tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220737773663823745.post4718502422664896171..comments2020-01-30T01:42:38.074-08:00Comments on Say People Say Yourself: Was I the only one who felt something was missing at #JDOP2015?Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689251864957613127noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220737773663823745.post-66736432831741954242015-07-18T01:56:13.930-07:002015-07-18T01:56:13.930-07:00Hi friends,
Thank you so much for your comments h...Hi friends,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your comments here. I don't usually get comments, especially comments that are so well thought out and well written!<br /><br />Cliff I'm on the same page with you. I started working a bit with HealthServe and have also spent the past 2 weeks following a Methodist church as they reach out to the homeless on the streets of Singapore. I think this kind of work that the church is pioneering is fantastic.<br /><br />Spottiswoode I am blown away with the generosity of the Methodist Church being reflected in the news. They really have gotten this Jubilee idea going right and i do hope the rest of the churches catch on that we may be remembered for cancelling debts and reversing the oppression on the least in society. <br /><br />My concern is that while these things are happening, the average Singaporean church-goer is not aware of them, much less playing an active part. My hope for such a huge event was that we could encourage the average church-goer to be more involved. And as we assert our commitment to look after the ones the rest of society overlooks, we would be salt and light.<br /><br />Because my fear at the moment is that the church in Singapore is seen by outsiders as an institution of power (that demands its way in certain controversial issues) rather than one of love. Looking purely at the JDOP it seems so lah.<br /><br />JustJustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15689251864957613127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220737773663823745.post-8052413954915172162015-07-09T07:06:20.496-07:002015-07-09T07:06:20.496-07:00Very good post. Would be good to check on the cost...Very good post. Would be good to check on the costs of running the event vs the amount raised for the poor as alleged by the two postersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220737773663823745.post-87069696610253885652015-07-07T07:19:49.150-07:002015-07-07T07:19:49.150-07:00Hi Justin, I was at JDOP. Based on Bishop Ponniah&...Hi Justin, I was at JDOP. Based on Bishop Ponniah's speech, Bishop Wee Boon Hup's speech and a few others, this is what I understand about why we were gathered together:<br />1. To celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday and to thank God for it--the stunning move from third world to first is in secular discourse labelled as human achievement, but in christian discourse, we cannot discount or forget to give thanks to God for allowing Singapore's rise. After all, God is in control of everything. Nations and leaders rise and fall according to God's will. (this is from Bishop Ponniah's speech, some of it verbatim)<br /><br />2. To pray for our leaders--hence inviting PM Lee and praying over him. We are called in Scripture to pray for our leaders. <br /><br />3. To pray for our families, especially our fathers<br /><br />4. To pray for the future generation <br /><br />5. To be sure, as a celebratory 50th birthday event, the focus was not on the poor, or the details of charities. However, it was stated, that in the spirit of Luke 4, which it was pointed out was actually from Isaiah, which is a Jubilee passage of Scripture, Jubilee is all about rest, restoration, release, including reaching out to the widow, the needy, the imprisoned. Therefore 100% of love offering collected will go to the poor in Singapore, regardless of race or religion. The passage on Jubilee was pronounced by Bishop Wee Boon Hup, and he explained it clearly that giving to the poor is part of the spirit of Jubilee celebrations. Bishop Wee is the Bishop of the Methodist Church who has decided to give $X to the poor in this Jubilee year, as a denominational gift to the poor. (announced in the newspapers earlier this yr, I can't remember the exact amount)<br /><br />I really don't see how you can say that "our PM was the first person to really talk about the poor." when both Bishop Wee and another pastor, both of whom preceded our PM's speech, described the Jubilee spirit of giving to the poor and the fact that 100% of the love offering would go to the poor. <br /><br />And as for your statement: "And why did they meet together? Well because they could (and it felt good). But what did the 50,000 voices, combined as one, tell the world?" from what I gather listening carefully to the Bishops and others (my first few points above), this was not a feel-good event. It was about praising God and giving thanks to Him for all He has done for Singapore, and praying, because the Bible calls us to pray ceaselessly, about everything. spottiswoodehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08913419131043070573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220737773663823745.post-61954249743954470932015-07-07T06:21:21.259-07:002015-07-07T06:21:21.259-07:00Hi Justin,
This is a comment coming from a foreig...Hi Justin,<br /><br />This is a comment coming from a foreigner (Canadian) who came to Singapore back in 2011. <br /><br />I am a Christian and I've experienced some genuine churches and Christians who are laboring among the poor and trying to make a difference in this nation. <br /><br />I've seen church leaders talking about how to open up their multi-million dollars buildings on how to help their local community. I've heard of church offering IT and English classes to Bangladeshi workers. I've visited Health Serve who looked after the neglected in the heart of Geylang. And I've helped out with an Indian pastor who reached out to many Telugus in the west (Jurong West) to give them hope and keep them away from drugs, alcohol and prostitution. <br /><br />Am I totting the Christian horn that we are already doing everything right? Of course, not. There are still poor and marginalized in the society which we can reach and help. At the same time, I've seen Christians who are really laboring to help the needy and fulfilling what Jesus has quoted from Isaiah 61 when He first entered into ministry.<br /><br />As for the Day of Prayer event, I didn't go (bc I couldn't get a ticket) so I will not going to comment on what you experienced in the event. But I know brothers and sisters in Christ who went and at the same time reached out to low income family by giving food on a regularly basis. The program might give you a perspective that it is merely a Christian unity and not about helping the poor. But if you really want to see how Christians are helping the poor as hands and feet of Jesus, let me know. I will love to chat over coffee or even go visit some of these ministries with you.<br /><br />Take care!<br />Cliff<br />Cliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03227378544813320248noreply@blogger.com