Lina Joy: More Views?

Found a report by Associated Press here on the decision of Lina Joy's case delivered yesterday.

At the end of the article, it stated:
"Leonard Teoh, the lawyer on a watching brief for the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, said it is now up to the legislature and the government to resolve the religious quagmire.

"Our next process should be the political process. We are going to talk to the prime minister, to our politicians. In the interest of racial and religious harmony, something needs to be done. People like Lina Joy should not be trapped in a legal cage, not being able to come out to practice their true conscience and religion," he said."

Interestingly, just a few minutes ago, I received an SMS update from The Star alert stating:
"31/5 Federal Court's decision on Lina Joy's appeal not a political one, Govt did not assert pressure on the judges in any way, says PM/STAR"
- I wonder what prompted this statement..


There are pending cases of families being torn apart, children taken away from parents and wives virtually abducted on the ground that one party was a Muslim and therefore not permitted to marry, live with or cohabit with persons of other religions. One of which involves a Hindu truck driver Magendran Sababathy who filed a suit alleging that Islamic authorities had illegally detained his Muslim wife. He said Islamic officials raided the couple's home on April 28 and took away his three-year old daughter telling him that his marriage under Hindu rites is illegal.

"All these cases are disturbing and reflect the rising Islamisation in the country, regardless of the price to national unity and interracial harmony," said Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary opposition leader. "The secular basis of the Constitution is being eroded relentlessly," he said. "Many people beginning to feel helpless."


There are many issues at hand and there are, again, more questions than answers...What can and should the church do in times like these?

Lina Joy: What's Next?

Today the Federal Court, the highest court in Malaysia, gave a decision rejecting/dismissing on a majority of 2-1 the appeal of Lina Joy to have the religious status of "Islam" be removed from her national identity card.

Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff said he agrees with Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim's judgment, whereas Justice Richard Malanjum delivered the dissenting judgement.


The Christian Federation of Malaysia gave a statement on Lina Joy's case as follows:

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) is disturbed and saddened by the decision of the Federal Court in the Lina Joy’s case, where the Court has confirmed the National Registration Department’s right to insist on a certificate from the Syariah Court that she has apostatized, prior to registering her conversion in the identity card.

We reiterate that the NRD’s insistence on such a certificate being produced has curtailed the fundamental right of an individual to profess and express his or her religion as provided for in Article 11.

We have also noted with much concern that this decision reflects a growing trend of decisions in the courts where civil courts are abdicating their responsibility of providing legal redress to individuals who only seek to profess and live their religion according to their conscience.

As a result of this decision, it is now more pressing for the government and lawmakers to revisit the relevant legislation and to reinstate the jurisdiction of the Civil Courts so that equal protection of the right to choose and express one’s religion is accorded to all Malaysians, as enshrined in Article 11.

The CFM will continue to cooperate with the government and all Malaysians to uphold the Government’s vision of upholding the multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious character of our nation.

Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ
Chairman and Executive Committee
Christian Federation of Malaysia

Dated 30th May 2007



Raising concerns is also The Malaysia Hindu Sangam:

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is gravely concerned with the Federal Court’s majority decision in Lina Joy’s case.

The Federal Court by a 2-1 majority today rejected the appeal by this ethnic Malay (who was born to Muslim parents but says she is now a Christian) for the Government to issue her an identity card without the description “Islam” on it. Lina Joy had argued that the Government’s requirement for her to first obtain a declaration from the Islamic court that she had “apostasized” from Islam was unconstitutional.

The decision may have serious personal repercussions for a significant number of persons living in Malaysia who say they are not Muslim but are nevertheless being forced to comply with Islamic laws by the government.

We anxiously await a perusal of the full written grounds of judgment to assess the full implications of this decision.

In the meanwhile, since the Judiciary appears unable or unwilling to act in these matters, we call on Parliament and all State Legislatures to urgently enact laws that ensure persons who do not profess Islam are not subjected to Islamic law.

The fundamental liberty of all Malaysians to profess and practise their faith in peace and harmony must be respected, both in fact and in law.

Dated 30th May 2007

Datuk A. Vaithilingam PJN, SSA, AMN, ASA, PJK
President
Malaysia Hindu Sangam



On the other side of the story, the Muslim Organisation in Defence of Islam states as follows:

The Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (PEMBELA) welcome today's decision by the Federal Court by praising Allah the Almighty for by His grace and mercy that the court has taken this position. We welcome and applaud this decision by which we believe that justice has been served. We believe that this decision is a relief for the majority of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike in Malaysia.

We say this because we see this decision as vindicating and upholding the existing arrangement relating to the position of Islam and the Shariah courts in the constitutional and legal set-up of the country. An arrangement that has been in place since before independence and 50 years after. It has been well accepted by all communities to the extend that for 50 years after Merdeka (Independence) we have been able to maintain one of the best records in the world of a multiracial multireligious society co-existing and building a nation together. In that spirit, this decision should not be perceived as a victory for Muslims and a loss for non-Muslims in Malaysia. Instead it should be seen as a rejection of an attempt by a certain individuals and segments to deconstruct and radically revamp of the current formula. A formula built upon a mutual appreciation and understanding of the historical background and social realities of the Malaysian society. One that is in harmony and reflects well with what we are as a nation.

We would like to urge all parties to accept the decision wholly and graciously. We also plead to those who were hoping for an opposite outcome to consider modifying their expectations to suit what is good and more sustainable given our circumstances. We reiterate that this decision is clearly more just and fair in a broader and higher sense of these words.

We also hope that we have seen the last of similar attempts. We invite instead anyone who feels that they are aggrieved within the existing arrangement, to choose other less confrontational, controversial or disruptive approach towards change or reform.

We also take this opportunity, in a time when Islamophobia seems to be very popular, to call upon all Islamic religious authorities and agencies to be extra diligent, efficient and professional in discharging their duties so that the good name of the religion does not suffer by mistakes or weaknesses at the implementation level. The Muslim NGOs are willing to come to the assistance of anyone, Muslims or non-Muslims, in genuine cases. It would be un-Islamic and wrong for us to tolerate any injustice, even by Muslims or in the name of Islam. Having said that, as Muslims, we re-affirm our full faith in the notion of justice as espoused by true teachings of Islam.

YUSRI MOHAMAD
On behalf:Organisations to the Defence of Islam (PEMBELA) and President of the Muslim youth Movement of Malaysia



There could be many effects and consequences arising from this decision. There are other pending court cases, one is Subashini's case, that may be decided upon similar points of law as raised in Lina Joy's case.

Let us continue to pray for God's wisdom and grace in this subject matter ...

Which Theologian Are You?

Found this "theologically challenging" fun quiz here. The result was not what I had expected...




You scored as Anselm

"Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?'"


Which theologian are you?
created with QuizFarm.com


Anselm?! I don't even have any of his works...

Church: What now? - Part 3

I have been reflecting the things which I have blogged on lately. Honestly, I don’t have answers, just questions and more questions.

The following are some of the questions I have been thinking (aloud) about, asking and hoping to find the answers myself :-

If the church is also filled with imperfect people, how can it be a safe place?
Many felt betrayed or disappointed with “church”, largely due to some point in time they have been hurt or discouraged by people, especially those whom they looked up to as leaders. Nobody’s perfect and the church could and is also a place where one can still get hurt or disappointed. But there is a difference. There is a channel of God’s grace.

What is the purpose of the church?
Its purpose is to draw people into Christ, to mirror Christ to one another, to show Christ to others by the way we live.

How is the church doing in carrying out this purpose?
It all depends very much on the people and their relationship with God through Christ. How could the church draw people into Christ, mirror Christ and demonstrate Christ if the people don’t know Christ themselves or don’t have a relationship with Him or don’t walk in the way of Christ? It will indeed be a sad affair if the church decides to substitute the way of the Spirit with the ways and thoughts of the material world...

What then shall we do with the church that may still hurt us?
There is always conflict in human relationships. The first step may be to acknowledge that we are still part of the church (the family). Ideally, the church is a spiritual community with which we make our journey toward God, knowing His purposes in our circumstances and seeking Him together. We still need each other to go on the journey. We will still encounter difficulties, confusion and disappointment but in all these, we should have a readiness to listen, learn and live, knowing that there is purpose in pain and in turn, have faith in God’s divine providence. We cannot go on with our own strength and understanding to manage our hurt and pain and we need to go beyond that to discovering God in a fresh way.

