My dear readers,

Answers to Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2025 (12)

Question 1: When we receive Bible verses from someone who is from a charismatic or Roman Catholic church, is it appropriate to reply “Amen” (since it is essentially God’s Word that they have sent)? By saying “Amen”, I intend to say that I agree with God’s Word.

If it is not appropriate to reply “Amen”, what would be a good way to respond (to acknowledge God’s Word) without endorsing their version of Christianity? Will the answer differ if the Bible verse is taken from the KJV, NIV or other versions?

Answer 1: Will the person know that you mean “I agree with God’s Word” and not some other meaning, like you agree with what the person means when he cites God's Word? His understanding of God's Word likely differs from yours, since he believes in another gospel. If you are or have been reaching out to your Charismatic friends with the truth, then perhaps it is best not to do or say anything that might lead to a potential misunderstanding, such as giving them a tacit approval of what the Charismatics stand for in their mishandling of God's Word. They believe that their tongues-speaking is speaking to God whereas any sane person knows that it is gibberish. Every Charismatic who speaks in tongues admits that they do not know what they are saying, and yet they foolishly believe they are talking to God. Such delusion is of the devil. They are committing a very grave transgression in their misrepresentation of Christ, God and the Bible.

If you are helping them to understand and stop their delusional and diabolical behaviour, and from ruining the holy Name of Christ, it is best to avoid any form of tacit approval. It is best not to say anything. The answer remains the same regardless of the versions of the Bible translation they use.

Question 2: Why is it that the big fish that ate Jonah was a “big fish” and not a “whale”? In the beginning, God allowed Adam to name all the animals already, and the term “whale” is also used in Genesis and Matthew?

Answer 2: Jonah 1:17: “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” In Jonah 1:17, “great fish” is used. Thus, the KJV translators translated from the original language accordingly. The translation rule is to translate what is written. What is not written is distinguished by the KJV translators using italics. If God had wanted to use the word “whale” in Jonah 1:17, He would have done so as the word “whale” appears in Genesis 1:21. Genesis 1:21: “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

However, in the Gospel of Matthew, when the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned the experience of Jonah, He used the Greek word for “whale”. Matthew 12:40: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” According to their translational guideline, the KJV translators translated it as a whale.

So, we know the identity of the great fish that swallowed Jonah was a whale.

Question 3: How can “church politics” be used to remove a pastor? Is there a need for congregational voting in the final decision since church members vote the pastor into office?

Answer 3: What is “church politics”? From https://danreiland.com/how-to-break-free-from-church-politics/ -- “Workplace politics is the process and behavior within human interactions involving power and authority. When this influence is used to promote personal agendas over the mission, it divides the organization’s mission. Divided interests cause the organization to become “political” in nature, and its effectiveness quickly declines. Church place politics are similar and equally frustrating.”

Members and leaders practise church politics in the church for personal reasons and gain (even though they might think they are doing God’s will and for God's glory). Mass emails, lies, gossip, deceptions, schismatic behaviour and bullying prevail. They have forgotten that all things must be done for God’s glory according to the Holy Scriptures.

There are leaders who use the pulpit as a platform for fulfilling personal agendas and gains. The weekly pastoral letter meant for pastoral teaching to promote Christ has become their billboard for hidden agendas and insidious warnings or threats. Church websites, which they control, become windows and doorways to justify their heinous behaviour and diabolical agendas to silence their critiques. They have entirely lost sight of their God-given mission to shepherd the flock, and have become the wolf in sheep’s clothing, devouring the flock they are to protect and feed. They will try their utmost to oust those who disagree with them; they see them as enemies rather than God-fearing men and women trying to help them see the errors of their ways. They castigate and demean them, making them out to be the evil ones and that they themselves are the victims when the truth is the opposite. Such church politics are effective ways the devil uses to sow seeds of discord to destroy God’s work and God’s people.

Mass emails are the usual options for church members who do not have access to the pulpit, control of the church website, or any form of publicising their agenda. In this way, they hope to create a mass walk-out or protest. Other than this church-level protest, there is not much church politicking they can do.

Both practitioners of church politics have no qualms about right and wrong; their only goal is to win the favour of man at all costs to the destruction of all who stand in their way, for they fear man rather than God. Both are wrong and have fallen into the ploy of the devil. All are losers, lives are probably hurt, and long-time relationships are usually destroyed forever. The saddest outcome is that both parties sincerely think they are right and defending God’s work and honour. The tragic reality is that both parties are wrong and neither wants to admit it. The only winner in such a situation is the devil.

In light of today’s modes of modern communication, mass emails and group chats are like feathers blown across vast oceans by gale-force winds, impossible to retrieve. Once what is spoken and written reaches the masses, the loss of face is massive. Such forms of communication make repentance and apologies almost impossible since the pride of life has been magnified into a significant obstacle in the way of repentance. Public apology is always more difficult than a private one.

Every church’s constitution has a way of electing its leaders and also a way to not elect them. That is why when the Bible-Presbyterian Movement in Singapore was founded seventy-five years ago, Rev Timothy Tow believed it is not wise to make the offices of Pastors and Elders permanent upon their being elected. He understood the nature of man well. All of them need to be accountable to

someone on earth, even though we all know that ultimately all of us are accountable to God Most High on the Day of Judgment. As such, a fixed term of office was enforced. At the end of the term of office, all have to stand for re-election. It will now be up to God, through the votes of every member, to decide if the pastor or elder ought to be re-elected to care for God's flock. This system of accountability also applies to all deacons and deaconesses. The BOE may propose who should be pastors, elders, deacons or deaconesses, God will decide through the congregation’s votes. In this way, all Session members learn to fear God and not man.

If deacons or deaconesses are appointed, the inevitable outcome is that these deacons and deaconesses will become “yes men” and “yes women” because they want to remain in office. If they disagree with the pastor or elders, they would not dare to speak their mind for fear of being removed since they were appointed. This will not happen when the deacons and deaconesses are elected with the same term of office as the pastor and elders, knowing that they have been appointed by God through the people’s votes. They will fear God and serve Him with courage. They will serve together till the next election. Iron sharpening iron is what Session members must be to each another. All Session members must be free to agree and disagree and propose alternatives in all church matters so that the best proposal for the blessings of God’s people can be arrived at. Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

We thank God this system of accountability saved Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church when certain elders, who believed the Bible has mistakes, were not returned to office. The Lord used the congregation’s votes to remove them.

We need to trust in God’s sovereignty. All believers must do everything according to the Holy Scriptures in an orderly and godly manner. Church politics is not the biblical way. It is the way of disaster where God’s work is destroyed, lives are ruined, and the holy name of Christ is dragged down into the mud. Beware not to become a tool of the evil one in these last days of deception.