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Recapturing our 2017 church theme

Dear BPCWAians, As we come to the end of 2017, it is good for us to recapitulate our theme for the year taken from Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”.

What God desires for a church. “Only” emphasizes the bottom line principle that the Apostle Paul wanted to emphasize for the church in Philippi. “Conversation” alludes to the life of citizens who belong to a country or city and how they are conforming its laws as they enjoy citizen’s privileges. So, whether he was able to see them again, or even if he could never meet them in person ever again, the only thing he hoped to hear is that they, as members of the Philippi church with their heavenly citizenship, have been living lives befitting the gospel of Christ as a church. The reputation of every church on earth testifies for Christ. Very often, to those who do not read the Bible, what they know of gospel of Christ is what they hear about the church. A city has a reputation based upon what it stands for according to its laws and practices. Moreover, its citizens are its best ambassadors. In other words, what the church holds to and how its worshippers live testify for the gospel of Christ. BPCWA as a church and its worshippers must always remember the great honour placed upon us to uphold the message of Christ. The church and each one of us has a significant impression on what others think about the kingdom of God. Our stand and practices can also impact and influence other churches to stay true to the gospel of Christ. This is why the Apostle Paul put such a great emphasis upon and had such great concern about this “only” thing.

The affairs of the church and you. Paul had a concern to hear about the affairs of the Philippi church and its worshippers. Do they represent the gospel of Christ well? The gospel of Christ refers not to just being saved from hell. It is also about the life saved from the power of sin after salvation. It covers all aspects of the life of the believer as God expects, including our relationship with one another in the church we belong to. A church’s leadership has the responsibility to ensure that the church’s affairs are becoming of what Christ expects. Whether the church is reaching out to souls, sound in doctrines and practices, and upholds Biblical standards in what it allows into the church and into the worship, are the expected duties of the leadership. If it does not ensure that the church is worthy (the word “becometh” means worthy) of the Name of Christ, it fails in this key emphasis of God. These matters of the church are within the church leadership’s view and control. And it must not falter.

However, as members and worshippers of BPCWA, you have your role to play to ensure that BPCWA is worthy of the Name of Christ. How you choose to live and behave in school, at work, at home and among your friends are within your control. Also, your relationship with each other in church testifies for Christ. All these aspects are within your control, but there is not much the church leadership can control in these aspects. The church can only faithfully teach, exhort, and encourage from God’s Word. Whether you choose to obey the Lord is your part to play for the sake of the gospel of Christ as a believer. We must be motived to “only let” our lives impact others positively towards the gospel of Christ.

The Church and the believers’ existence on earth is to bring glory to God. Hence our “conversation”, ie representation of Christ, is what truly matters. What do others hear about BPCWA and its worshippers? What goes through the heart and mind of visitors who come among us? What impression do they gather about Christ from our worship style, our fellowship groups, our outreaches, our websites, our behaviours – both within and outside the church? Do parents worry or are they glad to send their children from overseas to worship with us? Are you as an individual worshipper known to live a pure life, to fulfill your duties in an exemplary manner, and to conduct yourself in a godly way both inside and outside the church? Would someone, a friend or a relative, have cause to be turned off from the gospel of Christ because of you? At the end of 2017, we must ask, have we, as a church and as an individual, let our lives count for the gospel of Christ?

God willing, we shall look at what should we stand for and how should we stand together for the faith of the gospel.

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor