Early in March, when the news broke that the Commissioner of Charities (COC) has questioned City Harvest Church (CHC) about its $310 million stake in Suntec Singapore, I said that it is high time to do a full audit of their financial accounts. In my opinion, it would be good for a government gahmen agency to perform this audit to assure not just the members of the church, but also the general public that everything is in order in the wake of the NKF and Renci affairs. While I am not expecting any wrongdoing by the church’s leaders lea-duhs, it is necessary to be assured that no one else attempts the sort of ‘accounting wizardry’ experienced by Asia Breweries or SIA. Christians or not, we are all sinners who can fall to temptation.

Thus, it certainly didn’t come as a surprise that the COC called in the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) to bring in members of the church for questioning. With that much money in the church, there would definitely be some accounting errors or discrepancies in which the authorities may want a detailed and proper explanation from those who are involved in the finances. At this point of time, I am certain very few people can tell exactly what is really happening here and it will definitely take several months before everything will become clear.

However, the hubbub surrounding the Suntec purchase reminds me of why I dislike and disagree with this New Age church. Beginning with the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ which I considered nothing more than false doctrine. The entire premise of this logic trap is simply that contributing to the church’s revenue will have God bless someone many times in return. I am appalled how the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ was centered on the theme in which God now became the wealth multiplying basin (聚宝盆) in Chinese myths. If that is true there will never be any poor Christians. Christians will all be giving while weeping tears of joy, knowing that God will return their money in abundance. In fact, they should just give and give and give until the point where the overflowing returns make one richer than even Warren Buffet. I was initially surprised that people can be taken in by such hogwash until I realise just how cool and appealing the idea of having God as one’s own money printing press. It certainly even beats being the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserves yourself! Is it even a surprise why my friend’s 15-year old son told her that he considered CHC some kind of MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) when there are people constantly ‘giving testimonies on how they are blessed’ after they have given unreservedly to God? Sounds like one of those MLM prep-talks in which the top earners will speak to spur the newcomers on.

The complete failure in logic aside, I am shocked that no one see that if this is how God operates, then it induces jealousy among the believers. Just why would God bless someone more than another if He went to the Cross unconditionally to offer His life so all maybe spared from His wrath? How does the concept of the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ reinforce the image of God’s unconditional love? It was almost like saying if one keeps giving his money to God, He will love you more. Really, how can one convince a believer who gives money to the Cai Shen (财神) aka Money God temple that Jesus is different from his god? I recalled someone among my friends even went so far in using the Chinese term 神棍 (pronounced ‘shen gun’) which literally translate as ‘religious con-men’, especially when they heard how even students who have no income worry about their contribution.

While I certainly still believe that God loves a joyful giver, I believe this refers to the giver who is giving not for his own gains and benefits, but for the common good so that none of God’s faithful would be in lack. My personal belief is that the money is to be used to lift others from their physical suffering so they can pay more attention to what God has to say to them, or free them from the bondage of their financial needs to be a servant to God. I am in the opinion that God never intend for Tithing to be an instrument for His Church to solicit and then hoard a large amount of money in reserves. Furthermore, I am quite certain God never intended His Church to build earthly monuments that He will sweep away in His new world, or for it to become a pseudo-investment bank where pastors and church workers are paid like bankers. I read that the CHC pays its 150 staff approximately S$9.3 million annually and that would mean an average of almost $60,000 per person every year. I am however skeptical that many among the 150 can report earning that much. Call it ‘using high pay to retain talent’ if you wish, but it is sort of sad when compared to the late Dr Goh Keng Swee who served as an advisor to China, he refused an annual salary of USD 60,000, citing that he was only there to help and not to profit from it. (There is no surprise there why there is an outpour of grief in the passing of this great man, one whose likes we will unlikely see again for a long time to come.)

Next, it reminds me of Ho Yeow Sun, ex-pastor of the church now turned singer. I certainly recalled that a sister-in-Christ from Church of Our Saviour who left CHC and returned to her home church after the first Ho Yeow Sun CD was pushed during cellgroup meetings. While it is arguable that this probably is just the actions of over-zealous members who loved their one time pastor very much, I often find it rather incredulous that the support given to her in the church itself were all simply self driven and spontaneous by members. Though the official statement is that the church did not openly support Ho nor encourage its members to, I have read blog posts to the contrary, and even a case where a member of the church took the matter to the press.^{[1] [2]}

I laughed out loud when the church repeatedly claims that the support is comparable (or perhaps equal) to that given to other members. After all, I don’t recall CHC promoting member Jack Neo’s movies. However, I wouldn’t press that point since there are probably 101 reasons why that didn’t happen. Either way, that reminds me how CHC categorically deny asking teens who have no income to contribute to the church building fund too. Though from what I read on Christian-related forums, it gives me the impression that it was never explicit was done to stop these teens. While CHC may place the responsibilities of their action solely on the members themselves, I would be surprised that the members did not originally ‘felt inspired’ to do so without some urging during church service (where they were explicitly informed that it was meant only for the working adults) and peer pressure from other members in their own cellgroups.

