Chitchat Jialat! Even the church must kowtow to garmen!

[WujiBo]

SINGAPORE: The decision to allow authorised operators to offer online gambling is a “judgement call” by the Government, the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has said in a new letter to its members.

The letter, sent on Wednesday (Oct 19), said NCCS representatives had a “candid and important face-to-face discussion” with the Government after the council issued a statement calling for a review of the exemptions on online betting services given to Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.

“Given the data on the current remote gambling landscape, the government deems this to be the best approach to mitigate driving remote gambling activities underground and exacerbating law and order concerns,” NCCS said in the letter on Wednesday.

“The Government acknowledges the council’s deep concern about the negative social consequences of legalising two remote gambling platforms, and will regularly monitor the overall impact,” it added.

In its earlier statement, NCCS had said it was concerned the Government was sending “confusing and conflicting signals” with the partial lifting of the ban.

But the Government explained during the meeting that this was not the case, NCCS said. This is because when the Remote Gambling Act was passed in 2014, it already had a provision to exempt operators, as the Government did not think a complete ban would work.

The Act, including the provision, was also discussed with social service leaders and religious representatives before it was tabled and passed by Parliament.

NCCS TO ROLL OUT MEASURES AGAINST PROBLEM GAMBLING

During the meeting with NCCS, the Government maintained that allowing exempt operators under stringent controls is the best approach to limit and contain adverse social consequences.

“This conclusion is based on the studies on the social impact of gambling that the Government has documented, and its assessment of possible scenarios with and without the ‘valve’ of controlled exempt operator,” NCCS said.

However, the council also expressed reservations about this, saying that research on this area is still new, and the family and social fabric of Singapore is “currently not strong enough” to provide safeguards against problem gambling.

The Government is willing to “proactively strengthen” the family and social environment to prevent and mitigate this, NCCS said, adding that the authorities have proposed to meet NCCS leaders in three to six months’ time to discuss this.

The council also intends to introduce its own measures to address problem gambling. This includes forming a task force to explore ways to mitigate the harmful effects of gambling, especially the temptation of online gambling; publishing a tract on gambling that can be “placed in the hands of every church member”; and monitor the online gambling situation closely with the help of member churches and provide feedback to the Government.

“The NCCS appreciates and upholds the space given to the council and other responsible bodies to voice their views and concerns without being on a collision course with the governing authorities,” it added.

The council will endeavour to "play its part as a responsible intermediate organisation to seek the welfare of our city-state and to work together with the Government and other religious and grassroots organisations to promote the common good".

- CNA

 

[WujiBo]

What Submission to Authority Is – and What It's Not

JB Cachila
20 October 2016

Pixabay
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves." – Romans 13:1-2

While submission to authority is pleasing to God, there are some who blindly submit to ungodly authorities to His dismay. Submission is a very important matter to God, and He expects that leaders lead right, and followers follow well. For our part, however, we need to understand what submission really is, and what it's not.

What Is Submission?

Submission is defined as "the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person." It simply means recognising and acknowledging the authority that a person has, and yielding to it if it is higher than yours.

This is best seen in the armed forces, where soldiers or personnel submit themselves to a higher-ranking official. Although a captain is higher than a lieutenant, it is still lower than a colonel, and has to submit to that authority.

This is also seen in the home, where children obey their parents, who are undoubtedly higher than them in terms of authority.

While lower-ranking personnel should submit to higher-ranking officials, they should never be commanded to do something that is not acceptable based on God's moral standards. Lower-ranking personnel should also avoid idolising their superiors, turning a blind eye to their wrongs.

What Submission Is and What It's Not

Submission, then, is a beautiful thing that brings order to our relationships, and ultimately to our lives, when done right. To help you see the limits of submission, here's what submission is, and what it's not.

Submission to Authority Means Honouring Them, Not Idolising Them – Revelation 19:10

Honouring our leaders is a great thing, but we must be careful never to idolise or worship them. A president, pastor, teacher, or father should be appreciated and honoured, but not excessively loved and worshipped.

Submission to Authority Means Following the Rules, Not Bypassing Them – 2 Timothy 2:5

When we submit to authorities, we simply follow the rules that have been set in place. Bypassing them even if one is close to the person in authority, however, isn't submission. Even if you're the son of a president, breaking the rules mean breaking the rules.

Submission to Authority Means Respecting Those in Position, Not Blindly Following Them – Acts 5:29

It's good to follow a leader's commands, but when the commands instruct us to commit sin against God, we must not follow them. Turning a blind eye towards a wicked leader's deeds and pronouncements is wrong.

Submission to Authority Means Following God Above All, Higher Than All – Matthew 4:10

In the first place, it was God's command that we submit ourselves to authorities. His authority is higher than any other, and therefore it is His authority that we should be honouring and obeying. No matter what a human leader says, it's God we must obey.

"You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him." (see Matthew 4:10)

 

[Cottonmouth]

Why not? Church is a money making company where crooks sells hope and stupid people buy delusions.

 

[Pinkieslut]

Why not? Church is a money making company where crooks sells hope and stupid people buy delusions.

Haha that's 100% true!

 

[melzp]

the 70% will accept whatever is thrust down their throats;
complain what ?

 

[JohnTan]

The modern church today, both protestant and catholic, are well known to be pussies. That's why most people today can't be bothered to be sensitive to the feelings of the christians or catholics. Nobody thinks anything of using the name of their god as a swear word.

 

[OrLanChowHorFun]

The modern church today, both protestant and catholic, are well known to be pussies. That's why most people today can't be bothered to be sensitive to the feelings of the christians or catholics. Nobody thinks anything of using the name of their god as a swear word.

aiyah..........in S'pore..................even God must kowtow to Lee KILL You lah............

 

[borom]

casinos already open, so what is there to talk about-gambling is big business

 

[numero uno]

The modern church today, both protestant and catholic, are well known to be pussies. That's why most people today can't be bothered to be sensitive to the feelings of the christians or catholics. Nobody thinks anything of using the name of their god as a swear word.

All the church people can fark off. I do not submit to anyone least of all their pseudo "higher" beings called jesus or god. All these is craps. Soon the Muslims would demand every one submit to Allah, and the Jews to Yahweh the Taoist to their gods and the Hindus to Ganesh. That's where all the problems and warfare in the world originate in the first place. Soon they would also also to overrule court judgements as in CHC case. So these churches can go fly kite as they do not speak for a lot of people esp the atheist who are more honorable and upright that a lot of these pseudo and con men.

 

[songsongjurong]

the churches need to go militant and install KH as their de facto commander in chief. All CHC brain washed fools should wreak havoc, changi prison be unable to contain all KH flocks

 

[Papsmearer]

The modern church today, both protestant and catholic, are well known to be pussies. That's why most people today can't be bothered to be sensitive to the feelings of the christians or catholics. Nobody thinks anything of using the name of their god as a swear word.

Only in singapore. no where else.