I love this country; to me it is the greatest land in the world. As I was walking into church the other day, I thought to myself that no one had to go through a bomb check or a metal detector when we arrived. No one had come with thoughts of being blown up, or shot etc. Yet for how many nations in the world, would it be a vastly different story? Australia is one of a few successful Christian democracies in the world. Even the USA fought a war f their freedom from England a: then a civil war. The UK fought bloody civil war and more recently they have faced IRA bombs, and race riots. France has been a divided nation for 150 years. Russia, Greece, Italy a Spain are just a few that experienced revolution and civil war. Historian Paul Johnson wrote: “ The development of Australia rates as one of mankind’s greatest achievements……….one of the most advanced. and prosperous societies on earth has been created. It is an achievement with few parallels in history.”

I am not just a minister, but I am also a fifth generation Aussie; I have dual citizenship. I am a citizen of heaven, as well as Australia. I have a stewardship of what He has given me here in this great land. Yet so few Christians will stand up and fight, for that God given freedom. Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia clearly states: “The Commonwealth shall not make any law establishing any religion or imposing religious observance or for prohibiting the free exercise of religion…..”Separation of Church and State’ If it were not for the Christians, we would not have these rights and freedom of speech. The press acknowledges this: “Christian principles provide the basis of our system of government, law, ethics and personal values.” (Sydney Daily Telegraph 30’12/1999).

Let me quote our founding fathers on what is called `Original Intent’: “Henry Parkes was another of our founding fathers who believed passionately in our Christian Heritage! He said: “we are pre-eminently a Christian people as our laws, our whole system of jurisprudence, our Constitution are based upon and interwoven with our Christian belief.” Sydney Morning Herald, 26/8/1885 Sir John Downer, also one of the co-authors of the Constitution wrote: Our Commonwealth of Australia will be, from this first stage, a Christian Commonwealth.” Prime Minister Deakin wrote: “God preserve this people and grant its leaders unselfish fidelity and courage to face all the trials for the sake of the brotherhood. Thy blessing has rested upon us here yesterday and we pray that it may be the means of creating and fostering throughout all Australia a Christlike citizenship.” (Alfred Deakin’s Prayers 4/6/1898).

In spite of what many people think Civil Government is a Biblical doctrine. Need proof? Jeremiah 17:9 talks about the separation of powers. Isaiah 33.22 talks about the branches of government. Ezra 7:24 is where we get the idea for exemption of Churches from taxation. While Exodus 18:21 and 22 talks about Civil Government. These are Biblical principles. This is the first time free elections are ever mentioned, and it comes from the Bible! People were told to choose leaders of 10s, S0s and 100s and thousands. That’s the basis for local, shires, state and federal elections!

All of these ideas came from the Bible, not the Koran or Buddhism! The very idea that civil government is the servant of man comes from the Bible. In fact the most used source for the writer of the Magna Carta -basis for the Westminster System and hence Australia’s – was the Bible There are over 1700 Bible verses dealing with Civil Government. Romans 13:4 says that those involved in civil government are “ministers of God”

Look at Hebrews 11..the faith hall of fame, every single person listed between verses 22 and 34 was involved in civil government. God says these are our heroes of faith. Men to look up to. Yet we have allowed special interest groups to squeeze us into their way of thinking, such as: “Christians should not be involved in government!”

A quick study of our history reveals that most of our founding fathers were Christians or at least had a heart towards God. Yet today I am denied some of my rights as a Christian. For instance in Victoria I cannot door knock or openly witness in the streets. Yet a leading Muslim cleric can go on Australian radio and call our Prime Minister `a coward’, youth can riot, attack police and carry offensive banners with foul language through our capital cities, Greenpeace can carry out acts of aggression and piracy against the Australian Navy in Sydney. How come?

Yet two Christians are being taken before the Victorian Tribunal for racial/religious vilification for nothing more than quoting from the Muslim’s Koran! How come’? Australians live under the impression that the constitution governs Australia. This is a misunderstanding. It is not the constitution that governs the land.
Government! Men are the substance and men must do the business! What the Constitution does is show us how we put people into office. If we vote crummy people into office. There’s no guarantee that the constitution will work! Think about this from a Biblical standpoint. There has never been a country in the history of the world that has had better civil laws than Israel. God himself wrote their laws. That’s as good as it gets! But how did civil law work for them under Ahab, Jezebel, Mannasa and other bad King’s? What’s the good of having good laws if we elect bad leaders?

The constitution does not guarantee anything under bad leaders. \k ho’s responsible for electing bad leaders? We are! If we don’t put right leaders into office, the document is worthless! What is the single most quoted Bible verse dealing with civil government? Proverbs 29:2 it is not how good our laws are, it’s how good our leaders are!

This Verse means nothing if you are living in Cuba, Saudi Arabia or Iraq. Why? Because they get no choice of their leaders! Here in Australia we get to choose who is going to rule over us! God told us. If’ you want to rejoice or mourn — the choice is yours! It is a stewardship government by us the people! How many Christians vote from their wallet? That’s why we get wacky judges making crazy, out of touch decisions.

We are either rebuilding our nation’s foundations or helping destroy them. Charles Finney wrote: The church must take right ground in regard to politics. Politics are part of any Christian nation and that’s because of the stewardship aspect. Christians must do their duty to their country as part of their duty to God. Australia will enjoy blessings or curses according to the course that Christians take in politics”.

I believe that the Church is accountable to God for which way our nation goes.