Aug 21=22, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

In our last article we have seen that the “paradigm shift” of the Early Church was from seeing and doing things from “the Earthly Kingdom” perspective to “the Heavenly Kingdom” perspective.  Honestly speaking, you and I often will see and evaluate our situations using our own perspectives, and therefore respond accordingly, it is only natural. In the field of counseling and psychotherapy, we often encourage people in their crisis and difficulties to do what we call “reframing,” that is to look at the situation with a different angle and perspective, seeing things with a more positive attitude, and respond accordingly.

But “paradigm shift” is going further to leap beyond our familiar framework, not just “think outside the box” as it were, but to go into a new mindset and new worldview and values, beyond traditional thinking and limitations, moving towards a brand-new goal and greater ideal. In the Early Church, we have seen how this means moving from “Judaism” to the “Christian faith,” from seeking for “peace and order” to pursuing “Kingdom mission,” from looking for “relief from suffering” to looking at “suffering for Christ,” from depending on “self-reliance” to “victory in Christ.” It is true that the situations we are in are much different from the situation of the Early Church, but we today can continue this “paradigm shift” started then, remembering and reinstating the timeless principles, continuing this type of renewal, striving to complete the Great Commission of Christ, ushering in the Kingdom of God!

The Early Church received in the Great Commission which was “The final command, the first concern.” (James Hudson Taylor IV)  Let us review  these timeless principles of the Great Commission and become partners in the gospel together. Allow me to summarize them in 7 major principles (following the 7 progress reports found in Acts), and follow them as the guiding principles of our Church in our “Return to Church”:

  1. Loving one another: Learning to love one another in the Lord (2:43-47)
  2. Spreading the Word: Learning to evangelize with the power of the Spirit (6:1-4, 7)
  3. Living in the Spirit: Learning to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the Spirit (9:31)
  4. Manifesting God’s power: Learning to manifest God’s power amidst trials (12: 24)
  5. Engaging in missions: Learning to do cross-cultural missions and strengthened in faith (16:5)
  6. Growing amidst suffering: Learning to witness for Christ as the Lord prevails (19:20)
  7. Persevering to the end: Learning to serve faithfully loving God and men (28:30-31)

We will (from October) study the account of Dr. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, where he carefully reported on the progress of the Early Church and outlined the reasons for its growth. As the pandemic (hopefully) near its end, and as many parts of the world are in chaos and at a crossroad, let us seize the opportunities before us to extend the Great Commission received in the paradigm shift of the Early Church, applying its principles in building God’s Kingdom on earth. (To be continued)