For those like me who are having difficulty in submission to authorities.

The Bible, the written word of God, is our sole authority in answering all questions pertaining to our spiritual life. However, in reading the Bible, we must keep in mind that the Bible is not written like a book of science where each statement is exact and complete in itself, nor like a book of law where the goal is to elaborate matters in sections and sub-sections so as to avoid loopholes. The Bible is written for the heart, and can be understood in its proper sense only by those who are spiritually minded (1Co.2:14), and who desire to do the will of God once it is revealed (Jn.7:17). Those who want to argue against the word of God can always find arguments, and those who do not want to obey what God says can appear to find words of God themselves to support their stand. Please read the following with an open heart and a willingness to know God's ways and obey them. - Jacob Ninan
Authority and submission
1. Can you give us some examples of what you mean by authority?
There are plenty of examples of human authority we encounter in daily life, such as that of parents over children, husbands over wives, teachers over students, bosses over subordinates, policemen and judges over ordinary citizens, etc. There is also spiritual authority God gives to some over people under their care.
2. What does the Bible teach us about authority?
Ro.13:1-5 teaches us that authority has been established by God, and that therefore those under authority should submit to authority. It says that if we are interested in doing what is right and good, we don't have to fear authority, because authorities are set up to ensure that those under authority do what is good and right. The Bible warns us that those who resist authority will bear the consequence from God who has set up the authority.
3. What examples does the Bible give about submitting to authority?
The best example is given by Jesus Himself. The Bible says that Jesus subjected Himself to His earthly parents while He was a child under their care (Lk.2:51). We need to take special note of this because He did this just because He was under their authority as a Child, and not because they were superior to Him. He was always subject to God His Father. In this case His submission was seen in that He always did what the Father told Him, and also that He never did anything on His own (Jn.8:28,29;5:30).
There are several examples of those who did not submit to authority. There are two outstanding ones. Moses was a most humble man whom God had appointed as the leader of Israel (Nu.12:3). Miriam and Aaron, his older sister and brother, found fault with him and openly questioned why they should listen to him, because they felt that they were also equally spiritual! (v.1,2). In another case, Korah and some of his friends started a rebellion against Moses because they thought that Moses was going too far and exalting himself, which was actuallly far from the truth (Nu.16). In both these cases, God came down severely on those who rebelled against authority.
4. Why did God set up authority? Aren't we all supposed to be equal?
In one sense we are all the same. As far as God is concerned, He loves us all, and He has no partiality (De.10:17;Ro.2:11). By setting up someone as an authority over us, God is not saying that someone is more important to Him than another. But authority is required in order to maintain order and discipline. Authority is also required to guide people in the right path for their own good. For example, parents who watch over their children both plan and care for the children and also discipline the children so that it might go well with them in every way. The policemen who guide the traffic help to keep everything in order so that people may not get hurt.
5. I agree that certain types of authority is good, for example that of parents over their children. But don't you think that not all authority is necessary? For example, why should wives submit to their husbands, especially in these modern days?
It may look like that at first, when you think that modern wives may be more or less on an equal footing in many ways. When wives are also educated and earn as much as their husbands, or perhaps are more educated or earn more, it may looks as though it is unrealistic to expect wives to submit. But remember that God is not unrealistic and that He never makes unfair rules. This arrangement in a family is what He has made in order to keep order and discipline in the family. Someone has to make the final decision, doesn't he? The way God has designed man and woman and the family, it is the husband who is the head of the family (Ep.5:23). Families which keep it that way have it good.
6. Aren't the people who have authority going to have a cushy time, with the others submitting to them?
No authority is without responsibility. Those who have authority have a serious responsibility over the others. The Bible says that those who have spiritual responsibility over others have to give an account for these others also to God (He.13:7). Those who take that seriously have a lot of extra burden to carry.
7. What does it mean to submit to authority?
Submission does not always mean obedience. It is essentially an attitude of respect to authority whom God has placed over us. We need to obey those who are in authority over us as long as they are telling us to do things within their sphere of authority and as long as they are not against the commandments of God. For example, a subordinate has to do what his boss tells him concerning his job. But he does not need to obey if the boss tells him how to run his home or to do anything unrighteous.
8. What is spiritual authority?
Human authority is by way of position in life. Spiritual authority is by way of spiritual maturity. A spiritual man has authority with God and over men. By virtue of his knowledge of God, and intimacy with God based on long years of experience, he can talk freely with God in a way that ordinary people cannot. There is much power in such a man's prayers (Jas.5:16). There are several examples of such men in the Bible. Such a man is also entrusted with authority over men so that he can watch over their spiritual life and help them along (He.13:17). His knowledge of God and spiritual discernment can help other people in their own spiritual growth and also in dealing with their problems.
9. What does it mean to submit to spiritual authority?
It is in essence an attitude of heart that gives respect to such an authority. How much you do what the man in authority tells you regarding your personal spiritual life depends on how much you and he know God and His ways. If you are spiritually young and he is mature, it is good to recognise that the chances are that he is right. If you have doubts about what he says it is still good to take it before God and ask Him what to do.
It is to God that you must be true and it is to Him that you have to give an account (Ge.17:1;Ro.14:12). You can never obey any man blindly, without questioning, because no man is perfect. It is only God whom you can obey without question. You must never allow yourself to become a slave of man. At the same time don't be such an independent character that you don't listen to anyone. It is God who has placed people in the church to help you (Ep.4:11,12). Recognise that you need them.
10. By spiritual authority do you mean all the people who are responsible for churches and Christian organisations?
The ideal situation is that people holding such responsibilities will be spiritually mature people. But in reality there are all kinds of sad variations. Some are placed in responsible positions based merely on their knowledge of the Bible or their natural skills at preaching or organising things. Some reach such position even by manipulation or unrighteous methods.
11. If the person with authority over me in the church is not really spiritual should I still submit to him?
Let us start by pointing out that "all authority" is from God (Ro.13:1). There is also no question of staying there with a spirit of rebellion. If you can find a better church where you can live and grow spiritually, you could consider that. On the other hand, if you are thinking of certain imperfections which you have noticed in him, please remember that no one is perfect (neither are you), and no church is perfect either.
If you find that his heart is really taken up with the Lord and that he is sincerely trying to encourage others to love God and one another, you should be thankful for him and bear with any weakness or fault you might find in him.
If you are staying on, have a 'spirit' of submission in recognising that he is in charge and not you. You have to do what he says when it concerns the practical running of the church. At the same time, this does not mean that you 'have to' do everything that he tells you, especially when it concerns your personal life. The Bible gives a guideline that even when we listen to people preaching prophetically, we must judge before the Lord what they say in order to see if they are right (1Co.14:29). We must see if what they say agrees with what the Bible says (Ac.17:11). Ultimately it is to God that you have to give an account.
12. Are there not people who misuse their authority?
Of course. There are who will want you, your money or your skills for their own gain. You must be careful not to allow yourself to be manipulated like that. There are also many men who claim to have spiritual authority and who keep people under their thumb using threats of consequences if they left. Some also cultivate a sense of guilt and inadequacy among the people because of which they have to cling on to the leaders. If you find that your 'spiritual' leader is seeking things for himself it is time to ask the Lord for guidance on what you must do.

