Look I understand the hesitancy of Christians to get involved in Party Politics. ‘It distracts from our core purpose of sharing the Gospel’ according to some, ‘it’s unnecessarily divisive according to some’, ‘Jesus came to unite not divide’.
But sadly for too long Christians have been missing in action but God in his grace has not abandoned us. He just uses Atheists and agnostics instead.
Some of the biggest advocates of the Christian Faith are Atheists and Agnostics
Mark Latham who describes himself as an ‘agnostic’ even once said while leader of the Labor Party, that there is ‘No role for Religion in Politics’ has become one of the biggest advocates for the Christian Faith in this country.
He now says “I might not be a Christian, but I do believe in Religious freedom for all”. He launched a private members bill to protect religious freedom in 2020.
Just before Parliament dissolved for the State Election in New South Wales he passed an Education Bill that banned the teaching of gender fluidity in NSW Public Schools.
Some prominent people in the media including Rowan Dean, Andrew Bolt and Paul Murray have all expressed the fact they do not believe in a God yet have all publicly defended people like Israel Folau, Margaret Court and spoken out against an offensive joke told on The Project that was aimed at Christians.
But why aren’t Christians speaking out?
It’s all very well for people like Mark Latham and some commentators in the media to speak out? But where are the anointed men and woman of God?
Yes there are small pockets of prominent leaders who do, I read a fantastic response Archbishop Anthony Fisher made inviting the cast and crew of The Project to their Easter services to see who much of a revered figure Jesus Christ is and how horribly disrespectful it is to mock revered religious figures.
But there is not enough and I think Christians forget just how prominent they are in this country.
I remember during Covid there were some ridiculous public health orders signed they were so unfair to Christians.
One I remember that stood out was a complete ban on singing even during a live stream in an emptyroom.
Christians led by the Australian Christian Lobby stood up emailed their local MP, Health Minister Brad Hazzard , the then NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the order was reversed in hours.
You see when Christians get together and unite to speak out against unjust laws, great things can happen.
So why don’t we do it more often?
I understand the arguments which I mentioned earlier but I don’t think any of them hold water.
If we don’t have the freedom to share the Gospel then our work to bring people to salvation will only get harder.
If the culture is becoming more hostile to the things of God then it will be harder to share the good news.
If we wish to be salt and light we have to have the light on. We have to give reasons for the hope that we hold. When that hope becomes attacked we have to leave the light on.
We have to use the freedom we have to bring as many people towards Christ as possible. Otherwise the work gets harder, let use the freedom we have to be salt and light.
Ben Kruzins is the Campus Pastor of The Hub Baptist Church in Ocean Shores on the North Coast of New South Wales. He is also a Journalism graduate who has written articles in The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald.