Testimony of Nicholas, Joseph Prince’s New Creation Church member for 20 years who was a full-time staff left the church – By Rev George Ong (Dated 29 Jan 2023)

 

John Stott wrote;

 

“We see, then, that a double task is given to the shepherds of Christ’s flock. First, they are to feed the sheep; second, they are to rout the wolves.”

 

More of what John Stott had written in the above can be found in this article.

 

You may also wish to refer to my thoughts after John Stott’s quote and in the Appendix at the end of this article.

 

(This article was also sent to Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary, National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) office, and for the attention of the Executive Committee Members.)

 

Ten days ago, 3 of my friends, who were Ex-New Creation Church members, and whose testimonies are featured on this website,

 

sent me the same WhatsApp message separately (without one another’s knowledge),

 

on the powerful testimony of Nick or Nicholas, who left New Creation Church in Feb 2021, after 20 years.

 

Nicholas’ full testimony, which you mustn’t miss,

 

is featured in the ‘public domain’ on the official Facebook of Gospel Light Christian Church, the church that he currently attends.

 

To read Nicholas’ full testimony, dated 19 Jan 2023, please click on the link below, which my 3 friends have forwarded to me,

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=546684457482656&id=100064233203343&mibextid=Nif5oz

 

As part of Nicholas’ testimony, he wrote;

 

“I realized what I was taught all those years at NCC (New Creation Church) was not the true gospel.”

 

On a similar note,

 

Pastor Jason Lim, the Senior Pastor of Gospel Light Christian Church, (the church that Nicholas currently attends) Singapore,

 

in a sermon, and in the context of speaking out against the Prosperity Gospel teachings of Joseph Prince and some others, said;

 

“We as a nation have been swept. In fact, I think the world today is swept by this feel-good lie of prosperity teaching. It is so far removed from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is a damnable heresy because it leads people not to value God for who He is, but it leads people to chase after material things of this world, to lead people to idolatry.”

 

I applaud Pastor Jason Lim,

 

who has the courage to call out heretics such as Joseph Prince by name, as Prince teaches what Pastor Jason Lim called,

 

“a damnable heresy… to lead people to idolatry.”

 

Joseph Prince, is indeed, a heretic,

 

who not only teaches the damnable heresy of the Prosperity Gospel doctrine that leads many to idolatry,

 

but also, on many other doctrines, that are plainly against the scriptures, the holy words of Father God and the clear teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In his testimony, Nicholas also wrote;

 

“I chanced upon sermons on YouTube by John MacArthur, RC Sproul and eventually Pastor Paul and Pastor Jason.

 

I realized what I was taught all those years at NCC was not the true gospel…

 

Eventually, I found comfort and wise counsel from my dad and Pastor Jason, who so graciously offered his time and advice.”

 

“Ever since joining GLCC, my perspective of God has changed. God isn’t a magic genie at my beck and call. Life is not all about what I want and need. Being a Christian isn’t about the hype and the emotions.

 

I find myself having a strong desire to grow in the knowledge of God through His word, still figuring out how to move forward, but taking baby steps every single day.

 

We have been blessed by the GLCC family, our care group and other many believers. We are so happy that we have made friends here!

 

I am looking forward to this adventure with God and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me and my family.”

 

Nicholas is not the only Ex New Creation Church member who attends Gospel Light Christian Church,

 

but others too, such as 2 of my Ex New Creation Church friends, whose testimonies are featured on this website,

 

also attend the same Church.

 

Without hesitation, I have personally recommended Gospel Light Christian Church as one of the good churches to worship in for those seeking my opinion for a church to attend.

 

I am so happy for Nicholas who have found a church that teaches true doctrine, with a strong desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s word.

 

Nicholas’ departure from New Creation Church,

 

was part of the exodus of those who left the church from the start of Covid-19 in Jan 2020 (technically, end 2019) till now.

 

Covid-19 is indeed, a judgement and a curse on Joseph Prince’s heretical ministry.

 

For those who are unaware, Joseph Prince had just closed the deal to purchase Star Vista (physical location of New Creation Church) for a hefty sum of close to $300 million in Oct/Nov 2019.

 

Then, about one month later, Covid-19 struck, and mass meetings were disallowed,

 

resulting in the 5,000-seater auditorium at Star Vista, sitting there unused and unoccupied for more than 2 years.

 

It was also during these more than 2 years of Covid-19 that many have decided to leave New Creation Church.

 

How do I know?

 

This is because many who left the church have written to share with me their stories.

 

I have also heard similar stories from my other friends.

