Following on from my article last week, titled - Not a problem - we have seen the hate come out against Israel Folau and Margaret Court and many lesser figures in Australia.
The question is two fold, the first is that both Israel and Margaret exercised their free speech albeit with the horrific haters coming out against their free speech.
No police officer, no federal agent, no government official landed on their door step with hand-cuffs at the ready to whisk them away to some dark dungeon.
None of that happened. Rather, sporting bodies concerned with their sponsorship, their relationship with the 1.2% of Australian’s homosexual community and their supporters came out against Israel and Margaret.
Neither have major companies come out against either Israel or Margaret as they too are fearful of having discrimination suits and public outrage – we call these people ‘quiet Australians’ they elected the Scott Morrison Government in 2019.
What is the deep seated issue
As a Baptist Minister of 43 years,
a daily columnist with Christian Today since 2008,
the Australian cricket team chaplain of 17 years followed by Life After Cricket for 18 years,
recipient of the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century, and the
Gutenberg Award in 2019 by the Australasian Religious Press Association – that is a lot of experience –
the deep seated issue is “faith in Jesus Christ” to Salvation.
The hate speech exercised by those who came against Israel and Margaret is essentially, an horrific attack on those with profile who are true believers in Jesus Christ.
This is the great hate. This is the forensic frightening hate of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, as allowing Christian people, those who follow Jesus to have their say in public and promoting all the positives of Christian commitment, is at the very forefront of their philosophy. Atheism is their central focus and the need to destroy anything Christian is paramount.
They hate us.
One core trouble
I have stated this in my articles over and over again. The Parliament failed to clarify what were the limits of same-sex marriage. Both the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the then Opposition Leader Bill Shorten stated clearly that the Bill was only allowing two people who loved each other to marry.
However fears fell on deaf ears that it would impact every area of life all the way to primary schools, kindergartens, to law suits against Christians who opposed this very legislation.
There is no good-will with the hates against Christians. They go for the jugular. They hate Christians and any-which-way will do very nicely.
Responses
There are at least three responses
There is the Israel Folau and Margaret Court model - big enough to exercise free speech. Hold the fort. Be strong. Take the haters criticism.
Another is to become an activist yourself, and fight fire with fire. Get the courts engaged and increasingly the courts are coming down on the side those who disagree with the haters.
In this same vein the new Federal anti-discrimination legislation against Christians will pit the haters against truth and righteousness.
The third is on the ground – P&C meetings, local sports administration, chess clubs, every conceivable society group and stand strong against the haters. Christians need to be involved. I have been a member of Chambers of Commerce in Moruya and Tweed Heads. This is my local bit.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 25 books, and enjoys writing. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded ‘The Gutenberg’ - the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. He and David Chang editor of Christian Today together bought the young writer ministry into fruition in 2009. In 2011 Mark established Laguna Quays Respite (Whitsundays) for missionary respite and replicated at Aldinga Beach 2016 (Adelaide) and Greens Beach Bass Straight (TAS). His ministry is honoured all these years by Christian philanthropist Mr Basil Sellers AM. He is married to Delma (44 years), with four adult married children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/dr-mark-t.html
