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FEBC Under Siege by Life BPC:
Pray for Peace and Unity Based on
Truth and Charity
MY LAMENT BY BRUTUS BALAN
My heart
laments for the hurt that has filled the heart of a wonderful man of God
over this issue. At this last mile of his sojourn on earth to be treated
as a deviant or even a heretic over this issue is intolerable indeed. Over
the years, Rev. Timothy Tow has always compared the FEBC with the Prophet
Elijah and the school of prophets, and the Life BPC as the woman of
Zeraphath. The prophetical institution is to prepare the prophets to
proclaim the Gospel and the Life BPC to provide for the prophets. He was
both the pastor of the provider and the principal prophet of the prophetic
institution. Founded both as a bulwark against modernism with divine
‘anointing’. Right or wrong, he created resting places in every nook and
corner in the Gilstead complex, to house a stranger, a sojourner. He
founded a
movement with unrelenting zeal.
He is a humble man living a simple live with no fanfare. His love for the
Lord was my inspiration and to many others. Many owe him big time for his
tireless work.
The
uninspired unfinished story of 1 Kings 17 may be told this way. The widow
grew rich, very rich, thanks to the prophet. She was good to the prophet
and the prophet was esteemed and respected. The son of the widow grew up
and begat many other children. His children moved far and wide and begat
others. Soon the widow who knew the prophet passed on and her
grandchildren soon forgot the good deed of the prophet. Success and untold
wealth blinded this generation. They started questioning the prophet’s
sanity. They became wise in their own eyes and thought they were better
prophets than the aging prophet. Decades of history were slighted and the
prophet pressured by those taught by the prophet was told to modify his
views. Who is his teacher? He was tutored of the ‘old paths’ by the
grandchildren of the widow. He is also blamed for causing divisions.
Cracks and division were not new to the BP movement. Did not the children
of the widow cause this division? Finally, these grandchildren of the
widow, mouthing loving platitudes took his seat, his pulpit, his position
and usurped all that the prophet worked for day and night having poured
out his life ploughing, tilling and sowing, the fruit of which is seen
today. It is unconscionable to fill his shoes in these circumstances by
those born yesterday. Instead of accepting Rev Tow’s resignation,
shouldn’t those who disagreed with him tender their resignation and left
with all their supporters to start their own movement? Where is the pride
and respect in ousting the founder of this movement in these
circumstances? It wouldn’t be too
late for this to happen. That
would be a decent thing to do. This will not heal until this is done.
He is given
‘asylum’ in his own quarters where he lived since it was built. It is
indeed sad to imagine what goes through the mind of this man of God as he
trudges the corridors of memories of his brighter days. Every brick in the
complex is a testimony to his legacy. The deep hurt in the heart of this
lovely man at this last phase of his earthly pilgrimage is too painful to
envisage. His heart was one with the Kingdom. His strengths soars great
heights than his weaknesses. I have never admired a man more than him for
his zeal for the Lord. Now demolished and diminished in his frail years is
a crying shame. How can this happen to such a man? When he is called home
will the school of prophets he founded be evicted by the grandsons of the
widow of Zeraphath? History repeats itself. The movement has become a
monument. Memories are short lived and gratitude is a scarce virtue. Real
honor is given to those who are still living not useless eulogies thrown
at a cold still body. I hope the widow and the school of prophets are
brought together to continue the work of the man who is the movement. That
would be a balm for a frail man of God while he is still alive at the
close of his journey. I do love him and may the Lord commend him and
embrace him when the day appointed for him dawns in paradise.
Brutus Balan
11 January
2008
Hobart,
Tasmania
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