 

These 2-3 years, between 2000-2022, have given them time to reflect and ponder over what they have been taught by Joseph Prince,

 

and many came to realise that what Prince had taught were indeed, false doctrines.

 

Nicholas himself has left New Creation Church in Feb 2021 during the pandemic.

 

Another concrete example was when, one person (CK Choy), in response to one of my YouTube sermons, wrote (unedited):

 

“Hahahaha! I have been in ncc (New Creation Church) for almost 20 yrs. 

 

In 2019 during COVID-19, I stay at home and read my Bible and the lord show me the scripture. 

 

I found out that Joseph prince has twisted and turned the gospel upside down to suits him.

 

I believe the whole congregation didn’t even bother to read the bible. My advice is to stay away from jp (Joseph Prince).”

 

This is just one among the many who have written that the Pandemic has indeed opened their eyes to the heretical teachings of Joseph Prince.

 

It gave them time to reflect on the scriptures and Joseph Prince’s teachings, and many came to the conclusion that much of what Prince teaches are false.

 

Over the last 2 over years,

 

many (and I meant it, not exaggerating) have written to me that they have ‘bumped’ into my website.

 

With what they have read on my website,

 

they have been convinced that Joseph Prince is indeed a wolf in sheepskin, and many have left New Creation Church as a result of that.

 

As of now, thousands of people have left New Creation Church.

 

Even after Covid-19 from the middle of 2022, Joseph Prince’s New Creation Church has never recovered,

 

and is nowhere near the 34,000-attendance figure that Prince proudly reported before Covid-19.  

 

Joseph Prince keeps trumpeting to the world about the many testimonies of so-called souls saved under his ministry.  

 

But, how many believers, such as Nicholas and Dr Chris Kang,

 

– who have later found Prince to be preaching the false gospel, and have since left New Creation Church

 

that Prince has kept from you is up to one’s imagination.

 

You think Prince is going to publicise them to the world?

 

How many people such as Olivia Lum,

 

whose lives have been destroyed by Prince’s teachings,

 

but go unreported by Prince, which he kept as quietly as a church mouse, is anybody’s guess.

 

You think Prince is going to make them known to the public?

 

I can imagine the great struggle that Nicholas went through

 

before he made the momentous decision to leave New Creation Church and Joseph Prince’s false teachings behind.

 

This is because, not only has he been with the church for 20 long years,

 

but he has also served as a full-time staff for several years.

 

Nicholas wrote,

 

“In February 2021, with the blessings of my wife, I decided to leave New Creation Church.

 

It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. It meant walking away from my career and livelihood, the ministry I spent over a decade serving in and from some of my closest friends.

 

Twenty years of life had to be left behind, but we knew that it was what we had to do. It was the right thing to do. I served my notice and May 2021, made Gospel Light Christian Church my new home.”

 

For those who are going through the same struggles, may Nicholas’ example inspire you to do the same.

 

If you are struggling and thinking, who can I ask to help me transition from attending Joseph Prince’s church that preaches the false gospel that would damn me and a church that preaches the true gospel,   

 

you could contact Pastor Jason Lim from Gospel Light Christian Church,

 

and I’m sure he would be more than willing to offer his wise counsel and practical help to you as he did to Nicholas.  

 

(Note: Pastor Jason Lim didn’t ask me to do this, as this is my own initiative.)

 

Pastor Jason Lim is an excellent example of one who is not only preaching sound doctrine,

 

but he also dares to contend against false teachings and refute false teachers, such as Joseph Prince.

 

As a matter of fact, this is what the scriptures command shepherds to do,

 

and what John Stott, a giant in expository preaching, teaches too.

 

John Stott,

 

in his book, “The Living Church, Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor,” wrote;

 

“THE INVASION OF FALSE TEACHERS (THE WOLVES)

 

We see, then, that a double task is given to the shepherds of Christ’s flock.

 

First, they are to feed the sheep;

 

second, they are to rout the wolves.

 

That is, they are both to teach the truth

 

and to combat error.

 

Paul later tells Titus that candidates for the presbyterate must hold firmly to the teaching of the apostles,

 

so that they may both give instruction in sound teaching

 

and refute those who oppose it (Titus 1:9).

 

This emphasis on the need to speak against false teaching is very unpopular today.

 

It is frequently said that we must always be positive in our teaching, never negative.

 

But those who say this have either not read the New Testament or, having read it, disagree with it.

 

For our Lord Jesus and his apostles both refuted error themselves and urged us to do the same.

 

I sometimes wonder if the neglect of this necessary ministry is not a major cause of contemporary theological confusion.

 

Theological controversy is always distasteful to sensitive Christian spirits. Woe to us if we enjoy it! But we cannot conscientiously avoid it.

 

If we say and do nothing about obvious false teaching, or if we turn round and flee,

 

we will justly earn the pejorative name “hireling” or “hired servant” who cares nothing for the sheep (Jn 10:11-13 NKJV).

 

Are we to abandon Christ’s flock defenseless against the wolves, sheep without a shepherd?

 

Must we say of the church what God said through Ezekiel about Israel:

 

“So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became food for all the wild beasts” (Ezekiel 34:5).

 

No! It is our plain duty to protect God’s flock from error and to establish it in the truth.”

 

I speak with the same voice as John Stott did.

 

Let me surface a previous article I had written (with some modifications),

 

“Refuting False Teachings & Rebuking False Teachers – The Neglected Half,”

 

as follows:

 

“In Titus 1:5-9, Paul lists the qualifications that an elder or a pastor must possess before he is appointed.

 

In Titus 1:9, Paul teaches that as part of the qualifications of an elder or a pastor, he must first know sound doctrine.

 

Second, he must be able to refute and be willing to rebuke those who oppose sound doctrine (Tit 1:9,13).

 

While the role of teaching sound doctrine is faithfully carried out by most elders and pastors,

 

sadly, the more unpopular (as stated by John Stott in his article) and unpleasant task of refuting false teachings and rebuking false teachers, are often neglected and largely ignored.

 

It is precisely because elders and pastors only cared to preach sound doctrine, the easier part,

 

and avoided the more difficult and unpopular task of refuting false teachings and rebuking false teachers

 

that have partly resulted in the proliferation of the Pseudo-grace (or Hyper-grace) doctrine.

 

This has caused many believers to be infected with the deadly doctrinal virus of Joseph Prince. 

 

There are shepherds who have stayed away from the unenviable task of refuting and rebuking in order not to spoil their nice, respectable and loving image.

 

There are others who are of the view that when it comes to refuting and rebuking, they shouldn’t mention the names of false teachers, but the focus should be on the false teachings.

 

But is that what Paul teaches? – That we just oppose the false teachings and not the false teachers?

 

Of course not.

 

Paul said we are to “refute those who oppose it” (Tit 1:9 NIV), or “rebuke those who contradict it” (Tit 1:9 ESV).

 

Paul also said, “Therefore rebuke them sharply” (Tit 1:13 NIV). ‘Those’ and ‘them’ must refer to the false teachers themselves, not just their teachings.

 

In two other instances (1 Tim 1:19-20; 2 Tim 2:16-18), Paul publicly named them – Hymenaeus, Alexander and Philetus, and he even delivered two of them to the hands of Satan.

 

Paul himself had to rebuke Peter by name when he began acting like a hypocrite – as, by Peter’s hypocritical action, the gospel stands the danger of being compromised (Gal 2:11-14). 

 

If Paul had the guts to rebuke Apostle Peter by name and publicly because the gospel is being threatened,

 

how much more should we be uncompromising and courageous to do the same with false teachers such as Joseph Prince

 

who is not only corrupting the gospel but also leading the multitudes to hell?

 

Did Jesus say,

 

“It would not be good and impolite for me to mention the names of false teachers in order not to be personal, but just to mention the false doctrines they are teaching will do”?

 

No! 

 

Jesus mentioned Nicolaitans and Nicolaitans is a name (Rev 2:6,15).

 

Jesus mentioned Jezebel and Jezebel is a name (Rev 2:20).

 

So the issue is not about being personal; it is about obeying the word of God.

 

It is not about our personal preference of taking on a more diplomatic approach, but it is about protecting and guarding the sheep against being devoured by the wolves.

 

And to do that, not only do we need to teach sound doctrine, but we must also be prepared to refute and rebuke false teachers.

 

The trouble is, many elders and pastors are unwilling to do the refuting and rebuking as they do not want to be seen as divisive, censorious and unloving.

 

And because of this wrong attitude, they fall right into the deception of the devil.

 

No wonder, the false teacher, Joseph Prince is running wild, infiltrating and causing havoc to the Church of Jesus Christ with reckless abandon as there are only ‘a few’ who dare to speak up.

 

In my knowledge, there are not many pastors and elders who have the courage to rebuke Joseph Prince and refute his teachings in the pulpits of their churches.

 

If we do not have the courage to do that, then we are only acting as cowards.   

 

AW Tozer wrote,

 

“I do not believe in the weak tolerance that we hear preached so often now, the idea that Jesus must tolerate everyone and that the Christian must tolerate every kind of doctrine. When we become so tolerant that we lead people into mental fog and spiritual darkness we are not acting like Christians, we are acting like cowards!”

