A Voice In The Wilderness

Rick Toh: Rick Toh is currently the Lead Pastor of Yio Chu Kang Chapel and also the CEO of Bless Community Services. He is happily married to Janice and has two sons.

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A Brief Introduction On The Theology of Groaning

The Reason for our Groaning We hate to wait, we want things immediate. We create fast foods, instant noodles and beverages. We invent slimming pills and body-contouring products that promise results in a week. We have internet technologies to help us obtain information within a second. We live in a world that seeks to erase “wait” altogether. This attitude is also pervasive in the church. In his book “Jesus-driven ministry”, Dr Ajith Fernando observed that the church is very good at the theology of praise and power. The church often focuses on the tangible and the immediate like worship experience, healing and deliverance. Yet she has not balanced these with the theology of groaning. The theology of groaning refers to waiting and longing for what that has not yet arrived or been received. When we look at the Scripture, we realise that it talks a lot about waiting and deferred fulfilment: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the o...

Fear May Not Always Be Bad

A Reflection on COVID-19 In this COVID19 pandemic, there has been much said about (or against) fear. Some react out of fear. They stockpile desperately, sanitise profusely, and become overly paranoid to the point of inconveniencing others. They avoid people, isolate themselves, and struggle to carry on with life. But some react against fear. They are disapproving of the fearful and their actions. They are unkind to the fearful, and criticise them. They want to prove a point. In their hubris, they may reject taking necessary precautions. Their courage is actually a form of impulsive reaction. They may over-compensate and thus endanger themselves and others around them. Yet fear is not always a bad thing. Proverbs 9:10 says: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Matt 10:28 says: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” To fear God i...

How Not to Quote Psalm 91 like the Devil Did

A reflection on Theology and COVID-19 I love Psalm 91. I memorised it when I was a youth and quoted it often as a prayer then. In this psalm, the psalmist looks to God to be his refuge and fortress (2), the one who will save him from the traps of his enemies and from the deadly diseases (3), the one who will protect him from enemy’s attacks, pestilence and plague twenty-four hours a day (5-6), the one who will make him stand before the wicked (7-8), the one who will prevent any harm or disaster to befall him and his family (10), the one who will send his angels to guard his ways (11-12) and the one who will enable him to overcome fearsome foes (13). All in all, Psalm 91 seems to infer that God has bestowed believers with invincibility and immunity from danger and harm. It is often quoted during times of adversity. In this season of COVID-19, many have also invoked Psalm 91 for personal protection against viruses and diseases. I first learnt of this psalm while reading the memoirs of Ji...

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