Editorial

I write this in the wake of a revelation concerning a well-known Christian government leader who fell into sin. The announcements indicate that he had been caught in an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with another member of parliament, and had continued in it in spite of admonishment. This leader has since resigned from all his government positions and membership in his party. News of this came like a shock wave that reverberated throughout the church and the nation. Few knew about what had happened until the public announcement. A third of the year has gone by. The recent Lent season leading to Good Friday reminds us to keep our eyes on the Cross and Christ crucified for us. We also lift our eyes to see Christ risen and coming for us.

The name of our Lord has been muddied, and there is profound disappointment felt in the Church today. One can only imagine what his family must be feeling now; They are the unseen victims of this tragedy.

This is a time to mourn.

As I reflect on this grievous sorrow, I can’t help thinking about how one can be so popular and active in the public square, and yet conceal such a dark secret.

I can have a glowing public life. Speaking to crowds, featured in magazines, and feted on social media. But in my private life, the things I do in secret - who knows?

I can be famous for the good that I do: Serving the poor and needy, championing the rights of the oppressed and forgotten. Launching new ministries. A prophet for our time. A leader. And the crowds can be amazed at all the good that I can do, and my enemies silenced all the same. But deep inside – who knows?

I could be admired for how I’ve given my life to others, and somehow manage to take care of my family life, my inner life. We assume that one can do so much only because one’s private life has been set in order – or we may even say that one has an ‘anointing’. But who knows?

It is merely the case for public figures that when their struggles and failures are exposed, the whole world will find out and the impact is greater. But this capacity for deceit (for we are surely lying to ourselves) lies within each of us. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

We all know how to hide. It was the sin that followed quickly after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.

I feel very much for this now as a pastor. Every Sunday, correction: every day, I am looked upon and expected to speak, to serve, to act blamelessly in every way. To be a man of God. It is so tempting to make it all a show.

Professing humility can be made into a show – for the first thing about it is not to be thinking so much about myself. To profess a love for God can also be a show – for in saying such things I may be vying with God for attention. When is the living real or fake… who knows?

It can even happen at home with my wife and children. It can seem much harder to hide things at home, but it can also be much easier. Who knows? Who knows?

We have turned hiding into an art.

No one can really see when we struggle to keep too many balls in the air, but keep at it as we get egged on by the cheers and jeers. No one, but God.

No one can examine our hearts and find that moment when we justify to ourselves that we are doing a whole lot of good, and lots of people are looking up to me, and therefore I can’t stop now. No one, but God.

No one can see the moments when we choose to disregard His voice – when we stop up our ears and harden our hearts. No one, but God.

And so, if there are 3 things I ask for now, it would be for these:

The virtue of honesty;

The urgency to invite others to hold me accountable;

And most of all, the fear of the Lord.

He knows.

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Written 19 Jul 2023

Pastor Ng Zhi-wen

Zion Bishan BP Church

When Leaders Let Us Down

Editorial written by Pastor Lim Wei-En

It started in early July when two of our ministers were scrutinized over the way they went about renting colonial bungalows at Ridout Road for their personal use. Last week, the Transport Minister was arrested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau over a graft probe, and placed on a leave of absence. Then, early this week, two MPs resigned from parliament and the ruling party after it was revealed that they had an affair. On that same day, it was reported that two senior members from an opposition party, including one MP, were caught on video having an inappropriate exchange. They too subsequently resigned from their party. 

In my social circles, there have been a range of responses to these incidents. Some could not care less since the actions of these leaders (so it would seem) do not affect their day-to-day lives. Others have been outraged by the misuse and abuse of power vested on these elected leaders. Still others are deeply disappointed because they had known these leaders to be persons of character who had cared for the residents of their constituencies and served the needs of the nation responsibly. For these constituents, their leaders’ actions felt like a betrayal of trust.  

Personally, I was quite affected by these incidents, not least because the Transport Minister in question is also the MP of the West Coast Division of West Coast GRC, of which our church building (and my home) is a part. Also, one of the MPs who resigned is a professing Christian who has been an encouragement to the Christian community in the past. Having reflected on my and others’ responses to these incidents, I would like to suggest the following ways Christians can respond when leaders (political or otherwise) let us down.

Pray for Them

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4)

When we are let down, the first thing we can do is to intercede for “all those in authority”. We can pray for the leaders who have done wrong, asking God to bring about godly sorrow in them that leads to repentance and eventually, salvation. (2 Cor. 7:10) We can pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and a compassionate community to surround them even as they make restitution for the wrongs done. We can pray for them to be eventually forgiven and restored, that they may use the gifts and experiences they have been given to serve others once again, with purity and integrity of heart.

Examine Ourselves

“The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronising and spoiling sport, and back-biting; the pleasures of power, of hatred. For there are two things inside me, competing with the human self which I must try to become. They are the Animal self, and the Diabolical self. The Diabolical self is the worse of the two. That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither." (C.S. Lewis in “Mere Christianity”)

When we are let down, the second thing we can do is to search ourselves or, better, allow God to search us (Psalm 139:23-24). When leaders fail, it is easy to jump on the bandwagon of popular opinion and add to the contempt being directed towards them. However, the public nature of their failure should serve to remind us that even the best of us is fallible – indeed, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) Those of us in leadership positions or who aspire to be in those positions must take heed of whether we have given in to any of the seductions that come with power. Those of us who revel in the mistakes of others should beware the “Diabolical self” and consider how, but for the grace of God, we too would easily have taken the road those leaders took.

Renew our Trust in the Ultimate Leader

“Do not put your trust in princes,

in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord their God.” (Psalm 146:3-5)

It is in human nature to put people, especially leaders, on pedestals. Like Israel who asked for a King (1 Sam. 8), we feel more assured when there are visible leaders in whom we can place our trust. However, the tendency to elevate any created thing or person over the Creator is idolatry, and God repeatedly warns us in Scripture against placing our trust in people. He does so for the simple fact that people are finite and there will come a day when “their plans come to nothing.”

When leaders let us down, the third thing we can do is to recalibrate our trust, placing it all on our Ultimate Leader who will never let us down. Unlike earthly leaders, Jesus emptied himself of all heavenly privileges that could have been used to his advantage, washed the feet of his followers, and eventually gave his life in exchange for theirs. Because of this, he alone qualifies to be the One we place our full trust in. He is the hope for leaders who have failed and the healer for those whose have been wearied by such leadership.

When our leaders let us down, may we neither respond with nonchalance or judgementalism. Instead, let us be drawn to prayer, lifting these leaders, ourselves and our nation to the Lord. Above all, let us renew our trust in Christ, our Ultimate Leader, who never fails.

Written 24 Jul 2023

Lim Wei-en is Pastor for Young Adults at The Bible Church, Singapore.