An outright honest yet joyful reflection

Warning!!!
Read at your own risk.
Every word that you see from now is absolutely sincere and truthful.

I am really grateful for what happened yesterday. What started off as an ugly depiction of our sinful side turns out to be an opportunity where we got to know one another better. It is precisely the fact that we are getting closer that we are having disagreements. However, it does not end there. It is a season which I believe that God is using to bond the group together not only spiritually but also emotionally. He is prepare us such that we are able to function and find delight in functioning as a single entity for His work while we transit into Woodlands. I see each one of us as different components of an equipment that is one of the many in the arsenal that God has. Each equipment is unique and suited to fulfill its role just as much as the individual components are. Without either, the plan will just not work the way it will according to His will. I believe that God is indeed moving among us. Right now, I feel this sense of a lightened yet hopeful spirit of what God is about to do in us as a DG and for each one of us individually. We are entering into a new season of our life and walk with God.

I do not think it is repetitive but I would like to just lovingly say again that, brothers I am really grateful for each one of you for your unique characteristic and personality. I am thankful to Ryan for your heart for wanting and encouraging the sincere desire in all of us to be more Christ-like; to Andrew for your inquisitive nature and insights that we both share; to Nicholas for your insightful sharing of your experiences of which I see resembling myself so much at times and of course greatly benefited from; and to Yongliang for the honest sharing of spiritual struggles that all of our kindred hearts sometimes dare not voice out ( trust me we, at least I do, are all listening attentively and nodding in agreement in our hearts).

While God continues to mould and refine us, let us continue having grace, sincerity, patience and love with one another. I am quite sure that what we find now as tolerable idiosyncrasies in each of us will soon be ones that we take delight in. I am really amazed thus far how God has brought each one of us from different backgrounds and blend together our unique strengths and weakness such that they complement one another. I am looking forward to the day when we will be able to look appreciatively at one another uniqueness and take great delight in it; our weakness not being just areas that the strengths of others could support but also such that we appreciate as being human and transformable by God into strengths.

