An Attractive Community

The Sanctuary - Charis Methodist Church

 

'Love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.' 1 Pet 4:8-10.

After a long hiatus of more than 4 years, Charis Methodist Church returns to a new church building at Koon Seng Road. The church was rebuilt and renovated but it took longer than we expected as the Covid-19 pandemic affected the construction and development progress. Thankfully we enjoyed the tremendous hospitality of Living Hope Methodist Church who offered us their facilities so that we can continue to conduct our worship services.

Many Charisians braved on to worship together. But being away from our own premises have affected us, both in attendances at worship services and our close fellowship with one another. The leadership of the church faced many challenges including many criticisms regarding the Church development during this time but they journeyed on with faithfulness  and diligence. 

Today marks our first worship service at the new church building. Very appropriately we traditionally hold a Covenant Renewal Service on the last day of the year. As the body of Christ, we renew our covenant with God and with one another. 

GraceFields - The Charis Stained Glass Window 

The Congregation will stand before the altar facing the stained glass artwork beautifying the chancel, which I shall call, GraceFields. Credited to our brother Andrew Loh who visualised and conceptualised the work, this wonderful piece of art depicts the Holy Trinity represented by the Rays of Light breaking through Clouds for the Almighty Father, the Cross for Jesus Christ and the Dove for the Holy Spirit. The Triune God is entwined with the Body of Christ, His church in Charis, represented by the Communion Chalice and Bread. The Blessings of God in this Communion, shines like rays upon the wheat-fields ripe for harvest, the ministry and service of the Charis Methodist Church  

Indeed, when we committed ourselves to rebuild the church building we also pledged to improve our ministry and witness of the church by being An Attractive Community upon completion. What does it mean to be an Attractive Community? 

• A Engaged People. The Christian fellowship is described by the Greek word, Koinonia meaning a communion by intimate participation. It is used frequently in the New Testament to describe the relationships within the early Christian community. The early church members were committed to one another. Like them we should not be afraid to live lives of interdependence with one another. Koinonia carries the principle of Engagement; of Total Commitment.  The Bible describes this phenomenon like a living body with all the different parts gelled in unity.

'Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.' Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

 

'He (Christ) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts to grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.' Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) 

• A Sharing People We are a people whose relationships with one another are so deep that we share many things in common. It embraces the concept of joint participation, sharing together, caring of one another. But this closeness may present a danger of hurting one another either intentionally or unintentionally. Society often prevents itself from bearing the pain of hurt by raising up barriers and not getting too close to each other. The words of Simon and Garfunkel in the song “I am Rock” states “I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.”
  
  
  In contrast, the Christian network forces us to break down barriers and to share with each other; our possessions and our lives.

'All the believers are united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not theirs. so they shared everything they had.' Acts 4:32 (NLT)

'Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and be willing to share.' I Timothy 6:18

'And don't forget to do good and to share with others in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.' Hebrews 13:16 

• A Generous People An attractive community means a generous community. It is interesting that the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians used the adjective for the offering he was raising from the Greek churches in aid of their fellow Christians in impoverished Judea. The church is a fellowship of people who exhibit the principle of generosity. We should give freely as we see the needs of others within and without the church.

'..make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift not one given grudgingly.' 2 Corinthians 9:5b (NLT)

 'You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

'Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.' 2 Corinthians (9:11a) 

 

Now that we have the opportunity to worship and be a church at Koon Seng Road, we must not forget to go to church and worship at one of our several worship services. During the Covid-isolation months the churches were not able to meet and worship services were conducted online. Many of us, at first thought that technology and communications have enabled a new form of connectivity, welcomed the Zoom-enabled or Live-Streaming of church worship services. Even as the Covid-restrictions were lifted and worshipping in person as the body of Christ was made possible, many chose not to come to church but continue to worship online. This will be a mistake. The Bible states 

'And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.' Hebrews 10:24-25

What is the cement? It is the love that God has for us, a love which we give to each another. For successful fellowship in this community of love, this love is also expressed practically by the ability to forgive and to receive forgiveness; the ability to mend broken relationships. Max Lucado (Ref 1) wrote “In repairing a relationship, it’s essential to realize that no friendship is perfect, no marriage is perfect, no person is perfect. With the resolve that you are going to make a relationship work, you can develop peace treaties of love and tolerance and harmony to transform a difficult situation into something beautiful."

The apostle Peter wrote, 

“Love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” 1 Pet 4:8-10.

An Attractive Community means we are true neighbours, brothers and sisters, sharing our joys and pains. We are united by common experiences, interests and goals. We are God’s Lively People. We are the Body of Christ.

One heart

One spirit

One voice to praise You

We are the body of Christ

One goal

One vision

To see You exalted

We are the body of Christ

And to this we give our lives

To see You glorified

Lionel

Ref 1. Max Lucado God's Inspirational Promise Book, Word Publishing Inc 1996

The Anatomy of Unity

'Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.' 1 Corinthians 12:12

One of the most difficult questions faced by Christians is 'Why are we so divided, why so many denominations?' There are the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, the Protestant Churches along with the many denominations, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, Methodist among others.

Church movements occur in different countries and at different times. Such growth result in the establishment of churches connected with one another through their shared experience. This occurs with the two major branches of Christianity, the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches. Other times the original church enter into a time of complacency even apostasy which resulted in the congregations deserting the original church as occurred in the reformation which resulted in the third major branch, the Protestant Church.

The Protestant church is further divided into several denominations. An example was the establishment of the Methodist Churches distinct from the original Episcopal Church of England, the Anglicans where the original congregants worshipped. Each denomination established its unique and shared identity often exemplified by distinctive worship rituals, liturgy and practices. The denominations may have differing beliefs in minor doctrines or subtle nuances in the understanding of major doctrines.

However Christians soon realised there is much commonality and universality in their beliefs. These are, 

• the profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour

• the Bible as the infallible, inerrant word of God

• the common baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Thus, ecumenism took roots whereby Christians, while belonging to different denominations, work together and develop closer relationships amongst and within churches.  

St Paul introduced Unity in Diversity using the example of the human body. Faced with differences in the early Christians, St Paul used the analogy of the different parts and functions of the human body to stress that these different parts can work together as one body with each part equally as important as the other.

'The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and others are free. But we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit and we all share the same Spirit. 

Yes the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not an eye," would that not make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if the whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes there are many parts but only one body. 1 Cor 12:12-19

The founding fathers of Singapore also recognised the value of Unity in Diversity and advanced the distinctiveness of the different races, cultures and religions within the polyglot nature of the country. They advocated that each be given its unique space and all others should recognise the different spaces. Yet, to live in harmony there needs to be a common shared space which every different community (spaces) should honour and identify ourselves. That common shared space should be upheld, defended and expressed. This is so much like the Christian understanding of the Body; the Anatomy of Unity.

Again and again Singaporeans are reminded that while we acknowledge our different identities we also share a common Singaporean identity. This was the theme in a recent Youth Conference, 'Weaving Multiple Identity, Forging Common Ground.' Mr Lawrence Wong, the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, speaking at that conference said, "We must be a society that celebrates all individuals for what they are, what they can achieve, and provides them with the opportunities to do better throughout their lives. But regardless of our diverse backgrounds, there's also something very special about the commonality we share, all of us as Singaporeans....It is in our attitudes, it is in our mindsets, and shared experiences." (Straits Times 25 Jul 2022).

A lack of understanding of this seemingly paradoxical concept of Unity in Diversity leads to misinterpreting Uniformity for Unity. Uniformity leads to the pressure to conform. 

Our modern culture promotes diversity and its ethos promotes individual rights. Individualism to the extreme can often challenge the community of the church we are building, the 'koinonia' of the local church. At the same time, we recognise our uniqueness and differences. Every one is welcome into the church family, whatever our status, however our individual preferences, our differences. Such welcome may bring the local church massive challenges but we want to live in close community with one another.

This will continue to be a ongoing challenge. Recognising differences and constantly refining and defining the common spaces apply just as much to churches as they apply to governments of multiracial societies. St Paul advocated being sensitive to these differences, yet caring for one another,

'So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care were given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among members so that all the members care for each other.' 1 Cor 12:24-25 (NLT)

In things that matter we have One Lord, One Spirit, One Love. Though of many parts, we will find unity in Jesus Christ, The Church's One Foundation.

The church's one foundation

is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.

Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

This solid foundation is the make up of an attractive church, an attractive community.

Lionel