What happens when we are hurt again?
Experiences of hurt and pain will break our spirit. But only when we are broken do we experience God's love. In a true spiritual community, there is openness, whereby one would be taking off the masks and becoming authentic and vulnerable before one another. How well we learn and practice this is another thing… However, we should continue to learn to engage in relationship with others (…and not be a hermit in some island far, far away). We need to learn to be frank and open with one another, not to be shy or shameful to ask and receive help from others and to allow others to act as a channel of God's grace in our lives. We should embody brokenness, be open about our own weaknesses, not reacting with self-pity, but with hope. Whilst we are learning such, we should also observe the lives of others, see what others could become and what God is already doing in their lives at that point. We should envision potential in others, encourage them and discern when to expose what is wrong and when to stir up the right passion so that we can also touch them with the power of Christ.

How do we keep learning when we are still in pain and hurt?
May be we just have to quit being “managers” of ourselves and stop thinking that there are always some medication that one can take to cure or eradicate the sickness immediately. We just need to let the Spirit take over; quit rationalizing, quit planning, quit strategizing and quit executing any tasks under our own power and capabilities and (learn to) rely much on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verses for meditation (taken from English Standard Version (ESV)):

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Rom 12:1-3)

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Php 2:4-13)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1Pet 2:9-17)

Church: Feel Like Giving Up Church? - Part 2

Continuing from my last blog, this theme on being dissatisfied with church seemed to be a recurring thought to me. Not that I am complaining about the state that I am in or the church, e.g. of being too tied-up in activities or too much unfulfilled expectations or too shallow in relationships, etc.. I think the reason why I am thinking a lot lately about this is that I believe there are many people who are going through this feeling of "giving up church" being unnoticed by others and/or misunderstood by others.

Lawrence Crabb, an author and teacher, in his introduction to a book called: Reclaiming God's Original Intent for the Church , sums it up nicely:

"I'm now on the brink of giving up, not Christianity, but church. Not the true church, not the community of Jesus-followers who journey together toward God for his pleasure and for the sake of others, but the organization that has replaced the living body.

Too often, the whole church event feels like that, like a well-orchestrated event more than a throbbing-with-life community. The raw realism of the Bible is too often sugar-coated with cheerily optimistic promises that God wants you happily married, financially secure, and alive with a sense of adventure and romance. Whether it's a megachurch parading its A-team every Sunday before a packed house of struggling people who are helped to pretend things aren't so bad, or whether it's a single congregation of a hundred faithful members trying to believe that life can work better than it does, the problem is still the same: Too often the church is aiming its people toward self-fulfillment through God's blessings and away from the failure and pain that could bring people together as the community of the broken but loved and hopeful because of Jesus.

I once gave up Christianity as I knew it and discovered Christianity as the Spirit reveals it. I'm now giving up on church as I've experienced it and looking for church as the Spirit designed it."

What we need to be reminded constantly is to return to the first love, to the simple truth of the Gospel, i.e. the relationship with God and His people and those around them, and practise the essentials of developing our character, loving, serving and creating a community through the leading of the Holy Spirit and authenticating the Gospel.

If we are going through a tough time or is struggling with some weakness, wouldn't it be easier if we all stop pretending to be alright when we are not? Too often I think we miss the point when we think that "good" or "strong" Christians should not or could not be shown or appear to be discouraged, burnt-out or depressed. We all know that we do experience these things, and that is why we need to re-look at the original intent of the church. In sharing all these failure and pain as well together in the community, we could show how our amazing God will care for us and how we can remain loved and hopeful because of Jesus.

Church: Why Bother? - Part 1

Chanced upon a book by Philip Yancey in Borders today. Of course everybody knows Yancey is a great author and had been given various awards for his works. Actually, it was the title that caught my eye and stirred my interest.





The title: "Church: Why Bother? " It is the same question which I have been asking lately. I wonder why ... perhaps.. it's because of several people I know that asked themselves the same question?

In his conclusion, Yancey said that the church is the way God has chosen to be present on earth, as imperfect as it may be. He wrote:

"Yes, the church fails in its mission and makes serious blunders precisely because the church comprises human beings who will always fall short of the glory of God. That is the risk God took. Anyone who enters the church expecting perfection does not understand the nature of that risk or the nature of humanity. Just as every romantic eventually learns that marriage is the beginning, not the end, of the struggle to make love work, every Christian must learn that church is also only a beginning."

We are all imperfect people and it is not reasonable to expect others in the church to be perfect or "a bit more" perfect than ourselves.

As an illustration of what others may see through the church:
Just as when we watch our kids perform a musical special for Mother's Day service, we do not expect the presentation to be perfect and slick. We enjoyed just as much despite all the imperfections, because it was a great moment for us to watch them doing what they love and singing to someone they love.

What Personality Tests?

Had a real stressful time at work today...

Thought I might as well do some of these ubiquitous freebie personality tests available in the Internet nowadays to unwind...Had a good laugh at the results. Moral of the story: Don't try out these personality tests when strung up!

Some of the tests I took:

What's Your Inner Blood Type?

Your Inner Blood Type is Type A

You seem cool and collected, though a bit shy. You are highly driven and a perfectionist, but that's a side you keep to yourself. Creative and artistic, you are a very unique person who doesn't quite fit in. People accept you more than you realize, seeing you as trustworthy and loyal. You are most compatible with: A and AB Famous Type A's: Britney Spears and Hilter

Same blood type as Britney and Hitler?! LOL



What Famous Leader Are You?

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Pleeease! Somebody needs a brain check.


What Classic Movie Are You?

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

This result doesn't seem too far from the truth...



What is Your Enneagram Type?

free enneagram test


Found this site: Similar Minds with many other interesting personality tests. Didn't have time to try them all. If you do check them out, you can let me know how accurate are they ...

What 10 Things To Do In Negotiations?

Work lately involved some lengthy negotiations ...

Most people think negotiation is a game, played every day, every week, anywhere, anyhow and anytime, when one wants a change in his or her position/status quo for a gain or advance in interests (be it personal, financial or otherwise). For example, pre-schooler does not want to bathe or off the TV; teenager wants an iPod from daddy or mommy; customer wants more sotong (at no additional cost) for the nasi lemak he’s buying; person not willing to pay more for a watch in Petaling Street “bazaar”; etc.. Sometimes people just argue for the sake of arguing to see who will win at the end; it’s a matter of “face” for some...but that's tiring (if not fruitless) negotiation.

I have these 10 things to remember (which may or may not help) when doing a negotiaton:

1. Be prepared thoroughly prior to any negotiation. Preparation also includes having alternatives ready. After having alternatives ready, rank them in order of priority from the most attractive to the least attractive.

2. Begin by doing or saying something to ease the tension of the situation, eg. begin by saying something positive and appreciative to the person you are dealing with so as to increase the goodwill on both sides.

3. Set out to reach a win-win situation. Both sides should leave the negotiation feeling something is achieved and that they are satisfied and feel good about it. Further, who knows, there may be future dealings or interactions.

4. Know what you like to have. In a best-case scenario, if you could have everything you want, what would that be?

5. Know what you intend to have. Decide what really matters to you and what doesn’t that you can do without.

6. Know what you must have. Imagine a worst-case scenario: What is the very least you would accept to make a deal? Without this, then it is no deal, i.e. a deal breaker.

7. Write down or formulate your best estimate of the opposite side’s best-case and worst-case scenarios. Give yourself room to maneuver. Make sure you have something to offer the other person, as well as something you want. Getting what you need but leave others satisfied that their needs have been addressed.

8. Listen. It helps much to understand what the other person is saying and their point of view. To listen shows respect and good intentions, and will make the other person feel valued. If you need to know what it is the other party wants, listen for it. As Sigmund Freud said, “If you can get the other fellow to talk enough, he simply cannot disguise his real feelings or his real motives.”

9. If the other person is angry or hostile, then refuse to get drawn into it or to fight. Keep smiling and being pleasant and sooner or later they will calm down. (This is something I have to tell myself constantly to do…)

10. Keep options open. It does not help to insult the other person or storm out, even if you don’t get what you want. End the negotiation politely, and with a smile. That way you can always try again later.

Qualifiers:
- The above is neither fool-proof nor water-tight. Every negotiation can be subject to external pressures and circumstances.

- I am not saying that one should “negotiate” with God. God knows what’s best; we need not “negotiate” with Him, unless of course, if the Spirit prompts strongly. Be that as it may, this is one topic of a conversation which can be lengthy and hence, to be dealt with another time (and place).

