The Past Week

via


While my group of friends and myself have been trying to conquer our first week in school as PGCEs, the rest of Singapore has been reeling with the news that the pastor of the biggest megachurch here has been charged in court for using tithes ($23m?) to fund his wife's music career.

My heart goes out to the poor guy. The newspapers have run multiple stories on him and his lavish lifestyle, and his rags to riches story. What's made equally showstopping news is the undying loyalty shown by most of his congregation, who continuously declare his innocence and who have lined the paths outside the courts to shield him from the cameras and reporters.

And maybe he's innocent. Maybe the facts are somehow, wrong. And maybe this guy who's gone from trying to make ends meet to millions of dollars somehow had the superhuman strength to not use any of his newfound riches for 'personal gain'.

I don't know.

But I do know that if I were him, I'd have fallen faster, and harder. And that's why we fight, right? That's why we say no to an expensive wedding. That's why we make a beeline for the mission field. That's why we try never to get used to spending on things we don't need. That's why we force ourselves to give, give and give, because materialism is knocking at the door.

And that's why we pray—for God to have mercy on the many ways we fall short, and to count us as his own though we still bring more sin than virtue to the foot of the cross.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling,
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, come to thee for grace,
Foul, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.