This is the last instalment of the trilogy I am writing based on what we have heard from Rev. Dr Robert Solomon in the Discipleship Series which he delivered on 19th and 20th August as part of our 25th Anniversary Celebrations. He preached 3 sermons: Savouring God’s Presence, Sharing His Passion, Showing His Person. Thereafter, in the subsequent months (1st instalment was written on 17 September and 2nd instalment, 1 October), I wrote a perspective on each of his sermons to express my own reflections in a bid to reinforce and perhaps expand on what Solomon had spoken to us. This therefore is the 3rd instalment on the last sermon – Showing His Person.
The sermon was based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5.1-12), something we are familiar with since we have been memorising it throughout this whole year. If we are able to translate what we have memorised into our lives, we will definitely be able to show who Christ is to the world, therefore the title ‘Showing His Person’. If ‘Sharing His Passion’ is about Doing, then ‘Showing His Person’ is about Being. ‘God’s work in us makes us Christ-like (Being). God’s work through us enables us to continue Christ’s work (Doing)’ (Dr Solomon). And whether it be Being or Doing, they should be based on a living and growing relationship with our Saviour and Lord, therefore the title ‘Savouring His Presence’. If we do not have a living relationship with Jesus, how can there be a desire to want to be like him? If we do not have a growing relationship with Jesus, where would be find the motivation to do his work and will? Cultivating a vibrant relationship with Jesus is very important and that can only be done through spending time with him in Word and Prayer, in Worship and Sacrament, in Fellowship and Service.
Dr Solomon said: ‘(The Beatitudes tell us that) it has to do with Being before we even think about Doing.’ Those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted – these are descriptions of attitudes, postures and characteristics that make up who the individual is, i.e. his Being. Out of these attributes will flow acts of devotion and repentance, acts of humility and righteousness, acts of mercy, purity, peace-making and perseverance, i.e. Doing flows out of Being. Be assured that we are not the ones transforming ourselves; we are being transformed. ‘And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3.18). The life of God is in the soul of man. The Spirit of God who indwells us is doing his good work in transforming us as we yield to his Word in faith and obedience. ‘We are chosen by the Father to be obedient to Christ through the sanctifying work of the Spirit – this is the purpose of our salvation’ (Dr Solomon).
Dr Solomon pointed out that there is a Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus contrasted the poor and downtrodden with those who are rich, comfortable, well-fed, laughing, and popular & powerful (Luke 6.20-26). The former is blessed; the latter is cursed. God has a special place for the marginalised, the oppressed, and the neglected. Dr Solomon went on to say that we are to be like those whom we serve: ‘We cannot effectively and authentically help the poor and needy without identifying ourselves with them and incarnating ourselves in their maginalised existence.’ In our recent Gospel Sunday, Brother Seng Eng exhibited the incarnation principle when he left his well-paid secular job and brought his family (2 young children in tow) to the Philippines to serve the poor living in slums. We may not be taking such a radical move (unless of course God is also calling you to such ministries, which should not be ruled out) but as a church, we want to serve the marginalised and the downtrodden. We have been bringing food to those who are home bound in the Queenstown neighbourhood. We are also delivering hampers during the Christmas season to the families of inmates. Some among us are befriending the elderly and bringing the handicapped to church for Sunday worship.
We would like to do more in 2018 and beyond. We are partnering Prison Fellowship of Singapore to set up a satellite Care Club for children of inmates in our church. The Care Club will operate on Saturday mornings and the objectives are three-fold: To transform lives through the love of Christ; to restore relationships; to break the inter-generational cycle of offending. We are looking to you to step forward as drivers, tutors and programme facilitators. If you cannot volunteer the whole morning, you can do so for part of the morning depending on which role you are playing. We will be sharing with you more details in the next Time of Sharing.
Presbyterian Community Services (PCS) has also invited us to do ministry with them by conducting activities for the residents who visit the Senior Activity Centre situated at Strathmore which is nearby our church. There is opportunity for us to engage the community and to befriend the elderly who will visit the activity centre for organised programmes as well as for personal leisure. We can teach them how to play the ukulele, arrange flowers, fold origami, cook Thai dishes, dance, sing, etc. We will definitely be able to walk across the room, befriend our neighbours and be contagious for Jesus as we ‘Show His Person’ in character and deed.
Let me conclude by going back to the Beatitudes. Why ‘beatitudes’? This is because the Latin word for ‘blessed’ (which appears at the start of every sentence) is ‘beati’ and therefore together they are called ‘the Beatitudes’. Dr Solomon said that we are truly blessed when we follow the humble and marginalised ways of Jesus. Our joy is in being like Christ and in submitting to ourselves to him in full obedience in spite of our circumstances. When the world looks at all these qualities that characterise the people of God, they will laugh at us when we claim that we are the blessed ones. How can we be blessed when we are being persecuted? How can we be blessed when we are poor? Dr Solomon explained that we are blessed because Jesus has said so: ‘You are blessed because I say you are blessed, period! Do you want to listen to me or to somebody else?’
P.S. If you would like to tune into Rev Dr Solomon’s series of messages on 19th & 20th August, please go to trueway.org.sg -> Worship with Us ->Audio/Video Sermons. If you would like to read the earlier instalments of the trilogy, please go to trueway.org.sg -> Worship with Us -> Perspectives.
