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abstinence (relinquishing something in order to gain something better) such as solitude, silence,
Sabbath, and fasting, and the disciplines of engagement (activities we pursue) such as Bible study,
worship, prayer, fellowship, confession, submission, and service.
Talk five touched on “Holiness and Sanctification in Other Traditions” during which Rev. Siew briefly
covered the topic of sanctification from the Reformed, Pentecostal, and Keswick traditions, and also from
Richard Foster’s book, ‘Streams of Living Water.’ Foster sees the different traditions, not so much as
separate denominations, but rather, different ways believers go about pursuing holiness. According to
Foster, there’s the Contemplative tradition (or prayer-filled life); Holiness tradition (the virtuous life); the
Charismatic tradition (Spirit empowered life); Evangelical tradition (The Word-centred life), and the
Incarnation tradition (the sacramental life). Rev. Siew noted that there are strengths and weaknesses in
each tradition and encouraged us to look for and adopt the strengths of these traditions.
The final talk was on the topic, “Practising Scriptural Holiness in Our Local Churches.” We were
reminded that knowing what we have learnt was not enough. There’s the head (knowing); the heart
(being) and the hand (doing). We must embrace what we learn so that it will transform us in a way that
can be seen in our lives. There must be integration between the head and the heart and between the
head and the hand. We need to pray that what we have learnt will transform us and, similarly, what we
preach will bring about transformation in others. As pastors, we need to examine ourselves to see if we
are doing what we preach. The secret lies in living in the presence of God, in being aware and conscious
of the fact that God is with us all the time.
Rev. Siew ended his series of talks with acall to all pastors not to remain in the status quo, but to grow in
scriptural holiness and to pray the prayer the late Bishop Emeritus C N Fang prayed; “Lord, thank you for
your work in the life of John Wesley. Let it happen again. Lord, let it happen in my life; let it happen in the
life of my family members, let it happen in our church.”
Our sincere thanks to the Board on the Ministry and Sherwood Church for organising the pastors’
planning forum – the workshop by Bishop James Kwang, the series of talks on “Growing in Scriptural
Holiness” by Rev. Dr Philip Siew, the morning devotions by Bishop Kwang, and all the Q & A sessions. I
think I would not be wrong to say that it was a truly meaningful and fruitful experience for most, if not all,
of us who attended.
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