This Sunday (5th August) marks the beginning of a 3-weeks series on God’s design for sexuality, marriage and family in our Children Ministry. This is our fourth year running.
At the same time, the “Walking with Same-Sex Attracted Friends” closed-door forum will be held on 11th August 2018. Separately, the youth ministry will have their 2-weeks series on a similar focus in late September 2018.
For the past few years, we have also dedicated a few weeks at our pulpit to teach God’s design for our sexuality, marriage and family. We also set up At-the-Cross support group for brothers struggling with sexual addictions and/or identity. We began a Parent Support Group to empower parents with young children to intentionally disciple their children in God’s design for living.
Why are we giving attention and investing time and resource on this subject matter? Will this distract us from the mission that God has given to us?
Here are some reasons:
Because it is a prevailing issue
Sexual sins and addictions are rampaging the modern society. The church is not spared. Recent Whole Life Inventory conducted by Focus on the Family, Singapore, suggests that a significant number of youth and young adults in Singapore churches are struggling with pornography addiction. It was also discovered that seniors in Singapore churches are not spared from this. As our seniors enter into the smart phone and social media world, some are entrapped in sexual addictions and sins.
Because it is an escalating problem
Things will get worse. Lawlessness will increase (Matt 24:12). Our next generation is facing a new world where the signposts of moral absolutes are being taken down. If we do not pay attention to anchor our next generation with God’s liberating truths, they will lose their footing in life and slide down the slippery slope of self-destruction.
Because it brings about a unique threat to the church of Christ
Liberalism has led to the normalisation of sexual sins in the society. Pre-marital sex and co-habitation are becoming conventional in the mainstream culture. Watching pornography is no longer frowned upon as before. Some even went as far as trying to institutionalize or legalize certain sexual behaviours that are not in accordance with God’s design. We live in days where men call evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20). The book of Revelation (Chapter 1 & 2) warns us that in the last days the church of Christ will be under severe threat from false teachings, sexual immorality and persecution.
Because it is essential to our intentional disciple-making process
Many who struggle with sexual sins or sexual brokenness live in secret shame unable to experience break through. There is this paralyzing fear of rejection if they are to bring their struggles into the light. Church leaders or members who struggle with such secret shame find themselves muted by the devil in the ministry. They become ineffective ministers of the gospel because they struggle with living a double life, and the guilt of hypocrisy.
We cannot just disciple a person in Christian living and spiritual disciplines but ignore his/her wounds and brokenness. The mission of Christ calls us “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18-19). Therefore we need to bring God’s truth into their “closets” to set them free from bondage and shame. Then they can truly be authentic disciples of Christ from the inside out.
Are you struggling with secret shame? Are you struggling with relational wounds? Are you struggling with an addiction? You do not need to be alone in your struggle against sin. YCK Chapel seeks to be a safe and authentic community whereby all can come-as-they-are, to experience the liberating forgiveness of God in Christ and the resurrection power of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
We are not a perfect community; we stumble and fall in our shepherding ways. Remember that there is no perfect person in this church. We are all broken by sin one way or another. So let us embrace each other’s brokenness and imperfection, and encourage one another to find wholeness and joy in Christ!
By Rick Toh, Lead Pastor/Elder (YCKC Bulletin 4&5 August 2018)