In all of Australian history there has never been a more pressing need for its Christians to be unequivocally known and clearly heard in the public square, preaching the Gospel and the announcing the Kingdom of God with all the confidence and urgency Jesus commanded. He rebuked an inclination to hide our light, instead commanding it be as unmissable in public as a city on a hill.
This week the Queensland Police labelled the majority doctrine of Christians throughout the world as “a broad Christian fundamentalist belief system known as premillennialism” which, in their hatefully bigoted view, motivated the heinous crime which resulted in two police officers and a neighbour being murdered.
The Queensland police deputy commissioner, Tracy Linford, couldn’t have been more woefully ignorant of Christian doctrine if she’d been trying. How uneducated do you have to be to describe a millennium as “a thousand days”? This is how utterly clueless this organisation is, and she’s meant to be among the most deserving of promotion of them.
Describing the criminals as “Christian extremists”, Linford failed to offer any logical link between Christian doctrine and violently murdering police and neighbours. Such a link would be easy to draw, as it is with false religions whose founder was a murdering war lord terrorist with a track record to back up his explicit incitements to violence. But no such credible link exists in the fundamentals of Christianity.
Not one single terror event has ever in world history been attributed to premillennialism — the Scriptural teaching that Jesus is returning to earth the same way He departed, and will Himself establish a physical Kingdom on earth bringing peace and justice to every corner of the globe. There are eight times as many prophecies in Scripture regarding His Second Coming as there were specifically regarding His First Coming, which history proves was literally (not figuratively or allegorically) fulfilled. It is the persistant hope of the Church and the Great News of the Gospel.
This understanding has been around for nearly 200 years, and prevalent for many decades. There is more basis for prepper terrorism in the climate alarmism dogma preached by leftists, globalists and elitists than such orthodox Christian doctrine as premillenialism, so why isn’t the lying harlot media (LHM) blamed for this tragedy? That’s at least somewhat plausible.
Here’s what the ignoramuses/christophobes at Queensland police need to know about the fundamentals of Christianity before they grab the gun by the wrong end and say stupid things again.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” – Romans 13:1-7
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” – 1 Peter 2:13-14
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” – Titus 3:1-2
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
As ACL managing director, Martyn Iles also pointed out:
Jesus Himself submitted to Pilate’s judgement, acknowledging the man’s authority. He also said, “My kingdom is not of this world, or else my servants would fight.”Premillennialism affirms the absolute authority of these scriptures.We’re living in clown world.In Ancient Rome, the authorities blamed Christianity for the evils of their day because they either hated it, or were totally ignorant concerning it.I call on Deputy Commissioner Linford to point out where in premillennialism there is any authority given whatsoever for a person to use premeditated violence.She can’t, because there isn’t.
The Australian Church and State Summit is an annual gathering of Christians from all denominations, without any partisan affiliation or loyalty, to learn about and encourage each other in preaching the Kingdom of God in the public square. There is, obviously, zero discussion or tolerance of premeditated violence as it is completely antithetical to authentic, well formed Christians.
The political revolution we preach is spiritual, moral and cultural – the exact same way William Wilberforce and the grassroots Christians of pre-Victorian England together prevailed against the establishment’s evil of liberalised slavery and proud indulgences in immorality.
John the Baptist operated like all Christians should: preaching the soon coming Messiah, baptising people unto repentance, rebuking the government for immorality in marriage, and teaching the Roman soldiers (government authorities) how to be Christian in the performance of their duties.
If we’re to believe the deputy commissioner is not exceptional in her ignorance or prejudice, it is abundantly clear how little the average citizen knows about Christianity, the fullness of the Gospel, or the God-designed implications of the Kingdom of God here and now in every city and nation in the world.
That is the Church’s fault, and the Church is not an institution, but every believer in the death, resurrection and Lordship of Jesus Christ. It’s on our watch that the most senior ranks of police don’t even know the Great News of the Second Coming, or the signs of His return.
Months ago I invited who I consider to be one of Australia’s best, most unifying and clear teachers of eschatology (the study of end times) to preach “the Great News” at this year’s Church And State Summit to be held 3-4 March in Brisbane. All unsold seats will be free for that Friday night, and the whole conference will be live streamed globally for free on the ADH TV app. Perhaps someone who knows her could invite the deputy commissioner to sit and learn in person, or at least watch every session on demand before presuming she or her armed boffins know anything about the fundamentals of Christianity.
On Saturday another eminent minister will teach on the Scriptural boundaries of protests against government, while a highly distinguished emeritus law professor will also teach on the legal foundations and proper parameters for civil disobedience. That looks nothing like terrorism or murder, because they are the polar opposite of true religion.
If someone donned a police uniform and robbed a bank after murdering the security guard while shouting, “Hand over the cash in the name of the law!” before making their getaway in a police car, no one would accuse them of being police “fundamentalists” – just frauds.
Church And State events around Australia are “arming Christians to influence culture”, not with swords or guns, hate or violence; but with clear preaching of the Gospel and Jesus Christ’s will and ways, the Kingdom of God: for the betterment of all humanity, maximal human flourishing and freedom.
It is up to right thinking believers who love their neighbours and nation to understand the times and not sit the culture war out. We can’t leave the direction of our culture up to those of lesser moral character and virtue who are delighted to have their agendas uncontested and paraded through the streets as though in some contorted, grotesque way, righteous.
We can’t let people like Daniel Andrews, Alex Greenwich or Tracy Linford pretend they are entitled to their own facts and implement their preferred vision of society. For the love of our neighbours, we must be, democratically, involved and influential in the public square.
The need is urgent. If you’re a Christian, don’t miss out on the Australian Church And State Summit.
“Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.” (Isaiah 1:16-17)
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Dave Pellowe is a Christian writer & commentator, founder of The Good Sauce, convener of the annual Australian Church And State Summit and host of Good Sauce's weekly The Church And State Show, also syndicated on ADH TV. Since 2016 Dave has undertaken the mission of arming Christians to influence culture through events from Perth to Auckland, videos, podcasts and articles published in multiple journals across Australia and New Zealand. [more]
This free service - independent, right thinking media - is because people like you donate a small amount every month.
No government is going to fix the Lying Harlot Media - they're never going to subsidise the news & views people need to hear. And nor should they, because if your media source depends on government subsidies, how could you trust its independence?
The Good Sauce is bringing the best of thinking about important issues, arguments rarely seen elsewhere, into one convenient website with weekly email updates direct to your inbox. But our existence and growth really depends on generous monthly supporters - people like you. Become a Good Sauce supporter today and help us grow to better serve you for the long term.
