Dear Members and Friends of NCCS,
Between the Cross and the Resurrection –
Reclaiming the Church’s Witness in the Shadow of War
As tensions escalate once again in the Middle East, the world is overshadowed by war and uncertainty. It is in such a historical moment that the Church approaches Easter. This convergence compels us to ask: in a world profoundly shaped by sin, how should the Church faithfully embody the Gospel?
The Middle East is not only a geopolitical hotspot but the very stage upon which God’s redemptive history unfolds. From the covenant with Abraham to the finished work of Christ on the Cross, this land bears witness to the sovereign acts of God in history. Today’s conflicts reveal once again the depth of human depravity — sin is not merely individual, but embedded within communities, systems, and civilizations. War is its collective expression.
Yet the Cross is not a tragic accident in history, but the very center of God’s eternal decree. Christ’s death was neither incidental nor a failure but accomplished according to God’s definite plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23). The Cross testifies that true victory is not found in human power, but in God’s triumph over sin and death through His atoning sacrifice. As Romans 5:8 declares, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is not humanity seeking God, but God sovereignly extending grace.
The Resurrection, likewise, is not merely comfort—it is the declaration that the Kingdom of God has broken into history. The empty tomb proclaims that Christ has triumphed and that new creation has begun. The resurrection is not only future hope but today’s reality. Therefore, history is not ultimately governed by human power structures, but by the sovereign purposes of God.
For the Church in Singapore, this moment carries a distinct calling. In a multi-religious and multicultural society, the Church must neither retreat into a private faith nor be shaped by secular ideologies. The Church is the covenant community of God, called to be a visible witness of His Kingdom in the world.
First, the Church must recover its identity as a praying community—participating in Christ’s high priestly ministry of intercession for the nations.
Second, the Church must embody unity—not grounded in human strategy, but in our union with Christ. In a fractured world, such unity is itself a powerful testimony to the Gospel.
Third, the Church must faithfully engage the world. The Reformed tradition affirms that Christ is Lord over all. Therefore, in every sphere—education, media, business, and public life—believers are called to live under the lordship of Christ.
Easter is therefore not merely a remembrance, but a calling. The Church is called to live the life of the Cross through a life of holiness, suffering, and self-denial in a fallen world; and, the life of the Resurrection as a light in darkness, hope in despair, and God’s faithful witness in history <<—hope, renewal, and witness in the midst of darkness.>>.
History has shown that in times of crisis, humanity’s longing for hope intensifies. The real question is not whether the world will change, but whether the Church will remain faithful to her calling—to be a visible, God-centered, Gospel-shaped community.
As we journey again to the Cross and behold the empty tomb, may the Church in Singapore be renewed by the Word and the Spirit—
not by power, but by grace;
not by fear, but by faith;
not by conformity to the world, but by holiness in Christ.
Christ is risen—
this is not only a confession of faith,
but the sign that the Kingdom has come,
and the foundation and calling of the Church.
Rt Rev Dr Caleb Soo
Vice President | National Council of Churches of Singapore