O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

MENTALLY HEALTHY

There has been immense nation-wide interest about mental health. We see this emphasis from the government, the private sector and many individuals in social media who have a voice! This wave is sweeping through the country, and the message about mental health is flooding into our phones, TVs and all kinds of advertisements.

I think it is time to ask, “What is mental health?” We shall answer that question with the definition given by the country’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

The Singapore Health Promotion Board together with IMH published a booklet called “A Mental Health Guide - for Educators in Institutes of Higher of Learning.”

I quote (underlining mine):

The Truth about Mental Health

Having good mental wellbeing isn’t just the absence of a mental illness, such as depression or schizophrenia. Instead, mental health ranges from optimal wellbeing to mental illness. A youth’s state of mental health can vary along this continuum, depending on life circumstances.

Mental wellbeing is a critical and integral part of health. A youth with good mental wellbeing is able to flourish, realise his own abilities, cope with the normal stresses in life, work productively and contribute to the community. While stressful, challenges and life events will not feel unmanageable to the youth.

Mental health problems occur when a youth’s thoughts or feelings are troubling him to the extent of affecting his normal activities. There is a lack of capacity to cope with challenges faced, and greater support from others is needed. While almost every person will experience some degree of mental health problems, this can evolve into a mental illness if left unresolved.

Mental illness is a serious or long-lasting medical condition. This stage is characterised by marked distress, with the individual experiencing moderate to disabling impairment in his functioning. Diagnosis, treatment (through medicine, psychological therapy and/or counselling) and support is essential for youths in this stage.

What is Mental Health?

Before we look at the above definition, we need to acknowledge that like most modern terms, the term ‘mental health’ cannot be found in the Bible. The absence of this term does not mean that we cannot find GOD’s answer to this subject or that GOD has never taught about it. Christians cannot turn away from what GOD has written in the Bible and look to mental health professionals like psychologists and psychiatrists for answers just because the term is missing from the Bible.

The plan and intent of this weekly chat is to show that GOD does address mental health issues in the Bible and that the child of GOD who relies on His Word will get the help he needs to be mentally healthy. As for those times when mental health deteriorates very badly, the child of GOD will also know when it is biblically right to look outside the church to get help from a psychologist and/or psychiatrist. I plan to address this in another weekly chat.

Now, let us break down the definition of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) Singapore for this term. We should pay attention to what IMH specialists have written on this subject because they are professionals with a vast experience in dealing first hand with many people with varied types of poor mental health and their consequences. There is nothing wrong to check what they say and then compare it with the LORD GOD’s teaching in the Bible.

There is another point to note before we dive into the definition. While this booklet was written for educators in institutes of higher learning on how to help youths, the points about mental health are common to all.

1.       Mental health is more than mental illness. There is a very long list of mental illnesses in the “Diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” published by the American Psychiatric Association. IMH/HPB has listed only the two common ones that we are most familiar with.

2.       Mental health ranges on a spectrum that stretches from optimal wellbeing to mental illness. In their opinion, mental health is about whether one is mentally healthy or mentally ill. They believe that a person’s mental state can change between being mentally healthy and mentally ill depending on their circumstances.

3.       Good mental health is marked by being able to cope with the normal stresses in life, and those who can cope will flourish, realise their abilities, work productively and be a blessing to others.

4.       Mental illness exists when a person’s problem is prolonged causing much grief and sadness. This extended emotional distress causes the person to come to a point where he cannot function normally or lead a normal life.

5.       To Give Help to a person facing stresses in life, IMH/HPB advocates preserving good mental health by building healthy relationships. It is in these healthy relationships that one gets tangible help and intangible emotional support. As a secular organization, they also advocate diagnosis, medicine, psychological therapy and counselling. I plan to address how Christians should understand and use these methods in a later weekly chat.

There are many points in the IMH/HPB definition about mental health, and the next part of this chat will address them. The LORD GOD who created us and breathed into us to give us living souls, knows us, and He has much to say about mental health. In the interest of keeping this chat short, we shall focus on having a good mental health.

Our Source of Good Mental Health

The Christian’s mental health is anchored on the LORD Jesus’ promise in John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Here the LORD Jesus tells us that He came to give us life so that we can experience the abundant life. This life is in contrast to that offered by the thief whose real motive is to steal, kill and destroy.

The life that Jesus gives is not merely being physically alive but really living to the full. This full life is found only in the abundant life that Jesus gives.

A person who has this abundant life is confident of who he is and is not. He has a heart that is contented and able to cope and flourish because he is in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

In Christ, this person is resilient and hopeful in the face of challenges. Whatever stresses life throws at him may hit him hard but they do not destroy his mental wellbeing. In life and death he is able to remain content, thankful and happy.

Who is the thief in John 10:10 who offers the opposite of the life Jesus offers? He is the devil. From the time of Eve until today, his mission has always been to spread falsehood, errors, half-truths and lies. All his effort then was directed to tempt Eve. And now he tempts each of us to live without our creator, the LORD GOD.

