Testimony by a Regular Worshipper

It is strange that nowadays, even a believer could not freely give a testimony in church. I could not speak or read this testimony openly in church at the watch night service due to fear of persecution from the leaders and their hardcore supporters in Calvary Church, but I believe God is worthy of all praises, and I want to take this opportunity to share my testimony here and give Him all the glory He deserved. I don’t mind if anyone of you courageous enough to read it in the church. But bear in mind that they who threaten to hurt those concern members after the publish of the articles in the Star, may persecute you right at the spot. The persecution we face within the church today is real.

My testimony begin like this:

Somewhere middle of last year, I felt so upset with the pastors and the leaders of the church. Such frustration is accumulated over many disappointments over several years on what I saw in the church leadership and their hardcore supporters. Their actions, teachings and behavior really tell me that they do not really follow Jesus. I saw all these in their fruit and I was upset to know nothing have been done to address such.

I wonder to myself, “How can such obvious contradiction against God’s Word and His Spirit can be tolerated and even justified in the house of God?” But it seem at that time, every one simply follow along the trend of the church culture, without much check on the Scriptures or even consult the Lord on their direction. I kept the matter to myself, thinking I alone can do nothing about this, and I might as well shut up. But I could not ignore it. Such matter kept arising to my mind. In every church services I attend, every time I pray, and as I study God’s Word, the matter arise in my mind, as though as it matter to the Lord. But as I am upset and confused at why the church succeed in doing wrong, I argue with the Lord, saying, “But You don’t care, else why they who go wrong can still be successful in their wrong ways?” Sometime I argue, “What can I do, when Lord, You let it happen, and yet does nothing for them to repent?”

It was some where in the middle of last year, that I wept in prayer in my car every time I went home from church. I remember one Sunday afternoon, as I wept in my car, while still inside Avenue building, I begin to ask the Lord to intervene. I asked, “Lord, send people to speak to the pastors. Lord, send at least 50 people to tell the pastors that they are wrong and need to repent, as a sign to me that You intervened; and that’s enough for me to believe You care”.

After that Sunday, I did not attend Calvary Church for a year. When I discover the blog Calvary Today several months ago and found out that they are about 50 of them who started it, I was over joy. You see, I am not a register member of the church, and therefore do not attend any General Meeting on church issues (I refuse to be one because of the prejudice scheme of member selection that I saw, and how possessed are some members by the institution spirit and pastor adoration) Due to such, I was isolated and I do not know that God Himself actually already raise up several people to speak His Words or warning to the pastors, and the number of these people is arising.

When I first found the blog several months ago, I felt my burden lifted. I still do not know who they are, but I felt the Lord has intervened through them and has listen to my cry when I was in my car in Avenue building last year. Now I knew how foolish I was, when I complain to the Lord that He does not care; when actually He does and has indeed already prepare the answer through TT&G before my prayer. While I was not a registered member and may not able to do anything about the present situation, I felt that the Lord want me to stand with Him, grow in the ability in distinguishing right from wrong, good from evil (Heb 5:14), for to Him, such attribute in us is much more important than merely getting rich or enjoying luxury life as seen in some church leaders today.

I want to encourage you who have the same concern with me, who may be confused at the contradiction seen between God’s Word and church practices, to take heart for the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Lord who commanded us not to greed for money and fame, has not changed. His character, virtue, and stature mentioned in His Words remains true. What is right remains right, and what is wrong remains wrong, no matter who tried to preach to sway it or even prophesy to divert it. God want us to think wholesomely (2 Peter 3:1) and that His standard has not changed.

Do not be confused or led astray by all kind of sermons, false prophesy or cunning strategies, but rather stay focus on His Words that penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12). Be discerned and be concern. What you have learned in your walk with the Lord is not superseded. They cannot be superseded. His Word remain true. For the virtue that God has molded into you, the Godly character He built in you through His Spirit and His Word, is a progress of your spiritual growth. It is not to be demolished nor superseded. It matter to the Lord and He will not let people lead you astray.

While the church over-occupied by CCC, God never divert His focus from His people. We are the people of the Lord; we are the apple of His eyes. In this end time, He builds us, His church, not any death structures.

I want to thank the Lord for answering my prayer through CalvaryToday and all those concern members who support TT&G. Through them, God has told me that He cares and listen to the cry of His people. It is easy to build CCC in this fallen world, where with enough money, influence, dirty scheme and deception, evil can prevail; but it takes God’s miracle and a lot of faith in God to speak the courageous words of the season and return truth back to the church today. Thank God for those who dare to speak for truth.

We are the concern members and He is the concern God, not an ignorant one. He cares!!! While leaders merely concern on not abandon CCC, our Lord’s concern is on His people and their spiritual health. Goodness is not when one chase after luxury while ignore the rest. Goodness is when we see the Lord intervene as a response to our prayers. The Lord is good in year 2009 and He will always be.

“Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. May the will of the Lord for His church be accomplished, and His truth set His church free. All glory to the Lord. Amen!!”

Thankfully submitted by Lee.