In twenty years from now (or perhaps sooner), what will today’s Christians tell their children and grandchildren? How will they explain to them how so much anti-Christian and anti-family bilge overcame their land? How will they reply when asked how all this could have happened on their watch?
When biblical Christians in Australia (and much of the rest of the world) have been effectively silenced by the powers that be, with hate crime laws and “discrimination” legislation decimating their numbers, what will current day believers tell their offspring?
When many Christians are in jail, or have been heavily fined, or have lost their livelihood, all because they stand up for biblical truth in the public arena, what will today’s Christians say then? When mandatory pro-homosexual activities are everywhere, including the churches, what will we say?
Today we had a chance to turn things around. Today was not too late yet. Today was an opportunity of grace. But we did not avail ourselves of all that. We did not bother to stir ourselves out of our slumber. We did not care enough about the next generation to raise our voices or even lift one finger.
So twenty years hence, when it is well and truly far too late to speak out or do anything about all this, what will today’s Christians be telling their children? What lame excuses will they be concocting? What miserable reasons will they offer for their complete silence when things mattered the most?
What will they say when asked by their own children why they allowed all this great evil to occur on their watch? What answers will they give for allowing all this to occur without so much as a whimper? What cheap excuses will they come up with when made to face their own apathy and hardness of heart?
I can hear already the questions being asked of Christian parents and grandparents:
-You had so much religious freedom back then – how could you have wasted and squandered it?
-You had watchmen giving you one warning after another – why did you just keep ignoring them?
-The Bibles which you could then so freely read told you quite clearly about these sins – why did you not believe your own Scriptures?
-Why did you allow your churches to be taken over by leaders who cared nothing about these issues, but instead told people what they wanted to hear instead of what they needed to hear?
-Why did you not do even the most simple and easy of things, like briefly contacting your own MPs and speaking to them about these matters?
-Why did you think that just getting along, not rocking the boat, and seeking the praises of men was your only duty?
-Why did your pastors worry more about being acceptable, well-liked and popular than being holy, faithful, and sold out to the Lord?
-Why would you folks never even turn up for pro-faith and pro-family rallies?
-Why did you think that you could just go on with business as usual, and nothing would ever change?
-Why did you soak up sermons, books, conferences and teachings on feeling good about yourself, losing weight for Jesus, and becoming successful, while ignoring the clear teachings of Jesus about denying self, picking up your cross, and following him?
-How could you have ignored the clear teachings of Scripture while embracing doctrines of demons?
-Why did you refuse to go to all those prayer meetings, times of intercession, and periods of fasting?
-Why was the pursuit of wealth, material happiness, and personal pleasure your only main driving force in life?
-What will you say to Jesus when you stand before him with your head hung in shame?
Let me finish by offering a few choice quotes which I have used so often before. Hopefully and prayerfully some readers at least will allow God to speak to them through these words, and maybe they will not end up being the sorts of people I have written about above:
“History will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent its happening.” -Ronald Reagan
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” -Martin Luther King
“It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what is required.” -Winston Churchill
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” Plato
“Making an open stand against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness which overspreads our land as a flood is one of the noblest ways of confessing Christ in the face of His enemies.” -John Wesley
“The world is too dangerous to live in – not because of people who do evil, but because of people who sit and let it happen.” -Albert Einstein
“Our culture, society, government, and law are in the condition they are in, not because of a conspiracy, but because the church has forsaken its duty to be the salt of the culture.” -Francis Schaeffer
“Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.” -Charles Finney
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.” -Martin Niemoller, German pastor and Holocaust survivor
“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” Yahweh, in Psalm 94:16
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” –Jesus in Luke 18:8
If these quotes do not stir our souls, move our consciences, brace our minds, and waken us out of our slumber, then it is indeed too late for Western civilisation and the Western church, and we are indeed of all men to be most pitied.
Thanks Bill. I would like to ask here if readers of your blog could state whether their churches speak against homosexual activity from the platform. Mine (a Brethren church) does when this topic occurs in the bible passage for that Sunday. We go through Bible books chapter by chapter, the books to be studied being chosen by the leaders. So that makes twice this year. Barely a week goes by in my home group when it’s not denounced, I make sure of that.
John Harris
Bill, I firmly believe that religious freedom grows weak, ineffective Christians. It’s where the church is persecuted that Christians grow strong, ready to die for their beliefs.
So, in answer to your question, what will I tell my children? I’ll tell them this:
Australia is under God’s sovereign judgement for abandoning him to the idols of selfishness and greed. We have failed to live as God commands, so he has given us over to our evil desires, as per Romans 1.
Why has it happened on our watch? Because this is the allotted time for God’s judgement. There are men, such as yourself, who stand up for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable. What’s going down is going down despite your good work.
We are here to shine among them as stars, but we cannot change their hearts. That’s up to the Holy Spirit.
The church exists because of Jesus and for Jesus. He sustains his church, he looks after his church. Now, we know that there are many inside the church whom Jesus will say, “Away from me, you evildoers” so it should come as no surprise that there are those inside the church who will not stand up for what is right. But they are not part of Christ’s body. By their deeds will you know them.
Evil will occur on our watch whether we act or not. When we act, we will be ignored and ostracised but that’s all good, because that’s what our roll is to be. Our role is not to change their hearts, but to set the example so by their own deeds condemn themselves.
Marcus Anderson
So it is now official. The labor government has pandered to the self-serving whims of a minority group while inventing excuses to tax those who actually create wealth.
Adam Morgan
Homosexuality in the church is one thing. Homosexuality in society is another. We no longer live in a Christianised society and I think our children will rather be asking, “why didn’t we love and serve homosexuals like Christ did the prostitutes and the adulterers and leprous”?
Not preaching repentance at them, lobbying for laws against them. But in a posture of love and service- showing and telling them of Christ’s love and repentance.
Too often I feel we lobby for laws against them, speak about the sin and it’s consequences; which may be true – but we do so not from the right posture. God’s goodness draws men to repentance.
I think I understand why you write the way you do on this matter, but I feel it does not line up with Christ’s response to our sin…
Blessings
Adam Elovalis
Thanks Adam
Sorry but I am not at all with you on this. Why make a totally unbiblical false dilemma here? Should Wilberforce only have loved and witnessed to slave traders and not work against this evil in Parliament? Should we only evangelise child pornographers and not seek to stop their activities? Why cannot we both love and evangelise individual homosexuals while working on public policy to protect our nation, our families and our children? Why deny the biblical truths that righteousness exalts a nation, and that God created government to maintain justice and punish vice?
We are to both reach individuals and also work for godly legislation – at the same time. We are to do both, not just pick one or the other. So why do you make us choose between the two when the Bible never calls us to? Sorry but I prefer to stick with Scripture here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
It’s 1.30am Sunday 4 December…I awoke to a heaviness…then you were on my heart…I was stirred to get out of bed..pick up “Strained Relations”…and go to the computer…revisit “Is It Time To Close Our Churches?” I was walking the floor…both ashamed and sickened. Then this article… Charles Finney, Martin Niemoller. The media as usual doing the enemy’s dirty work…news grab from Elton John who just happens to be touring…Darkness is descending upon this nation, the enemy is massing his forces…the siege now underway, the anger and rage building momentum before the final assault….the inevitable increasing shock waves of persecution yet to impact…a 20th C European holocaust to be superceded by a 21st C global village version… not so much ‘what’ will we tell our children but ‘who’ survives to tell our children….I’m going back to bed….thanks for waking me up Bill….or was it someone else.
Mike London
Many thanks Mike
Yes it is always neat when there are divine disturbances in the night. Thanks for your thoughts and your prayers.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
What will we tell our children?
Before or after DOCS take them away for being brought up to believe things in a Non-Government-Sanctioned manner?
Tim Andrews
Adam, your attitude is very much like a majority of Christians today who have decided it is more important to answer sin with ‘care’ rather than ‘truth’ and true biblical love.
The truth is what sets people free from the destruction of sin. Real love for people should motivate us to turn them to God and away from sin which destroys them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Annette Williams
Adam, I disagree with the thrust of your comment which fails to draw the important distinction between a person’s individual practice of homosexuality, or indeed any other sinful practice – adultery, stealing & etc – and the deliberate promotion of a campaigning ideological promotion of homosexuality for its intended end, namely to destroy Christian marriage.
You say above “homosexuality in the church is one thing and homosexuality in society is another.”
But if the practice of homosexuality is wrong in one context, then surely it is wrong also in ANY context?
You also pose an argument that to oppose homosexuality as an ideological movement, which it is worldwide, is of necessity to show a lack of love to individual homosexuals. Not necessarily so. Christians are to love all men irrespective of their personal ‘lifestyle’, and it is the Gospel itself, not us as Christians, which calls on all men to repent and to believe on Christ for salvation.
I suggest Christians are to oppose homosexuality because it is wrong, and because it represents a deliberate attempt to undermine, and then destroy the only concept of marriage ordained by God – namely heterosexual union between one man and one woman for life. That is what God has “joined together”. Nothing else is on offer!
SSM involves many other issues, not least an insidious, social engineering project aimed at deconstructing marriage and the family, stripping heterosexuality of its ‘privileged’ social, legal and cultural position (under the damning accusation of ‘heterosexism’) and allowing various forms of sexuality and family to enter mainstream life.
Does not God require us to be faithful to the whole counsel of God and to hold to a specifically Christian world videw, rather than a weak compromise accomodating secular values – including the whole “gay agenda”?
You say: “God’s goodness draws men to repentance.”
I think the Bible puts it the other way round – i.e. it is man’s responsibility in obedience to the Gospel message to repent. Grace is free amd certainly does “draw men”, but it is also conditional on what Paul describes as “obedience to the faith” (Rom. 1:5)
Graham Wood
Bill, you could also add this quote to the list-
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”- Edmund Burke
I admit, I have done nothng except get angry about it. I don’t know what to do. I know my local MP would be in favour of same sex marriage. I see a train wreak coming and I don’t know what to do about it. I can’t remember the last time this issue has been mentioned in the bulletins or announcements in the churches I attend.
Carl Strehlow
Bill, we were discussing these matters yesterday morning in our bi-weekly men’s breakfast. Romans 1 came up, particularly verse 18 which speaks of God’s wrath being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness and those who suppress the truth. Verse 24 goes on to speak of God giving them up to their uncleanness, in the lusts of their bodies. I made the point that it is a false logic that says that increasing acceptance of homosexuality will lead to God’s wrath being unleashed. Instead I said that the fact of the increasing acceptance of homosexuality is evidence that God’s wrath has already been and being unleashed against society. Homosexuality is not a crime that leads to punishment–it is the punishment.
I found this by John Piper: “The root of all our disorders – sexual and social and physical and emotional – is the exchange of the glory of God for other things. The solar system of our soul and our society was made to orbit around the glory of God as its all-controlling sun. And the entire human race has exchanged the glory of God for weightless, substitute satellites that have no gravity and can hold nothing in its proper orbit. Therefore all the world is disordered and decaying and moving toward destruction.”
Steve Swartz
Hi Bill,
Since my previous message, I spoke to the co pastor of my church after the service today and the Lutheran Church has been writing to the senate committee on this marriage issue and so on. My senior pastor has been a part of this. The co-pastor did say and thanked me to holding them accountable. The thing is I just don’t hear about this. I find it encouraging.
Carl Strehlow
Carl, hope you don’t mind if I give you a couple of ideas for action.
Firstly, always good to encourage those who make courageous public stands as Joe De Bruyn, Helen Polley and Deb O Neill did yesterday, to a hostile crowd.
You can usually google their contact details and drop a quick email to their office.
Likewise when someone is mentioned in a newspaper article. (Almost any day there will be someone being criticized for something they say in any of our MSM – this week we had a number of Queensland politicians also heckled over their opposition to the civil unions bill)
You can be sure they will be receiving volumous criticism and verbal abuse, so any encouragement is good.
Also, keep personally informed, writing to MPs, newspapers, and circulating information and stories amongst your own contacts particularly those that are not circulated in the MSM, many people will never hear of them otherwise.
Alternative news sources like this one, lifesitenews or even The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) do a daily update of items that are particularly concerning to Christians, many not covered by Australian MSM.
Of course if you can financially support these ministries that helps them to keep going.
Of course- above all else to be praying and staying in the Word will help keep you focused and driven by righteousness rather than anger, fear and despair.
God Bless,
Annette Williams
If just a fraction of professing believers contacted their elected representatives once a month and let them know of their concerns it would change history.
A relatively small number under Hitler ended up terrorizing the masses and in the end the world. If just a few more Germans spoke out he could have been stopped before he gained momentum.
Cancer is best dealt with if found and dealt with early.
Rob Withall
Thanks guys
As to what we can do, there is of course always prayer. But many more things can be done. I wrote a whole article on this, with practical pointers for real action:
Dear Bill, I have written some letters to the Morning Bulletin against same-sex marriage. The Morning Bulletin seems to be pandering to the same sex lobby, as is the A.L.P. Regarding the latest legislation from the Queensland Parliament about civil partnerships, the Bligh Goverenmenrt seems to be wasting space in the Queensland Parliament building. It is obvious Wisconsin’s loss is Australia’s gain. Keep up the good work. Regards,
Franklin Wood
Many thanks Franklin
Of course my numerous critics would say that Wisconsin’s gain is Australia’s loss!
Another great Christian organisation that helps you keep up-to-date is Salt Shakers (http://www.saltshakers.org.au/). These guys send out very regular updates via email.
And, yes, I am an affiliate of Salt Shakers. Doesn’t mean I can’t plug them, no? Peter and Jenny are doing great work.
Yes you are absolutely right. We must contact Abbott and the Coalition MPs and urge them not to cave in here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Cameron
Yes they are doing an excellent job. Other groups are also fighting the good fight. They all need support.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Hi Bill, Just FYI, I dropped an email to Mr Rudds office asking which way he voted on gay marriage at the conference and they responded by saying he was not a voting member- what does that mean?
I have also seen reports he was out congratulating and partying with the demonstrators after the conference.
It seems none of the Labor leaders have much integrity- he has a foot in both camps- displays his ‘Christian side’ when it suits , (like to win elections ) and goes ‘mum’ when asked to specify his position on this.
Another weak and wishy-washy politician who will say and do anything to get elected- nothing new here.
By the way, how come everyone who is demanding that Mr Abbott give a conscience vote are the very ones who voted against it for the labor party ?
184 labor members voted against a conscience vote being granted including Wong, Faulkner, Plibersek, Barr etc, as well as their long list of supporters like Mr Croome, Greenich, Phelps, Get Up etc etc … their demands to Mr Abbott are soo hypocritical.
Annette Williams
Thanks Bill,
There are certainly many more groups that need support rather than just Salt Shakers. I should clarify that I was not advertising for funding.
I spoke about them because Annette spoke about ACL’s updates and, I believe, that SS’s email updates are a reasonable alternative if one wants to stay informed.
Lifesitenews is my second most visited Christian site for updates too (behind your’s Bill, of course).
May I just mention 2 encouraging things in this debate.
1 The news this morning mentioned a “pulpit driven” opposition against the ALP endorsement of same sex marriage. I must admit though it was the ABC, so not sure how many in the pulpit have spoken out, just I could be enough for the ABC to try and give pulpits a bad reputation.
2 Last Saturday, I believe there was a marriage rally in the Domain in Sydney organised by the Christian Democratic Party.
Praise God. And on leaders who fail to speak out, lets increase our prayer for them?
It takes the faith of Mishek Shadrac and Abednego to constantly stand up in the face of the growing PC infestation. Bill would know this and I get a bit of a taste ever so often. What is lacking apart from the Holy Spirit, is plain logic, but I guess that goes by the wayside together with the author of it.
To the one who suggested we should only preach repentance and not try to push for godly laws, I would like to say that according to the Bible, the law is the school master that leads people to Christ. I found this true in my own past experience. People will take the expression of their willful sinful selfishness usually to the boundaries of legality. It is ungodly laws that lead people into ungodly behaviour and lulls them into a false sense of security. How are they to know that there is a saviour and a judge who’s requirements are higher? And those who know, already hopefully will follow Him out of their own free will.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
To Anette Williams, emailed my support to Helen and Deb but for the life of me, could not find an email link for Joe Debruyn, would you have one?
Steve Davis
There will be at least one parliamentary debate, probably more,on same-sex marriage. In the interests of something better than a sham debate,all who accept the created model of marriage and the family must set about a thorough deconstruction of the Greens’ case for same-sex marriage. I can’t help thinking that the ALP is scared of being made politically redundant by the Greens. Orwell described the phenomenon of Newspeak, whereby history and even the dictionaries are rewritten. I’m sure that in spirit at least, “Big Brother” Bob Brown was “watching” his Labor colleagues with great interest on Saturday!
John Wigg
Hi Steve – you are right, I have not been able to find a contact for Mr De Bruyn, but I did write a short encouragement to him in response to an ACL article over the weekend. I know he is associated with them and hopefully will see it.
Maybe someone else may know how we may contact him?
Annette Williams
Thanks Bill. I would like to ask here if readers of your blog could state whether their churches speak against homosexual activity from the platform. Mine (a Brethren church) does when this topic occurs in the bible passage for that Sunday. We go through Bible books chapter by chapter, the books to be studied being chosen by the leaders. So that makes twice this year. Barely a week goes by in my home group when it’s not denounced, I make sure of that.
John Harris
Bill, I firmly believe that religious freedom grows weak, ineffective Christians. It’s where the church is persecuted that Christians grow strong, ready to die for their beliefs.
So, in answer to your question, what will I tell my children? I’ll tell them this:
Australia is under God’s sovereign judgement for abandoning him to the idols of selfishness and greed. We have failed to live as God commands, so he has given us over to our evil desires, as per Romans 1.
Why has it happened on our watch? Because this is the allotted time for God’s judgement. There are men, such as yourself, who stand up for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable. What’s going down is going down despite your good work.
We are here to shine among them as stars, but we cannot change their hearts. That’s up to the Holy Spirit.
The church exists because of Jesus and for Jesus. He sustains his church, he looks after his church. Now, we know that there are many inside the church whom Jesus will say, “Away from me, you evildoers” so it should come as no surprise that there are those inside the church who will not stand up for what is right. But they are not part of Christ’s body. By their deeds will you know them.
Evil will occur on our watch whether we act or not. When we act, we will be ignored and ostracised but that’s all good, because that’s what our roll is to be. Our role is not to change their hearts, but to set the example so by their own deeds condemn themselves.
Marcus Anderson
So it is now official. The labor government has pandered to the self-serving whims of a minority group while inventing excuses to tax those who actually create wealth.
Adam Morgan
Homosexuality in the church is one thing. Homosexuality in society is another. We no longer live in a Christianised society and I think our children will rather be asking, “why didn’t we love and serve homosexuals like Christ did the prostitutes and the adulterers and leprous”?
Not preaching repentance at them, lobbying for laws against them. But in a posture of love and service- showing and telling them of Christ’s love and repentance.
Too often I feel we lobby for laws against them, speak about the sin and it’s consequences; which may be true – but we do so not from the right posture. God’s goodness draws men to repentance.
I think I understand why you write the way you do on this matter, but I feel it does not line up with Christ’s response to our sin…
Blessings
Adam Elovalis
Thanks Adam
Sorry but I am not at all with you on this. Why make a totally unbiblical false dilemma here? Should Wilberforce only have loved and witnessed to slave traders and not work against this evil in Parliament? Should we only evangelise child pornographers and not seek to stop their activities? Why cannot we both love and evangelise individual homosexuals while working on public policy to protect our nation, our families and our children? Why deny the biblical truths that righteousness exalts a nation, and that God created government to maintain justice and punish vice?
We are to both reach individuals and also work for godly legislation – at the same time. We are to do both, not just pick one or the other. So why do you make us choose between the two when the Bible never calls us to? Sorry but I prefer to stick with Scripture here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
It’s 1.30am Sunday 4 December…I awoke to a heaviness…then you were on my heart…I was stirred to get out of bed..pick up “Strained Relations”…and go to the computer…revisit “Is It Time To Close Our Churches?” I was walking the floor…both ashamed and sickened. Then this article… Charles Finney, Martin Niemoller. The media as usual doing the enemy’s dirty work…news grab from Elton John who just happens to be touring…Darkness is descending upon this nation, the enemy is massing his forces…the siege now underway, the anger and rage building momentum before the final assault….the inevitable increasing shock waves of persecution yet to impact…a 20th C European holocaust to be superceded by a 21st C global village version… not so much ‘what’ will we tell our children but ‘who’ survives to tell our children….I’m going back to bed….thanks for waking me up Bill….or was it someone else.
Mike London
Many thanks Mike
Yes it is always neat when there are divine disturbances in the night. Thanks for your thoughts and your prayers.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
What will we tell our children?
Before or after DOCS take them away for being brought up to believe things in a Non-Government-Sanctioned manner?
Tim Andrews
Adam, your attitude is very much like a majority of Christians today who have decided it is more important to answer sin with ‘care’ rather than ‘truth’ and true biblical love.
The truth is what sets people free from the destruction of sin. Real love for people should motivate us to turn them to God and away from sin which destroys them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Annette Williams
Adam, I disagree with the thrust of your comment which fails to draw the important distinction between a person’s individual practice of homosexuality, or indeed any other sinful practice – adultery, stealing & etc – and the deliberate promotion of a campaigning ideological promotion of homosexuality for its intended end, namely to destroy Christian marriage.
You say above “homosexuality in the church is one thing and homosexuality in society is another.”
But if the practice of homosexuality is wrong in one context, then surely it is wrong also in ANY context?
You also pose an argument that to oppose homosexuality as an ideological movement, which it is worldwide, is of necessity to show a lack of love to individual homosexuals. Not necessarily so. Christians are to love all men irrespective of their personal ‘lifestyle’, and it is the Gospel itself, not us as Christians, which calls on all men to repent and to believe on Christ for salvation.
I suggest Christians are to oppose homosexuality because it is wrong, and because it represents a deliberate attempt to undermine, and then destroy the only concept of marriage ordained by God – namely heterosexual union between one man and one woman for life. That is what God has “joined together”. Nothing else is on offer!
SSM involves many other issues, not least an insidious, social engineering project aimed at deconstructing marriage and the family, stripping heterosexuality of its ‘privileged’ social, legal and cultural position (under the damning accusation of ‘heterosexism’) and allowing various forms of sexuality and family to enter mainstream life.
Does not God require us to be faithful to the whole counsel of God and to hold to a specifically Christian world videw, rather than a weak compromise accomodating secular values – including the whole “gay agenda”?
You say: “God’s goodness draws men to repentance.”
I think the Bible puts it the other way round – i.e. it is man’s responsibility in obedience to the Gospel message to repent. Grace is free amd certainly does “draw men”, but it is also conditional on what Paul describes as “obedience to the faith” (Rom. 1:5)
Graham Wood
Bill, you could also add this quote to the list-
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”- Edmund Burke
I admit, I have done nothng except get angry about it. I don’t know what to do. I know my local MP would be in favour of same sex marriage. I see a train wreak coming and I don’t know what to do about it. I can’t remember the last time this issue has been mentioned in the bulletins or announcements in the churches I attend.
Carl Strehlow
Bill, we were discussing these matters yesterday morning in our bi-weekly men’s breakfast. Romans 1 came up, particularly verse 18 which speaks of God’s wrath being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness and those who suppress the truth. Verse 24 goes on to speak of God giving them up to their uncleanness, in the lusts of their bodies. I made the point that it is a false logic that says that increasing acceptance of homosexuality will lead to God’s wrath being unleashed. Instead I said that the fact of the increasing acceptance of homosexuality is evidence that God’s wrath has already been and being unleashed against society. Homosexuality is not a crime that leads to punishment–it is the punishment.
I found this by John Piper: “The root of all our disorders – sexual and social and physical and emotional – is the exchange of the glory of God for other things. The solar system of our soul and our society was made to orbit around the glory of God as its all-controlling sun. And the entire human race has exchanged the glory of God for weightless, substitute satellites that have no gravity and can hold nothing in its proper orbit. Therefore all the world is disordered and decaying and moving toward destruction.”
Steve Swartz
Hi Bill,
Since my previous message, I spoke to the co pastor of my church after the service today and the Lutheran Church has been writing to the senate committee on this marriage issue and so on. My senior pastor has been a part of this. The co-pastor did say and thanked me to holding them accountable. The thing is I just don’t hear about this. I find it encouraging.
Carl Strehlow
Carl, hope you don’t mind if I give you a couple of ideas for action.
Firstly, always good to encourage those who make courageous public stands as Joe De Bruyn, Helen Polley and Deb O Neill did yesterday, to a hostile crowd.
You can usually google their contact details and drop a quick email to their office.
Likewise when someone is mentioned in a newspaper article. (Almost any day there will be someone being criticized for something they say in any of our MSM – this week we had a number of Queensland politicians also heckled over their opposition to the civil unions bill)
You can be sure they will be receiving volumous criticism and verbal abuse, so any encouragement is good.
Also, keep personally informed, writing to MPs, newspapers, and circulating information and stories amongst your own contacts particularly those that are not circulated in the MSM, many people will never hear of them otherwise.
Alternative news sources like this one, lifesitenews or even The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) do a daily update of items that are particularly concerning to Christians, many not covered by Australian MSM.
Of course if you can financially support these ministries that helps them to keep going.
Of course- above all else to be praying and staying in the Word will help keep you focused and driven by righteousness rather than anger, fear and despair.
God Bless,
Annette Williams
If just a fraction of professing believers contacted their elected representatives once a month and let them know of their concerns it would change history.
A relatively small number under Hitler ended up terrorizing the masses and in the end the world. If just a few more Germans spoke out he could have been stopped before he gained momentum.
Cancer is best dealt with if found and dealt with early.
Rob Withall
Thanks guys
As to what we can do, there is of course always prayer. But many more things can be done. I wrote a whole article on this, with practical pointers for real action:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2010/09/19/but-what-can-i-do/
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Dear Bill, I have written some letters to the Morning Bulletin against same-sex marriage. The Morning Bulletin seems to be pandering to the same sex lobby, as is the A.L.P. Regarding the latest legislation from the Queensland Parliament about civil partnerships, the Bligh Goverenmenrt seems to be wasting space in the Queensland Parliament building. It is obvious Wisconsin’s loss is Australia’s gain. Keep up the good work. Regards,
Franklin Wood
Many thanks Franklin
Of course my numerous critics would say that Wisconsin’s gain is Australia’s loss!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
A suggestion?
It seems Tony Abbott is now coming under pressure to cave in to at least giving a conscience vote:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8384754
Maybe Christians and other concerned people should consider contacting Tony and encourage him to hold the line?
http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/ContactTony.aspx
Mark Wong
Annette & Carl,
Another great Christian organisation that helps you keep up-to-date is Salt Shakers (http://www.saltshakers.org.au/). These guys send out very regular updates via email.
And, yes, I am an affiliate of Salt Shakers. Doesn’t mean I can’t plug them, no? Peter and Jenny are doing great work.
