"I have known City Harvest Church, Kong, Sun and Ye Peng for a
long time. CHC is not just a local church in Singapore. It has
49 affiliated churches and 6 Bible schools all across Asia. It
has impact on international ground, and it has proven through
many years that it serves the global community, both spiritually
and practically through humanitarian works...."The Gospel is the
Good News and Christians are meant to share it. CHC has done
this through the Crossover Project, which lies at the very heart
of our religious beliefs." "Rev Dr Phil Pringle [CHC website]
"It has been suggested that the church has been cheated of $50
million. This is not accurate. The $24 million, which went to
investment bonds, was returned to the church in full, with
interest. We didn't lose the $24 million, nor did we lose
'another $26.6m' as alleged. The church did not lose any funds
in the relevant transactions, and no personal profit was gained
by the individuals concerned." Pastor Aries [ CHC website]
The charges against Pastor Kong and 4 other church leaders of
financial irregularity of at least 23 million will impact not
only CHC, but Evangelical Christianity in Singapore and in Asia.
Pastor Kong is an institution, and one of the greatest
evangelist in Asia. There are 49 affliated churches and 6 bible
college impacted.
His arrest reminds me of the impact of Operation Spectrum in
1987 where Christians involved in social justice issues were
taken to tasks. Much of the Liberal Christian movement was muted
thereafter. If the charges against Kong Hee and his inner circle
were proven correct, it would be a great drawback for the
Evangelical Christianity.
The accusations if proven correct would undermine the morality
and righteousness of the church. At the end, the Gospel message
will be impacted.
The churches will continue but it will not be business as usual.
They too have to answer the charges against Pastor Kong and give
their reply in view of the churches almost zealous persecution
of gays in Singapore. A contrast will be made. How we have
judged is judged against us as a body. If we had remained humble
and meek and charitable, there is much liberty that the world
will give us.
At the heart of the charges were the investment bonds and the
Crossover Project. It has its basis of a Prosperity theology of
the Charismatic Evangelicals and an inclusive theology of the
Progressives - a church without walls to impact the secular
world.
The Government would not have likely initiated the charges and
arrests if they did not have iron clad evidence because of the
religious and political sensitivity. For the next few months,
the evidence will be presented week and week, day by day,
weakening the counter arguments.
I always wondered why City Harvest was so aggressive,
almost personnal, in it's approach to obtain funds. When I was
sick many years ago, I told my CG leaders that I could not
afford to give them the tithes over a period of time for which
they were very agitated. It seems to me that they cared more
about money than about people. After I recovered, the incident
made it easier to leave the church.
When a church is so money focused demanding for the last denarii
to be given and imposing a very strict fiscal accountability on
its members, there is a corresponding moral demand for every
single cent that the church spends be accounted for. If they had
given liberty, then there would be greater freedom in how they
could use the funds. But as they have insisted on the letter of
the law, judgement will come by the full interpretation of the
law. ie they are morally bound by the strictest interpretation
of the bible, and the Charities Act.
I was surprised by the statements by Christians to "let the law
takes its course" ie to be judged strictly by the law. Instead
as a Christian, I am seeking God's grace and mercy.
I am not in favour of the law for I feel that they might be
guilty and the maximum penalty of life very harsh. It is mercy
that should be sought - ie not getting what was deserved by the
full course of the law. It is grace that should be sought -
getting a pardon when none was deserved.
If the church in Singapore had gone to Parliament in 2007 to
plead for the rights of gays, it would have been a different
sentiment by the public against them. Now that they have put
themselves in the pedestal of righteousness and Holiness, with
the NMP Thio pounding statements in Parliament, they also risk a
big fall and negative public sentiment.
The events for the last decade on the financials at CHC is
definately a demonic attack for Satan seeks out our weaknesses
and uses them for our downfall especially when we are doing the
work of God. An attack on a evengelical charismatic church would
be very different than one on a liberal church! Perhaps Satan
only chooses the largest to bring down the rest.
The public and media frenzy now surrounds City Harvest.
The prowling lion stalks its wounded prey. We don't pray for
justice or for the law to take its course or for the truth be
revealed. We pray for God's hand of grace and mercy as we repent
and seek forgiveness as a body of Christ.