Dear BPCWA worshipper, It was with excitement that some noticed last Sunday that the foundation for the new sanctuary of the church extension had been laid. This was originally scheduled for 15 May but was delayed due to rain. We have seen our adjacent plot transform from what we affectionately called “the Canning Highway carpark” to the new foundation. For those who have been keeping track of the works, you may have noticed that excavation and compacting works have been done. Conduits (for plumbing, electrical, and AV) were also installed. Finally, on 21 May, concrete was poured, laying the slab on which the new sanctuary will be erected, God willing.

The purpose of a foundation. In Australia, “slab down” marks a significant progress (and the subsequent progress payment) milestone of the start of the build process. The concrete slab is an important structural component of the building. A lot of engineering and calculations go into the design. Since the frame of the building will be built on top of it, it supports the building, connecting the walls, beams, and columns. Simply put, it bears the weight of the whole building, everything, and everyone within that building which rests on it. Hence, the strength of the concrete is important. The design is not only based on what it is meant to support, but also on the soil condition (such as the sandy soil often found in Western Australia) upon which it rests. It is intended to safely transfer the weight of the structure directly into the ground, distributing the weight evenly to prevent the building from sinking, shifting, or cracking. It also acts as a moisture and thermal barrier from the ground. Because it is so fundamental to the building’s safety, it is regulated by Building Codes in Australia.

The importance of a firm foundation. A good foundation provides a strong and permanent base, and is essential for the long-term safety and reliability of the building. It maintains the stability of the building. Conversely,a poor foundation leads to structural shifting, soil erosion, and uneven weight distribution. Over time, this instability causes functional problems throughout the building, ranging from minor cosmetic cracks to severe framing failures (such as misaligned doors and windows) that compromise the building’s overall safety and value. These may only be the beginning signals of potentially more significant failures in the future. Delays in repairing weaknesses in the foundation result in worsening cracks, potential collapse, and costly repairs. All this, of course, is still insignificant compared to the safety of the occupants of the building. For something that we often don’t think about much or “see”, and isn’t particularly aesthetically appealing, the foundation plays a vital role to the whole building in the long run.

Building on biblical foundations. The Bible contains much about foundations. During our Anniversary Dinner, I shared about ensuring that we build rightly, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Co 3:11). More needs to be said here, having seen the new sanctuary’s foundation laid. The seeker-sensitive church is built on the foundation of what the people want, rather than God’s character and His Truth. The younger generation today prefers the contemporary and worldly style of worship, and may subtly change the church to make it less “stuffy, formal, and old-fashioned”. They may challenge, “What does the Bible say about having a pulpit?” The next question that follows may be, “Since we use mood lighting in restaurants and homes, why not use it during the church worship too?” Then of course, it will reach the inevitable, “Let us use contemporary music styles to stir the emotions, and attract people with the music that they like to listen to in the world.” The small cracks will grow with each compromise to become big jarring fault lines that will change the whole structure of the church. No sensible builder builds on the sandy ground instead of the foundation. That is a formula for catastrophe. If the church wants to let in a bit of the world to make it more acceptable, bypassing the solid foundation of Christ and His Word, the structure weakens. In many churches, though God’s Word is preached, sermons are slowly weakening as worshippers prefer “lighter, easier listening, and more humorous” messages that do not jar their consciences too much or touch on the sins or worldly pleasures they want to hold on to. People have so imbibed worldly thinking that their preferences veer toward worldly philosophies instead of biblical teachings. When such becomes the majority, it becomes no surprise that even in churches that claim to be sound may have pastors preaching a Sunday sermon largely from secular psychological books such as “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” on Mother’s Day, with a sprinkle of biblical references, and twisting Scriptures to justify the secular ideas that people like to hear. God’s church must be built squarely and entirely upon what He edicts in His Word, regardless of whether it is popular with man or not. This will be increasingly difficult as the foundations of many churches shift with the sands of time, imbibing the thinking of the world, and eventually becoming increasingly antagonistic to sound biblical principles.

BPCWA, as a Presbyterian church, is a creedal church. Creeds are very important because they encapsulate Scriptural beliefs. But it is not sufficient to have good Creeds and Confessions. “Every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luk 6:44). A good church must bring forth good fruit, not just articulate her Creeds. Good fruit is determined by its adherence to the letter and spirit of God’s Word. Christ’s displeasure with religious professors is evident when he says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luk 6:46). BPCWA must never “play church”. God willing, we may have a larger church after the renovation. But a church building doesn’t make a church good. Christ’s church must be pleasing in Christ’s eyes so that He will bless and be with us to use us for His glory. It is not just the Bible we use that gives us a strong foundation. It is the Bible we use and our obedience to Christ that will determine whether BPCWA will shift to another foundation. Whether BPCWA will be stable, sturdy, and stand the test of time will depend on whether we teach without apology and uncompromisingly obey His Word.

“He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luk 6:48-49)

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor