Dear Readers,

A MOTHER OF UNFEIGNED FAITH

Today is “Mother’s Day” where the world commemorates the role of all mothers in the world. We value the mothers in our midst too. We believe that they desire to be great mothers to their children, but what exactly is a great mother?

A trend in Singapore today is the rise of “tiger mothers”. The “tiger mothers” is recently popularised by Amy Chua in her book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. She is “a strict or demanding mother who pushes her children to high levels of achievement.” (Oxford Dictionaries Online) She “fosters an academically competitive spirit” in her children, directing them towards “financially successful careers”. Yet, Singapore is beginning to realise the harm that “tiger mothers” may bring to society with their overly competitive spirit, and is doing its utmost to clamp down the trend (See “Singapore is Cracking Down on Tiger Moms” on Yahoo Finance, 3rd May 2015).

Christian mothers should not follow the philosophy of the world, but the teachings of the Holy Scripture. One example of a great mother is Eunice, the mother of Timothy. Paul thanked God for her godly influence on Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 – “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

Eunice was an outstanding mother because of the “unfeigned faith” which “dwelt” in her. Therefore, we need to understand what exactly is the “unfeigned faith” of 2 Timothy 1:5?

Firstly, it is a subjective faith (i.e. a believer’s personal trust) that is based on the objective faith (i.e. the whole body of doctrine of the Holy Scriptures). She was a woman who took God at His Word. We see this especially in 2 Timothy 3:14-17 to “hold fast” to the teaching which he had received since he was a child. This teaching was not worldly philosophy, but the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. The best teaching one can impart to a child is the teaching of the Holy Bible, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Secondly, it was a sincere and genuine faith. The adjective “unfeigned” (anupokritos) literally means “without hypocrisy”. It is thus a faith that is without any pretence. She is not one who puts up a religious front like the Pharisees, but one whose faith is easily manifested and seen in her life, whether be it in the church or in the family.

Sometimes, professing Christians may programme themselves to put on a religious garb in church, or in the presence of others. However, in the family, they may run the family based on different philosophies and thinking. They openly proclaim the beauty of a forever inerrant and infallible Bible in church, but at home, they push the children in an incessant pursuit of secular achievements. These professing Christians claim they love God’s Word, but in reality no different from the “tiger mothers” of the world. Their children see their behaviour, and will either follow their ways, or grow to hate Christianity, acknowledging it as pure hypocrisy. The children may obtain the bright lights of the world, but may very well miss the eternal light of heaven above!

Eunice was not like the hypocritical Christians described above. The genuineness of her faith shines through every aspect of her life. She was a true woman of the Bible. Moreover, this faith was said to have “dwelt” in Eunice. This dwelling (from enoikeō) was not one that was temporary but one that was permanent. She had a consistent Christian testimony. Young Timothy saw this and grew up to be a stalwart of Biblical faith. What a blessing Eunice was to the Christian community.

Dear mothers, do you desire the best for your children? If you do, follow the example of Eunice, and not Amy Chua. Obey the Word of God, and teach your children to obey. May the Lord find it pleasing to raise up mothers like Eunice in our midst today.

 

Happy Mother’s Day.

Preacher Clement Chew

SPIRITUALITY, SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE
(From the Homepage of the Far Eastern Bible College)

The Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) is one of the oldest Bible colleges in Singapore, founded in 1962 by the late Rev Dr Timothy Tow, who also founded the Bible-Presbyterian Church movement in Southeast Asia.

FEBC endeavours to provide a comprehensive biblical-theological education (Acts 20:27) that is based solely on the forever infallible and inerrant Scriptures (Psalm 12:6-7, Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) so as to equip both Christian men and women for effective spiritual leadership and service (2 Timothy 2:2, 2:15) in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), and in the defence of the Reformed Faith (Philippians 2:16, Titus 1:9, Jude 3).

The most important asset of the College is her teaching faculty. FEBC has a total of nine spiritually and academically qualified lecturers in Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Church History, Pastoral Ministry, and Christian Education, and six tutors in Greek, English, Music, and Information Technology. The FEBC lecturers are themselves graduates of the College. As such, they understand well the vision and mission of the College, and can be trusted to serve as effective teachers and mentors to our students. Know that FEBC lecturers are also practitioners of the faith in their respective churches. Being skilled in practical ministry themselves, they are no “ivory tower” professors.

FEBC is not only a Biblical-theological institution of higher learning and spiritual training, it is also a charitable trust. As a bona fide non-profit institution, every effort is made by the College to keep student fees to the barest minimum. Tuition is highly subsidised, and needy but worthy students often enjoy a full-tuition scholarship. This is only possible because of the loving support of God’s people through their freewill offerings.

FEBC seeks born again believers called of God to a life of committed and consecrated Christian service to be students of the College (Luke 9:23-24). As such, being a student in FEBC is not a personal right but a God-given privilege.

Are you willing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ unconditionally and unreservedly, and submit yourself fully to the academic rigour, spiritual discipline, and theological excellence of this College? If yes, then we welcome you warmly to study with us. Those looking for an easy route towards their theological degree are hereby advised to look elsewhere. “There is no royal road to learning.”

The key to theological and ministerial success is, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Note: The Far Eastern Bible College will be having her 40th Graduation Service today. Do pray for the Far Eastern Bible College that the Lord will continue to use her as a faithful institution to train more labourers for the harvest fields.