My dear readers,

Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2023 (9)

Question 1: Thank you for the reminder that many online sermons may not be “doctrinally safe” due to lack of spiritual discernment on our part. (a) Please suggest 2 to 3 online sermon sources that are outside the BP circle (Pandan, True Life and Gethsemane) that the church can recommend. (b) How does a Christian know that he is spiritually discerning? What are the Bible verses and/or criteria to check against, to be sure of our spiritual discernment?

Answer 1: Hebrews 5:12-14: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." [Emphasis added]

The phrase "to discern" used here means "to judge through", i.e. to separate thoroughly. A mature believer well versed in Holy Scripture (he eats “meat”) can determine what is good and evil for him, and help others do the same. When obeyed, the Bible is always good for the believer.

Luke 12:54-57: "And he [Jesus] said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" The word "discern" used here means "to approve." Jesus rebuked the people for having the ability to agree that rain was coming when they looked at the sky, but they could not judge what was right concerning Christ's claim that He is the Messiah!

The more a believer studies the Word of God, the more improved will be his ability to know the difference between right and wrong. This takes time through many sessions of reading, studying and meditating on God's Word with a heart of obedience. This is similar to eating meals. Eating healthy meals over a long period will help a sickly body improve to a healthy one.

In these last days of compromised Christianity, it is impossible to find any website, including True Life’s and Gethsemane’s, with one hundred per cent approval since we have not heard all their sermons. They have not listened to all of Pandan's messages; I am sure the feeling is mutual. It is only sermons preached in Pandan that we are confident of recommending without reservation. Some may slip us by, so we must always be vigilant.

Question 2: You mentioned about reconciling with a Christian brother so that he can pray and worship with peace in his heart. What if the brother is a carnal believer and you know, based on past experiences, that by reconciling with him, he will draw you further away from God. Under such circumstances, should you distance from instead of reconciling with the brother?

Answer 2: “Reconciling with a Christian brother so that he can pray and worship with peace in his heart" is taught in Scripture by Christ in Matthew 6:23-24. Reconciling with him will help him worship God as he is no longer angry or offended by you. Not reconciling with a brother you know is angry with you is a sin. You need to go to him and make the relationship right. However, if he refuses to reconcile with you, you have tried your best, and your conscience is clear before God. Reconciliation requires both parties' cooperation.

Another issue is whether you will continue to have fellowship with him after reconciliation. If you find that by your fellowshipping with him, you cannot help him become more spiritual, but he is causing you to become carnal, then it is wiser to stay away from him in terms of socialising or going out for meals together. This does not mean that you cannot study the Bible together in the same Bible Study group or stand side by side worshipping together now that you have reconciled with him.

Question 3: To address the spiritual well-being of our fellow brethren, we often come across instances where, over time, individuals stop attending worship services, fellowship meetings, or engaging in Bible study. They may struggle to comprehend the teachings and doctrines even after explanations from Scripture. When we have concerns for a person's salvation in such cases, it's important to approach the situation tactfully and delicately. However, sometimes our efforts may inadvertently offend the individual, causing them to feel hurt/stumble and believing that we are passing judgment on their salvation. In such circumstances, how can we proceed to help and reconcile, even after explaining our intentions and offering apologies to clarify that our intention was not to hurt them?

Answer 3: As mentioned above, reconciliation requires both parties' cooperation. You have apologised and explained your good intention to help him ascertain his salvation or help him understand the Bible better. In such instances, one must realise that a misunderstanding may arise. But it must not stop us from helping others; just as God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross, to deliver us from the bondage of sin. But if the sinner refuses by rejecting God's love in Christ, he remains in his sin.

We can only help those who want to be helped. Help cannot be forced. We must never stop helping others who are in need. Christ did this, and He has commanded us to do the same.

Question 4: Is it biblical to allow children to play sports on Sundays?

Answer 4: The Lord's Day was made for man, not man for the Lord's Day. Mark 2:27-28: "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." The Lord's Day was given to God's people for their good. It was not meant to bind them and make them unhappy. To those who observed the Lord's Day correctly with a heart of love and obedience to the Lord, it would be a day of joy and spiritual blessing. God's children were reminded of health, strength, the fruit of the Land, and all that had come from the Lord. They were God's people bearing a holy witness for the Lord. The Lord’s Day was a day meant for enjoyment and celebration where the focus was on who they were in Christ. The Lord's Day was to help God's people remember that they were not to be like the people of the world when they were in the world.

At the same time, all believers are commanded by God to keep the Lord's Day holy. Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

For the twelve tribes who worked the Land of Promise, the Lord's Day was a blessed spiritual day where they remembered their spiritual responsibility of being a holy witness for Christ in a world of sin. The Levitical priesthood continued to do their spiritual work in the Tabernacle; as such, they did not have to "keep the Sabbath Day holy", for to them every day was holy unto the Lord with the Lord and their inheritance, and they served the LORD in all things spiritual all the time.

It is not about whether playing or not playing sports is biblical, but why we keep the Lord's Day holy. It is a sin if the believer does not play sports and is not keeping the Lord's Day holy, as in not found in God’s house worshipping the Lord. To organise or participate in a sport, having tuition or any organised activity on Sunday that sends the message that we do not need to keep the Lord's Day holy is wrong. It is not about observing a list of do's and don'ts, but of the love for God in keeping the Lord's Day holy for His glory and on the path of holiness to witness Christ and not fail Him. We need to teach our children this, for the world is crowding Sunday with many worldly activities and work-related issues. Keeping the Lord's Day holy is one of the best ways to help our children fear God and know Christ and love Him because they love to worship, praise God, study His holy Word, and have fellowship with fellow believers.