Chapter 2 

*Why I Am Fighting This Battle Against Joseph Prince & His Pseudo-Grace Teachings? 

A. A Call I didn’t Want But Had To Obey. 

I have never imagined that God would lead me into this ministry of refuting the Pseudo-grace teachings of Joseph Prince and rebuking him as a false teacher. 

This is the last thing I want to do. 

I have said before in public settings that I am the least to be chosen for such an enormous and unpopular task as I’m just a one-talent man. 

I have always wished and continue to wish that the many others who are more qualified and gifted than me would carry this load. 

If you think I am making this statement to sound humble for public consumption, you are sorely wrong. 

I meant it with my heart when I said, “I’m the least to be chosen, and this is the last thing I want to do.” 

God be my witness.  

As a matter of fact, I dislike such a task. 

Why? 

My first encounter with people who contend against false teachings and false teachers goes back to the mid-1970s or late-1970s. 

There is a particular Christian denomination that regularly did this – contend against false teachings. 

While I cannot fault their fervour for protecting and defending sound doctrine, I cannot agree with their approach. 

This is because not just the major doctrines are involved, but other minor doctrines, which to me, are not fundamental to the Christian Faith, are being dragged in too. 

This sort of put me off for a while. 

So, why am I doing this against Joseph Prince and his teachings? 

This is because as I went deeper and deeper into Joseph Prince’s teachings, I saw that not one or two, but plenty of areas he teaches are clear-cut false. 

At the same time, they are not easily discerned and detected on the surface, and a thorough study is needed to carefully sift out the errors from the truth for the benefit of the body of Christ. 

And this is what makes Joseph Prince’s teachings so deceptive and so dangerous!

After an exhaustive study into his teachings, I concluded that if one were to embrace his teachings, hell would be where he could land.   

The real issue is that his teachings are drawing the sheep away from the true faith. 

That is why Joseph Prince is such a dangerous man. 

He is leading people to worship a different Jesus and a different ‘God’. 

He is deceiving the church that he is speaking about the Bible Jesus when it is the counterfeit Jesus that he is preaching. 

He does that by deliberately twisting and misinterpret Bible texts. 

He pushes and imposes his brand of Grace at the expense of the integrity of the Holy Scriptures! 

Friends, that’s why I am giving my heart and soul at contending against him and his heretical teachings – to save people from hell. 

Even the most biting criticisms can never stop me from giving my 101% commitment to this call that God has laid on my heart.

B. Misunderstood For Harbouring Hidden Agendas. 

In my task of exposing the false teachings of Joseph Prince, I knew I would have to face many criticisms, not only from the people who support Joseph Prince but ironically, from the body of Christ. 

I have been accused of being jealous of and bitter against him. 

This is really strange.  

I am not an angry and bitter pastor whose sheep have crossed into his fold. 

(I was pastoring but became an itinerant preacher for the last 20 years, since 2000). 

Second, I do not know him as a friend or even as an acquaintance. 

Third, I have never met him before. 

So, what is there for me to be jealous and bitter against him? 

I have no hidden agenda or an axe to grind for taking on Joseph Prince and his Pseudo-grace teaching. 

But I have been accused of being judgemental, and for acting out of jealousy because of Joseph Prince’s popularity. 

I do not know how to respond

– to laugh or cry

– to laugh over their silly response

or to cry over their lack of perceptivity about the real threat posed by Joseph Prince’s heretical doctrine to the Church. 

But all these are just a small price that I would have to pay for the privilege of obeying God’s call.  

C. Those Who Speak Up Against False Teachers Are Ironically Attacked By Their Own Troops. 

Joseph Prince has not been preaching his false doctrines yesterday or one or two years ago, but for about 30 years, he has been teaching such heresies with reckless abandon. 

For all these years, many pastors and leaders have tried to get in touch with him and talk to him, and he didn’t even bother to respond. 

He is aware of all the counter-arguments against his false teachings, but he won’t care to do a thing to change and remains unrepentant. 

And one person, called George Ong, felt enough is enough, and start to scold and rebuke him severely. 

Then some ignorant people of the church, who don’t even know the whole picture started to advise George Ong as if they are wise counsellors,

“George, why are you so hard on Joseph Prince?

Why didn’t you talk to him?

Why didn’t you send your emails to him?

Why didn’t you pray for him?

Why didn’t you fast for him?

Why didn’t you give him another chance?” 

I hope by now, you can see the deception and the irony

– that the hero (those who expose false teachings)

is made the villain,

and the villain (those who teach false teachings)

is made the hero

– by who?

– By some foolish people in the church! 

“The great irony is that the true ‘heresy-busters’ whose gallant attempt at uncovering the wolves in sheepskin are being fought against by friendly fire.” (George Ong) 

“By the unwarranted criticisms of the church against the true whistleblowers of the faith and her misplaced sympathy towards the ‘persecuted’ heretics, she has ironically made the heroes into villains and villains into heroes.” (George Ong) 

“Courageous heroes who risk their lives to lock horns with the heretic wolves are ironically ‘attacked’ as intolerant and unloving villains by their troops.” (George Ong)

“The most perilous battles to fight is when a soldier of the truth is assaulted by the enemy from the front and attacked by his own troops at the back.” (George Ong) 

“The devil is at his vicious best when he succeeds in getting the church to tar the true whistleblower of the faith as a dogmatic heresy-hunter and an annoying militant.” (George Ong) 

D. It’s A Call That Entails A High Price. 

Why should I, out of mere jealousy about Joseph Prince’s ministry, work myself as a dog without pay? 

My work hours from October 2017 till now are from early in the morning right into the evening – and I will only stop work just before I go to sleep. 

That’s not including frequently waking up at ungodly hours between 1 am and 4 am. 

I work every day, from Monday to Sunday and on holidays. 

I hardly step out of my house, always at my computer, typing away. 

I sometimes joke with my wife that I must be the homeliest husband in Singapore. 

Am I complaining? 

Why should I? 

I am a man seized by the call of God, who is hyper-focussed, absolutely convicted and hotly passionate about what I am doing. 

I thrive on it and I soar with it as I am only fulfilling God’s call at this juncture of my life – to be a faithful watchman warning the Church about Joseph Prince’s false teachings. 

This is how best I can minister and contribute to the larger body of Christ at this point in time. 

For those who may think I am working myself to death, that’s the least of my worries. 

I don’t just work hard but I rest hard too. 

You need to pace yourself as you are not running the 100 metres race but the 26-mile marathon. 

As you run God’s race for your life (not your own race), there is supernatural energy to “run and not grow weary.” 

Isa 40:31 NIV

“…they will run and not grow weary.” 

But if you are perennially weary doing what you think God has called you to, the chances are that’s not the call of God for you.  

As most of you are aware, just writing a book of an average 200-page would take up a fair amount of time. 

Guess how much time I took and how much sweat and blood that I have poured into preparing one book, Joseph Prince: Shepherd or Wolf? Comprising 10 volumes and about 4,800 A5-size pages. 

It has taken a humongous amount of my time and energy. 

I have read through Joseph Prince’s four main books at least three times each. 

I have listened to many of his videos/audios and picking the relevant piece/s to feature. 

I have to get all the relevant research materials. 

I have to do my study of the scriptures. 

I have to refer to commentaries. 

I need to think through and do my analysis. 

I have to put them all together in one cohesive piece. 

I have to craft them, so they are easily understood by the common man. 

I have to make sure it is doctrinally sound, hopefully beyond reproach – with no possible doctrinal counterattack that could be launched by Joseph Prince or the Pseudo-grace doctrine. 

I have put my heart and soul into this task for the last two and a half years.  

I am doing it literally day and night as the Apostle Paul did in Acts 20:29,31, to warn believers of the savage wolves that would come and destroy the flock:

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” 

Am I doing this for my own sake? 

You must be joking if I did! 

I have nothing to gain. 

Is there anyone paying me to do this day and night? 

With the many hours of overtime work that I am putting in every day over the last two and a half years, my overtime pay can come to a hefty sum. 

Whoever is my paymaster may have a nightmare! 

For those who know me, money is one of my least priorities. 

Not only did I not receive any pay, but I had to fork out my own money for this calling. 

Not only did I lose money, but I lost friends too.  

E. It Is A Call That Involves Great Risk. 

“Many have chosen a safer way to talk about false teachings in quiet and private settings, but few have taken the high and risky road to speak against it loudly and publicly.” (George Ong) 

Just ask yourself – why am I doing this at great personal risk to myself with absolutely no personal advantage to be had? 

I am well aware that not only am I contending against Joseph Prince, a world-renowned speaker, but I would also be stepping on the toes of the 34,000 people who are attending New Creation Church. 

And I am not forgetting the millions of his adorers, supporters and sympathisers in the countless evangelical churches, not only in Singapore and Malaysia but around the world.   

By exposing Joseph Prince as a false teacher, I am bound to offend many of his diehard supporters who have never failed to defend him against doctrinal attacks aggressively. 

What the offended party will ever do to a guy like me who dares to fiercely and publicly denounce their adored leader as a false prophet is really up to one’s imagination. 

I am fighting this Pseudo-grace battle for no personal advantage but purely because of the call of God – to expose Joseph Prince as a wolf publicly, regardless of the cost and the great personal risks that I may incur. 

Lest you think I am reckless; you are dead wrong as you don’t know me enough.

For those know well, every move that I made is carefully calculated, thoroughly thought through, Spirit-guided and boldly executed. 

Nevertheless, I am prepared to pay the highest price to carry out the call that God has thrust upon me.  

“I am no fool to waste my life on puny issues, but for matters of eternal importance, I will lay it down to pursue them.” (George Ong) 

“Fighting a battle that has eternal ramifications is worth pouring all my heart and soul into.” (George Ong)

“He who has not died to himself can never live for the highest purposes he is destined for.” (George Ong)

“The riskier the call, the greater the courage of one’s conviction.” (George Ong)

“The risk of obeying God’s call is temporary, but the regret of evading His call is permanent.” (George Ong) 

I have taken a great risk and paid a heavy price for confronting the false teachings of Joseph Prince. 

Heavy price – not just in terms of the laborious work that is involved but in being misunderstood, criticised, shunted and rejected, etc.  

Let me pose a thoroughly frank question to you all that I may run the risk of being misunderstood for being egoistic. 

If I had flinched from taking such a massive risk and paying the heavy price by confronting Joseph Prince and his false teachings publicly, and in such a thorough, penetrating and forthright manner, tell me who among you would have the guts to do so? 

“Christianity is never about ‘playing it safe’, but ever about ‘risking it out’.” (George Ong) 

“A harsh surgeon must be summoned to use the cruel knife before the cancer of Joseph Prince’s false teachings consumes another victim.” (George Ong)  

Even for Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God Himself has never flinched from confronting controversies.

“While the church is sore afraid and steers away from controversies, Jesus courageously confronts them.”(George Ong)   

“If you are put off by confrontation, denunciation and provocation which Jesus exemplifies, perhaps you are following the wrong Jesus.” (George Ong)  

If Jesus did not flinch from confronting controversies, do we have any right to?

F. A Ministry Of Passion Without Pay To The Body Of Christ.  

A friend of mine wrote to me and recognised that my efforts at exposing the false teachings of Joseph Prince is my way of serving the larger body of Christ.

“Dear George, thank you for serving the Body of Christ by pointing out the erroneous teachings which have misled many in the Church.” (David Lee)  

And indeed, as I have often told my wife, this is my way of serving the body of Christ – by slogging it out day and night – not grudgingly and miserably but willingly and cheerfully.  

This ministry is one that doesn’t pay – as no one is paying me to do this ministry.   

But thank God that I have learned early in life (in the 1970s) that if one works in the area of one’s passion, it is a privilege and not a chore to go without pay and to pay oneself to do the ministry.  

“When one has found passion in his work, it becomes a non-issue whether one is paid for it or he isn’t.” (George Ong)  

“If one works in the area of his passion, work is no longer work.” (George Ong)  

“To a man of passion, work is never in his vocabulary – it’s all play.” (George Ong)  

“A man of passion is never caught playing at work as all his time is consumed playing in his work.” (George Ong)   

“A man of passion who never plays at work is busily enjoying himself playing in his work.” (George Ong)  

“If you aren’t enjoying yourself playing in your work, it is high time to change to one that you could.” (George Ong)  

“I would rather go for a job that promises no pay but lots of play in my work, rather than one that promises high pay but no play in my work.” (George Ong)  

But whether man pays one or not, God is the best employer whose remuneration goes beyond the financial rewards of this world.  

“Whatever that keeps a man energised throughout the day and whatever that keeps him ‘awake’ at night – is what a man is passionate for.” (George Ong)   

G. Alone, Yet Not Alone. 

Since 2014, I have been given the unenviable call of exposing false teachings (not every, but as led) 

– a call which I didn’t ask for 

– a call I wanted to run away from 

– a call for which I am the least to be chosen 

– a call that is thankless and unappreciated 

– a call that nobody would have wanted 

– a call that would result in plenty of closed doors to my ministry 

– a call that would result in friends becoming strangers 

– a call that would leave me ‘alone’

“….like Martin Luther, who contended alone against the whole church,

like Jeremiah, who prophesied alone against the whole nation,

like Noah, who stood alone against the whole world.” 

(George Ong)  

Will you dare to be so radical that you are willing to be the one and only person in the whole world to follow God and go against the tide, criticisms, opinions of the whole world? 

Noah did. 

One man was right; the whole world was wrong. 

One man saved his whole family of eight; the whole world perished in the judgement of the flood.  

Let me share a quotation from John Maxwell. 

In his Book, “Be all you can be,” he said these words: 

“The greatest days of your life are the days when you sense your commitment to its highest degree. 

Your greatest days are not your days of leisure. 

Your greatest days are not even times when you have your closest friends around you. 

When something has seized you and caused you to have a high level of commitment to it, those are your greatest days. 

They may be your days of struggle, they may be your days of suffering, and they may be the days of your greatest battles in life, but they will be your greatest days. 

If I could choose only one word to describe what it’s like to be committed, I think I would choose the word alone. 

If you become a person who is deeply committed to a cause, the world won’t understand you; you will be alone. 

It’s human to stand with the crowd; it’s divine to stand alone.”  

Alone? Yes indeed! 

What price to pay for the conviction of such an unenviable call? 

Heavy Price! 

And I have paid for it from the start, and I will continue to pay! 

“The cry for the approval of the majority is the refuge of the insecure.” (George Ong)

“The authenticity of one’s conviction is his preparedness to stand alone with God against the whole world and His readiness to die for it.” (George Ong) 

And yet, not really alone from another perspective – when you have God on your side. 

Remember the oft-quoted saying, “One and God is a majority.” 

And when you are in the majority, what is there really to fear?

Besides, just as many others shared in the same cause as Prophet Elijah’s, I do have them too – though small in number, nonetheless, I greatly value their prayers and moral support. 

“Only with God can so much be accomplished by so few for so many.”

(Jn 6:9; Matt 14:17-21; Acts 2:41; 1 Sam 17 especially V51-53; Jud 7:1-8, 16-22; 2 Sam 23:8-12, 18-21; Est 4:12-16; 7:1-10, Jonah 3:1-10; Lev 26:7-8; Jos 23:9-11; Jud 14:5-6, 19; 15:14-16; 16:27-31.) (George Ong)