Had about 10 days of holidays before my new job starts tomorrow! And for that span of time, I have been going to Mac Ritchie for walks..really a brilliant place! Shimmering lake, luxuriant foliage, beautiful sky, warm sunshine and lots of white puffy clouds. I just spend whole mornings there, doing some reading and enjoying God’s creation.

My treo was with me all the time, and the best thing is that I get to do some bible reading without people giving me weird looks…hehe. One thing which I am grappling with at the moment, is this:

The bible has clearly stated that apart from Jesus Christ, the rest of mankind who do not put their faith in Him is doomed to destruction. This is a severe and corner stone truth in the bible and we ought to pay heed!

Is this not arrogant absolutionism? Is this not man’s theories? Is this not just another religion?

If hell is so real and God’s judgment so imminent, why does he not reveal the terrifying realities to all man in the world?! Isn’t it unfair to execute judgment without first warning man of the dire consequences? Yes, we’ve been warned by all those Christians, but how can we be sure that they are not another case of religious narrow-mindedness?

Why not reveal certain signs and wonders that can be empirically verified, and consistently proven? Why don’t he stay here on earth to prove to us that He is for real?! I want to SEE!! Prove it to me!!! Show yourself to me and I will believe.

If then I can’t see you or grasp the horror of my destiny (hell), then won’t it be unjust of you to throw me into hell?

There is a season for everything under the sky. And it seems as if the time for spiritual awakening in Singapore is coming, and in many ways, have already arrived.

Have been talking to taxi drivers, friends, colleagues and there seems to be a quickening in their appreciation of spiritual issues. Additionally, just take the MRT and you will find people reading the bible and Christian books. This phenomena was not at all present before I left for my UK studies!! God is on the move

Yet, I feel very frustrated. The church seems to be always obsessed with the Great Commission, but not the Great Commandment - to love the Lord with all our heart, mind soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. There are many contradictions and hypocrisy that exist in today’s churches:

1. Dichotomy between our verbal testimony and our life (especially @ work and in family)
2. Divorce between secular and full-time-ministry work
3. There are many more “evangelist” than people with a pastor’s heartbeat for BOTH the sheep and the lost sheep. Spiritual leaders are commanded to feed the sheep and to know the condition of their hearts. This task is of equal importance as the Great Commission! In fact, it is the Great Commission - make disciples!
4. Revivals always invariably involve the conversion of large number of souls. Seldom mentioned is the encounter of God that leads to a spirit of brokeness and repentance, as well as a spirit of miraculous unity amongst the believers.
5. The definition of Salvation in the evangelical tradition is not complete. Salvation is not just saying the sinner’s pray. It is a journey leading to the assurance of salvation and continual renewal. This process takes time and in many instances, do not have a defined point. As such, salvation is not only a point in time, it is also a journey. Having an either/or picture is incomplete to fully describe this mystery. In the end, only the person and God himself, will know whether his/her name is written in the book of life.

For myself, I am reminded of the need for personal revival (Great Commandment), before I can fully understand his heartbeat for the nations (Great Commission).