The devil wants to drive a wedge between the LORD GOD and us, and also in our relationships with one another. By driving the wedge into all our relationships, the devil successfully draws us away from the LORD GOD and leads us into a life of misery. A life without the LORD GOD and strained relationship will cause sadness and that is now our lot in life.

The Westminster Confession of Faith describes this misery this way:

CHAPTER 6. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness, and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.

IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.

V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated: and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.

VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.

A life of sin is a life of misery. The LORD GOD will be very far away. He will turn His face away from us. This makes us lose our security in times of uncertainty with no hope in this life, neither is there hope at death.

A life of sin is a life of misery and when laden with guilt, there will be no motivation to live because life is meaningless. However, the LORD Jesus came to give us life, and life that is more abundant.

The Abundant Life

This abundant life has always been challenged. Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)

The darkness in our hearts that challenges the abundant life is usually some wrong teaching and believe we have about life. Unbiblical teachings about life draw us away from Jesus and the abundant life He promised. For example:

• “I am not a sinner. I am good a person born under bad circumstances.” Let us be honest with ourselves. Are we really without fault before GOD and one another? Am I really not a sinner? Am I so good and not selfish and self-centred? The LORD GOD sees our hearts when no one else could, and He says in Genesis 6:5, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” If we are honest with ourselves, we will affirm this truth of GOD in the Bible.

• “What happened to me, causing me so much sorrow is the fault of someone else. If only he had not sinned against me!” Yes, sin has been committed against us, BUT we do not have to respond sinfully. When we respond sinfully, we are actually sinning against GOD. As Psalm 51:3–4 says, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.”

Whether this world is filled with sin, or we are the ones who have sinned, or someone has sinned against us, Jesus is the solution. If there is no solution to this threefold sin problem, there will be no life nor the abundant life of Jesus. As long as sin fills our souls and daily life, GOD will be far away and so will be His blessings. Without the LORD GOD’s assurance, life will be hopeless and this often leads to poor mental health.

The purpose of Jesus’ coming is to correct the sin problem and that improves our mental health. His giving of life and abundant life is only possible because He died on the cross. Jesus took care of the problems of sinful hearts and sinful behaviour. These two are the real cause of poor mental health and they are often see in our relationships with the LORD GOD and in our fail relationships. The darkness that blinds our eyes needs to be lifted so that we can have life and experience the abundant life of Jesus.

Only the life and abundant life that Jesus promised can restore us to our original state at GOD’s creation. In the Garden of Eden there were no barriers between GOD and Adam and Eve. They enjoyed an intimate relationship with the LORD GOD, and there is no sweeter experience in life than to be at peace with the LORD GOD and with one another.

While the IMH/HPB recommends good support from those around a person with poor mental health we believe that having a close relationship with the LORD GOD in Christ Jesus is the key to good mental health and staying resilient.

Imagine what happens when someone is accepted by the LORD GOD in Jesus, and the joy of his LORD GOD becomes his strength. He can boldly and confidently go into the very presence of his LORD GOD. This person will obediently bring all his anxieties and concerns to the LORD GOD and to one another. There is no fear of rejection and no need to lie to one another. This person will find that his LORD GOD in Jesus understands everything he is saying, thinking and feeling. He knows that the LORD GOD hears whatever he asks for and did not ask for, and will take care of everything according to His wisdom, goodness, mercy and love.

This is the life and the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10 – an intimate and blessed relationship with the LORD GOD and with one another.

Conclusion

Are not our sins, and the sins that people commit against us and the sin that is in the world the reason we are kept from the LORD GOD such that we develop poor mental health and mental illness?

The thief came to steal our life and our emotional wellbeing with his lies. The devil will rob us of true joy and hope in GOD when we choose to live according to his lies instead of the truths in the Bible.

The abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10 is about saving us from the power of sin and the dominion of sin, so that we will have a closer walk with the LORD GOD and peaceful relationships with one another. Good mental health is about our salvation and the LORD GOD’s help given in the Holy Spirit. This way we can press on in our messy relationships with one another and to love and worship the one and only true and living LORD GOD of the Bible.

Dear brethren, do you find yourself as the apple of GOD’s eye and come what may, He will never leave you nor forsake you, or are you haunted by the words of the LORD Jesus, “I never knew you?”

– Joel Seah 

Shorter Catechism Question 43

Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?

A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Apr 14

        7.30 pm     ERBL: Counselling in the Local Church (Mr Joel Seah)

Tuesday, Apr 15

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Terence Tan)

Thursday, Apr 17

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: The Epistles of Peter (Rev Bendick Ong)

Friday, Apr 18

  9.00 am     Good Friday Holy Communion Service: Christ, Our Passover Lamb 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 (Rev Charles Seet)

Saturday, Apr 19

11.00 am Faith NBC

  3.00 pm LTF / YLM

Sunday, Apr 20

  9.00 am Easter Sunday Baptismal Service: The Good News of Christ’s Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:1-20 (Rev Lim Chee Boon)

  9.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Fellowship Brunch

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

FRIDAY, 18 APRIL

Good Friday Holy Communion Service, 9.00 am

Sermon: “Christ, Our Passover Lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7,8) by Rev Charles Seet

SUNDAY, 20 APRIL

Easter Sunday Baptismal Service, 9.00 am, followed by brunch

Sermon: “The Good News of Christ’s Resurrection” (1 Corinthians 15:1-20) by Rev Lim Chee Boon

(Offerings to defray the cost of the brunch are welcome.)

SUNDAY, 27 APRIL

Combined English Service, 9.00 am

Annual Congregational Meeting, 10.45 am

 * * *

8.00am Holy Communion

In view of Easter Baptismal Service at 9.00am on 20 April, there will not be Holy Communion at 8.00am worship service for this month.

Staff Movement

Effective 15 April 2025, Sis Cecilia Ong will join the church as our Church Operations Manager (COM) on a full-time basis. Please extend to her your prayer as she takes the step of faith to serve in this important role in the Church.
Eld Heng Shao Sheng will continue to serve as Honorary COM on part-time basis to facilitate the transition.

Church Camp 2025

Registration for 2025 church camp is now closed. Those interested may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be placed on the waiting list.

Parking Arrangements

For the Easter service on 20 April at 9am, please note the special parking arrangement to facilitate the brunch after service:

• Main sanctuary and Beulah parking for those staying for brunch only.
• ⁠Please park outside or at Kai for those not staying for brunch. Please only park in designated areas in Kai to avoid misunderstanding with Kai Management.

Please note that parking is permitted along single yellow lines on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation and we will do our best to find parking space for all.

Parking is also available at Revenue House (RH).

Please contact Bro Kelvin  or Dn Chan Yong if you need ferry service from RH to church.

Door to Door Evangelism

20 April 2025 (Next Sunday)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 11.30am

Contact: Desmond  or Amos 

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

Lifers are invited to serve in the Holy Communion elements preparation, clean-up and washing. Those interested may contact Jenny or Wendy. 

Senior Fellowship Medical Seminar: Coping with Critical Illnesses

Date: 26 April 2025

Time: 4-6pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speaker: Dr Loh Keh Chuan 

We all have to face ageing, sickness and death as we pass through life’s journey on earth. The majority of us will encounter critical illness at some point in our lives. We do not ponder on the prospect of imminent death until critical illness strikes.

This Seminar will:

1. provide an overview and conceptual understanding on the biology of ageing, sickness and death that God programmed in our DNA since the fall of man.

2. focus on cancer as example of critical illness. This is pertinent because one in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime.

3. explore both the biblical perspective on coping with terminal illness and the medical perspective on diagnosis and treatment of cancers. 

Register by 13 April https://www.lifebpc.com/sfseminar

Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2025
Theme: A Whale of a Time
Date: 4-6 June 2025 (Wed-Fri)

Time: 8.15am - 12.45pm (Wed-Thurs); 8.15am - 1pm (Fri) 

Calling all children aged 4-12 years old (N2-P6)! Registration for Vacation Bible School is now open! Registration deadline: 13 April 2025
Lifers needed for the available areas of service: Teaching, Logistics, Craft, Games, F&B and Traffic/Security.
Register now at lifebpc.com/vbs
For further enquiries, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

YF Camp (for youths aged 17-25)

Date: 15-19 December 2025

Venue: Life B-P Church

Save the dates!

Upcoming YLM Seminar: Understanding & Weathering the Storms of Life

Life can feel overwhelming, but we don’t have to weather the storms alone. Join us for a meaningful time of rest and renewal as we reflect on Elijah’s journey and how God meets us in our struggles!

Date: Saturday, 26 April 2025

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Lunch follows)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speaker: Dn Lim Chien Chong

There’ll be breakout discussions, a panel sharing by fellow YLMers, and a time of fellowship over lunch.

Sign up now by scanning the QR code below so we can cater lunch for you! 

See you there! 

Exploring Christianity

What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? If there is a good and powerful God, why do we have global pandemics and unrest in this world?  The answers to these questions can be found in the Bible, which is God's word to man. 

Exploring Christianity is a course that looks at how the Bible addresses these pertinent questions about life. It is a 5-part series and is suitable for (1) Non-Christians seeking God and (2) Christians who would like to learn how to evangelise. 

The first session will be held on a Saturday, 10 May 2025, from 9-1pm at Beulah Centre. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Kindly note that the other 3 sessions will be held on Sunday mornings. All Lifers are encouraged to bring their non-Christian friends and family members to this introductory course on the Christian faith. 

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ECMay2025

75^th Anniversary Praise Service

Date: 11 Oct 2025 (Saturday)

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Life B-P Church Sanctuary

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