Last but not least, let us not aim to just finish well together the IDT course but also the whole race of life together; with the hope that in the later years of our lives that this was a not just any other 2 years but was the preface that had initiated our intertwined journey together.

Andrew's Reflections on Psalm 1... this is for you ryan.

The truth is this: I don't delight in the law of the Lord. Not the kind of delight that oozes with passion and excitement of a five-year old kid ready to put together the pieces of an unformed toy automobile after reading the manual. Not the same kind of delight as in taking a cup of cool water after a long tiring run. My approach to God's Word is more of a duty, the homework that I'm given to do, rather than like tasting honey from the honey comb. Maybe I am too harsh on myself because there are times God's Word jumps out at me and does taste like honey from the honeycomb. Inspite of the blessings the word of the Lord promises (eg. 'In all that he does, he prospers), yet the inertia to abide in God's word daily is still there. Why? Because its fruit is born slowly like that of the tree that grows its fruit in its season. Not as sinfully delightful as eating the fruit from the trees outside the garden, stealing that which should not be mine, so I would think at times. Yet, no matter how delightfully alluring is the prospect of unspiritual momentary highs through the fruits of distraction, they do not seem to strike right at the core of my heart, they don't seem to truly satisfy. They leave me looking for more highs to fill the emptiness. Highs don't fill, they only give me nice sensations. Just like eating junk food. They lead to trigger happiness yes, but not the sweet fruit of growth borne out of endurance and perseverance. With the view of growth in mind and pursued, 'delighting' (no matter how feelings of the moment suggest otherwise) in God's law and obeying His commandments is the better choice. Remember, sin often dresses her herself up in the most ephemerally attractive dresses, that are actually of no substance and whose ink fades away easily after a few weeks. Obeying God's word produces the pain of losing one's fleshly self-living, but ripens into the most succulent fruits. And by faith I claim this.

The Inner Life

Reflection on Psalm 1
By Ryan Chia

As I was reading, memorizing, meditating and reflecting through the Psalm, I discover that the Psalmist is essentially talking about 2 paths that a man can take: The blessed or the destructive way. (see Ps 1:6) This contrast is also found in Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7): We can either enter the narrow gate or enter the wide and easy gate that leads to destruction; we can be a tree that bears good fruit or a diseased tree that bears bad fruit (notice the connection with Ps1:3); we can choose to be like the wise man who chooses to build his house on rock while the foolish man chooses to build his house on the sand. Back to Psalm 1: Do we want to live the life of the blessed or to live the life of the wicked?

Firstly, I would like to make some observations about the wicked. It seems to me that the wicked has no point of reference in their lives. They are not rooted in anything. They are easily blown away by the wind. It gives a picture of unrest. Many was easily swayed by the way of the world : one simply follows what’s popular in the society; one simply follows the consumerist, self-centered path of the modern world , one simply reacts out of fear in accordance to the latest fad or circumstances ( eg. Bad economy and terrorism). They simply follow the worries and the solution as suggested by the world. There is a deep sense of insecurity and one cannot help but fend for oneself first. Eventually, sin seeps in and we start to walk on the wicked path. But somewhere inside us tells us that it is not right: we simply feel out of place when we stand among the righteous ones and those who believe in the truth.

Next, I like to talk about the inner life. The art of meditation is mentioned elsewhere in the bible (Joshua 1:8) and we have been invited to think about God’s law and His ways every moment of our lives. We are to write the law unto our hearts. There is rooted-ness that out of such meditation. Here is a picture of someone whose life is build upon the Word of the LORD : An inner strength, peace, joy (v2.his delight…) , fruitfulness (which is a mark of someone who is faithful), healthy in spiritual, emotional and *hopefully physical terms(the leaf that does not wither). There is no way one can possibly force his way to such maturity because it does depends on God’s timing (v3.in its season). There is a sense of confidence in what he does. It is not an arrogant kind of confidence, but one that is of grace. He succeeds in what he does simply because he is doing what God has led him to do.

There are many troubles in life. I recall a sermon illustration not too long ago: a believer and a non-beliver can go through the same life problems, but with different outcomes. We attempt to give quick solutions to complex problems in life. However, we must dig deeper and examine the inner roots issues. Psalm 1 helps me to rethink about what’s important in my life and indeed, the inner life takes utmost importance. Time and again, in quietness, my spiritual and emotional life gets re-align with God’s purpose and agenda.


Personally, in this season, I am still trusting God in many aspects of life: job-searching and family situations. Thank God for this season, I am enjoying pure rest: spending time with mum and dad (something I did not manage to do while in school and army), spending time with Christians, and reading bible and the books that I like. On certain days, I do have pangs of whys, sadness and impatience. But, it is in times like these, I am invited to relook at what really bothers me inside. Joy despite the circumstances.