Monthly Archives: March 2012

Q: Straying away from God and self-harming?

by Splat | 2012-03-29

…How can we talk to a christian whose relationship with Christ is strained and on ‘the brink’? My friend has recently been straying away from God and is now having thoughts about running away and self-harming. I’m not really sure how to approach the situation or what I can say that might help.

A.  Hi friend.  What a tough situation you are in.  I think there are 2 issues here that we need to address.  A spiritual one and a physical one.

Firstly, if your friend is self-harming (cutting), you need to address is immediately.  It is a slippery slope and thus needs to be confronted at once.  If you do not feel comfortable talking to your friend about it, you need to talk to your parents, their parents, counsellor, Pastor, teacher or any other adult of authority that could help in this situation.  Cutting is a serious issue and your friend must feel desperate for them to feel like they need to walk down this path.

While the first issue is being addressed, continue to cover your friend in prayer.  Be there in their time of need, listen while they talk, offer advice when appropriate and just be a good witness of God’s love during this time.  Be a non-judgemental friend during this troubling time.

I will conclude by suggesting you address the issue of cutting first.  Although I am not saying that the spiritual aspect is less important, we have to meet the physical needs as well as the spiritual ones.  It is important that your friend is safe and not in danger.  The God stuff will natural come when we take care of our friends.

If your friend wishes to talk to one of the Pastors, please contact me at kelly.tam@rhccc.ca.  I can connect him/her with one of our staff.  We are here to help anyone, not just the ones that go to our church.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

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Q:  What impact does our sins actually have on God? Is he angry, sad, depressed, etc.?

by Splat | 2012-03-29

A:  Our God is the ultimate standard of holiness.  When someone sins, God’s reaction is that of any loving parent: disappointment and sadness…but also love and grace.  God is saddened by our behaviour as the sin separates us from Him.  But He wants us to do better next time and so He pours out His love and helps us.  Romans 6:23 tells us that the punishment of sin is death and so the impact is that we can no longer be in the presence of God.

The sin that separates us from God is mended through Jesus Christ.  If the punishment is death, then Christ died in our place so that we can still have a relationship with God.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

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Q: I want to bring a classmate from school to get to know God, but in previous years we’ve been into fights and we have a rough history. What can I do?

by Splat | 2012-03-29

A:  Hi friend!  I commend you for wanting to reach out to this classmate of yours and help them see the Gospel.  Although it is a difficult road ahead, I hope that you will keep with this friendship and stick it through.

Because you have had conflict with this person before, they probably do not trust you 100%.  You need to gain that trust back and prove that you are a friend that they can rely on.  You need to befriend them before you preach to them.  It is much easier for a friend to speak into the lives of another then an acquaintance.

Of course, you need to cover this in prayer.  Anytime we are talking about evangelism and the desire to bring another to Christ, we have to ask the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those who don’t know Him.  You need to ask God to open the doors for a spiritual communication, for opportunities to show your friend the Gospel and for yourself; that you may live out your faith and show your friend the goodness of God through your actions and speech.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

 

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Q: The Sinner’s Prayer?

by Splat | 2012-03-29

…if someone who had the intention of praying the sinner’s prayer but died before he had the change, will he/she go to heaven?  If God knows our intentions would we already be saved?

…I have to admit that I prayed the sinner’s prayer many times in my life, almost at least once every month. The reason is that I always feel like my prayer wasn’t sincere enough, or that I forgot to say something vital. Because of this, I always have a fear that I never have assurance of eternal life. Can you help me?

…When I prayed the sinner’s prayer, I got annoyed and tired by the long length of it, and I wanted to end it early. However, my heart was sincere and I truly, above everything, wanted to invite Jesus. Will he reject or accept my prayer?

A:  The sinner’s prayer consists of 2 parts: acknowledgement that we are all sinners and the realization that it is Christ who saves us from tour sins.  Saying this prayer alone does not save us, but it is the acceptance of the Gospel in our hearts that does.  Thus a person that has not gotten to say the sinner’s prayer but has accepted Christ as their one and only Saviour, receives salvation and will go to heaven upon their death.

Sincerity is from the heart.  Saying a prayer (whether it be the Sinner’s Prayer or any prayer for that matter) is just lip service to God if it is not accompanied by a changed heart.  The assurance of salvation is given when we accept Christ in our lives, acknowledge that we are sinners and allow God to give us the pardon for our sins through Jesus.  If you believe it with your heart, THAT is the all the assurance we need.  Furthermore, you need to stop using the Sinner’s Prayer as a crutch…saying it will not bring you salvation, BELIEVING it will.

The length of the Sinner’s Prayer is long and understandable if someone were to recite it numerous times.  However, as I have mentioned above, the prayer only helps to facilitate the understanding that God forgives us through Christ.  It is not the prayer itself that gives us salvation; it is our change of heart.  So you answer your question, God will accept your prayer, but don’t use it as the measure of your salvation.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

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Q: People claim to be the next Messiah. How can we be sure who the real Messiah is when he comes again?

by Splat | 2012-03-28

There are several articles that address your question in detail: (1) BibleInfo.com’s article (2) GotQuestions’s answer (3) What Christians Want To Know’s Article

Summarily, Jesus will return in a manner as he ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). His return will be fast and worldwide (Matthew 24:27), meaning it will be visible and audible to all (Matthew 24:30-31). Lastly, there will be a resurrection of Christians (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Posted in Ask Us Tagged |

Q: Can you be forgiven, but don’t exactly feel completely guilty for what you’ve done wrong?

by Splat | 2012-03-28

Does this make me a bad person? How can I change my mentality so that I can feel guilty for the things I should feel guilty for? 

Let’s discuss forgiveness first. Forgiveness means to wipe the slate clean. When we wrong someone, we seek their forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. Forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. No one deserves to be forgiven. Forgiveness is an act of love, mercy, and grace. Forgiveness is a decision to not hold something against another person, despite what they have done to you.

So forgiveness cannot be earned and it cannot be lost. Forgiveness is given by God freely. So can you be forgiven, but don’t feel guilty for what you’ve done wrong? No. Let me share an excerpt that I’ve found help (you can read the whole article by Bruce Biven here)

Biblical Forgiveness, is NOT having your slate wiped clean and forgetting about it. Biblical forgiveness involves someone else bearing the cost of my sins and paying the penalty for them – without requiring retribution from me. 

But if I am already forgiven, why do I need to go to Him and confess my sins and ask for His forgiveness? I must confess my sins to Him because it is not until I realize my condition and predicament – not until I acceptmy responsibility for my own actions – that I will be ready to come to Him for the solution. I must realize what it has cost God to provide forgiveness for me, or I will not appreciate the gift. And I must “ask” Him for His gift of forgiveness; first, as a way of acknowledging the gift itself; and second, as a way of expressing my need and acceptance of the gift. A “gift” must be received before it, in reality, becomes mine. But the gift has already been given and is freely offered to each of us. And this is why we may “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16 NASB) – and return free from our guilt and empowered to live a new life free from guilt and sin.

It doesn’t matter what you may have done or how often you may have done it. Go to God, admit what you have done, ask for His forgiveness [accept His gift] and get up with a grateful and confident heart [at peace], and determine to allow Christ to live in you ”For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him” (Phil. 2:13 ISV). And “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

Your forgiveness, and mine, is as sure and as real as the blood pumping through your veins right now. You don’t need to hang on to your guilt. You may be free from it the very moment that you acknowledge both His willingness to take your guilt, and the reality of His having already taken it: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isa. 53:6). Give Him your guilt [it's the only thing that you can really give Him] and accept what God has given you, His for-given-ness. I am free from my guilt today, and you can be also. It is yours, today, if you will only accept it.

So what is the author saying in regards to your question? How can you change your mentality so that you can feel guilty for things you should feel guilty for? It’s the gospel. The gospel tells us that you are completely sinful. Your sin cannot be swept under a rug, but has to be dealt with. Whether we feel guilty or not is not the issue; we ARE guilty because we have sinned. Sin weaves its way into every aspect of God’s creation and every dimension of human life:

  • Physically: We are subject to decay and death
  • Intellectually: Our minds are filled with angry, hostile and selfish thoughts
  • Socially: Every human relationship is fractured and disrupted (sexual, parental, familial, international)
  • Spiritually: We are separated from God

We are in a impossible situation that we cannot get escape. But here’s the good news: God chose not to abandon or destroy his creation, but to redeem and restore it. How? Death & Resurrection: Putting something to death and supernaturally bringing it back to life; taking something dirty and making it pure and clean again. 

When Jesus died on the cross, Justice and Mercy were both given. In order for God to remain just and at the same time give us mercy, he had to pay the penalty of sin himself. When an earthly judge shows mercy, he is not being just. And when he is just, he cannot show mercy.  The only way God could be both merciful AND just was through Jesus Christ. Jesus took the penalty for our sins, so that we do not have to suffer the penalty (“guilt”) ourselves.

Because of the gospel, those who believe in Christ (Romans 10:9) are not just saved from hell – but are given a completely new, clean nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a changed heart and a new desire, will, and attitude that are manifested in good works.

Jesus died for my life; not just for my past life of sin, but my future life. Jesus died so that my life could have purpose and experience love. Jesus died so that I can live without shame or guilt. Jesus died so that I don’t have to work for God’s love. God loves you not because of what you do, but because God loves you. He loves you so much he died for you. When Jesus died one of the last things he said was, “It is finished.” What does he mean? He means we don’t need to do anymore when it comes to sin. Jesus died for you. The only thing he asks us to do is to accept it.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

 

Posted in Ask Us Tagged |

Q: Christianity with pagan roots?

by Splat | 2012-03-27

…One of my friends says that in early Christianity,  our religion was assimilated with paganism because Christians at the time wanted to make pagans happy… I told him that this is inconsistent with Christianity itself, but he said that I was biased. Is what he suggested true (about the origins of Christianity)?

A:  Every religion is immersed in the culture of its time.  In the 1st Century, when Christianity was forming its roots, there were of course, cultural influences.  Things that were going on in society that the Christian faith had to battle with.

There are so many examples of how the Christian faith sought to distinguish themselves as oppose to assimilate to the culture.  Let’s go through a few of them:

1.  Jesus cleansing the Temple (Matthew 25:12-17) – In the 1st Century, people sold goods in the market and the market in this chapter of Matthew is situated in the Temple.  No one had an issue with this before, but Jesus comes to set it straight – that the place of worship should be used as a place of business.  It should be set apart.

2.  The Apostle Paul and Horoscopes (Romans 1:21-23) – Paul talks about idols and how people gave into them.  This suggests that there were idols at the time and that it was a struggle for Christians.  Paul is encouraging those Christ believers to stay away from such things and focus on the glory of God alone.

3.  Slaves and Masters (Ephesians 5:5-9) – (in this context, slavery is not to be mistaken for the modern day understanding.  Instead, slavery in the 1st Century was voluntary and was used to pay off a debt).  Paul is speaking out against the mistreatment of slaves.  Those who owed the debt would be treated poorly and no one would bat an eye about it.  Paul says that Masters are to treat Slaves in a way that glorifies God.

I think it is important to remember that as Christians, we are almost always fighting the culture.  Christian values are not societal values and thus we have to stand firm in what the Bible teaches.  The same goes for Christians in the 1st Century.  There is so much evidence in the Bible that speaks against the adoption of the pagan values of the time.  We just have to understand the context of the passage.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

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Audio Sermon – Dating: Loving Each Other, Honouring God

by admin | 2012-03-25
Dating: Loving Each Other, Honouring God
Ephesians 5:18-33
March 25, 2012
Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui
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Posted in Sermons

Q: When is it appropriate to take a break from serving?

by Splat | 2012-03-22

There are two truths that you must recognize before we tackle the question:

1. God does not NEED anyone to serve him because he can accomplish whatever he wants in his sovereign power (Acts 17:24-25). So we should never serve out of a need to be .. needed.

2. We ought to serve God – not because we are obligated, nor because He cannot accomplish His plans without us – but because we are truly grateful for all He has done for us (Matthew 20:28). We serve out of delight rather than duty. When we serve in this manner, God is glorified and we are strengthen (1 Peter 4:10-11).

God is not glorified if we start serving ourselves IN our service to God. For instance, if you sing on a worship team, but you are completely burned out, you’re not only doing harm to the church and your own soul, but God is not glorifying in that. In other words, He is not glorified when people get their identity, joy, hope and satisfaction in the act of serving Him. He is glorified only when we serve “by the strength that he supplies” – when our service is rooted in gratitude and love. He is honoured when we find our identity, joy, hope and satisfaction in Him and not our service for him.

So if you are feeling cranky, burnt out, physically tired, should you not serve God? Not necessarily. Remember, serving God means doing what Jesus did – out of a grateful heart. That’s called ministry. And that means that we don’t have to necessarily serve in an official position at the church constantly. We can take breaks from those positions, but our life should always be in service to God. We can serve God “unofficially” by listening to a friend, visiting the sick in a hospital, praying for people, etc.

I think what you’re asking is whether one should continue to serve God in “official positions” if you’re burned out, etc. And the answer is YES. Sometimes, if life is overwhelming and unplanned things come up. In those cases, sometimes you cannot commit to serving with your mind, heart and body fully engaged, so it’s probably time to take a break. If you’re cranky and resentful of serving God in a position, it’s also a time to take a break. During the break, you should evaluate why you’re serving – in that capacity – in the first place.

One of the most beautiful truths of the gospel is that Jesus said, “It is finished,” meaning that we don’t have to do anything else to earn God’s love or approval. We don’t have to serve God to earn his favour. He has already given us that in Jesus. So why do we serve God? Out of a profound, genuine gratitude for his service toward us.

That being said, there are season where you just have to push through the difficult circumstances. Our church is a family and we don’t abandon our family when it’s rough. Sometimes there is nobody to help out the children’s program, so even if we’re tired, we should have faith and serve “by the strength that God supplies” until someone else can be found. That’s something you should consider. On the other hand, what you don’t want to do is continue serve no matter the circumstances and derive your identity from serving. I know people who serve day and night and they view that as their way to grow. While that’s admirable in some sense, it’s also dangerous because it shows a lack of faith in what God can do without you.

I hope this answer helps you in your journey. Thanks for asking.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

 

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Q: What is your opinion on the Kony 2012 video?

by Splat | 2012-03-22

This is a complicated, developing story with a lot of opinions and dialogue. When I first saw the amount of re-tweets, Facebook messages, admittedly I had my doubts too. So here’s some articles that I’ve found helpful, and I hope you will agree:

  • Pastor Tim Challies advises people to pray, breathe and wait before reposting the video on your blog and making statements about it.
  • Visible Children has some thoughtful perspectives about the issue
  • New Hope Uganda is a Christian organization that has interview a former Lord’s Resistance Army member. They tell people to do four things: (1) Pray (2) Do Research (3) Partner with Organizations (4) Check the financial records of organizations before supporting them
  • Pastor Joe Boyd has some helpful thoughts here

Those are just some of the resources that I’ve found helpful. I’m sure they are more coming, but start with them. Above all, trust in God – one day, all wrongs will be made right – and Joseph Kony will answer for what he has done. Thanks for reading.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

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