Words by our Priest-in-Charge:

Authentic Christianity

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33

A senior pastoral staff of a big church once shared with me of his conversion experience. As a non- Christian, he was invited to a meeting in the current Church where he serves. He was taken by surprise of the honesty of the preacher, who is one of the pastors of that Church, when he openly shared of his own struggle as a Christian from the pulpit. He said to himself, does being a Christian means having to be so transparent? He was reluctant to becoming a Christian. However, when he has come to a point in his life where he needed Jesus, he turned to this Church for help. He thought to himself, if the pastors are so honest and transparent, then I can truly trust them and feel safe in this Church. He accepted Jesus, grew in that same church for many years that follow, and became part of the pastoral team.

People are looking for something real, an authentic Christianity. It was this kind of Christianity that caused the early to attract many unbelievers to faith. Such honest and transparent Christian lifestyle became a backdrop for people to feel safe. It became the launch pad for the powerful ministry of the Church through the working of the Holy Spirit. When the Church lives out the evidence of the life of Jesus in ministry and witness with the empowering of the Holy Spirit, grace falls on the Church.

The life of a Christian is an epistle, a letter from God for all to see. The life of the Church and all relationships therein, is the living testimony of the reality of God, a God of love, grace and mercy. Seek therefore, God and His Kingdom. Allow Him to enter into every part of lives. So that authentic Christianity in the Church is possible.