Regards,
Cameron Spink
RESISTANCE THINKING CO-ORDINATOR
Thanks Mark
Yes you are absolutely right. We must contact Abbott and the Coalition MPs and urge them not to cave in here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Cameron
Yes they are doing an excellent job. Other groups are also fighting the good fight. They all need support.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Hi Bill, Just FYI, I dropped an email to Mr Rudds office asking which way he voted on gay marriage at the conference and they responded by saying he was not a voting member- what does that mean?
I have also seen reports he was out congratulating and partying with the demonstrators after the conference.
It seems none of the Labor leaders have much integrity- he has a foot in both camps- displays his ‘Christian side’ when it suits , (like to win elections ) and goes ‘mum’ when asked to specify his position on this.
Another weak and wishy-washy politician who will say and do anything to get elected- nothing new here.
By the way, how come everyone who is demanding that Mr Abbott give a conscience vote are the very ones who voted against it for the labor party ?
184 labor members voted against a conscience vote being granted including Wong, Faulkner, Plibersek, Barr etc, as well as their long list of supporters like Mr Croome, Greenich, Phelps, Get Up etc etc … their demands to Mr Abbott are soo hypocritical.
Annette Williams
Thanks Bill,
There are certainly many more groups that need support rather than just Salt Shakers. I should clarify that I was not advertising for funding.
I spoke about them because Annette spoke about ACL’s updates and, I believe, that SS’s email updates are a reasonable alternative if one wants to stay informed.
Lifesitenews is my second most visited Christian site for updates too (behind your’s Bill, of course).
Regards,
Cameron Spink
RESISTANCE THINKING CO-ORDINATOR
May I just mention 2 encouraging things in this debate.
1 The news this morning mentioned a “pulpit driven” opposition against the ALP endorsement of same sex marriage. I must admit though it was the ABC, so not sure how many in the pulpit have spoken out, just I could be enough for the ABC to try and give pulpits a bad reputation.
2 Last Saturday, I believe there was a marriage rally in the Domain in Sydney organised by the Christian Democratic Party.
Praise God. And on leaders who fail to speak out, lets increase our prayer for them?
It takes the faith of Mishek Shadrac and Abednego to constantly stand up in the face of the growing PC infestation. Bill would know this and I get a bit of a taste ever so often. What is lacking apart from the Holy Spirit, is plain logic, but I guess that goes by the wayside together with the author of it.
To the one who suggested we should only preach repentance and not try to push for godly laws, I would like to say that according to the Bible, the law is the school master that leads people to Christ. I found this true in my own past experience. People will take the expression of their willful sinful selfishness usually to the boundaries of legality. It is ungodly laws that lead people into ungodly behaviour and lulls them into a false sense of security. How are they to know that there is a saviour and a judge who’s requirements are higher? And those who know, already hopefully will follow Him out of their own free will.
Many blessings
Ursula Bennett
To Anette Williams, emailed my support to Helen and Deb but for the life of me, could not find an email link for Joe Debruyn, would you have one?
Steve Davis
There will be at least one parliamentary debate, probably more,on same-sex marriage. In the interests of something better than a sham debate,all who accept the created model of marriage and the family must set about a thorough deconstruction of the Greens’ case for same-sex marriage. I can’t help thinking that the ALP is scared of being made politically redundant by the Greens. Orwell described the phenomenon of Newspeak, whereby history and even the dictionaries are rewritten. I’m sure that in spirit at least, “Big Brother” Bob Brown was “watching” his Labor colleagues with great interest on Saturday!
John Wigg
Hi Steve – you are right, I have not been able to find a contact for Mr De Bruyn, but I did write a short encouragement to him in response to an ACL article over the weekend. I know he is associated with them and hopefully will see it.
Maybe someone else may know how we may contact him?
Annette Williams
Thanks guys
Simply contact him though his union: http://www.sda.org.au/
He lives in Melbourne so use the Victorian contact.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch