The Methodist Church in Singapore- 125th Anniversary Thanksgiving and Aldersgate Service

Today, the Methodist Church in Singapore celebrated its 125th Anniversary Thanksgiving and Aldersgate Service at Paya Lebar Methodist Church.

Worship Leader: Rev Dr Jonathan Seet

Interpreter: Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey Aldersgate Service

Preacher: Bishop Dr Robert Solomon

The sermon title is ‘Jesus Prays for Us’, based on scripture text John 17:20-27. In the sermon, the bishop raised several interesting but important points:

- As a 125 year old church, if the Methodist Church in Singapore is to undergo a spiritual checkup, how will our condition be like? Are we too old to walk properly? Unable to bend our arms? Blocked spiritual vessels and arteries? Too comfortable. Too complacent. A sleeping giant?

- Church growth rate is getting lower! Growth is smaller than the population growth. As such, methodists are decreasing! Root of the problem: Is the Methodist Church getting too institutionalized and clerical? Treat pastors as employees, pastors also see themselves as employees, thus affecting church growth. A result of pastors with high education level? Probably not, there is no evidence for this, but we should be careful not to let knowledge hinder us from evangelism. The bishop emphasized the need and importance of theological education. TTC is important!

- Succumb to worldview and culture. He gives examples of churches in America (Fundamentals, evangelicals, mainline churches, etc) influenced by secular worldview. Many Christians succumb to worldly trappings and fall into a mixed world view; professing a belief in Jesus, but living secular lifestyles, "Secular" means "denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have not religious or spiritual basis." (Oxford American Dictionaries)

As for ecclesiastical order, I remembering reading in Responsible Grace, where the author Randy L Maddox highlighted this point:

What is the end of all ecclesiastical order? Is it not to bring souls from the power of Satan to God, and to build them up in his fear and love? Order, then, is so far valuable as it answers these needs: and if it answers them not, it is nothing worth. (Letter to John Smith, 1746)