deeper into Scripture? Use SOAP!

Scripture: What passage/verse are you studying today?

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you through this Scripture?

Application: How can this Scripture be applied in your life?

Prayer: Write down a prayer based on the lessons you have learnt!

Child Brides In Bangladesh

Isabel Phua — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

According to UNICEF, Bangladesh has the fourth highest rate in child marriages across the world with 65% of girls getting married before the age of 18, and 29% before the age of 15. This comes as a surprise since child marriage has been banned in Bangladesh since 1929, and the minimum age of marriage has been set at 18 for women since the 1980s. Till today, child marriages persist in Bangladesh with little indication that the situation will improve any time soon.

WHY?

Child marriages in Bangladesh continue to exist despite it being banned because of the dowry practice. As older girls pay a higher dowry, many poor families try to marry off their daughters as soon as they can. Destitute families also marry their daughters off in the hope that their daughters will be protected, fed, and maybe even given an education — all things they are unable to provide for them on their own. As a result, child marriages are not only accepted, but expected in many communities.

SO WHAT?

Some of the consequences of getting married at a young age are the discontinuation of secondary education, violence and abuse from spouses and in-laws, and health dangers associated with pregnancies at a young age. Bangladesh is a party to different international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and is therefore obligated to protect the rights of girls and women. However, child marriage clearly violates the rights to free and full consent to marriage, to choose one’s spouse, and to be free from physical, mental, and sexual violence.

WHEN?

No one knows when child marriages in Bangladesh will cease to exist. Though the country’s prime minister promised to end child marriage by 2041, that is still a long time from now, and little has been done to reform and enforce laws that could make it a reality. Should authorities enforce the accurate verification of a person’s age to determine if they are old enough to legally marry, child marriages could possibly end. However, Human Rights Watch’s research found that many local officials receive bribes to issue false birth certificates that lie about the bride’s age. When marriages are actually prevented by local officials, families still find ways to hold the marriage in a different district.

HOW CAN WE PRAY?
Pray:
– for child brides who are abused or ill-treated to find refuge among safe families
– that young girls in Bangladesh will be married into safe homes and families
– that those with early pregnancies will have smooth and safe deliveries
– for the men to rise up and protect young girls in Bangladesh
– that the Bangladeshi leaders will have strong morals to enforce laws and compassion for the plight of the child brides

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

PRIEST’S THROAT SLIT IN CHURCH ATTACK
On 26 July 2016, two men who pledged allegiance to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) interrupted a morning mass in a Catholic church in France and killed an elderly priest. Both men were shot dead by the police.

PRAY:
– for peace and religious harmony among the Muslims and other faiths in the country
– that those present during the attack will find comfort in Christ
– for the French churches to forgive and love the attackers and other extremists

MASS KILLING NEAR TOKYO
Nineteen were killed and 26 injured at a care centre for the disabled in Sagamihara city. The entire nation is in shock, especially because the killer, 26-year-old Satoshi Uematsu, has expressed a deep resentment of disabled people and has shown no remorse for his actions.

PRAY:
– that the injured patients in distress will recover from their physical wounds and emotional trauma
– for Satoshi Uematsu to encounter Christ and hear the good news of forgiveness by the Cross, repent of his actions, and choose to follow Him.

RIO 2016 OLYMPICS
As the Olympics has drawn to a close, many are concerned about the economic and political situation in Brazil. The country is already in a troubled situation, and pouring resources into hosting the games has led to a worsening of these problems.

PRAY:
– for wisdom and strategic foresight to be exercised by the Brazilian government
– for peace and providence to be upon the Brazilians who are bearing the brunt of the financial, political, and public health crises