The Call of DUMC – Transformation of Society

The Call of DUMC - Transformation of Society

Senior Pastor Dr Daniel Ho

07/02/2010 1102

 
William Wilberforce with his friends fought to eliminate slavery in the Great Britain. John Wesley wrote to Wilberforce a few days before he passed away to encourage him in his efforts.

 
Here's the content of the letter:



Dear Sir:

 
Unless the divine power has raised you us to be as Athanasius contra mundum, [2] I see not howyou can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be fore you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.



Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a "law" in our colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this?

 
That he who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,

 
Your affectionate servant,

John Wesley



To transform our society, Pastor Daniel examined what we need, the model, the means, the method and the measure.

What do we need to have?

1. A certain perspective
   

Dan 1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

  
Daniel and his friends did not feel they are powerless. Daniel didn't want Nebuchadnezzar to think they were smart because of the food.

1. We are on a mission from God
   

Act 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,



God has determined for us to live in Malaysia.

1. Only transformed hearts can transform society
   

Idris Jalil was invited to help frame the NKRA, including

• Fighting corruption
  
• Reducing crime
  
• Improving education system
  
• Raising living standards of the poor
  
• Upgrading basic rural infrastructures
  
• Improving urban public transport
  

1. A certain perception
   

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. Guard against negative mind-set
   
2. Guard against a spirit of resignation 

Never underestimate ourselves. DUMC = Don't Underestimate My Church or Calling. God has called us to fulfill a purpose. Daniel and his three friends transformed the whole Babylonian empire. Daniel served 4 years throughout 60 years. Wherever we are we can and we should make a difference.

Our model: The Ten Commandments (Deut 5:1-7; 6:4-7) 

Deu 5:1-7 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. (2) The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. (3) Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. (4) The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, (5) while I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said: (6) "'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (7) "'You shall have no other gods before me.


Deu 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
 
The Ten Commandments are not just a list of dos and don'ts. It's a template for transformation of society. There are 6 million Jews in Israel and a total of 11 million in the world. Yet their achievement is out of proportion of their population. Many Nobel Prize winners are Jews. This is likely due to them patterning their society to the Ten Commandments.
 
It's a tragedy when the administrations does not care about the future of the nation. Malaysia is a lot better than the Babylonian Empire. Any nation that lives out the Ten Commandments will be strong.

1. You shall have no other gods before me. (Ex 20:3) We are involved in the true and living God.
   
2. No false idols or graven image. (Ex 20:4) Graven images are not just thinks made with our hand but also things made in our heard. We are not to be engaged with idols which may enslave us. It frees us from every form of bondage. If we are motivated by position, power and money rather than serving people, we will try very hard to keep in position and eliminate any possible threats.
   
3. No misuse of God's name. (Ex 20:7) There is a genuine fear of God that we will not do any nonsense. Whether a Christian or not, everyone will one day appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ.
   
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (Ex 20:8). God has not made us a machine. The Sabbath rest offers us regular rest, refreshment and a deep trust in God. Work will never end. When work dominates our lives it becomes a cruel and oppressive master. God asked us to rule, be in charge and take dominion of the domain.
   
5. Honour your father and mother. (Ex 20:12). This produces order in the family which is the foundation for a strong society and a great nation.
   
6. You shall not murder. (Ex 20:13) No murder – it shows us the need to respect every person on earth.
   
7. You shall not commit adultery. (Ex 20:14) – it shows us the need to respect the deepest and most intimate of human relationships. Adultery brings deep wounds and cause great harms. It destroys the family and it will show its results in the community and the society. It shakes the very foundation of the society.
   
8. You shall not steal. (Ex 20:15) It shows us the need to respect other people's property. Hard work is required. We should be independent.
   
9. No false testimony. (Ex 20:16) It means that our word is our bond. How good is it when one word is enough.
   
10. Don't covet. (Ex 20:17) It deals with greed in our life which is often the root of all problems. When coveting is dealt with there are good consequences – we don't have lock our doors and our cars, which are basically signs of lack of trust. 

Whether in our place of work or in school, we need to live up the Ten Commandments.

Our means: Divine means

2Co 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

1. The wisdom of God to guide us
   

Dan 1:17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.


 
We read in James that anyone who wants wisdom can ask God for it.

The day will be coming soon when the administration will seek God's people for help. They will be

deadlock and they won't know what to do.

1. The power of God to help us
   

Nebuchadnezzar's threat to throw Daniel's three friends into the furnace if they didn't bow down to the statue didn't faze them.



Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Our methods: God-directed

1. 
   
   Catalyse (Mat 5:13l Dan 1:8)
   Be a catalyst and agent of change
   
   
2. Connect. (Dan 1:10)
   If we want to make a difference where God has place us, we need to connect to the people around us. If we refuse to build relationship and withdraw and keep to ourselves, we will have no influence. It is only when we connect with one another and treat them with respect that we can bring impact and influence.
   
   
3. Communicate. (Dan 1:11-13)
   We are placed where we are to share and communicate.
   
   
4. Collaborate. (Dan 2:48, 49)
   TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More. All of us must be a part of a team. Don't be a lone ranger.
   
   

Our Measure: Solomon's Time

The Hebrew society under Solomon's early leadership

(1 Kings 10:6-9 cf Is 60:3)

1Ki 10:6-9 And she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, (7) but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. (8) Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! (9) Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."



Justice and righteousness underscored the strong society as observed by Queen Sheeba.

The Americans celebrated Martin Luther King's Day on 18 Jan this year. He was a man before his time. (Listening to the reading of I Have a Dream brings tears to my eyes. Isn't this our collective dream too?)



Here's an excerpt of that inspiring speech given by the late Martin Luther King.



And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.


I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."


I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

 
I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.


I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

 
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

 
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

 
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

 
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

 
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.


Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.


Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

 
But not only that:

 
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. 
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

 
Free at last! Free at last!

 
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

 
Let freedom reign! We all have a part in the transformation of our society.