Which Super Hero or Super Villian are you?

It's a weekend and am chilling out now ...

Recalling an interesting chat last Sunday on comics with a church member who has a medical practice (didn't know he was into these stuff too; and I thought I was the only weird one), I took a fun quiz on superhero personalities and this was what I got:

Your results:
You are Iron Man

Inventor. Businessman. Genius.



Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test


Unfortunately, during and after the Civil War, Iron Man turned "villian" and unfavourable ...

Since I was thinking about how one hero could become a villian later, took another fun quiz to check out who my hypothetical dark personality would resemble and this was what I got:


Your results:
You are Apocalypse

You believe in survival of the fittest and you believe that you are the fittest.



Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test


Don't know how true these quizzes are...obviously, not even to be taken with a pinch of salt! Anyone beg to differ? Where-lah got superhero and supervillian...? Well, not in Malaysia!

Sweet Insights on Emerging Churches?

I found an interesting article on George Fox interviewing Leonard Sweet on the Emerging Churches.

Leonard Sweet, a best-selling author, shared his insights into the Emerging Churches in the interview and the following insights are what I found most interesting and challenging for me (especially those that I highlighted in italics here):

"George Fox Journal (GFJ): How are emerging churches any more relational than evangelical mainstream churches? Isn’t this what small groups are all about?

LEN SWEET: Much of the evangelical mainstream makes small groups a program of the church. It’s an add-on, or a drive-through. In emerging churches, community is constitutive of their identity. It’s the very essence of who they are. There is also a relational component of the theology of the emerging church, where truth is seen more in relational than in propositional terms. After all, God didn’t send us a principle. God sent us a person. God didn’t send us a statement. God sent us a savior . . . who is Christ the Lord."

"GFJ: How are emerging churches distinctively missional?

LEN SWEET: Karl Rahner, the great 20thcentury Catholic theologian, referred to what he called Thermos-bottle Christianity. This is a form of pseudo-church where you keep everything inside warm and cozy and fresh, but let the outside freeze and take care of itself. Missional churches are focused on what God is doing in the world. Their circles face outward, not inward. This is a culture that loves gated communities, and there are gated churches to match. Missional churches are putting back together what for too long has been rent asunder: the whole gospel, both the personal gospel (evangelism), and the social gospel (justice and kingdom ministries)."

"GFJ: Finally, why might a pastor of an emerging church tell me I should follow Christ? And so what if I don’t?

LEN SWEET: Everybody follows someone. We all give our lives to something. The only questions are who, or what? I invite you to give your life to Jesus. I like how philosopher Dallas Willard does it: He challenges his students to the reality test: Put Jesus into practice. Go ahead. Got someone better than Jesus in mind to follow? OK, try someone else first. Put Sigmund Freud into practice. Put Charles Darwin into practice. Put Karl Marx into practice. Put Aristotle into practice. Put Plato into practice. Put Pablo Picasso into practice.
The only who or what that can stand up to the reality test is Jesus the Christ, who is bold enough to say to each of us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
There’s only one reason to follow Christ: Truth. Truth or consequences. "

"Taste and see that the Lord is good.". Put Jesus to the test.

In the long journey of life, perfection is not required, only faithfulness in following and practising Jesus.

A Book Sale?

I only came to know of the sale at this bookshop, Evangel Book Centre, in SS2, Petaling Jaya when I was around the neighbourhood today. As usual, "hurt" Bibles were on sale, with discounts ranging mainly between 15% - 30%. All books were sold at a discount, starting from 10% up to 70%(?).

Some books were a real bargain. For example, this book by Leonard Sweet, which I got for only RM10-00(!):



And also this hardcover(!) book by Philip Yancey (normally sold for RM56-00), selling now for only RM10-00(!):



There are other books which I couldn't resist buying, like the hardcover copy of Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" for RM102-00 (after a discount of around 33%) and this hardcover copy of "The Message" by Eugene Petersen for only RM45-00 (i.e. at a discount of 50%)




I was sold just by the title of the following book:



Bought it for RM36-00 (after a discount of 20%; seemed like most current books were discounted at this rate).

Not sure if I could read them all ...By the way, the sale is until 19 May 2007.

What's your X-Men personality?

Time to relax...

If you have the time, try out this fun quiz to find out your X-men personality...



This was what I got:

Your X-Men Personality is Wolverine

Highly intelligent and trained in espionage, Wolverine has the strength and ability to think under pressure. He's an outsider, and while his emotions often get the better of him, he's loyal to his friends and dedicated to the goal of human-mutant peace.

Hey, what about the adamantium skeleton!? That's cool and I prefer to have that than the personality ...

Is a Church Constitution Necessary?

Recently I have been wondering why some people could be so against of a church having a constitution. Their contention is that the Bible is the constitution and there should be none other. But notwithstanding that, there can still be many different views on Baptism, Holy Communion, salvation, etc ... Some people felt they're hurt by being caught in the "system" and believed that the way for them to get back on their feet is to leave the man-devised "system". Can we really get out of being in such a "system" as may be set by the Church Constitution?

Picture this:
Someone planted a church. The church grew; more and more people were added to the group. As the group got bigger, more things were needed, i.e. larger space & greater need for utilities, e.g. fans/air-conditioners, lightings, etc. for the crowd. As the church progressed further to achieve its mission to reach out, even more things were needed, e.g. stationeries, fax machine, telephones, projectors, etc. Soon people felt the need to have chairs, tables and other furniture. The church then started to get involved in bigger things to meet the needs of the community around them and more funds were needed to facilitate the efforts. As the group got bigger and chaotic, conflict and friction resulted. Each member had to have his or her own way and views on anything. On top of that, the group and its activities were required to be in compliance with the applicable regulations and laws of the land.

Arising from the above scenario, answers to queries, including but not limited to the following, are necessary for survival or preservation of the life of the church:
- who is in charge or makes the ultimate decision?
- who determines how the funds are spent?
- who holds the assets of the church and account for them?
- who determines what areas of development that the church should concentrate on?
- how are differences, disputes or disagreements between community members to be handled?
- what legal compliances are required from the group and from each member in respect of the activities being carried out?

In a civilized community, one cannot avoid being subjected to organizational rules or regulated processes or the feeling of being caught up in an institution. Take for example, even in a small family of 4, i.e. daddy, mommy, sister and brother, there are house or family rules to adhere to, e.g. no fighting over toys, no screaming at anyone, each to do chores as scheduled, etc.

One cannot run away from being “institutionalized”. Even for organic growth, like grapes in vineyards, there are structures, frameworks and trellises to hold the vines for them to grow.

Perhaps, with a Church Constitution, the following may help the church:

1) to survive for any length of time with proper organizational and administrative structure;

2) to have a vision for what kind of structure the church will embrace in the development of its core group or leaders;

3) to set out a common view and practice such items that are core beliefs in a church and/or reflecting congregational democracy under the leadership of Christ;

4) to avoid conflict and as such, less pressure, so that the church could move forward and not worry about having to put-off internal fires;

5) to have principles that will guide the church to accomplish the mission for which God has created it;

6) to make the church a legally-recognised entity, registered with the relevant authorities and able to contract for its needs and requirements;

7) to ensure that all members can participate in the decision-making process. The congregational polity of a church can embody democratic processes, delegating responsibilities to its leaders so as to be responsible to the lordship of Christ, and be guided by His authoritative Word.

A Constitution that seeks to control rather than facilitate the growth of the members should at all cost be avoided. A good Church Constitution would not cause the church to grow but a bad Church Constitution can prevent the church from growing.

So, can we do without a Church Constitution?

What Type of Christian Are You?

Was having lunch with an old friend (not literally!) who asked if I had taken this fun quiz. Being a member of an independent church, he seemed to be pleasantly amused that he turned out to be a closet "Anglican". Out of curiosity, I took on the challenge to discover what type of Christian I may be.

What type of Christian are you?
Protestant - Non Fundamentalist You are a Non-fundamentalist Protestant. You don't really have a lot of formalized clergy. Your worship is pretty free in terms of what and how you worship. You love the Bible. Your pastor preaches almost an hour. You don't receive Communion all that often and you don't really care to either. Jesus is your life and you pray to Him a lot like He's your brother.
Take The Quiz Now!	Quizzes by myYearbook.com

I guess some things never change...The results are just as I expected... I wonder if there's something like a "Reforming Church"; since I enjoy the teachings of the Reformed and the missional attitude of the Emerging Churches...