 

John Calvin wrote,

 

“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”

 

George Ong wrote,

 

“The equivalent of inaction to the evil and intrusion of heresy is not indifference but cowardice.”

 

Indeed, there is no place for cowardice but courage is needed to contend against false teachings/teachers more than ever.

 

Why?

 

It is because the prevalence of heresies is not a hypothetical issue but is happening right in our own backyard of Singapore.

 

It is happening right under our noses in the person and ministry of Joseph Prince.

 

Are we blind to the fact that a wolf – Joseph Prince – helms the biggest ‘church’ in Singapore?

 

Are we ignorant that his false grace theology is influencing the multitudes in the many nations of the world?

 

So, how can anyone deny that false teachings have become a serious threat in Singapore?

 

The Singapore church has been ‘sleeping’ for too long, and ‘living in denial mode’, allowing the cancer of Joseph Prince’s heresy to eat her up little by little!

 

Remember, we are not dealing with an imaginary situation but with a real and serious issue – with a heretic, called Joseph Prince, who originates from Singapore.

 

I have many Christian friends from overseas who have asked me why is the Singapore church not doing anything with him.

 

They have often wondered why is Joseph Prince’s church still considered part of the Singapore church

 

when what he is dishing out are clear-cut and destructive heresies

 

that have infected not just Singapore but also the nations they come from.

 

They have expressed to me that if only the Singapore church has dealt with the issue promptly and firmly, the problem would have been largely contained,

 

and they wouldn’t have to be ladened with the same problem as we do,

 

as many of their own church members have been infected with the same doctrinal virus of Joseph Prince’s heresy. 

 

It is perfectly understandable and acceptable for a Singapore pastor to say,

 

“I can’t be refuting false teachings and rebuking false teachers every Sunday as I am a pastor who has to preach the whole counsel of God.”

 

But it is a different matter altogether if the same pastor goes on to say,

 

“But even if I come across passages that dwell on false teachers and false teachings in my expository or liturgical preaching (and, if one cares to look, there are plenty of such passages in the scriptures), I am not comfortable at warning my local church against heretics such as Joseph Prince and his heresies, even though he is from my nation of Singapore and messing up the doctrines of many churches and Christians around the world.”

 

Of course, I don’t expect pastors to do what I am doing in that focussed manner as this is a special calling from God for this season.

 

But neither should that be used as a convenient excuse for not doing anything.

 

Every Singapore pastor and elder must answer this question honestly

 

– in their years of preaching ministry, have they ever refuted the heresies of Joseph Prince and rebuked him even once before their congregation

 

so that their flock could be warned against straying into his fold?

 

There are some Singapore pastors who say,

 

“George, if we deal with Joseph Prince, are you telling us that we also have to deal with all other heretics and heresies?”

 

I say,

 

“Wait a minute, if we aren’t prepared to take responsibility to clean up the dirt in our own backyard and deal with Joseph Prince, the heretic who hails from Singapore in the first place, why are we talking about other heretics?

 

Isn’t that a copout to exonerate ourselves from what we should have done in the past and what we should now be doing in the present in contending against his heresies?”

 

There are yet others who say,

 

“George, don’t waste your time contending against Joseph Prince. If God wants to bring him down, He would do it in His time.”

 

My reply is this,

 

“Then why don’t we apply this same argument to evangelism too – that if God wants to save people from their sins, He would Himself do it as He knows before the foundation of the world who would be saved and who wouldn’t, and He doesn’t need our help to witness to unbelievers. Why don’t we use the same ‘If-God-can-do-why-are-we-doing’ argument and apply it to all other areas of life? Why do we make heretics and heresies the exceptions?

 

Of course, God could do His part if He wants to.

 

But does this mean we do nothing?

 

What’s more is that the scriptures have clearly stated that pastors and elders are to refute false teachings and rebuke false teachers (Tit 1:9).

 

Don’t these leaders know that not to do anything about heretics and heresies is a serious matter as that is tantamount to disobeying God?

 

And to offer excuses for our inaction and disobedience is even a worse misdeed.

 

To know that such lame and super-spiritual arguments can come from spiritual leaders of churches really saddens me. 

 

Are we not responsible for not doing anything or not doing enough to stop the spread of Joseph Prince’s heresies that have gone beyond the shores of Singapore?

 

As the spiritual leaders of Singapore, do we even feel a sense of responsibility to begin with? 

 

Even though we have made honest mistakes in the past, have we woken up now as to what needs to be done to contend against his heresies? 

 

The reality and the troubling thing is many don’t. 

