Chinese New Year

Gong Xi Fa Cai?

Dear children,

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year. As Chinese Christians, we celebrate this festive occasion solely because it is part of our Chinese culture and custom or tradition. We are not to be involved in the non-Christian beliefs that come with Chinese New Year.

You may wonder why Christians avoid greeting one another “Gong Xi Fa Cai” which means wishing you to be prosperous (making more money) in the coming year. The reason is because we are commanded not to love the things of the world (1 John 2:15) and Jesus wants us to only serve Him and not mammon (money) in Matthew 6 :24 and Paul instructed us that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). A worldly Christian is a contradiction of terms.

Therefore, we must resist the temptation of covetousness especially in the receiving of “hong baos” or red packets. We would be covetous when we compare with our siblings or friends who get the most money. Or when we are upset or complain when the money in the hong bao is too little or when our relatives we visit do not give us a hong bao. We have to guard our heart against the snares of the devil with all diligence!

We must shun the common recreation of gambling which is common during Chinese New Year. Do not justify that it involves only a few cents or dollars. Always go back to what God has warned in Proverbs 6:27 “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?”

Another form of covetousness is gluttony. Gluttony is gorging ourselves with food until we feel like exploding. God is interested in the area of our appetite. In Proverbs 23:2 He wants us to arrest our gluttony: “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” We are to exercise self-control in our appetites when it comes the tempting Chinese New Year goodies like “bak kwa”, tarts, candies, etc.

There are some religious practices we must avoid too. We are not to hinge our hope and outlook for the new year based on our Chinese Zodiac animal sign. This is astrology. Astrology is occultic and God clearly commanded us that it is abominable to Him (Deut 18:9-12a).

Do not be taken in into the superstition that having red coloured decorative or wearing red clothes could bring good luck or omen. Also, ensuring that the floor should not be swept on the first day so that good luck will be retained and not swept away is pure superstition. God’s truth has set us free and we are not to be under the bondage of Satan.

Having mentioned some of the things that we should avoid so as not to dishonour God, what are the good traditions we could keep?

Firstly, spring cleaning our house is a good practice to keep the house hygienic for healthy living. God instructed the Israelites to practice hygiene in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. However, we are not to follow the belief that spring cleaning is to usher in good luck and drives away bad luck of the old year.

Secondly, reunion dinner which is now often held either days before or on the eve of Chinese New Year is definitely a great opportunity for building up family ties, showing honour to our elders and a time to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to our unsaved relatives.

Last but not least, the good tradition of visiting families and friends will enhance the bonding of familial ties and friendship. It is once again an opportunity to be able to share one’s life with others ; for mutual encouragement and a time to reach out to the unsaved with the gospel.

Chinese New Year is not about “Gong Xi Fa Cai.” It is a time to thank God for His mercies, grace and blessings bestowed upon us. It is a time of mutual bonding and encouragement. It is a time of wishing others that they will have that peace in Jesus

Unrighteous Anger

UNRIGHTEOUS ANGER

Dear children,

There are 2 kinds of anger, righteous and unrighteous anger.

When God is angry, it is righteous anger because He is angry with sin. Jesus was angry at the temple in Jerusalem because the people have misused God’s place of worship to become a place to gain more personal wealth (Mark 11:15-17). But God’s anger is not like man’s anger. God is slow to anger and it is always balanced with love (Numbers 14:18). When we are angry with sin then we are righteously angry, for example, when we are angry with those who use God’s name in vain or those who promote evil in the world.

How about unrighteous anger?

I have witnessed children who are angry with their parents. At a church camp, I have seen a boy telling his father to “get lost!” and in church, I happen to witness a 6-year old boy calling his mother “stupid!”.

These two children were certainly disobedient to their parents and to God. God’s command is to honour our father and mother (Exodus 20:12). This anger is unrighteous and sinful. As children of God, bought with Christ’s precious blood, we are to live holy to God. Our desire is to be like Christ: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

God has given us warnings against unrighteous anger. In Eph 4:26-27: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. God warns that anger will become sin if we a)held it overnight; b)react with ungodliness such as physical violence or angry words; and 3) let the Devil to use us by having grudges and plotting future revenge.

God in Colossians 3:8 admonishes us to put away anger, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Likewise in James 1:19-20, anger does not produce a righteous life, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

One minute of anger will cost us to lose one minute of joy and happiness. Unrighteous anger will grieve the Holy Spirit and tarnish the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Besides, it causes others to be angry, upset, hurt, stumbled, physically injured (if there is physical abuse). God rightly said in Proverbs 29:22 “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”

There are two kinds of unrighteous anger. One is unfocused anger that is, you are angry at the slightest irritation which caused you to sulk, pout, throw tantrums, swear or smite others. The other is focused anger that results from you feeling that you feel humiliated or someone bullied you that you plan how to take revenge.
We must realize that unrighteous anger is not justifiable by these reasons:

· I retaliated because he started it first.
· I felt controlled by others.
· My pride is wounded.
· I feel that no one understands me.
· I feel that all is without hope and I just want to wallow in my misery.

Therefore we act out our anger by withdrawing ourselves from others, criticize or gossip about others, shouting and doing violence to others.
God describes someone who is unrighteously angry as a fool. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit (quick tempered) exalteth folly. Proverbs 14:29

Overcoming unrighteous anger is not easy and there are no instant fixes. However we could:

· Be willing to pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control over our life.
· Be willing to confess our anger to God and seek forgiveness from Him and from those whom we are angry at.
· Be willing to see that unrighteous anger can lead to much pain and damage to ourselves and to others.
· Be accountable to God and to others.
· Be sorrowful over this sin that will lead us to repentance.
· Be focused on my part i.e. what I have done and not on others when there is a conflict.
· Be willing to take heed to Jesus’ ways of resolving anger in Luke 6:27-28,31:
o Love my enemies (be willing to forgive unconditionally).
o Do good to them which hate me.
o Bless them that curse me.
o Pray for them which despitefully use me.
o As I would that men would do to me, do I also to them likewise.

We need to start right with God in this new year 2009. Let us ask the Lord to shape us into Christ’s likeness and to make us a blessing to others always.

ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD?

Dear children,

It is very important to diligently search our hearts whether we are saved and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

There are those who think they are saved but are never at all. This frightening revelation is found in Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

At the judgment throne of Jesus, those who call themselves Christians, serve God, attend church, preach the gospel, helping people and done many good works for God expected to have a place in heaven. But Jesus does not know them and call them workers of iniquity because they have not accepted Him as their Saviour.

Before it is too late, let us now not deceive ourselves with respect to our salvation. The Pharisees and Scribes were very religious outwardly and most respected by the people of that time. But let us read what Jesus has to say about them:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matt 23:27-28

Today, you have to diligently examine ourselves. Please be reminded that:

a. Being born in a Christian home does not make you a Christian.
b. Being baptized does not make you a Christian.
c. Attending church and Sunday School does not make you a Christian.
d. Using Christian jargon like “Thank God”, “Praise God”, “Amen” does not make you a Christian.
e. Having a knowledge of God and His Word do not make you a Christian.
f. Being religious and serving God do not make you a Christian.

How do you know that you have the assurance of salvation?

a. You believe that you are a sinner and fall short of God’s glory. Romans 3:23
b. You believe that the penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23
c. You believe that God in His great love provide the way for us to be saved and we can never save ourselves. Romans 5:8.
d. You believe that if you put your trust in Jesus and His blood has the power to cleanse you from your sins you shall be saved. Romans 10:9-10,13.


Dear children, may you diligently search your heart whether you are saved. Do not be careless for the state of your soul. Search and examine your heart right now whether you are a child of God. Repent and turn away from your sins and turn to Jesus!

How to Read God’s Word

• Begin with a prayer.
• Take brief notes of what you read. Have a notebook beside you.
• Read slowly one chapter or one passage.
• Ask yourself these questions:
  –What is the main subject of this passage.
  –Who are the persons revealed. Who is speaking.
  –What does this passage teach me about Jesus Christ.
  –Does this passage reveal my sin that I need to confess?
  –Is there any promise for me to claim?
  –Does this passage contain any command for me to obey?
• Memorize passages of the Bible.
• Keep a spiritual diary of lesson/s learnt.

Junior Worship Service

Dear Children

Wishing you a wondrous and blessed New Year and welcome to Junior Worship Service (JWS)!

JWS is a time when we come together as God’s children to worship Him with reverence and thanksgiving. Together, we will learn God’s Word and take home precious lessons for us to apply to our Christian living.

As you grow older and bigger each day, you will need to grow stronger in your walk with God. We must desire what Jesus has determined to do ie to increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52).

Therefore, you must resolve to live an obedient Christian life, read and study the Bible and talk to God everyday.

As we desire you to grow, we have for this year’s topics based on the theme on Growing Up in Christ. We will learn on Growing in Faith, in Obedience, in Attitude, in Worship and in Discipleship.

There are some rules that you need to note:

Be punctual for JWS.
Dress neatly to worship our God.
Maintain silence when the worship begins.
Sing the hymns from your heart having in mind that we are singing to God and not to ourselves.
Be attentive to the message and take notes if possible.

Let us enjoy every minute of JWS in worshipping God together as His children and learn as much as you can to grow up strong in Christ and to be a man and woman after God’s own heart.