Today, we are touching on the final lesson of our programme New Hearts, Fresh Beginnings. It is the eighth lesson on the relationship between people and their churches. When we have made up our mind to believe in Jesus, does it mean that I am a Christian? Is it a must for Christians to participate in the church fellowship and activities? Why are members of the Church called brothers? What are the requirements for me to be baptised? In summary, what is the relationship between the church and I? Today, we will explore on this topic.

Let’s begin by listening to the Book of James 4:6-10,

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

In the previous episode, we have discussed about the issue of ancestral worship. There are various motives for ancestral worship – some people want to benefit from it, others want to be known for being filial and the rest are afraid that their dead ancestors will return to bring trouble upon them. Thus, in ancestral worship, they conduct rituals for the souls of their ancestors so that they will not be lonely and become wandering ghosts.

Let’s recap: The first milestone Gilgal, represents circumcision and dealing with the flesh. The second milestone Bethel, represents encountering the presence of God. Today, in episode 7, we will look at the third milestone Jericho, and ‘Tearing down Strongholds’.

Jericho was a fortress city, with high walls. It was tightly shut and very well defended. Jericho represents an area of enemy power or sin – a stronghold - that prevents the advance of the Kingdom of God – our entering the Promised Land.

In the previous episode, I explored with everyone on the topic of folk customs and their taboos. I had also mentioned about ancestral worship. Ancestral worship is a very sensitive topic because some people think that we do not worship our ancestors after we have become Christians. They will say that “Christians, who believe in Jesus, do not want their ancestors” and in doing so, Christians have lost their Chinese identity. Actually, all these are misinterpretations. We need to know the true reasons and the motives for ancestral worship.

Today, in episode 6, we look at the last section of the second milestone - Bethel. We’re focusing on ‘Trials and the Believer’ and ‘Purified to Serve’.

How many times have you experienced that as we begin to connect with God and build a deeper relationship with Him, there are times when we hit a wall? Something may happen in our lives that will cause us to lose our equilibrium, and we become troubled and disturbed. Those who experience God at Bethel begin to understand these disturbances in a new light, and to see our struggles in the way that God does.

Today, I will like to explore a special topic with everyone, that is the relationship between people and folk customs with their taboos. People from every nationality have their own cultural customs. All these cultural customs shape the uniqueness of every ethnic group. As Christians, how do we differentiate which cultural customs are to be kept and even be developed and promoted? And which are the folk customs with their taboos that should be abandoned because of superstition?