 

Where are the leaders of courage who are imbued with the conviction to do what is necessary?

 

Why is there such a deafening silence from the spiritual leadership regarding the heretic, Joseph Prince and his heresies?

 

If leaders choose to stay cowardly silent against the onslaught of Joseph Prince’s heresies, the church is in trouble.

 

Silence is not an option. 

 

“To stay silent against the onslaught of false teachings is to acquiesce.” (George Ong)

 

As Singapore pastors and elders, we must bear the corporate responsibility for not doing enough to contend against Joseph Prince’s heresies for all these years

 

– thereby allowing the cancer of his heretic virus to infect not just Singapore but also the world. We owe the world an apology!

 

“The irony in the modern church is this

– pastors and elders who obey the scriptures to refute false teachings and rebuke false teachers are sharply criticised for being unloving, divisive and intolerant.

Conversely, pastors and elders who disobey the scriptures by keeping silent and dare not raise a whimper against false teachers to avoid trouble and to protect their respectable image are praised for being loving, tolerant and for promoting unity.” (George Ong)

 

Some shepherds may say,

 

“I am more comfortable with preaching sound doctrine. But I am not the type to refute the views of others and rebuke them.”

 

Friends, it is not about your personal preference but about obeying God’s word.

 

Paul specifically says that he expects you as a shepherd not only to teach sound doctrine but to refute false teachings and rebuke false teachers (Tit 1:9,13).   

 

Other shepherds may say,

 

“The best way of confronting false teachings is just to teach sound doctrine. If you help people know the truth, they would automatically know how to detect the false. So, just concentrate on the word and don’t worry about those false teachings that these false teachers are churning out.”

 

Yes, while it is true that knowing sound doctrine is a must and it would certainly help your flock to detect the false,

 

but did the Bible say that that is all that you, as a shepherd, is supposed to do?

 

Absolutely not!

 

Teaching sound doctrine is the first step;

 

refuting false teachings and rebuking false teachers is the next step that Paul expects you to do.

 

This is more so given the fact that Joseph Prince’s teachings are so deceptive and crafty

 

that experienced teachers of the word are needed to sift out the heresies that are embedded in the truth

 

that many sheep may not immediately discern.

 

So, exposing and rebuking false teachers is a responsibility of the church leadership that no elder or pastor can run away from.

 

One must also remember that ‘Speaking the truth in love’ (Eph 4:15) is applicable more to the Body of Christ, and perhaps to heretics who are amenable to correction,

 

but never to unrepentant and defiant heretics such as Joseph Prince, who is preaching his heresies with reckless abandon. 

 

Instead, we are instructed by Paul to sharply rebuke and silence them (Tit 1:9,11,13)

 

and we must never give in to false teachers for a single moment because the truth of the gospel must be preserved (Gal 2:4-5 NLT).

 

Jesus has already prophesied that in the last days, false prophets will arise and deceive many (Matt 24:2-5,11).

 

The problem of false teachers will not go away, but it will only get worse before the return of Jesus.

 

If false teachings/teachers are not contended against promptly and courageously, they will spread like gangrene and destroy the faith of your flock (2 Tim 2:17-18).”

 

Rev George Ong

 

Appendix

 

First, there are Pastors who said to me,

 

“George, why are you only contending against heresies, and not spending much of your time preaching sound doctrine?”

 

For those who follow my articles closely, they would realise that there are many sound doctrines to learn from even in my refute against Joseph Prince’s heresies.

 

This is not just my opinion, but the views of esteemed Bible teachers, who have written to tell me so.

 

Also, these Pastors are ignorant as they are not aware that in my 30 years of ministry,

 

I have spent more time preaching sound doctrine (the first 22 years) than in contending against heresies (the last 8 years),

 

while many of these same people who criticise me,

 

don’t even contend against heresies, but merely preach sound doctrine in all their years of ministry.

 

By doing so, they are only carrying out just one part of their pastoral responsibilities – preach sound doctrine,

 

but they are neglecting the other half of their responsibilities – to contend against heretics and their heresies.

 

More than that, they are disobeying God for only doing just one half of their pastoral responsibilities, while disobeying the other half.

 

Second, I don’t expect pastors to do what I am doing

 

– about contending against Joseph Prince’s heresies in that focussed manner

 

as this is a special calling from God for this season.

 

I don’t know when this season would end.

 

It may be next week, or next month, or next year, etc.

 

If God says to me to stop, I had better do, as to continue, would be to disobey Him.

 

But if God didn’t say stop,

 

and if I do, because I couldn’t endure anymore as this is the most difficult and toughest calling of my life,

 

I would also be disobeying Him.