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[English version]

新加坡基督教全国教会理事会的成员与伙伴们：

在复活节与五旬节之间：活在基督的“影子”底下？

我们感谢上帝带领我们平安度过2026年的首季。许多人可能在过去四个月里经历了艰难和动荡，在多方面受到冲击，因为我们所熟悉的正常生活节奏已不复存在。有些人或许在想，颠簸的道路何时才是尽头。

然而，尽管生活中充满了意想不到的挑战和令人震惊的、前所未有的事件，尽管这些事很容易让我们的心不安，但我们的主是信实的，他的应许永不动摇。

“你们要称谢耶和华，因他本为善，他的慈爱永远长存。” —— 诗篇136:1

我们要深信，上帝不会撇下我们独自挣扎、自生自灭，或让我们依靠自己的力量想明白一切。事实上，在教会的年历中，五月是一个思想基督生平的月份，它提醒我们，基督仍是我们灵魂的锚。

. 2026年5月14日 — 基督升天节
. 2026年5月24日 — 五旬节

首先，我们并不孤单，因为我们有一位大祭司在为我们祈求：

“既然我们有一位伟大、进入高天的大祭司，就是耶稣—上帝的儿子，我们应当持定所宣认的道。因为我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱；他也在各方面受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作及时的帮助。” —— 希伯来书 4:14–16

基督为我们代求，把我们带到父上帝面前。知道基督没有忘记我们，而是持续地将我们带到父面前——即使我们有时感觉不到，这是何等的安慰！

“耶和华是我的亮光，是我的拯救，我还怕谁呢？耶和华是我生命的保障，我还惧谁呢？” —— 诗篇 27:1

我今天真的能相信上帝的应许，让它改变我的生活姿态吗？“我还惧谁呢？”

其次，活出自由和每日感恩的生命。

当耶稣为我们代祷时，我们应当活出感恩的生命，深知他的祷告和宝血足以拯救我们，并释放我们得自由，脱离一切捆绑。我们大祭司的祷告使我们能够以信心在他里面回应挑战，并且站立得稳。的确，属灵的争战并非靠我们一己之力——我们的大祭司与我们同在。

最后，当我们凭信心与基督合一时，我们便获得了从上头来的能力，使到我们在主再来前，即使面对最具挑战的日子，也能够活出超自然的生命，凭超自然的能力行事。

圣灵在五旬节主日降临，他与我们同在，并住在我们里面。今天，我们拥有从上头来的能力，可以每天以不平凡的方式过着平凡的日子。

“你们岂不知你们的身体就是圣灵的殿吗？这圣灵是从神而来，住在你们里头的。而且你们不是属于自己的人。” —— 哥林多前书 6:19

“但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。” —— 使徒行传 1:8

当我们让圣灵带领和引导我们时，福音的宣讲就变得有效。当我们让圣灵加给我们力量，使我们能以顺服来回应上帝的话语时，我们活出的见证就大有影响力。当我们每日在圣灵的引导下行走时，我们就能以确定而坚定的姿态生活。

“我说，你们要顺着圣灵而行，绝不可放纵肉体的情欲。” —— 加拉太书 5:16

“我们若靠着圣灵而活，就要靠着圣灵行事。” —— 加拉太书 5:25

问题是，今天是谁在引领我们的生活？让我们花点时间反思基督为我们所做的一切，以至于能够：

a) 在挣扎中得安慰——深知耶稣，我们的大祭司，与我们同在，并在天父面前为我们代求。
b) 得鼓励去面对每日的挑战，深知我们并不孤单——圣灵住在我们里面。
c) 愿意在发现自己没有等待上帝就凭已意行事时重新调整生活——当我们顺服时，圣灵就会引导我们。

国家能转向上帝吗？这始于我们因默想基督对世界的爱，能够不平凡地去过每一个平凡的日子。

与您一同服事基督的主仆，

罗嘉俊会督
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席

[信函的中文翻译]

Dear Members and Friends of NCCS,

Between the Resurrection and Pentecost:  Living in  Christ’s “Shadow”?

 We thank God for leading us through the first quarter of 2026. Many of us may have experienced an unusually difficult and turbulent journey over the past four months, which may have impacted us in many ways, as the normal rhythm of life is no longer something we are familiar with. Some may be wondering when the bumpy road will end.

Yet, despite unforeseen challenges and unprecedented, shocking incidents that can easily unsettle our hearts in everyday life, our Lord is faithful to us, and His promises remain steadfast.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1

Be assured that God does not leave us alone to strive, fend for ourselves, or try to figure everything out on our own.  In fact the month of May in the Christian calendar reminds us of the life of Christ, which continues to be the anchor of our souls.

• May 14, 2026 — The Ascension of our Lord
• May 24, 2026 — The Day of Pentecost

Firstly, we are not alone, because we have a High Priest who is praying for us:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need — Hebrews 4:14–16

We are being presented before God the Father as Christ intercedes for us. What a comfort it is to know that Christ has not forgotten us, but continues to bring us before the Father—even when we may not feel it at times.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  — Psalm 27:1

Can I truly believe His promise and allow it to change the posture of my life today?

“Whom shall I fear?”

Secondly, living a life of freedom and daily thanksgiving.

As Jesus intercedes and prays for us, we should be living a life of thanksgiving, knowing that His prayers and His blood are sufficient to save us and to set us free from every bondage.

The prayers of our High Priest enable us to respond and to stand confidently in Him. Indeed, the spiritual battle is not ours alone—our High Priest is with us.

Lastly, as we stand confident in our identity in Christ, we are given power from above to live and operate supernaturally, even in the most challenging times before the Lord’s return.

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Sunday, and He is with us and dwells within us. Today, we have power from above to live ordinary lives in extraordinary ways each day.

You surely know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God. You do not belong to yourselves  — 1 Corinthians 6:19

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth  — Acts 1:8

The proclamation of the gospel becomes effective when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Our living testimony becomes impactful when we allow Him to empower us to respond to God’s Word—that is, through obedience. Our posture in life becomes sure and steadfast when we walk daily under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh  — Galatians 5:16

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit  — Galatians 5:25

The question is Who is leading our lives today?  Let us take a moment to reflect on what Christ has done for us, so that:

a) We may be comforted in our struggles—knowing Jesus, our High Priest, is with us and interceding for us before the Father.

b) We may be encouraged to face daily challenges, knowing we are not alone—the Holy Spirit lives within us.

c) We may be willing to realign our lives if we have moved ahead of Him—the Holy Spirit is here to guide us when we yield to Him.

Can the nation turn toward God? It begins with ordinary lives lived extraordinarily each day, as we reflect Christ’s love to the world.

Serving Christ with you,

Bishop Anthony Loh
Vice-President
National Council of Churches of Singapore

NCCS presentation on the Christian views on Life, Death and Resurrection, and on Christian Funeral Rites and Practices to PERGAS (Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association).  The 2 presenters are:  NCCS Assoc Gen Sec Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun and Anglican Priest Rev Dr Jeremy-Joe Tan.

[Show slideshow]

(L-R) Mr Eden Liew (NCCS), Mr Muhammad Nasir Johari (MUIS), Dr Roland Chia (Ethos), Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (NCCS), Bishop Philip Lim (NCCS President), Ustaz Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir (Mufti of Singapore), Mr Azree Rahim (MUIS), Dr Leow Theng Huat (Ethos), Rev Dr Edmund Fong (Ethos), Rev Dr Jeremy-Joe Tan (Ethos), Ms Shalynn Siow (NCCS).

[Show slideshow]

[信函的中文翻译]

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

[English version]

亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹：

十架与复活之间：在战争阴影下重寻教会的见证

在中东冲突再度升温之际，世界再次被战争与不确定所笼罩。而就在这样的历史处境中，教会正迈向复活节。这种时刻的交汇，使我们不得不重新思考：在一个被罪深刻扭曲的世界中，教会当如何忠心活出福音？

中东不仅是地缘政治的焦点，更是神救赎历史展开之地。从神与亚伯拉罕立约开始，到基督在十字架上成就救赎，这片土地见证了神在历史中的主权作为。今天的冲突，再次揭示人类堕落的深层现实——罪不仅存在于个人，也渗透在群体、制度与文明之中。战争，正是这败坏本性的集体彰显。

然而，十字架并不是人类历史中的一场悲剧，而是神永恒旨意中的中心。基督的受死，不是偶然，也不是失败，而是神按着祂的定旨先见所成就的（徒2:23）。十字架向世界见证：真正的得胜，不在于人的权势，而在于神借着基督的代赎，胜过罪与死亡的权势。正如罗马书5:8所宣告：“基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死。”这不是人主动寻求神，而是神主动施恩的拣选与救赎。

复活同样不是单纯的安慰，而是神国度已经临到的宣告。空坟墓宣告：基督已经得胜，新的创造已经开始。复活不仅指向未来的盼望，更是现今历史中的真实。神的国已经在基督里展开，并且终将完全成就。因此，历史的终局不掌握在人类的权力结构中，而是在神绝对的主权之下。

对新加坡教会而言，这一时刻具有特别的召命。我们身处多元宗教与文化的社会中，教会既不能退缩于私人化的信仰，也不能被世俗意识形态所塑造。教会乃是神的圣约群体，被分别出来，在世上作“有形的见证”，彰显神国的真实。

首先，教会必须恢复其作为“代祷的群体”的身份。这不仅是属灵操练，更是参与基督大祭司的职分，在历史中为万民代求。

其次，教会必须活出合一。这合一不是建立在人的认同或策略之上，而是建立在“在基督里”的真实联合。一个分裂的世界，正需要看见一个被福音更新的群体。

再者，教会必须忠心进入世界。改革宗传统提醒我们，基督是万有的主（Christ is Lord over all）。因此，无论在教育、媒体、商业或公共领域，信徒都当以神的真理治理生活，活出“全人、全地归主”的见证。

复活节因此不仅是记念，更是召命。教会被呼召活出十字架的生命——在败坏的世界中持守圣洁、忍受苦难、舍己跟随主；同时也活出复活的生命——在黑暗中作光，在绝望中带来盼望，在历史中见证神国的真实。

历史一再证明，在动荡之中，人心对盼望的渴求最为迫切。然而，真正的问题不是世界是否会改变，而是教会是否忠于神的呼召，成为一个真实、可见、以神为中心的见证群体。

当我们再次走向十字架，并迎向空坟墓时，愿新加坡的教会被神的话语与圣灵重新更新——
不是倚靠权势，乃是倚靠神的恩典；
不是被恐惧驱动，乃是被信心引导；
不是效法世界，乃是在基督里分别为圣。

基督已经复活——
这不仅是信仰的宣告，
更是神国已经临到的记号，
也是教会存在的根基与使命。

苏立忠会正（博士）
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席