April Reflections by Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian

(Source: page 3, TRUMPET April 2014, published by Trinity Theological College, Singapore. Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian is the Principal of Trinity Theological College.)

Once a year we are given license to poke fun at others such as getting people to believe ridiculous things or send them on a 'fool's errand'. Sometimes even the media gets into the act all for a good laugh. The origin of April Fool's Day is uncertain, although it is supposed to be one of the more light-hearted days of the year. Some believe that the switch to a new calendar changing New Year's Day from 1 April to 1 January by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 led people to make fun of those who refused to accept the change or unaware of it. Since then, many people good-naturedly welcome such jests to light up their lives.

Indeed if laughter is to be medicine for the soul, it should not only be humour at the expense of others, but also encourage people to laugh at themselves. Those who take themselves too seriously lose sight of this special gift available to us all. Thus, in our stressed filled lives at school, at work and at home, having a sense of humour restores the equilibrium of our senses. It rejuvenates our mental and emotional health as individuals, and that in turn enhances the wellbeing of our society.

 April also calls for serious contemplation as Christians commemorate Jesus' sacrificial life which ended on Good Friday. The season of Lent is a time of fasting and praying and abstinence from the appetites of human desires in our focus on our relationship with God.But the practice of these spiritual disciplines can become ends in themselves unless they lead us to reflect on our 'trespasses'.

One of the problems we face in this modern era is the tendency to minimize sin and its consequences. Perhaps, the internalized moral authority of our upbringing has become less dominant and as a result, right and wrong are not clearly demarcated as it used to be. So Holy Week should lead us to re-order our priorities, take stock of our value systems and renew our moral standards. To be sure, the grace of God is sufficient to cleanse us from any and every sin, but repentance (that is, confession followed by transformation) is a necessary step towards becoming Easter Christians.

April sounds the bell for the last lap for our graduating cohort. They will press towards the finishing line and expect to receive their degree in theology. It marks the closing chapters of formal theological education. This cohort, like others before them, will be assessed on how well they have integrated their theological studies and how they will apply their learning to the varieties of Christian service. But ministering to this generation will be far more difficult in the face of formidable challenges from the world and its secular offerings.

It is said that when quality of life improves through better education, and there is more equitable income distribution and longer life span, then religion will decline as more people embrace atheism. It is even projected that by 2041, religious people will become a minority with the rise of secularism. Consequently, religion will lose clout as it becomes the minority view in more societies as already seen in Sweden and Japan.

Are these ominous signs? Are 'secular gods' more attractive? Near the end of his life, John Wesley said: 'I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist...but I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having a form of religion without the power". Wesley believed that the discipline, stewardship and frugality of his followers would eventually lead to a better life. But he also knew that economic wellbeing puts Christians at risk of embracing secularism which could subtly hollow out their once vibrant faith. Therefore, it is imperative that our generation be intentional in building up Body of Christ to ensure that our children and their descendants will hold fast the faith.