Thursday, July 1, 2010

Life Bible-Presbyterian Church wins suit against FEBC

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? (1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NASB).

A difference in doctrines over VPP led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s. The dispute led to a court battle when the church filed a suit in 2008 against the directors of the college to evict the school. On 30 June 2010, High Court judge Judith Prakash ruled in favour of Life B-P Church. Justice Prakash ruled that the college was a separate entity from the 1962 one as it had a different constitution which mentions the new VPP doctrine. She noted that the courts have recognised that doctrine is fundamental to the character of a religious charitable body. So the 2004 college cannot benefit from the funds that were raised in the names of the church and the original college. The claims of the FEBC Board of Directors against the Church were dismissed with costs. Adapted from this article from Singapore Law Watch.

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you (Proverbs 20:22 NASB).
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD (Psalm 27 :14 NASB).
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it (Psalm 37:34 NASB).
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” (1 Samuel 13:8-11 NASB).

Waiting on the Lord can be very trying. But if you do not wait, you could become like king Saul, doing the wrong things for a right cause.

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