Questions & Answers
1) What happens when an infant dies? Will he/she be saved?
This is a tough call. The Westminster Confession of Faith states
that elect infants are saved consistent with the doctrine of election. But Spurgeon and other reformed theologians
taught that all infants who died in infancy are saved. How do you reconcile the two? Well, the answer is that could it be possible
that God have elected all infants who died in infancy to be saved? Many reformed theologians believe that God is
all righteous, merciful and gracious and will deal with such cases with
compassion and lovingkindness as well.
A good case for this is found in 2 Samuel
12:21-23, which reads "Then said his servants unto him, What thing is
this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was
alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said,
While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell
whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is
dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to
him, but he shall not return to me." When David's son with Bathsheba died in
infancy, King David replied that he would see him in heaven giving us the
assurance of God's pardoning mercy to young infants who died before they reach
an age of maturity (although some interpret that this applies to covenant
families only, I take the magnanimous view that God could extend this to all
infants too by election). At the end of
it all, although we may not know for an absolute certainty, but we can trust in
the sovereign goodness and compassion of our Almighty God.
Jack Sin
2) I am dating a great Christian guy now and we
kind of like each other and have a good relationship together. The only thing is that my parents do not know
yet because I am afraid that they may ask me to break up with him. Is that ok to keep it that way for the time
being?
I can understand that you and your boyfriend
have a good relationship together, but to keep our parents in the dark or
disobey them on this important matter (i.e. or even lying about it) is really
not right at all. If you really want to
please and honour in your relationship, you cannot ignore what Jesus says about
honouring your parents (Exodus 20:12) and being truthful (Ephesians 4:25) to
them and yourselves.
Your parents are God sanctioned guardians over
you. If you do not know what they think,
then it is time to ask them. Have a
calm, respectful conversation with your parents where you work together to
understand your current concern. We want
to have the peace of mind when we date and that we do not want to delay this
because it will be worst one day if they find it out themselves. Remember God can use them to guide you in
this matter and you do not want to regret one day for not telling them and bear
the consequences.
Why do you think your parents may ask you to
break up? Have a heart-to-heart
discussion with your parents who know you well and they will trust you more if
you tell them the truth. If you want
them to see you as someone who is responsible enough to date now or one day,
then you need to be responsible enough not to date behind their back or against
their will, you do not want to jeopardize your relationship with your parents
just for this date.
So you need to pray and seek God first about
your boyfriend and talk to your parents honestly about him and you. Tell them that you have been dating this guy
and how he is and ask, if they approve of it.
They may or may not approve for good reasons or they may see that you
are responsible enough and may allow it in the end with some sound advice or
rules. Whatever the case may be, this
will restore their trust in you when you abide by their rules and it is a good
testimony for God and it augurs well for you in the end.
Because you are honest with them, they may (or
may not) eventually allow you to continue to date this person (or some other
person) now or one day. But even if they
do not, you will be following God's command to respect them and that will be a
blessing and joy in itself and a right thing to do and you know that you are
following God's will in the end which is the best for us. Remember that God will honour those who
honour Him and their parents, and the opposite is also true. Something to pray about and act on. Let us do it.
Jack Sin
3) I like your opinion on a certain ritual by a
certain Church. They (the leaders) believe that when any of their members is
sick, he/she could be healed by taking Holy Communion and even conducted by an
ordinary church member (not necessary by an ordained minister). Is this
practice biblical? Please let me have your comments.
I have preached to warn against this false
teaching and practice of healing in the Lord's Supper last year when it was
highlighted to me by a member of another BP Church. This is a new fallacious
and unbiblical doctrine and practice and there is no scriptural basis or support
for it at all (see both 1 Cor 11:23-31 on the meaning and practice of the
Lord's Supper and Jas 5:13-16 for biblical practice for the sick and healing).
The elements of the (i.e. bread, wine and
water) sacraments have no supernatural, salvific or magical powers at all (i.e.
Baptism does not and cannot save (Acts 16:31; John 4:2) and the Lord's Supper
does not heal either). There are designed as a means of grace for a spiritual
function where the covenant of grace is represented, sealed and applied to its
adherents.
Isa 53 which speaks of spiritual healing of our
sins through the atonement of Christ, the Suffering Servant, is often taken out
of its context to give a new twist of physical healing today. The most
important thing about the vicarious and particular atonement of Christ is the
eternal and spiritual redemption of lost souls and not the physical recovery of
the temporal body for we will get a new resurrection body one day, i.e. Christ
need not die on the cross if the physical healing is the purpose (see 2 Cor
5:21, Matt 1:21, Rom 5:1-12, Heb 9:11-14). The gift of healing that belonged to
some of the OT prophets, Christ and the apostles (Acts 5:12, 1 Cor 13:8) in the
First Century to authenticate their work and the Word of God) had ceased and
God can heal in answers to prayers and medication today according to His Will.
The Lord's Supper is never designed for the purpose of physical healing of the
body but for a spiritual commemoration of the death of Christ till He comes. We
would have changed the whole meaning and biblical significance of the Lord's
Supper if we do that which is potentially deceptive and absolutely erroneous.
Finally, the Lord's Supper was administered by
Christ and by the apostles and ordained ministers of the gospel who are called
of God should continue to administer it with reverence and fear of God properly
to prevent the abuse of it in the churches as practiced generally in most
orthodox Protestant churches today.
We are living in the last days of confusion and
strange teachings coming from some quarters of the church. Beware and be alert
always and search the Word to see if things taught or practiced are consistent
with scriptures (Acts 17:11). Hope this helps.
Jack Sin
4) What is the meaning of "leaving our
parents and cleaving to each other" in the context of marriage. Does it
mean dumping my parents to have a healthy marriage? I am quite close to my mom
and it is going to be difficult.
A. That is a good question. We
need to fully understand one of the keys for a successful marriage first.
Healthy marriages are those in which two people allow God to help them become
one (Genesis 2:24-25 which says, "Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed."). God has designed leaving and cleaving as two keys in
realizing this.
Leaving does not mean dumping your parents. You
can still have rich relationships with them, spend time together, share your
joys and concerns, and pray with and for one another. Leaving does mean that
your spouse now becomes your primary focus, commitment, and concern. It means
that your primary dependence and loyalty are no longer to your family (although
you still love them) but to your spouse. Although your family is still an
important part of your life, your spouse now becomes your chief source of
support and encouragement, emotionally, physically, relationally, financially,
and spiritually in the Lord and what a honour it is!
To cleave means to cling on tenaciously, stick
fast, and be faithful. Marriage means that we have made a lifetime commitment
and it is till death us do part. Cleave means to resolve to stick together and
when we have an argument or when problems arise, we do not run back to Mommy or
Daddy. We may talk with them and ask them to pray for us, but we stick with our
spouse first and seek his or her opinion, and seek the Lord and talk things
out, pray, seek wise counsel from a variety of people (which may include your
pastor or family members), ask God for patience, forgive when appropriate, and
trust God to use this problem to help knit our hearts even more tightly
together. 1 Peter 3:7 says, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them
according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered."
We have witnessed some instances when after an
argument, one spouse (normally the wife) runs home to Mom or Dad and stay there
rather than face the problem and deal with it. This behaviour can have a
disastrous effect on the marriage. The spouse who does this will not learn to
work out conflicts in ways that lead to deeper trust, bonding, healthy attachment,
and an increased sense of safety and intimacy with his or her spouse but will
undermine the very foundation of the covenant home.
Psalm 127:1 says, "Except the LORD
build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain." Leaving and cleaving is not about
forsaking your family. It is about following God's covenant plan for marriage
and to be able to put the right persons first. Remember your marriage vows and
honour it joyfully and God will bless your marriage. It is about embracing your
spouse in the Lord in ways that help you achieve a vital and vibrant marriage
relationship and with your family as well. That is a healthy manner to develop
a God honouring Christian family together. Hope this helps.
Jack & Angie Sin
5) My wife puts me down all the time,
especially in front of our children and even in the extended family. I have
asked her to stop it because it hurts but she will not. What should I do?
A. That is a tough one. It is
important that we fear God and respect each other. The Bible has a lot to say
about love, honour, and respect, for God first and also for each other and in a
covenant marriage to set a good example for our children. There is no biblical
basis for man or woman to put down our spouses to discourage them publicly.
Colossians 3:18-19 says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not
bitter against them.”
The best starting place is not with confronting
your spouse first. Sometimes just stepping back and asking God to help you
better understand your spouse can lead to an edifying next step to
reconciliation.
Some People who put down others through sarcasm
or blatant criticism may be overcompensating for a deep sense of personal
inadequacy. They protect themselves by attacking others, and may not be aware
of how discouraging and even destructive their words or behaviour can be for
the spouse and the children as well.
Others use this kind of behaviour to reflect
bitterness or resentment that is resulted from a spouse's inattention and
insensitivity in the relationship or to the children.
Before you attempt confrontation, try focusing
on what you might be able to do differently. One of the lessons God has taught
us in our more than 17 years of marriage is the Psalm 139:23-24 principle,
which says: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting."
This means asking God what your part of the
problem might be, especially if her comments are stemming from some bitterness
in your previous relationship. Is there anything you could do that God might
use to soften her heart and increase her receptivity to you? Are there wounds
that came from past events that you need to mindful of or even apologize for
and seek forgiveness?
How much time do you spend praying for and
thinking about ways you can encourage your spouse? Do you ever just listen to
her without trying to correct her opinions or attempt to solve her problem?
When was the last time you complimented your wife or husband or vice versa for
something he or she did?
Pray for him / her and ask God to help you give
your spouse specific compliments each day meaningfully. Some men may find it
helpful to write them down and to DIN (Do It Now) and not postpone until
tomorrow. Amazing things happen in our lives and in the lives of others when we
intentionally encourage, honour, love, respect, nourish, and cherish each other
in the Lord.
With some prayerful reflection and a
"servant" attitude, you will need to re-address this issue with your
spouse. The next time she puts you down, pray to the Lord and wait until you
two are alone and then let her know what she said was hurtful and that, you
feel dishonoured, disrespected and embarrassed by what happened in front of the
children or family. Let her know that it had a negative impact on you, on your
ability to be effective with the children as a care giver and a disciplinarian
as well and diminish your credibility before your family members and those who
heard it. Ask her to tell you in private the next time she wants to communicate
something negative and that you will attempt to be responsive to her concerns
by God's grace. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Tell her that you appreciate her recognizing
you as the head of the house and that you want to have a part in this God
honouring and edifying marriage and that there is a proper time and place to
share our concerns together and that need not necessarily be in front of family
and friends. Solomon says that Love covers a multitude of sins, do not get even
with him but forge ahead together and honour each other, and build a blessed
covenant home in the love and fear of God. A couple / family that prays
together stays together. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you." Hope this helps.
Jack & Angie Sin
6) Is it okay for a man and woman, who are good friends, to live
together if they are not married; or, to travel together and stay in the same
room in a hotel to cut cost?
That is a good question. There is a common practice of cohabiting among
the unmarried in the West and has come to
Non-married couples living together is unacceptable to a thrice holy God
and may stumble others morally and can be a potential temptation as well (1
John 2:15-17; Genesis 39:9). This warrants a different living arrangement, then
that should be done immediately. 1 Thess 4:2-5, "For ye know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: hat every one of
you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in
the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God".
Basically, an unmarried man and woman living together in the same roof
and sharing the same bed is displeasing before God, and is a bad testimony to
others. We do not want to do anything that will be dishonouring to Christ and a
bad testimony of our calling as a Christian. This applies to unmarried friends
of the opposite sex travelling together. It is advisable to stay in different
rooms (and this principle applies to the tertiary institution students living
in hostels as well). Paul advised us in
Hope this clarifies the matter.
Jack Sin
7) Can a Christian continue with
ancestor worship and the worship of God as well?
That is a good question. Ancestor worship is the
adoration and worship of deceased kinsmen. This is different from the general
rites for the burial of the dead and beliefs about the dead in general. The
reference to worship of dead kinship is very important in ancestor worship.
When I was a boy, my mother used to offer food, pray and burn joss
sticks in honour of the dead forefathers. She would often offer them cooked
rice, vegetables, meat like chicken, joss papers and incense and bowed to the
ancestral tablet. This was done at least once a year and the forefathers were
generally forgotten until the following year. (Now that my parents are saved by
God’s grace and mercy, she has since stopped this practice.)
Ancestor worship, which is a common practice in eastern religions, is
the superstitious worship of the dead parents and grandparents, and it is then
extended to a group of ancestors. It is required that rituals (ie offering of
food and chanting) be offered to these ancestors so that they are satisfied and
will live in peace in the world beyond, which is a superstition and is
unfounded in the Word of God (Luke 16:19-31).
Ancestor Worship Forbidden in the Word of God
Is there any specific reference to ancestor worship in the Bible? There
is a clear indication that the giving of offerings to the ancestors was
practiced by the Canaanites and strongly forbidden in the Bible for God's
people. In Deuteronomy 26:14, the tithe-giver was commanded to assure and say, "I
have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof
for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead".
There is reference to the burning of incense for the dead in Jeremiah
34:5, "But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers,
the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee;
and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word,
saith the LORD."
In Ezekiel 43:7-9 we read a strong condemnation of the practice of
worshipping the dead (kings):
"And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the
place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children
of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile,
neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of
their kings in their high places. In their setting of their threshold by my
thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they
have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed:
wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. Now let them put away their
whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell
in the midst of them for ever."
The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 65:1-4 gave a powerful rebuke of the
practice of rendering worship to the graves of dead family members:
"I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that
sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called
by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people,
which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people
that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in
gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the
graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable
things is in their vessels".
The living is to have no communication with the dead (ie necromancy) at
all (Luke 16:27-31, Deuteronomy 18:9-14). Consider once again Isaiah 8:19, "And
when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits,
and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto
their God? for the living to the dead?"
A Christian Response to Ancestor Worship
How do we as Christians respond to ancestor worship? Note that ancestor
worship is not based solely upon respect and deference for dead family members.
This is not rejected in Christian thought: The Bible commands us to honour
and obey our parents and elders. It is not wrong to remember the dead in a
meaningful way without worship. However, going beyond showing respect to
veneration in worship of them is against the Word of God. Honouring the dead in
an excessive manner by setting up images, candles, performing rituals, and
making offerings of various kinds of sacrifices to them indicate that some kind
of idol worship is involved and gives a false understanding of the afterlife.
As Christians, we should make a stand against this (ie in funeral rites) and
not indulge in it, for God does not approve of this in His Word.
This applies also to non-Christian funerals where religious rites
require bowing to the deceased in worship or carrying of joss sticks or burning
of incense or chanting rituals.
Ancestor worship and biblical Christianity are incompatible. 1
Thessalonians 1:9 speaks of turning away from idols to serve the living and
true God. Those who are saved by the Lord, need to prayerfully stop their
ancestor worship and worship only Christ the true and living God instead in
obedience to His Word.
Hope this helps.
Jack Sin
8) I have regular arguments with my spouse and now
there seem to be a strain in our relationship and is less than fulfilling. How
should we address or mend this?
It is not uncommon to have disagreements between couples from time to
time. Anger, excessive work, frustration with each other and the problems with
children, school, home, and even leisure can cause conflict and tension between
couples and may affect your marriage. You need to take notice of it and do
something about it before it is too late! The fact is, any marriage can be
threatened, no matter how fabulous it was when you started out and Satan will
try to destroy it if possible. If you do not care for and nurture your marital
relationship, then your marriage can be in potential danger.
Many will probably gave their relationship more time and attention when
it was new, and now, after being married for several years and that newness has
worn off, and so has the excitement and that has to be checked.
Marriages can be in trouble when we stop spending time and energy on our
relationship with God and our mate and substitute it for work, friends,
leisure, the children or even some legitimate hobbies or interest. Some couples
seldom even eat meals together, or share the same room (due to overseas
travelling or other reasons) and rarely talk about or show their love to each
other. There is a possibility that it can become a weakened relationship! (An
average American couple speaks to each other about 12 minutes a day as revealed
in a survey done the
To get that joy back in marriage from the Lord and the joy and blessed
fulfillment back in your marriage, you need to work on it in the Lord. The fact
is, fulfilling, happy marriages do not just happen, they have to be pursued and
realised with conscious effort and love by God's enabling grace and mercies.
Here are five pointers to help you get back on track into your marriage:
1. Put God first and
then each other at the second (Matthew 6:33). Move each other to the second
of your to-do lists, just below your love and devotion to and for Jesus. Make
spending time together a priority, just as you did when you were first dating.
We are amazed at how many spouses and children spent time at home with one
another for a few hours a week and thought it is sufficient. You need quantity
time as well as real quality time together to build up something meaningful.
2. Confess our sins to
God and be forgiving and kind to each other (1 John 1:9). Unresolved
offenses and an unforgiving spirit block all kinds of intimacy - emotional,
physical and spiritual. We know this from our own experience and from talking
to many couples over the past one and half decade where marital love has grown
cold. Trying to get close while the hurts remain is like trying to hurdle over
a 100-metre fence. It will not happen easily without a serious commitment
and sacrifice and self surrender something has to go first? Is it pride,
indifference, self-righteousness, anger, immoral practices, covetousness or
your anger or jealousy or a negative stumbling block that has to go? Something
to think about.
3. Make an effort to
deepen relationships by purposeful interaction (Mark 3:13,14). Most men
tell us they were far more successful at connecting with their wives before
marriage or before children. And many women report to us that as family
responsibilities and challenges mount, they lose track of their husbands' most
heartfelt needs. Recapturing the joy in your relationship requires that you get
to deeply know your spouse all over again with intensive opportunities to pray,
share and mulls over things together. Get away on a holiday once a while and
leave the job and kids alone for a while. Remember to turn off the handphone
for a season and do not bring the laptop, the IPod or MP3 (and turn off the TV
as well).
4. Manage your thinking
with godly discipline (Philippians 4:8). Are you always negative, who
always in your work, church, or spouses, and react angrily and retaliate? What
are you playing over and over in your mind about your spouse? Can you change
the way you think about him or her? You may have to do two things: (1) Be
willing to want to love again with your spouse. (2) Manage and discipline your
thoughts against unedifying notions. Focus your mind or thoughts on the
qualities or events that caused you to love your spouse whom God gave to you in
the first place.
5. Rekindle your love
for God and each other and have special times together (Ephesians 5:2).
Show your love to your spouse often and but even more important is making sure
your spouse feels cherished. The need for just plain "good times" is
very important. Decide with each other what fun time is like for the two of
you. Then plan it and get away. Sit down with your calendar and be serious
about setting time for not being so serious. This is not a time to deal with
work, and other heavy issues. Let your spouse rediscover you with contentment
and associate you with God's given joy and blessing again. It is a
great thing to be married to someone you love in the Lord and love is the
lubricant that takes away the friction in life.
We can rekindle the joy of being married again by deliberately honouring
Christ in worship, service and prayer together and spending time with each
other. As you do that, pray that God will revive and restore you and your
marriage and nothing is impossible with God.
Jack Sin
9) How can I lead a Bible study in
my home or office?
A good Bible study has five main sections which
can be summarised in the acronym (ABIDES).
A -
Aim / Attitude
Write down the Aim (desired objective) for your
study (eg: "to help my members to understand the book of Genesis or roles
in married life or work related lessons from a biblical perspective").
Have the right perspective as you prepare and
why you want the Bible study to be designed for (ie evangelistic). Pray and ask
God for wisdom and strength, and determine the place and frequency and gather
the people. Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path."
B -
Background / Bible
Gather necessary Background data (ie. note,
map, historical facts, etc.) that your members do not have in the text. Keep it
simple and usable and read the text of the Bible and observe details. Read from
the KJV and later explain from it clearly.
Here you need to do some homework as you
determine the subject and text for your Bible study. Read a commentary, concordance
Bible dictionary or books to enhance your understanding. Give a basic
introduction to the content and develop it further with each lesson.
I -
Instruction / Insight
The purpose of your introduction is to interest
your listeners convincing them that what you are about to say is worthwhile
listening to. Be imaginative (you may use a quote, a story, a anecdote or
historical incident … whatever you use must be relevant to your text).
This is the 3rd stage where you actually
organise your lessons with careful observation, proper interpretation of the
grammatical historical content and application points (ie. what does Jesus
meant by "ye must be born again?"). Hebrews 4:12 says, "For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
D -
Discussion / Didactic / Demeanour / Deliberation
Develop or ask relevant thought provoking
questions which are relevant to the text and to the context of your members.
Aim your discussion to stimulate your members to think and then discuss and to
apply the lessons (ie. what should we do with Matthew 6:21 or Philippians
4:8?).
Let the participants share and give their
thoughts before summarising the lessons learn. Participation breeds commitment
and in turn affects behaviour. Isaiah 1:8 says, "This book of the law
shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success."
E -
Epitome / Example
An Epitome is a kind of a "summary"
of your study. The purpose of your summary is to focus your membaers on the key
biblical ideas you intended for the group to know. Close with specific steps of
action and give some concrete examples for them to take note (ie. memory
verses, action steps in the home or work place, like ethics or avoiding certain
moral compromises). James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
S -
Self-Examination / Supplications
This is the part for reflection and prayer
together before God. It is also good to end with intercession for one another
before the throne of grace (Psalm 139:23, 24).
Remember 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth."
Jack Sin
10) How can a person who is dabbling with the occult
be adversely affected and how can we as Christians help them?
Introduction
The word "occult" simply means "hidden," implying
hidden forces or knowledge. It becomes used generally to mean practices that
include spiritism, psychism, cabbalism (ie the Bible Code of Michael Drosnin),
horror movies, occultic books (ie Harry Potter) freemasonry, channelling, yoga, witchcraft, sorcery, telling the future
from tarot cards, voodoo dolls, crystals, palmistry, astrology and others.
Groups like the freemasons, the mormons and the wiccan advocates
dabbling with occultic activities in their beliefs and practices as well,
sometimes unknowingly. Recently, an article in Computer Times (21 April
99) has a whole section on computer games and one of them is Advanced Dungeons
and Dragons, Warcraft, Diablos, Resident Evil, some of which has a segment on
how to cast spells and combat wizards and demons. These games are quite easily
accessible from most computer shops today. Let parents and their children be
forewarned of this before it is too late. Restraint, godly counsel and
correction may be needed here for some.
Most people are either just inquisitive or are seeking for something that
God has not allowed us (e.g., consulting the dead) for this is dangerous and
can have disastrous results. The Word of God is not silent on this subject.
Leviticus 19:26, 31 say,
"Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use
enchantment, nor observe times . . . Regard not them that have familiar
spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your
God."
The practice of the occult is strongly condemned in the Bible. It is an
abomination to God and God will not leave any unpunished, who indulged in these
forbidden activities (Hebrews 12:6-11). Saul consulted a witch of Endor, and he
was severely dealt with. Remember Deuteronomy 29:29,
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things
which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do
all the words of this law."
The New Age practice of channelling and yoga, hypnotic music,
non-traditional alternative forms of treatment and meditation have mesmerised
many who are in search of spiritual healing and contentment. Instead of seeking
the living and true God, many are misled into trusting the spiritual
counterfeit, and thought that it will satisfy them. The Word of God warns
believers not to have anything to do with these abominable practices. In
Deuteronomy 18:9-12, our Lord says,
"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There
shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to
pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an
enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a
wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto
the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them
out from before thee."
The NT has the same emphasis on total separation from the occult. One of
the things that is clearly condemned in Galatians 5:20 is witchcraft or sorcery.
Ephesians 6:12 warns of "the rulers of the darkness of this world"
and "spiritual wickedness in high places". Simon Magnus who
was dabbling with the occult was severely admonished by the Apostle Peter (Acts
8:9-11), and Elymas the magician (Acts 13:8) and the medium of
Involvement in the occult can only lead to spiritual bondage and fear of
hearing voices or seeing things in the night or mental depression, and open
gullible people to demonic obsession and possession. We see this in the account
of the young woman in
The Forms of Occultism / Witchcraft in the Old Testament / New Testament
Moses warned by inspiration of God, "There shall not be found
among you any one ... that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an
enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a
wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto
the Lord ..." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
I. All forms of the occult
like divination, necromancy, astrology, hypnotism, tarot cards, yoga, wizardy,
spell casting, fortune-telling, magic, etc, are forbidden by God. Consider
Leviticus 19:26-28, 31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; 2 Kings 23:24; Jeremiah
10:2.
II. The interest in the
occult is not a recent development. It is as old as the biblical times.
A. Witchcraft was openly and widely
practiced in Old Testament times. Read Isaiah 8:19; 19:3; 29:4; Ezekiel 21:21;
Hosea 4:12; Micah 3:6-7; 5:12.
B. Occultism and sorcery was rampant in the
early church and the apostles had to deal with them. Consider, Simon the
magician - Acts 8:9, 11; Elymas the sorcerer - Acts 13:8; The girl at Philippi
- Acts 16:16; The city of Ephesus - Acts 19:19.
C. The Word of God testifies that there
will be an increased activity in false teachings and the occult in the latter
days (Matthew 24:3, 4, 24).
III. The power behind these
supernatural manifestations of the occult.
A. The teachings of spiritism and occultic
activity are doctrines of demons! (1 Timothy 4:1).
B. Not all miracles are of God. Satan can
also perform lying signs and wonders to deceive many. Consider, Exodus 7:9-12;
8:7, 17-19; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:9;
Revelation 13:13-14,16:14; 19:20.
C. Occult involvement may lead to demon
possession, obsession and other forms of depression.
Acts 13:8, 10 (Paul called the
magician a "child of the devil!")
Acts 16:16-18
D. Scripture says that they "sold
their souls" to the devil by their occult practices which they allow the
evil one to possess or obsess them! (2 Kings 17:17).
IV. The Bible clearly states
that these diabolical workers of iniquity operate to deceive and enslave many.
Read Jeremiah 14:14; 27:9-10; 29:8-9; Zechariah 10:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2
Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 18:23b.
A. It is possibly true that fortune-tellers
possessed by the evil one can reveal something (see Exodus 7:9-12; 8:7; Daniel
1:20); but their power is limited (Exodus 8:17-19; Daniel 2:2, 10, 27; 4:7;
5:7-8, 15) and we are not to seek them at all.
B. God challenged the people to see if the
power of their astrologers was greater than that of God and condemned their
spiritual compromise. (Isaiah 47:12-14).
V. Consequences for
involvement in the occult.
A. Under the Law (Old Testament), the
punishment was death by stoning as this is a great affront to God. Read Exodus
22:18; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 13:5.
B. Saul died because he participated in a
seance (1 Samuel chapter 28),
and the kingdom was
taken from him (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
C. Those guilty of practicing witchcraft
shall have no peace (2 Kings 9:22; Isaiah 57:20-21), and they shall not escape
judgment (Malachi 3:5).
D. Their souls shall be rejected by God and
suffer eternal consequences. Read Leviticus 20:6; 2 Kings 17:17; Isaiah 2:6.
E. They shall be refused entrance into the
kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21), and their end shall be the lake of fire
(Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15).
VI. Is occultism a serious
offense? Yes, consider the following,
A. In scripture, witchcraft is paralleled
to rebellion (disobedience) against God (ie Harry Potter, Wiccan Clubs, etc).
Read 1 Samuel 15:23.
B. God says it is an abomination in His
sight and He strongly abhors and forbids us to seek occultic means (Deuteronomy
18:9-14).
C. God says they "sold their
souls" to the devil by their divination (2 Kings 17:17).
D. It is not only spiritually defiling
(Leviticus 19:31); but it has a bad spiritual influence on others as well
(Nahum 3:4-7, 19).
E. It greatly displeases and angers God.
Read 2 Kings 21:5-6; 2 Chronicles 33:6.
VII. Christians must separate
themselves from all forms of magic (ie voodoo dolls, spells, occultic books and
games), and they must renounce and destroy all associations of their former
involvement in the occult (Acts 19:19).
A. In faithfulness to God, during biblical
times the land was often ridded of all mediums and spiritists. Read 1 Samuel
28:3, 9; 2 Kings 23:24.
B. Those who "repented not" of
their sorceries will be subjected to eternal torment in judgment. Read Revelation
9:20; 16:9.
Conclusion
A genuine child of God cannot be demon-possessed but that does not mean
we can dabble with it. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling within us. Remember 1
John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." It is
possible, however, they can be negatively influenced by demons. To guard
against these attacks of the evil one, we are told to submit to God first and
resist the devil and he will flee from us (1 Peter 4:7; James 4:7). We are also
to put on the full armour of God, to withstand the wiles of the devil, as
mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18. If a believer persists in the occultic
activities, God will discipline us as He does to all sons (Hebrews 12:5-11),
and there would be temporal consequences of sin, that we may have to bear up
with if we have crossed the line.
The only way of deliverance from the occult is through repentance,
belief and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 says,
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek."
Christ came to break the bondage of sin and stronghold of the evil one
through His victory at the Cross. Only the repentance from sin and a saving
relationship with Christ our Lord can protect us. Obey His Word and submit to
His will constantly. Flee from these things and follow after righteousness,
godliness, truth, with those who call on God out of a pure heart (2 Timothy
2:22; 1 Timothy 6:11-12). Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6).
Jack Sin
11) I used to cheat during the exam. Now, I have
repented of my sin. But when the exam is held, I am tempted to cheat again.
What can I do?
Cheating at exams or assignments or tests is a serious sin that is
commonly committed by many students, (but many are probably not caught) and
need to be confessed and repented of. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.” Although we confess and repent, the temptation can be
present and one has to take extra measures like:-
1. Pray
that God will help you to be honest. Jesus in Matthew 26:41 said, "Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak."
2. Be
well prepared for the exam. If you have studied hard, you will be confident and
not be so easily tempted. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, "Therefore,
brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle." Diligence will enable you to know
most of the answers and be humble to accept that there may be some that you are
unable to answer fully. Remember to cheat is to be dishonest before God and men
and has its consequences, but if you are honest and hardworking, you will not
only pass but be able to also do well.
3. Physically,
make sure that you are seated far from your friends so that there is no chance
of cheating. Also remember to keep your eyes on your own paper and not look
around at other people's paper. That is something you must consciously avoid.
4. Remember
that your Christian testimony is at stake. To try hard in exams and then to be
disappointed with not so good results is better than to cheat and do well.
There is always another chance to do better. But to be caught cheating (even if
we are not) is a shameful thing and destroys your good testimony, (A good name
is rather to be chosen than great riches - Proverbs 22:1). Worst still, it
tarnishes the name of the Lord that you worship and you are cheating God and
yourself in the end. The next time you are tempted to cheat again, pray and ask
God for strength to fight against it and He will honour you. Remember to study
hard (so you do not need to cheat) and glorify the Lord in all that you do (1
Corinthians 10:31). Diligence, not just Intelligence, and Perspiration, not
just Inspiration, is the key to academic success.
Jack Sin
12) How do I ensure that I maintain a good testimony
during my National Service?
2 Timothy 2:3, 4 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a
good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier." It is good that you are keen to maintain a good testimony
for the Lord and uphold His name. The first thing to do is not to hide the fact
that you are a Christian. "Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
(Matthew 5:16). Therefore do not give in to bad language, drinking, smoking,
moral compromise or dishonesty. When you witness to your friends at the camp,
they will listen as they may have a good impression of you. If you at times
suffer, despised or ridiculed for the stand you take, be like Paul who rejoiced
that he was worthy to "suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41).
Remember to say grace before your meals, maintain a regular QT (this is
where the discipline regarding time will come in), keep away from the
suggestive magazines or videos or questionable internet portals, be nice to
all, respect authority, do not murmur or pick up swear words, maintain
temperance and patience, stay away from alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Be
disciplined in the use of your time. Lead a godly life and be competent in your
field of expertise. This is not easy but pray without ceasing and ask God for
His mercies and help.
The physical and mental challenge is also great. Being mentally prepared
is half the battle won. Keep fit by doing some physical training and remember
to respect authority. This will help also to have the stamina and strength you
need for your military exercise and IPPT. Get those who have completed their NS
to show you some of the drills or tips that you need to know. Constantly look
to the Lord for wisdom, strength and understanding. Pray before, during and
after every activity and God will certainly guide you when you seek Him first (Proverbs
3:5-7).
Another tip is always to find good Christian friends who are in the same
platoon or battalion working with you and who are willing to aid you in any way
they can, offering godly advice and sharing your problems and praying together
and reading His Word.
Manage your emotional and spiritual life too by committing every thing
to the Lord in prayer. Do not be caught in a web of discontent with bad company
or idleness. Ecclesiastes says, "To every thing there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is
a time to serve the country and there will be a time when you would have
discharged your duty with honour when you ORD and have a good legacy behind as
a faithful soldier of Christ in the Lord’s army as well.
Jack Sin
13) What is the correct dressing
when we go to worship God on Sunday if any?
Our demeanour and decorum is important before God and men. An important guideline to dressing well is to dre