One In the Spirit (1973) by David C.K. Watson, Book Review

 One In the Spirit (1973) by David C.K. Watson

Before, I had two favorite Anglicans of the past: John C. Ryle (1816-1900) and James I. Packer (1926-2020). But now I want to add another person: David C. Watson (1933-1984). While Ryle and Packer are beloved friends of the Reformation and the Puritans, Watson however was known as a champion of charismatic evangelicalism. In this book, Watson addresses the need to be united in love - "one in the Spirit, one in the Lord." It is sad to see Christians in the past and present divided over the work of the Holy Spirit when undoubtedly He intends to make us united. We need to take heed of the urgent call to unite in Spirit and truth, but not take it to the extreme of syncretism. As the Scripture says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2-3).

The first step, as the author begins the book, is to know the person and the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. He is the key to everything in the New Testament Church. "The fifth book of the New Testament should really be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit," writes Watson. "If God had taken the Holy Spirit out of their midst in those days, about 95% of what they doing in their churches would ceased immediately. Everyone would know the difference." But today, sadly, if God would take the Spirit out of our midst, maybe we would not know the difference. Business as usual. And that's the danger! I recalled my observations when I read this book of how we have treated the Holy Spirit unintentionally - in our theology and conduct - as subordinated either to the Bible (by most Protestants) or the Church (by most Roman Catholics). Thus, Watson urges us to have "a fresh recognition of the Third Person of the Trinity, and deep longing for the same wind of the Spirit that energized believers both in the first century and in the revivals of the Church down the years." Amen.

This book is divided into five chapters that mostly derive from 1 Corinthians 12-14 and other passages: 1) The Person of the Holy Spirit; 2) The Holy Spirit in the Individual; 3) The Holy Spirit in the Church; 4) Walking by the Spirit; and 5) The Greatest Is Love. Obviously, David Watson was generally positive about the explosion of the charismatic movement during his time. He was aware of the danger of counterfeits and always pointed out to "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1). In the same way, when I read this book, I tested his ideas and interpretations whether they were based on the Scripture or not. And asking, "What is God saying by His Spirit?" This is a good question - and prayer! - to ask when we read other books too, especially the one that He inspired or God-breathed Book (see 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21).

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheHolySpirit #DavidWatson #Unity #TheChurch #TheScripture #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (2018 Revised Edition) by Dave Hunt, Sort-of Review

 What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (2018 Revised Edition)
by Dave Hunt

I can't remember clearly when was the first time I was exposed to Calvinism. Come to think about it, perhaps it was through books that I read (seem obvious) or sermons that I heard, or both. For sure I was reading lots of books by avid Calvinists in the past such as C.H. Spurgeon, John Piper, J.I. Packers, R.C. Sproul, and my all-time favorite John MacArthur (a.k.a. JMac). God has used - and continues to do so - their books and teachings to shape my mind and understanding of the Scripture. But I have this against them: the core teachings of Calvinism, especially on soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), are incompatible and inconsistent with Scripture. By core teachings, I'm referring to five points that can be summarized by the acronym TULIP. Having said that, I do believe (for now) that Reformed Theology is the closest to biblical Christianity as compared to other major theological systems. We must keep in mind that all theological persuasions are not perfect. It is the Word of God alone that is inerrant, infallible, and perfect.

I'm friendly to the Calvinists but I'm not one. So, am I an Arminian? No (By the way, Jacob Arminius was a good guy. And the opposite of Calvinism is not only Arminianism. Grow up!). How about a Provisionist? Interesting but not yet fully persuaded. For now, although it is helpful to know where ones stand theologically, I have no affiliation with any label. To say, I'm a Biblicalist is a cliche. But I do want to say that there is no biblical mandate or obligation for us to make the decision. Maybe the best way, for now, is to either ignore the label or settle with one or continue to learn and explore. I choose to be proactive. I've been listening to dozens of debates, podcasts, and talks to wrap my mind on these matters. I would like to encourage you to do the same (except for not being too obsessed). On the topic of Calvinism, I highly recommend the late R.C. Sproul's What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding the Basics book and talk series on Ligoniers Ministry YouTube Channel. R.C. was a good teacher, theologian, and communicator. On the other hand, if you want to read on the topic against Calvinism, then, I highly recommend the late Dave Hunt's What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God. I have other recommendations too but for basics, try these two as your introductions.

I love Dave Hunt. He was the embodiment of "zeal with knowledge" and "logic on fire" on par with Walter Martin. He addresses many topics and wrote numerous books on theology, the church, prophecy, cults, occults, New Age, and other religions and critiques of Catholicism, Islam, and yes, Calvinism, among others. You will either love him or hate him but think you must! In this book, Dave Hunt hopes to show how Calvinism misrepresents God's love, decrees, sovereignty, will, foreknowledge, grace, nature, character, gospel, and, of course, the Scripture. Some things I agree with, some statements I disagree with, and many times I hold my judgment. There are strengths (for example, quoting well-known Calvinism proponents to define their own terms) and weaknesses (for example, the tone of his writings, if you're not familiar with him, seems angry and very critical) as any provocative book would have. If you're a Calvinist, you will be triggered by the chapters on the (other) "horrific" beliefs and practices of John Calvin and his early followers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. And not to mention that of Augustine of Hippo. So, read this book at your own risk!

NOTE: Btw, there are other good (some are better!) non-Calvinist teachers and writers that you should explore too such as David Pawson, Chuck Missler, A.W. Tozer, Adrian Rogers, C.S. Lewis, Michael Heiser, Frank Viola, John Stott, Hwa Yung, etc. Read widely.

To read my other book reviews, CLICK HERE

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #DaveHunt #Calvinism #Reformed #GodsLove #Theology #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Shifting Currents - Issues, Challenges, and the Way Forward for Global Christianity (2019) by Hwa Yung, Book Review

Usually, I don't write reviews for a booklet that I read but since the message here is quite important (and perhaps urgent) for us Christians - especially the East Asian Christians - to look at, I think it is good for me to share it briefly. This booklet is based on Bishop Emeritus Hwa Yung's talk at the World Assembly of the IFES, South Africa, in July 2019. Hwa Yung believes that there are significant shifts in global Christianity, namely, from the Western World to the Majority World, and with it comes great issues and challenges. "Christians in the Majority World (or Global South) will forever owe an incalculable debt of love to those from the West who brought the gospel to us in the past, often at great cost to themselves... Moreover, there is still so much in western Christianity that is good, noble, and worth emulating," he writes, "Nevertheless, in recent years, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that I have to think twice before I look to today's western churches for answers." I agree with Hwa Yung's realistic comment here. We need to be grateful and yet, careful.

Churches in the Majority World must have their own identities, independence, and influence from the West. The goal, I believe, is not for separation but for mutual benefits. It doesn't mean that we have to reject everything (God forbids!) but we do have to contextualize certain areas of our differences such as theology, culture, ways of thinking, and doing church and mission. Hwa Yung observes that "many churches in the Majority World still function as appendages and extensions of the churches in the West." The Majority World must grow into maturity so that instead of depending on the West for models and answers, they will "be able to work alongside those in the West with real confidence and contribute to their well-being." In short, genuine mutuality and mature partnership with one another. In his talk, the author outlines five (5) key issues and their related challenges (to know more, read this booklet or watch his talk on YouTube):

1) Worldviews and the Intellectual Challenge
2) The Growth of the Majority World Churches and the Recovery of the Supernatural
3) Ministry and Mission by Human Management vs. Dependence of the Spirit
4) The Challenge of Shallow Discipleship or Nominalism
5) Confidence In the Gospel of Christ

His concluding thoughts - the way forward for global Christianity - are worth considering and praying about. One that stands out for me is this: "If we the Majority World are to live out our calling to serve the global church, we must learn one important lesson from western church history. It is simply that the advance of the kingdom of God will inevitably involve costly sacrifice.” Amen.

To read my other book reviews/ summaries by the same author, CLICK THE TITLES to read:

Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999)

Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia (2018)

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #ShiftingCurrents #GlobalChristianity #HwaYung #IFES #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Lead Like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ In Your Ministry (Audiobook, 2021) by A.W. Tozer, Book Review

I like to think of A.W. Tozer (many have called him a modern-day prophet) as a very bold and manly writer. We need more men of God like him. I'm not comfortable calling a living person a "man of God" anymore because the last time I said that to the late Ravi Zacharias, I was frustrated and ashamed of myself after the exposè. Of course, it's not wrong (if due respect) to call someone a man or woman of God, it is safer for the soul and faith, in my opinion, to reserve that title or honor to the long-gone, time-proven, faithful Christ followers such as A.W. Tozer. Although he passed away in 1963, his influence - writings and Christian living - is critical today. My first encounter with Tozer was through his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy and also a biography by James L. Snyder entitled A.W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God. I have some issues with Tozer's mysticism but his love for God and His Word surpassed my judgment and is remained central in his life and writings.

Lead Like Christ edited by James Synder for modern readers is a compilation of Tozer's sermons on the Epistle of Paul to Titus which particularly focus on spiritual leadership. If you're looking for a management-side or practical method of leadership, this book is not for you. For that, as I see the importance of knowing how to lead, I would recommend other books. But if you, as Tozer puts it, have "an incurable hunger and thirst for the deep things of God" you will be blessed by this book. His insights on the Scripture, particularly the Letter to Titus, are admirable. His thoughts on the impact of spiritual warfare, the urgent need for sound doctrine, the call of servanthood, the three words he uses to describe Titus (integrity, discretion, and enthusiasm), and more are skillfully articulate to connect to the topic of spiritual leadership. He gives examples of Paul, other apostles and prophets, his contemporaries, and chiefly the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

There were times when I have to pause and reflect on what he said and consider my own walk with God and the people I try to lead. As Paul said to another of his mentee, Timothy, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching" (1 Timothy 4:16), that is, teach "accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). We need more leaders today. But not the worldly kind of leaders. We need Christ-centered leaders that can turn the world upside down with silent obedience and loud character that bring glory to "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). This is a high calling, Holy Spirit, help us! Amen.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #LeadLikeChrist #AWTozer #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Timothy, Tell the Children to Take Care of Their Parents (1 Timothy 5:3-8)

 “Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worst than an unbeliever.”

(1 Timothy 5:3-8, ESV)

The bottom line of 1 Timothy 5:3-16 as I understand it is this: God’s people, namely the church, is to help to supply not just spiritual needs but also material needs of other vulnerable Christians (for example here, the “widows”) if there are no other believing family members to do so. But if there are, then, they ought to provide the needs by all means. What Paul writes here concerning care for widows can be applied to any Christians in real need. But one thing we must keep in mind, however, the church is not a welfare agency. The church is not to put social work before the gospel of the grace of God. Beware of the damnable social gospel nowadays! The church is to take responsibility to care for those who are really in need only when there are no other Christian family members to do so (I’m repeating myself here to emphasize the point!). “Let the church not be burdened,” reminds Paul later, “so that it may care for those who are truly widows” (v.16). The qualifications of widows to be supported are listed in verses 9 and 10. Spiritually, they are the godly widows who set their “hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” NOT those who are “self-indulgent” or “live only for pleasure” (NLT), that is, the ungodly.

First moral responsibility is placed upon Christian relatives (“children or grandchildren” or any family members) at least because of these five reasons: 1) To show one’s “godliness”, 2) To repay or “to make some return” to one’s parents or grandparents. To “honor” is to show “respect” (the fifth commandment in Exodus 20:12), 3) To please God. “This is pleasing in the sight of God”; 4) To affirm one’s faith because if not he or she “has denied the faith and is worst than an unbeliever”, and, 5) To unburdened the church (v.16). It is sad that sometimes even Christians who have been loved and cared for by their parents or grandparents, practically turn their backs on them in their hour of need. The dramas on Malaysian TV series and films on Netflix about how the children argue with one another on who will take care of their elderly parents or the decision to send their parents to old folks' homes are the reflections of what really happened in our culture today. How come one mother can take care of ten children all by herself but her children can’t take care of their only mother? Such children - or probably YOU - need to hear these words all over again: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worst than an unbeliever.” Strong words, yes, but the truth is always is!

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The Greatest Fight: Spurgeon’s Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists (2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, Audiobook Review

 The Greatest Fight: Spurgeon’s Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists 
(1891, Revised Edition 2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, Audiobook

I’ve listened to this audiobook for the third time already! (that shows how good it is). Every time I hear it again, I learned something new. There is something peculiar about Christian classic books written by old, faithful, and powerful preachers like Charles H. Spurgeon that draw me to them over and over again. Perhaps it is due to (most, not all) shallow popular Christian writings in this present day. Or perhaps it is due to Bible-saturated, thoughtful, and meaty writings of the past. Or maybe both (obviously, I’m biased). One observation that I see in the writings of such men and women of God of the past that are considered timeless is this: they believe by faith that the Scriptures, namely the Bible, is the very Word of God. The assumption is that if God said it in the Scriptures, then it is so. Spurgeon once remarks: “If your creed and Scripture do not agree, cut your creed to pieces, but make it agree with this book.”

And hear this: “Men talk of ‘the mistakes of Scripture.’ I thank God that I have never met with any. Mistakes of translation there may be, for translators are men. But mistakes of the original word there never can be, for the God who spoke it is infallible, and so is every word He speaks, and in that confidence, we find delightful rest.” Spurgeon was not uninformed with the Biblical and textual criticism issues during his lifetime (in fact, he engaged with it directly in the famous Downgrade Controversy). But Spurgeon - and few others - stand firm in the promise of God that He will keep and preserve His words forever (Psalm 12:6-7). Because of this Spirit-originated conviction, I can hear his confident and urgent plea for the pastors, teachers, evangelists, and Christians, in general, to continue to fight the greatest fight in the world in the pages of this powerful book… Errr… or in my case, in the audiobook to be exact.

This short book is originally known as The Greatest Fight In the World and was first published in 1891. Aneko Press revised and updated it in 2018 by replacing the terminology from the 1800s with language that modern readers would understand “while keeping the heart of the message unchanged.” They also replaced the old references from Scripture by using the Jubilee Bible. I love to hear the soothing voice of the narrator, Saethon Williams, with the not-so-thick Englishmen accent (Spurgeon was a British preacher). In 1891, one year before Charles H. Spurgeon's death (1834-1892), he delivered his final annual address to his fellow pastors and Pastors’ College students offers them practical advice on how to approach the fight of faith. He does so under four (4) main headings:

Chapter 1: Our Fight. “My topics have to do with our lifework - with the crusade against error and sin in which we are engaged. I hope every person here wears the red cross on his or her heart as a badge and promises to act boldly for Christ and His cross and to never be satisfied until Christ’s enemies are defeated and Christ Himself is satisfied. Our fathers used to speak of ‘the cause of God and truth,’ and it is for this that we bear arms, the few against the many, the feeble against the mighty. Oh, to be found good soldiers of Jesus Christ!.” This first chapter set the tone for the old Spurgeon to challenge his readers to fight the good fight of faith by the power and grace of God. Truly, the battle is the Lord’s, rather than ours, he reminds us.

Chapter 2: Our Armory. In my opinion, this is the most important chapter in the book (although Spurgeon said chapter 4 is). It is worth the time to consume it and reflect upon the wisdom of this wounded but victorious man of God on his theology and practice of the Scriptures. “The first is our armory – our weapon, which is the inspired Word.”

Chapter 3: Our Army. “The second is our army, the church of the living God, called out by Himself, which we must lead under our Lord’s command.”

Chapter 4: Our Strength. “The third is our strength, by which we wear the armor and use the sword. The Holy Spirit is our power to be and to do, to suffer and to serve, to grow and to fight, to wrestle and to overcome. Our third theme is of main importance, and though we place it last, we rank it first.”

You don’t have to be a pastor or a teacher or an evangelist - or even an unashamed Calvinist like him - to appreciate this book. If you’re a Christ-follower, I highly recommend that you read or listen to it. Spurgeon speaks with authority because he relies on our common authority, namely, the Scriptures. In his own words: “Go forth, oh, soldiers of Jesus Christ, with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).” Amen!

[Note: I get the audiobook - and many other wonderful books - from Aneko Press YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Anekopress. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it! Also, if you prefer to read the ebook, you read it for free from their website.]

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #1Book1Week #CharlesSpurgeon #TheGreatestFightInTheWorld #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Corinthian Agenda (1982, 2004) by Michael Green, Summary-Review

 The Corinthian Agenda (1982, 2004) by Michael Green

“The apostle [Paul]’s love for his wayward church at Corinth is very obvious,” concludes the late Dr. Michael Green, an author, evangelist, and theologian. “He had after all found it. He had visited them at considerable inconvenience on numerous occasions. He had poured out his heart in letters to them and sent colleagues to help them. They were very dear to him. And yet, like any good father, he has to correct their failures and weaknesses. I am thankful he did. For what he has to say is of enormous value for the contemporary church, if only we will heed it.” I agree. God’s church in Corinth was very privileged in the early New Testament times. Paul testified: “I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through Him, God has enriched your church in every way…” and “you have every spiritual gift you need…” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5, 7).

But with all of these gifts, it doesn’t guarantee that the church is all well. The issues within the church in Corinth were very serious and yet it is a blessing for us today. Why? Because without them, we won’t know how to think theologically and handle practically based on the Scripture the same issues facing the church today! So we should thank God for using Paul to give us these two sacred letters - 1 and 2 Corinthians. These letters (the scholars suggest that perhaps Paul have written at least three or four letters to the Corinthians, two of them completely or partially lost) are a remarkable record of the relations “between the greatest of church planters and one of the most influential communities [Paul] founded and cared for.” In the period of reading this book, I also took time to read 1 & 2 Corinthians in the New Living Translation (NLT) and listened to audio Bible in King James Version (KJV) read by the legendary voice of Alexander Scourby. In this way, I can get the most from the Scripture and the book. I recommend this practice especially if you’re reading Bible commentary!

In this book, Michael Green (1930 - 2019) selected some very important issues or major themes and devoted a short chapter for each. This is not a verse by verse commentary but the author just wants to show how “Paul speaks directly to us over a broad range of issues in the Christian life, and speaks with an incisiveness, clarity, and authority that are rare.” There are 3 parts (The Church, The Members & Authority) and 17 short chapters on Mission, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, Body Life, Love, Worship, Prophecy, Intellect, Freedom, Giving, Sex, Suffering, Death, Leaders, Women & Apostles. As you can see, some of these themes are still hot issues nowadays and very much debate between and within the Christian denominational circles. Of course, I don’t agree with everything Dr. Green writes but if I only read books that I agree with, what benefits will I get? For sure, he was very passionate for the word of God, always trying to provide a balanced view on difficult issues, making sure that important points have Scripture references, and aim to be as plain and practical as possible so that we can apply these truths or principles in our everyday life. The Corinthian Agenda (first published as To Corinth with Love) is a good overview of these sacred letters. But if you want to study in-depth I suggest getting a set of 1 & 2 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary and those from The Bible Speaks Today commentary series.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #MichaelGreen #TheCorinthianAgenda #GodsChurch #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Preaching & Preachers (1971, 1997) by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Book Review

Preaching & Preachers (1971, 1997) by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

When I posted on my WhatsApp status after I finished reading this book, Dr. Thomas Chung, an itinerant preacher and a medical practitioner, texted me, "[This book] remain one of my most treasured books on the subject. From him, I learned the importance of 'diagnostic preaching' and tried using it every time I prepare a sermon. Glad you also like this man's writings." Dr. Thomas had sat on the preaching of Dr. Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel when he was studying medicine in London in the early 80s. "To watch the man preached stirs the spirit," he continues. "After listening to him one becomes consumed with the Majesty of God." I cannot say I feel the same since David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was born and died before God ever formed me in my mother's womb. But I trust that the testimony of Dr. Thomas - and few others who have witnessed the man and his preaching - is true. There are less than half a dozen of video interviews on YouTube available today that shows how soft-spoken, calm, and gentlemanly Dr. Lloyd-Jones was but there are hundreds of audio recording sermons at the MLJ Trust website that can give us a glimpse (although inadequate) of his passionate, piercing, and precise preaching.

This book is originally a transcript of his lecture series on the same title that he delivered to the students of the Westminster Theological Seminary. Besides reading the book, I also listened to the audio recordings of the 16 lectures available online (plus two question and answer sessions). I find that this practice of after reading a chapter, then listening to the session is very helpful for me to comprehend more, memorize important points, and capture the gems that I might miss along the way. Above all, I can somewhat imagine that I was sitting there in the lecture room with the other students to hear and interact with Dr. Lloyd-Jones. It is more lively, and I can hear his Welsh accent that is absent in the written pages. Also, you must understand that when he preached on the pulpit he is very serious but in the lecture room, you can hear his sense of humor. Try it! Knowing the man by reading his biography and listening to sermons on his life and ministry are very helpful too. I recommend watching Steven Lawson's The Passionate Preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and Iain Murray's The Legacies of Martyn Lloyd-Jones on YouTube for a start (To get a hold of how God uses this man to influence other faithful preachers today, watch a documentary about him entitled, Logic on Fire).

It is hard to say which chapters are the most important but obviously, the first two are essentials, namely, on 1) The Primacy of Preaching, and 2) No Substitute, because here Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that preaching the Word of God or The Gospel or The Truth is not an optional but the very reason why the Church exists in the world. He observes from the Scriptures and history that: "The work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. If you want something in addition to that I would say without hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church is true preaching; and if it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also." When he comes to the question of what is preaching? His famous words are "Logic on fire! Eloquent reason!… It is theology on fire. And a theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology; or at least the man's understanding of it is defective. Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. A true understanding and experience of the Truth must lead to this. I say again that a man who can speak about these things dispassionately has no right whatever to be in a pulpit; and should never be allowed to enter one." And what is the chief end of preaching? He simply said, "It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence." One sentence that I can describe the man who is often known as 'the Doctor' is this: he cares about the Truth!

Unlike his preaching, since this is his lecture series, he shared lots of relevant stories, personal examples, and anecdotes to help his students by way of illustration to explain the Biblical preaching principles. But when he wanted to state his personal opinions about what is not clearly taught in the Scriptures, he said so and I sometimes (very few) disagree or remain skeptical with his diagnosis. It's okay. We are human beings bound by our perceptions, biases, and time. Only God is perfect, immutable, and fallible! Praise Him! I fully recommend this book to every Christian minister regardless of either you're a preacher or not. Not all are called to be full-time preachers (I'm not!) but all are called to preach the Word. Stephen and Philip in Acts 6 were chosen specifically to "serve tables" not to the ministry of the Word but when the Holy Spirit filled them with power and wisdom, they preached the Word boldly with logic on fire! (read Acts 7 and 8).

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #MartynLloydJones #PreachingAndPreachers #LogicOnFire

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The Blind Evangelist Who Sees! (China: Chang Shen) #PersecutedChurch

Before his conversion, Chang Shen had been known as a gambler, womanizer, and thief. When he was stricken blind in midlife, neighbors said it was the judgment of the gods for his evil doings. But everything changed when he heard about Christ for the first time. What happened next?

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps.

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

From Shame To Witness (Vietnam: Brother K'Be) #PersecutedChurch

In this story, the police wanted to shame Brother K'Be, but they actually helped to further spread the Gospel message. A believer can be shamed or imprisoned, or even killed. A church building can be closed. A meeting may be disbanded. But the Gospel lives on. When you're under restrictions, would you still find a way to live out your faith?

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps. 

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Extreme Missionary (Irian Jaya: Stanley Albert Dale) #PersecutedChurch

One by one the arrows struck his flesh, and one by one Stanley Albert Dale pulled them out. The blood flowed from his many wounds and onto the riverbank. The screaming Yali warriors feared that the white man was immortal. When the missionary finally died, is he really dead? Are you heading to the same eternity with this faithful man? 

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Extreme Assassin (Bangladesh: Brother Andrew) #PersecutedChurch

The evangelist, Andrew, stared into the gun, wondering why the man didn't fire. The assassin grew frustrated, then frightened, and finally, he fled from the room. Later he testified that he was offered a big reward to kill the evangelist. Why he didn't pull the trigger? What happened next? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #PrayForThePersecutedChurch

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps.

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Extreme 'Riches' (Southeast Asia: Hmong Christians) #PersecutedChurch

A Hmong Christian testified: "They stabbed one believer through the mouth with a long knife and poured boiling water down the throat of another who was caught with a Bible. An entire family had been drowned." Just because they are Christians and owning the Bibles? What comfortable Christians like us can learn from the Hmong tribe believers? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #PrayForThePersecutedChurch

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps. To learn more about the Hmong Christians Short History, go to https://youtu.be/G3ERhd_gMXk 

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Extreme Question (Turkey: Ercan Sengul) #PersecutedChurch

When Ercan Sengul committed his life to Jesus Christ in the Muslim nation of Turkey, some saw it as turning his back on his heritage and nation. When he said that he would do anything for God, he had meant it then. But what about now? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #PrayForThePersecutedChurch

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps.

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999) by Hwa Yung, Book Review

Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999) by Hwa Yung

This is an essay by Bishop Emeritus Dr. Hwa Yung, when he was a principle of Seminari Theologi Malaysia (STM), addressing his concern for the Malaysian Church, especially the evangelicals, to “be the ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’, to bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit in word and deed, and to proclaim to all humanity that the gospel ‘is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.’” This essay was first written in a shorter form around 1994 and expanded into a longer essay in 1999 outlines six (6) agendas for evangelicals in Malaysia as he looked ahead toward the year 2000 and beyond. Bishop’s knowledge of the history of the evangelical movement is admirable. It shows clearly in Chapter 2: Evangelical Strengths and Weaknesses before he dives into the main issues. I have to admits that the cover and the title of this essay are unattractive (dear publisher, sorry), so it takes years for me to grab it and read (now you know how important is a first impression, right?). But when I take a second look at the table of contents, I was struck by the urgency and relevancy of the agendas that Bishop was so concerned about 22 years ago. Here are the first three agendas and my comments on each:

Agenda One: The Primacy of Scripture. The first strength of the historic evangelicalism was the sola scriptura (Scripture alone) principle. “Yet,” Hwa Yung observes, “there are clear signs that evangelicals in Malaysia are losing their grip on the primacy of Scripture in their life and ministry.” I agree. I’m a bookworm. In Malaysia or Sarawak to be exact, there are very few bookstores. And sadder still is that there are very rare Christian bookstores. And if you find one or two, you’ll be amazed by the kind of books that are available. “The books that really sell are those centered on experience, rather than on the Word.” The author said that this is a reflection of the spiritual state of our own churches. I would like to add: the decline of reading habits among Malaysian Christians nowadays is a sure correlation with the decline of reading Scripture for themselves. If Scripture is not read, then, the primacy of Scripture is non-existence. Besides that, “many Christians appear to accept rather uncritically the misleading and wrong teachings that have been often meted out to them, supposedly from the Bible.” Careless interpretation of Scripture as one of the products of liberal Christianity also contributes to the problem. Hwa Yung's advice is first, we must strongly emphasize again the sola scriptura principle today; secondly, we must make every effort to master God’s Word and be mastered by it; and thirdly, teach it properly and faithful to God’s people.

Agenda Two: The Holy Spirit and Revival. “The second great strength of evangelicalism has been its recognition of the place the Holy Spirit plays in bringing new life to the individual and revival to the church.” It seems to me, as a Borneoan, the East Malaysian churches here are very into the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the yearning for revival in our land. The good side of these emphasizes is that our understanding of Christianity should not just be about knowledge but also experience. But there are dangers too such as extremism, triumphalism, and anti-intellectualism. Added with the lack of the primacy of Scripture, our churches are exposed to the heresies of the hyper-charismatic, the prosperity gospel, and false teachings in general. Thus, we need to “hold Spirit and God’s Word together in proper harmony.” I have a copy of Colin Whittaker’s Great Revivals (1984) where he reviews revivals from the days of the great awakening under Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley, right up to the thrilling move of the Holy Spirit in Communist China. One thing I noticed is that the inseparable partnership of Spirit and Word that gave birth to genuine revivals. What God has joined together, let no one separate! At the end of this chapter, Bishop encourages this reader to learn from Asian Christian leaders of the past such as Sadhu Sundar Singh, John Sung, and Petrus Octavianus. Why? Because they, in his opinion, “combined outstanding demonstrations of signs and wonders in their ministries with a strong biblical stress on the holiness of character and sacrificial living.” Not to mention, as exemplified by one of my heroes Dr. John Sung, they were also Bibline. 

Agenda Three: Evangelism And Cross-Cultural Missions. This agenda is kind of obvious. What is being an evangelical if not engage in evangelism? But don’t be surprised that many Malaysian churches today, especially the natives in my view, have neglected the mandate to proclaim the gospel (Greek, euangelion, means good news) to the world. Most of the Christian events that I’ve seen nowadays are very inward focus, rarely do I see about witnessing to the unbelievers or the challenge to the mission. We need to commit ourselves again to the Great Commission as commanded - NOT suggested - by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20. “The first is the work of evangelism within our own country,” equips Hwa Yung, “The second is the work of cross-cultural missions overseas.” One question that stuck with me that the Bishop asked is this: “Are we really serious?” You and I might see the importance of this agenda but are we really serious about doing it? Do my finance, choices, and ministry agree with it? This chapter is an easy read but hard to swallow. The author gave the example of the Nestorian Church of Persia, despite the pressures and persecution it faced, during the early part of the 8th century up to the 14th, the church was the most powerful missionary force in the whole Christian world. Reason being? “Strong evidence exists to suggest that it was the missionary spirit of the church which fed back into the life of the mother church in Persia, to constantly renew its vitality, and turned it outwards instead of inwards as it did elsewhere. In other words, because it was willing to give life to others, it was itself given new life.”

Agenda Four: Social Responsibility In God’s World; Agenda Five: Personal Holiness And Christian Character; and Agenda Six: The Heart of the Gospel - The Cross. Again, although this essay was written about 22 years ago, the agendas that Bishop Hwa Yung outlines here are still reverent and all the more urgent for today to call us to evangelical faithfulness. I’ve been blessed by the message and am grateful for the reminder. I wish he would revisit this essay and write a full book about it with new materials, updates, and exclusively aim for the Malaysian church. He did a condensed version of his earlier book, Mangoes Or Banana? The Quest for an Authentic Asian Christian Theology (1997), to Toward an Asian Theology (2020), so it is possible, right? Come on Bishop!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #EvangelicalFaithfulness #BishopHwaYung #MalaysianChurch #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other #1Book1Week Book Reviews, CLICK HERE

To read my review of Hwa Yung’s Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia (2018), CLICK HERE

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.