On top than that, I often find it puzzled that members of CHC do not find the church’s close association with Ho’s otherwise secular career a matter of concern. Any criticism or question to her secular career is often answered with the alleged mission work she is doing in Taiwan. It was sort of like a subtle slap across the face, where detractors are asked (what Steve Jobs asked those who disparaged him), “By the way, what have you done that’s so great? Do you create anything, or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations?” Frankly, regardless of her works, any Christian can be rightly concerned that her actions might stumble another Christian, if not setting a bad example. How Ho Yeow Sun carries herself in public would open the rest of the Christian community to questions and scrutiny (if not open attacks), especially when Christians are expected to behave with a higher moral standard due to their hard-line stand on matters of morality.

What is even more amazing is how her husband, the very founder of the church, try to justify her actions and life style through church publications and his own blog. After justifying how the church should embrace pop culture and post modernism, it was most disturbing when Kong Hee explained the China Wine video as a music video about a girl who has to take up an extra job at a nightclub to make ends meet for her family. Frankly, I must admit that I am a total moron in understanding in so-called fartistic artistic videos which China Wine probably classifies as one! After all, I really can’t see what in that hell-spawned video was portraying just that! It definitely reminds me of a satirical scene in The Onion Movie, in which ‘Melissa Cherry’ , a pop idol in that movie has an explanation for everyone of her suggestive music videos and songs.

Another thing I disagree with is the extravagance. It definitely caused many raised eyebrows when they hear about a S$47-million titanium-clad church ‘monument to capitalism’ in Jurong West Street 91. The front facade of the building is clad with the same titanium that wraps the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Call it a modern Sistine Chapel if you wish, but remember that land sales for religious purposes by the Singapore gahmen are on a 30-year lease. My understanding is that should the gahmen decide not to extend the lease after 30 years, CHC will have restore the land to vacant status – i.e. CHC will need to pay to demolish the building.

CHC’s lea-duhs might want to argue that there is a Biblical basis to all these – from the church building in Jurong West to their purchase into Suntec City. However I consider it to be yet another faulty theology since the very essence of both the Tabernacle and the two Temples of Jerusalem was to emphasise God’s presence in His people. The fact that with the coming of the Holy Spirit and our bodies being the Temple of God, where then is the Biblical basis for such wasteful projects? Even if CHC members want to argue that how they spend their money is an internal matter that is not open to discussion, criticism, comments or ridicule, has it mattered to them how some other churches actually commits to God annually how much they will pledge to support certain community services, charities etc? It warms my heart to see that when there is a shortfall, a church prayed fervently to God together to provide and God answers their prayers. It strengthens my faith when God has blessed beyond what is pledged and the church then expand their scope of support. It assures me that there is almost certainly no avenue for fraud and misuse, when every cent givem without reserve to the church is used to fulfill God’s command for us to be His light and salt to the world.

There is a difference between trusting God and relying on a regimental regime, sales pitch and faulty theology to obtain the money. I have never for once believe that God has provided to us on Earth so we can enjoy our lives when He mentioned that we should store our riches in heaven. For a church to hoard a large amount of money is simply subjecting its members to temptation. Some CHC members will believe that the CAD investigations is nothing more but a trial for the lea-duhs and the church and this may even mobilise them to fast and pray.

I simply hope their faith is not misplaced. After all, should the investigation unravels a scandal, it really does nothing to strengthen the faith of the believers. This summarises much of what I disagree with City Harvest Church.

Addendum 【12-11-2011】:
It has been more than 17 months and there has been no updates on the investigations. It did not take that long to investigate Renci. Just what is going on here? The general public has a right to know the outcome of these investigations even if it did not turn up any wrong doing.

Addendum 2 【27-06-2012】:
My opinion on the latest development here.

Verses to ponder upon:

Luke 12:21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Rev 2:15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:16 ‘Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Rev 3:17 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
Rev 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Rev 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Recommended Reads:
Cultwatch: How Pastors Get Rich
Vaitor: Red Stories from the Siege
The Sun Shines on Singapore: Kong Hee’s Pastorpreneurship?