ADDRESSING THE CULTURE ISSUES — PART THREE

A certain Pentecostal leader in Victoria, who claims to be an apostle, recently wrote that Australia was largely Christian. He wasn’t speaking by faith, he wasn’t making a declaration … he actually thinks that most citizens are actually Christian.

On the other hand, Greg Sheridan, a conservative journalist, has written, “The Christian churches now need to reconceive of themselves as representing a distinct and not all that big minority (of practising Christians). They should conduct themselves as a self-confident minority, seeking to win conversion through example and persuasion”. Indeed, Mr Sheridan knows that Christianity is near extinct, but instead of actually fighting to win, he thinks it should fight to survive. That’s probably why Mr Sheridan has decided that he would “win” if he joined the side promoting same sex marriage, rather than to come along side with Pastor Margaret Court’s stand against it.

This new conservatism is completely weak and misguided, which is exactly why there is a Right resurgence and reactionary movements like the Alt-Right.

In Part One of this series, we looked at the call for Roman Catholics who not only stand up for good values, but who must come out into proper Protestant Christianity. In Part Two we looked at different approaches by believing Protestants. They have said, “We need a new Reformation.” I remember getting goosebumps when Ken Ham declared that uncompromisingly in Sydney years ago. Pentecostals, Fundamentalists, Presbyterians and any other believer need to stop compromising with the world, we need to seek a mass movement and outpouring of the Spirit on a ground level while also believing for doctrinal unity in the Church and Christian leadership at a top political level.

Jesus has placed ministry offices in the Church, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-16).

This requires outpouring of the Spirit, because there is no way that we can get our doctrine right and get into proper unity without Him.

I believe doctrinal unity of the believers is possible. I believe it is promised. I believe that we should let God do the work in us that are able to have it. But barely any Christian seems to believe that. Doctrinal unity is based upon the Word and Spirit, not on a sword or compromise.

As for the outpouring of the Spirit, then all Pentecostals who profess to believe that (many worldly and compromised Pentecostals are ineligible) should see that there is a positive future for believers prior to the return of Christ in the rapture, not one of near defeat.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matthew 24:45, 46).

Notice that the promise of this passage is that the Christian is to be in leadership, the Christian is to be able to convert nations and systematically be reaching the normal person.

People have talked about supporting some secular ruler whom they like, whether Trump or Putin or any other hero of the Alt-Right. But if we are to have such heroes, they must be Christian in the true sense, and most importantly, it is foolish to try to get a Christian leader in without having a change in the culture. Constantine was able to come into power as a Christian ruler because there was a strong (albeit persecuted) Christian movement among the normal people.

We have the essence of correct culture being afforded to us, in the remnants of the ideology from Britain and America. Now the Christians in Australia need to assert genuine Christianity and reactivate what now is in pieces into a coherent whole, an Australian Christian culture.

Not yet her day. How long “not yet?”
There comes the flush of violet!
And heavenward faces, all aflame
With sanguine imminence of morn,
Wait but the sun-kiss to proclaim
The Day of the Dominion born.
Prelusive baptism!—ere the natal hour
Named with the name and prophecy of power.
(The Dominion, J. B. Stephens).

SOURCE: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/greg-sheridan/christian-churches-drifting-too-far-from-the-marketplace-of-ideas/news-story/e641fab1f62b1a63b08cc1ec75634af5