SINGAPORE, 20 NOVEMBER 2008 — REACHING OUT TO the church is as important as reaching out to the world, said Phil Pringle in an on-stage interview with Kong Hee during a lunch session at Hall 7.
The Church should not be a cultural ghetto, and Christians should not feel embarrassed to invite their friends. Non-believers must also not find Church irrelevant and out-of-touch, he told a crowd of about 5,000 during the second day of the Asia Conference.
Pringle told of a Christian couple he met recently, they told him that they would only wear black because they believe that wearing other colors will bring them to hell.
“Some Christians wear clothes that make them look like they just came out from the grave!” he quipped, inciting laughter from the crowd.
The brief interview started even as people were flitting between tables, still finding places to settle down. Some delegates waved umbrellas and water bottles in the air, looking for their friends to gather at the same table.
Many delegates could relate to Phil’s views.
Said Samuel Yap, a 21-year-old NUS student: “Many of my friends find Christians presumptuous and self-righteous, and that is something that should change.”
Carrine Chan, 22, a member of City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur, agreed with Pringle’s words. She felt that churches must be “excellent” so that Christians will not fear inviting their friends.
During the Q&A session, Pringle fielded questions that were mostly about the contemporary church. His answers ranged from brief theological musings to candid illustrations and even effusive praise for Kong.
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| PHOTOS: Gary Sim |
Pringle spoke about how Bible characters like Daniel and Joseph were able to remain holy despite being immersed in the arts of their times, and how Gnosticism has influenced Christian thinking with their philosophy that the physical world does not matter.
But when Kong asked him about how the Asian church can transit from a traditional church to a contemporary one, Pringle replied:
“Two words: Kong Hee.”
