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What Called You to Action in 2024
Throughout 2024, New Zealanders engaged in numerous protests, each driven by a deep sense of urgency and passion. From opposing Israeli aggression in Gaza to challenging the Treaty Principles Bill, Kiwis took to the streets, voicing their concerns and demanding change. Yet, as the year progressed, it became evident that these efforts often fell short of achieving their intended goals.
The year began with marches against Israeli actions in Gaza, followed by opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill in February, and culminated in a massive hikoi to Parliament in November. Despite the fervour and energy invested in these protests, the issues at hand remained unresolved. Israeli forces continued their operations, the Treaty Principles Bill advanced, and the societal impact of these protests seemed minimal.
This pattern raises a critical question: why do we stop protesting in great numbers about certain issues, and when did we stop caring about the alleged atrocities? The answer lies in the nature of protest itself. While protests can bring about awareness and momentary unity, they often lack the sustained impact needed to drive real change. The huffing and puffing, much like the fairy tale of the three pigs, often amounts to little more than just noise.
Consider the protests against the Treaty Principles Bill. Despite vocal opposition on Waitangi Day and at Parliament, the bill progressed. Similarly, protests against Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon did not halt the violence. The reality is that for a protest to be effective, the cause must resonate deeply with the majority of the population. In these cases, the issues did not garner the widespread support needed to effect change.
As a seasoned journalist, I have witnessed many protests, reporting on both sides of the cause. One protest that resonated deeply with me was in 2015, following the tragic death of three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri. The nation marched for justice, demanding an end to violent crimes against children. The heartfelt outpouring of grief and anger was palpable, uniting people from all walks of life. Yet, despite the awareness raised, the underlying issues of child abuse persisted.
The reality is that while protests can create awareness, they often fail to bring about lasting change. The next day, life goes on, and the issues remain. When we hear about another child being abused, we may raise an eyebrow and mutter, “not again,” but the cycle continues. If we truly cared, we would take sustained, meaningful action to address these issues.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of child abuse in the developed world, ranking fifth in the OECD for child abuse levels.
While statistics have not been released for 2024, Oranga Tamariki figures show for the 12 months ending 31 March 2023 there were 69,500 reports of concern relating to children and young people; 37,800 of those reports required assessments or investigations to be carried out.
As we head into the festive season, professing goodwill to all, we must reflect on what truly matters. Behind closed doors, domestic violence and child abuse continue to plague our society. If New Zealanders want to march, huff, puff, and raise their voices, it must be for causes that unite us all. The abuse and death of innocent children should be at the forefront of our collective conscience.
In conclusion, while protests can highlight issues, they are often futile without sustained action. As a society, we must prioritize protecting our most vulnerable—our children. Let us take time to reflect on what we can achieve as a nation and commit to loving and cherishing our young ones. They are the future of our nation, and it is our duty to ensure their safety and well-being.
The Unthinkable: The World on the Brink of Four Simultaneous Conflicts
As published in The Daily Examiner News Website and based on the Christian Voice New Zealand podcast: The Unthinkable
It’s hard for the typical New Zealand citizen to imagine that the country’s Defence Forces might be required to participate in a military conflict before the year is over.
The United States might need to lean on its military allies as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran eagerly anticipate challenging the world’s most powerful military.
For many Christians as these events unfold may recall the words of Jesus Christ from the Bible, warning that in the last days, there would be wars and rumours of wars.
This year and more so now as 2024 draws to a close, we have reached a moment in history that none of us will forget.
As the world stands on the brink of four major conflicts, we are standing on the precipice of the unthinkable.
Horrific wars have a way of erupting when most people are not expecting them.
Hardly anyone expected a global war to erupt in 1914, but then tens of millions died over the next four years.
Hardly anyone expected a global war to erupt in 1939, but once again tens of millions died over the next six years.
This time around, what is happening should be glaringly obvious to everyone.
If the nations currently beating the drums of war do not change course, not tens of millions but billions could die during the nightmarish global wars that are rapidly approaching.
Since the end of World War II in 1945, the prospect of another global conflict has loomed, yet the nations have been reluctant to tread the path again.
Since the end of World War II in 1945, the prospect of another global conflict has loomed, yet nations were reluctant to tread that path again. Now, that reluctance has vanished as the drums of war grow louder each day, causing major concerns across the United States.
There’s no longer an eagerness, only an obligation for the US to engage in conflict, and indications are they soon will be.
China continues to flex its muscles in the South China Sea, right in front of the US fleet stationed off the coast of Taiwan. Speculation is rampant that an invasion by Chinese forces is imminent.
President Xi Jinping, recently seen in military fatigues, has emboldened his troops to prepare for war.
Chinese analysts believe that the directive from Xi to “strengthen their preparedness for war” signals that a strike in Taiwan is likely. This could lead to a direct confrontation between the United States and China.
The conflict in Europe remains ongoing, with Russian forces, bolstered by reinforcements from North Korea, continuing their attempts to reclaim control over Ukraine.
In response, Western leaders, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, are considering the deployment of NATO troops to assist Ukrainian forces.
If this decision is implemented, the United States, as a treaty partner, would be obliged to deploy its own troops, entangling the nation in yet another conflict.
The recent tensions between North Korea and South Korea are raising alarms in the United States, particularly as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seeks to demonstrate military strength and has labelled South Korea a “hostile nation.”
Observers in Asia suggest that South Korea’s patience is limited, and if conflict were to erupt, the U.S. would feel compelled to intervene due to its obligations to South Korea.
The situation underscores the ongoing instability in the region and the complexities of international relations involving North Korea.
There is a genuine concern that four major conflicts could overburden the U.S. military, which remains focused on the Middle East, where the situation could rapidly become unmanageable. The prospect of war is inevitable, painting a grim picture for the United States Military, once regarded as the best in the world, now a mere shadow of its former self.
At the AUSA conference in Washington DC last week, General Charles Flynn of the United States Pacific Forces admitted, “the U.S. military is not the overwhelming global force that it once was.”
He emphasized that “Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have been placing increasing pressure on American military resources.” While other major powers have been fervently preparing for World War III, Flynn concluded, “our military has been rapidly becoming a politically correct joke.”
He warned, “the day of reckoning is upon us, and we’re not ready.”
Concerns regarding New Zealand’s security and potential involvement in a global conflict remain unanswered by the New Zealand Government.
New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the Right Honourable Winston Peters, has described the NZ Defence Force as “utterly unprepared,” consistently reminding that “we are no longer safe in our place in the world.”
As a member of the ANZUS alliance, New Zealand is obligated to support its military partners. Consequently, if the United States calls, New Zealand troops could find themselves deployed in any of these conflicts.
The unthinkable may soon become a reality.
He Wore a Chaplains Shirt.
The following is a word of appreciation I wrote to the New Zealand Chaplains group following my time in hospital in 2022 after a near fatal accident which nearly took my life.
To whom this may concern,
Absolutely, without question, God is great, and few individuals are lucky to serve him on a daily basis.
On July 7 kissing my wife goodbye as she put my cell phone in my back pocket and rode down the drive on my bike with the intention of cycling my regular fifty kms from Te Awamutu which would take in the streets of neighbouring Hamilton City.
It would not be until mid-September, until I returned home, having spent the period in Hamilton’s intensive Care Unit, Ward M2 and ABI in Auckland.
I am unsure of the exact date, but told, it was sometime in August I can recall a woman in face mask rubbing and kissing my arm.
In those moments of regaining consciousness, I was confused as to who this woman was, but I could tell by the kisses that this was my wife, Mandy.
I vaguely recall her telling me I had been involved in an accident and was in hospital, and I am quite sure the first thing I mentioned was that I could feel the weight of prayer offered on my behalf, I was aware God was with me.
Although in a coma and heavily influenced by drugs, I was aware of certain people being around me like a nurse, my family, a member of my church pastoral team and someone called Brian who was in and out of those moments. He was the one wearing the chaplain’s shirt.
As I became more lucid and checking memory with Mandy as to what was real and what was drug induced memory, I spoke about Brians presence and his prayers.
It was later I found out how instrumental Brian had been during this time period I was unconscious.
Mandy and the family speak highly of Brian’s commitment to me in visiting on regular occasions each day and the support he provided for them.
He certainly wore the chaplain’s shirt, both physically and spiritually.
Mandy was and will be forever appreciative of the time, commitment, and compassion, he showed in being the hands and feet of Jesus at the time.
Although I can say, had I not met Brian recently, I may have passed him in the street without recognition, so much as my memories were, but I was always aware and appreciative of his presence, it gave me a sense of peace when under the influence of administered drugs.
I understand Brian was not the only member of the team who had visited and made supplication for healing on my behalf, I appreciate their time and commitment.
Once released from ICU, I spent weeks in a general ward and recall, chaplain Lance Langley sitting by my bedside praying and comforting me.
A year plus on as a part of my recovery, I joined the volunteers at parkrun, a 5km run around Hamilton Lake on Saturday.
Mandy has been involved as an athlete for years and before my accident I would bike through to Hamilton and meet up as she was finishing for coffee.
It was only in recent weeks that my family told me that the Lance I spoke to on a regular basis was the chaplain I had prayed with and he too, like Brian and the rest of the team were at my side on a regular basis.
Somewhere in the blur I recalled saying to Brian, when this is all over, we must have coffee, because even then I recall he was there.
There is one thing I have understood from this experience is that King David was correct when he wrote the 23rd Psalm.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Brian may well have worn the chaplain’s shirt, but I do believe God had both appointed and anointed him to help me through that dark valley.
Having gone through all the trauma at the time it was great for Mandy and me to be able to catch up with Brian and acknowledge the hard testing times he put in with both me and my family.
Brian was able that day to facilitate a trip back to ICU and had a chance to catch up with others whom I did not recognise but knew they had also worked on my recovery.
There is no way or words that can really express our gratitude for their work except to say, “Thank You.”
Brian, Lance, and the rest of the team may have “just” been wearing the chaplain’s shirt during those days, but I know, those who were wearing the shirt were walking with God.
I want to finish this off with a verse from the book of 2 Samuel 7 as King David sat before the Lord although speaking of the new temple, he was to build I hope these words will pass onto the chaplaincy team.
Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
I thank God daily for you and may you continue to bring peace and assurance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
CALL FOR GREATER EQUALITY AND ACCESS TO LAND
Ever since I sat down to write this blog, I have struggled with its content.
It concerns race issues, relating to New Zealand, but it is a message which goes against the delicate grain of Political Correctness.
To be fair, and not getting into a discussion on who came first and who has rights to the Land, the rivers, the lakes, the coastal foreshore, or the air we breathe, I think we can all agree on the Bibles version as to how the earth was created.
WE can agree that God the creator and giver of life, gave land to Abraham for his descendants to occupy.
And yet here we are in the most confused period where information is at our fingertips still fighting over ownership.
Let me just say, regardless of how many deeds you have for land, nobody really has ownership, but you have rights and obligations regarding occupation.
To sum it up, Its Gods land, and to my knowledge, God has only ever given the Israelite nation land they can call home.
In New Zealand’s culture, today very few of us accept God exists and now can rewrite its own history.
According to the radical left the judgment of history is on us and upon our children.
Thomas Sowell
Historically we accept things to be true like, Morori were occupiers, were wiped out by Māori upon their arrival, Dutch explorer being the first European to our shores named it Nieuw Zeeland and then sometime after Captain James Cook anglicized the name to New Zealand.
European settlers arrived and land became an issue with Europeans trading items with Māori and it was accepted with this trade, a right to occupy.
And it is accepted that some Europeans were less than scrupulous in their dealings, which was less than fair.
Trading companies such the one headed by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, “The New Zealand Company” were responsible for many questionable real estate practices.
The Land Wars and other issues saw Māori losing their occupational rights to land.
And then in 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by both Māori and representatives of Queen Victoria which ceded all land to come under the control of realm.
So that’s a quick history on land transfer but if you were to listen to people like members of the Māori political Party and members of the Māori caucus in the Labor Party along with some Māori radicals the tribes, their version of history says their land was stolen by European’s.
In reality no one owns the land, I say that because God created the earth for all mankind to live on.
In Genesis 7 we read where God promised land to Abraham as a place where his descendants would live.
There is nowhere else in the Biblical record which refers to the ownership of land.
I said no one can really own land (it’s a touchy subject) but we do have rights through various actions and causes to have the sole right to occupation.
History shows that Māori occupied New Zealand first. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European and gave it a name, Niew Zeeland. British explorer James Cook was the next to arrive and anglicized the name as New Zealand.
So here we are 182 years after the signing of the treaty of Waitangi some sections of New Zealand being made to feel guilty for living in New Zealand, or call it by another name.
Guilt because it is an evil land and because New Zealand was founded by white Europeans and Māori activists, (please note I am not saying all Māori) but the radicals amongst them, most likely want the white skinned members of society to hate themselves, hate their ancestors, after all the alleged white supremacist who are deemed to be the source of all ills in New Zealand now .
The prevailing narrative in some schools is what white students are supposed to see themselves as systematically racist and the only proof that they need is the color of their skin.
I feel sorry for radicals like Willie Jackson who gets vocal about things like colonization but has done ok for himself with a net worth more than $3m.
There can be no doubt about it, white guys are living on stolen land.
Colonization has never ended it’s just become normalized instructing New Zealanders to learn which tribal land you’re currently occupying.
Yes tragically, there were atrocities against the native Māori people were committed in New Zealand when the country was established.
They experienced terrible suffering and were often physically and sexually abused.
My point is not to justify such evils and God will rule justly about everything that transpired.
But we cannot live with perpetual guilt about matters we had nothing to do with and cannot change.
History should be a rudder to guide us but not an anchor that keeps us from moving forward to a better future.
Cultural Marxism as we’ve learned, teaches us that we must deconstruct New Zealand, the foundation pillars of our country must be undermined and this is accomplished by generating self hatred among white New Zealanders, stifling their ingenuity, and destroying New Zealand’s religion, its religious history. According to Karl Marx the author of Cultural Marxism, the evils of the past generation cancel any possibility that the white New Zealanders can succeed legitimately, if they do succeed it is solely because of their white privilege.
If you’re white and successful feel guilty, author Thomas Sowell in his book , Discrimination and disparities” argues congenitally they don’t know and with hard data that the disparities which exist in different communities were not necessarily the result of discrimination.
He says the bedrock assumption underlying many political or ideal ideological crusades is the that social socioeconomic disparities are automatically somebody’s fault so that our choices are rather to blame society or blame the victim.
He argues against the assumption that if a group is failing it’s always the fault of someone else.
According to the radical left the judgment of history is on us and upon our children.
Those who are white should figuratively speaking go into a confession booth and never exit for no matter how long the contrition.
They are never able to resolve the fact that they are racists who stole the land from Māori but it is difficult for anyone to seek absolution for sins they did not comment commit, and as to the reparations for the past, how much and for how long and to whom should these funds be distributed.
And is it fair to expect this generation to pay for the wrongs they did not commit to reward a generation that did not experience these wrongs.
But what of the question of stolen land?
The unwritten though unbreakable law of the radical left is this, don’t ever compare New Zealand with other countries, it’s hard to get people to hate New Zealand if we apply the same standard to them
If we did that, we would discover that no nation is truly legitimate.
Here is the reality, nations are established by wars, conflicts, and hostile takeovers.
No matter where you go in this world, the story is one of various people groups displacing other people groups.
Even in New Zealand history there are reports Māori tribes fought territorial wars against each other.
As the great historian Toynbee is quoted as saying blessed is the nation that has no history, for history is a record of war.
Let me conclude with this thought, God created the earth, which is the planet which encompasses land, seas, air, light, and darkness as a home for every man, woman, and child, from every tribe and nation whether we are white, brown, or black. He allows us to occupy the land, and life is too short to spend time on questions regarding ownership
DID SPLIT ENZ GET IT WRONG?
On what planet were the writers of the Split Enz hit song, “History Never Repeats”? No matter how catchy the tune or how they incorporate the word Aotearoa, it’s simply untrue.
Right off the bat, the song was great, and as history shows, it was another modest hit from an exceptionally talented group. But I’m not here to discuss Split Enz or delve into music anthologies. I want to talk about the concept of history.
Let me ask you, how do you think we got our history? For Māori, history is shared and passed down orally from generation to generation. For others, like me, we rely on historical records from newspapers, documentation, diaries, photographs, and even film archives. I worked as a journalist for many years, reporting on events, people, and providing a factual, concise record of what was happening on any given day. I told stories about the people involved and gave insights into the culture of the country at that time.
When I displeased my editor, I was often assigned to write historical features, working with old newspaper copies to write about past events and people. Those newspapers, though they might have been tomorrow’s fish-and-chip wrappers, were historical documents, records of what had transpired before my time. Many people have written books using this method, incorporating diaries and stories handed down from the past, sometimes even eyewitness testimony.
Split Enz claimed, “History Never Repeats,” while others say we should learn from history to ensure it doesn’t repeat. But what is history, really? It is an account of one person’s understanding or version of events, which can be manipulated to fit their beliefs. History is essentially a version of someone’s belief at the time, which may change as they reflect and reconsider.
For example, the interpretation of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre was recorded from many perspectives. There are numerous accounts from the West about the murder of over 3,000 innocents, and equally, there are accounts from Islamic nations about the deaths of infidels and the martyrdom of those who executed the event. Today, our news and historical reports are so diverse and influenced by agendas—political, religious, racial, environmental, gender-related, and more.
Even stories handed down from previous generations can be inaccurate, shaped by the perspectives of those who told them. My own family didn’t speak to an aunt for years over a long-past incident. We missed out on the richness of knowing her because of an inaccurate historical fact.
So, why does history repeat itself? It’s a flawed assumption, but we should learn from history, even if it’s imperfect, to prevent dreadful things from happening again. However, in today’s culture, individuals and groups often want history rewritten to suit their current narratives. The New Zealand Government, like many others, has held inquiries and apologized for past abuses in government and faith-based care facilities, saying such things should never have happened.
The world has said similar things about war, apartheid, slavery, and genocide. Knowing the history of these atrocities, were Split Enz right that “History Never Repeats,” or were those who said we should learn from history correct? The fact that history repeats itself time and again proves them both wrong.
Two centuries ago, the Roman Empire, on its path to glory, seized areas including Judea. Early history was documented by Josephus, whose accounts are considered independent records of the players and politics of his time. Josephus wrote about a man who was the victim of racial and religious hatred, sentenced to death, tortured, and crucified. You know who I’m talking about—Jesus Christ, whose story is at the heart of the Bible, based on eyewitness interpretations.
While no Christian has been killed in the exact manner of Christ, many followers have suffered brutal deaths. History, in this case and others, continues to repeat itself, sometimes more brutally and unimaginably. We often forget the past, despite agreeing with our lips that we won’t repeat these actions, and the notion that one person’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter complicates things further.0
In conclusion, humanity has a rich tapestry of history, recorded in newspapers, preserved on film, and from firsthand accounts. Yes, we can learn from it. I mentioned Josephus earlier, whose accounts were backed by other sources, whether they were a doctor, fisherman, tax collector, or even someone who fell off a horse. The history of God’s word has remained intact. It’s true we can learn from history and even rewrite it, but at the end of the day, we need to learn from the truth. Building our lives on a foundation of truth is essential.
At Christian Voice New Zealand, we view today’s culture through the lens of the Bible because we believe its historical accou0nt of humankind is accurate, and therefore, we accept its prophecy for the future of mankind as accurate.
I have been thinking
Funny thing when I say I’ve been thinking at home, my wife braces herself for the trip down a rabbit hole, good news is there isn’t any today.
Over the past month or so we have received a fair bit of traffic on some of our videos related to Dr David Jeremiah, Brian Tamaki and issues confronting New Zealand.
So let me make a start with Dr David who is revered in Christian circles.
While we as an organisation sought clarification from his organisation and broadcast their comments stating what most of us in our hearts were true, it wasn’t him, which was a relief to everyone.
What all the comments we received amount to is a culture of straight-out acceptance of teaching without question.
Mike Bain
I will say this in our defence, had everyone had watched the video to its conclusion, the message became obscured by the outrage you had, you may have missed the point of the message.
We stated clearly the bible waning regarding the rise of false teachers and false doctrine in the final days and a warning not to be deceived.
All things in the gospels indicate the apostles were unaware of the motives and actions of Judas Iscariot.
There are a couple of things we learned from this exercise, although we ourselves checked the source, we were content it had come from a source which promotes Turning Point videos.
As expected, we searched Dr Jeremiahs recent discourses especially those related to his current series regarding the rapture and because of the statements impact, we searched for a public denial, which is still absent.
When we contacted Turning Point, they were aware that videos and there were more than just one in circulation and were attempting to have them taken down and obviously rejected it was Dr Jeremiah’s teaching, but it sure did sound like him.
A comment we received from one viewer as an explanation was generated by artificial intelligence. If so, it really does make you question anything in the future.
At about the same time actress Scarlet Johansson was in the news because what sounded like her voice had been used in a product endorsement.
What all the comments we received amount to is a culture of straight-out acceptance of teaching without question.
Like I stated we were just as surprised by the 2024 call of the rapture, at least we tried to ascertain its validity hoping Dr Jeremiah was wrong, at the same time hoping he may have been correct.
Your criticism that we rebroadcast his comments to take down a great servant of God we feel are unfounded, we also used the names of other well-known preachers who had made similar claims.
The claim, which we now know to be false could have been true, so, I come back and ask the question, if it had been him and the statement were true, would you still discount the message, just like many in Noah’s day on the day he loaded up the Ark.
Those who believe pre, mid or post rapture teaching will, or they must look at least two of these teachings as false doctrines.
I have heard the discussion on Matthew 24/ and the argument it relates to the end, but then many sat the rapture has no timeline.
It’s a rabbit hole I am not wanting to address but our intent is to assist you with defining today’s culture though the lens of the bible and that includes calling out false hood.
Given the response we received from Turning Point, we accept the video used was a fake and have apologised directly for doubting.
This whole episode and comment’s regarding the question raised was, Brian Tamaki: is he good for Christianity and our messages relating to race relations has highlighted some only hear and see what we want to hear.
As a Christian organisation, our messages regarding the division of this country are focussed on unity.
With regards to Brian Tamaki, some felt by asking the question we were attacking him, I guess those who attacked us failed to hear how we applauded his actions and hoped many more church leaders would speak out the same way.
We all don’t agree with the method but applaud his answer to the call of action.
Thank you for watching to the end, which is what we encourage everyone to do, in order to hear the whole story.
Thank you as well to the passion you have shown towards the issues we have raised and pray you will continue to be showing this in what already is a darkened world which it will remain until the arrival of our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.
True Church in New Zealand: Reality vs. Expectation
A young farmworker finds himself outside of church in a well to do part of a city.
He gets out of his muddy Ute which he has parked in the church car park amongst Audi’s, Bentleys, and other top-class European brands.
He raises eyebrows as he’s dressed in his black singlet, canterbury shorts and wearing his muddied Redband’s.
On entering the church, he can’t help but feel everyone was staring
She finds a seat near the front.
As he was leaving after the service, he bumped into the Pastor who said to him,
I don’t believe I have seen you in this church before and the young man said, “no I haven’t been, but I would sure like to come back.”
The Pastor said “well, why don’t you have a chat with God and be guided on the appropriate style of dress for next Sunday.
The following week the young man returned to the church dressed exactly like he was the week before.
After the service the Pastor approached him and asked, I thought you were going to enquire of the Lord as to what you should wear to church.
The young man replied, I did, I said to him I went to this church I had never been to before, what do think I should wear and Gods reply to me was, “he didn’t know, He’s never been to this church either.”
Today in New Zealand we literally have hundreds of churches.
Different streams, differing theology, traditional, evangelical, Pentecostal, charismatic, and some would say cultish.
But here’s the thing I would challenge anyone to tell me their church is practicing, promoting, and encouraging like the true church described in the book of Acts.
Remember the old TV series Undercover Boss?
Well, if Jesus were to visit a New Zealand church what would he see.
What he would see is the Church falsely claiming to represent him and his Kingdom
Churches working and acting like a business.
Churches who have copied the model from the entertainment sector.
“Congregations want this they will tell you. when your church acts like a café before the service with its lattes and long and short blacks.
When you enter the auditorium your met with a gigantic screen, dimmed lighting to get you into the mood.
Then out pops the jester greeting everyone, building up the anticipation of we are going to have a great time today.
The Lord is going to be in the house today. Probably true but it’s not this one.
Then the music beats out, complete with a worship leader designed to get you moving with their up-tempo music only to bring it down so the audience can move into a trance-like condition.
Then it’s time for the star of the show
Who Jesus?
No don’t be silly it’s just the pastor.
He’s here to tell you oh I should have used the word teach, my mistake
To teach you the word of God. By the end of his 30-minute, 3-point dissertation on God and his family he’s encouraging you to pay him and his multitude of support people who work for the church.
Then the paid worship leader comes back on stage for another final song to send you off on a high note so you can be buzzing with that soy latte.
Now yes, I may have well described a Pentecostal church but if he were to go to another branch something more traditional.
Its more likely he would find a congregation claiming to be steeped in tradition but led by an openly gay minister, who would be extolling the virtues of love and acceptance.
Would Jesus recognise this church today?
What if the boss came back undercover, what do you think would be his first statement?
Matthew 7. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
My friends we do not need churches in New Zealand who are competing for crowd numbers.
Every day, and it’s with sadness, I receive emails from dispirited people who have left churches disillusioned because they are not hearing the word of God, many have left church years ago and are seeking, not the entertainment but the heart of true teaching, the heart of worship the heart of love the true Jesus.
This is a word for the man-pleasing preacher or pastor who cares more about man’s applause than God’s approval.
Sadly, the truth in your church is often neglected, watered-down to the same volume of milky froth on the coffee you serve after a service or avoided altogether in the hope of not offending members and building a large audience.
Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is never sought; and sin is often excused.
These days pastors want to build a church rather than break a heart; be politically correct rather than biblically correct; coddle and comfort rather than stir and convict.
This leaves people confused and deceived because we teach and live a form of Christianity void of repentance … void of truth…”
Pastors back when I was a boy were pillars who supported truth, not opposing it. Truth is not “flexible” when it comes to absolutes—it’s solid and unyielding. Truth liberates. Truth rebuilds. Truth restores. Truth heals. Truth transforms. Truth prevails—you don’t change truth—truth changes you!
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), yet many avoid words such as sin and repentance.
The good news about Christ can only be appreciated with the bad news as the backdrop.
There are times when the saints must be fed, and there are times when the sinners must be warned.
Preaching, witnessing, and teaching are to be done with God-given authority to truly be effective.
When we fail to proclaim God’s Word faithfully, we run the risk of “encouraging sin” and “perverting the words of the living God” (cf. Jer. 23).
As the church falls deeper into self-reliance and further from reliance on God, our need for bold leadership has never been greater.
Change in our nation will only occur when there is a strong conviction of sin, genuine faith, humility, and sincere repentance, beginning in the pulpits.
To all you Christians who have left churches I give you this word of encouragement from Philippians
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
If you want to be found, then take heed for God is near
In Luke 15 Jesus talks about the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. And then there is great rejoicing.
My question to any pastor, minister, church leader.
Not when, but have you ever really, truly in your heart done this?
Is your church one who professes to speak truthfully and teach the word in the Bible.
And if Jesus was to come to you after an undercover boss, what do you think he would say to you.
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Establishing the Agreed-Upon Rules of Conduct
It certainly wasn’t the then, National Party leader Simon Bridges finest moment when a recorded private conversation became very public where he described, a member of his own caucus. West Coast list MP Maureen Pugh, as f… useless.
For Bridges, the leak, the lack of discretion, the judgment, the opinion certainly was a wakeup call for him.
However, it is somewhat ironic that, six years later, the same MP, Maureen Pugh, who now serves as the Assistant Speaker of New Zealand’s Parliament, has inadvertently done us a favour by giving New Zealand a wake-up call.
She has faced criticism from some quarters because she failed to ‘read the room’ instead she had adhered to the rules of the house recently by closing down a speech given by a member from the public gallery.
The man from the iwi of Whakatōhea. Proceeded to speak ahead of a waiata which would have been a fitting and approved celebration following the third reading of the treaty settlement between the crown and the iwi.
I’m not going to discuss the rights and wrongs as it has been thrashed out in parliament the press and iwi.
In the course of shutting down, the alleged speech, someone from the gallery called out to Pugh to “read the room”, indeed had she done so, to allow it to continue would have been a breach of the rules of behaviour set out in parliaments standing orders.
Read the room is an expression which has been around for an exceedingly long time and both politicians and comedians have been adept at, some, better than others.
But what does read the room mean, like really what does read the room actually mean.
To answer that I sought an explanation from the most reliable source available, in this case it was google it means is to pick up on the subtle, nonverbal cues of a group of people.
In parliament that evening, those in the Gallery were in a celebratory frame of mind, but as King Solomon put it, there is a time and place, this may have been the time, but it was not the place.
As a society we have rules, guidelines and laws in place to not only as protection, but to set boundaries between what is acceptable and what is not.
When you are a guest in someone’s house, it is the done thing to accept the rules of the house.
A quick example is in a church setting, there is a certain reverence and decorum expected from attendees, likewise, on a marae setting, or in this case parliament.
The abandonment of rules whether they are small or large are fraught with all sorts of dangers.
Now there are some.no, everyone flaunts rules every day, it’s just in our nature, but on the whole, society accepts rules laws and occasionally we like to break through the boundaries as every teenager tries to.
The issue has become, not about bumping boundaries but breaking through to the other side.
If you allow the mood of the room to dictate in society, where they abandon centuries of decorum and allow all out freedom, the result is anarchy/revolution or another simplistic explanation – mob rules and haven’t we seen just how well that has gone.
A good example or the results reading the room can be found in all periods of time but the most well-known was when the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, Pontius Pilate went against his conscience knowing Jesus to be innocent allowed the room, in this instance the crowd whose fervour had been whipped up by Jesus’s opponents to decide on his fate.
Today is no different, instead of Jesus opponents we see opinion being whipped up primarily by agitators who believe their rights supersede everyone else’s, and instead of the Pharisees and Sadducees, today’s agitators are those who control today’s media.
We know and expect boundaries, every society has their own, break it down, right down, to your own self.
We all know when we cross the line to the dark side, we feel a little uncomfortable, one of two things happen, you either feel convicted and make amends, or you start to feel comfortable, its not so bad, but the next time the boundary crossed is a bigger one and that little fall, that mis step becomes a slippery slope and who knows where it leads,
Do you know there was a time in history that there was only a moral code society lived by, but then one-person moral code became different to those around them.
It came to the stage in time where people cried out for rules, laws they could live by.
Everyone is aware of the Ten commandments, heard of them, don’t feel as though you have to phone friend to give you an answer to what they are.
What is not widely known was the receiver under inspiration of the giver, in this case Moses the receiver, and God the giver wrote what today is called the Mosaic Law in essence setting out the rule, the rights and wrongs, the boundaries of society. And the people asked for judges to administer this law.
New Zealand’s governance, based on the Westminster system and Mosaic Law, stands as a testament to the importance of rules.
If the government of the day were to listen to the room, it merely underscores the danger of abandoning these principles, suggesting that allowing the loudest voices to dictate societal norms could lead to chaos.
Imagine for a moment a country governed by those currently who shout the loudest about colonisation, sovereignty, past wrong, racial inequality, climate change, individual rights, gender issues and whatever toys they no longer find acceptable in the toy box.
But what happens to this type of governance when other voices grow louder?
Let’s go back to our reference in Google to read the room is to pick up on the subtle, nonverbal cues of a group of people.
These people are called “the silent majority” and there in lies an issue, we all know the squeaky wheel gets oiled, but when good men say and do nothing, that is what the result we will see.
What The silent majority does in its action to remain silent is exactly that silence.
Christian writer Dietrich Bonhoeffer summed I up in the days when the fascist was gaining power in Germany, he said ‘silence in the face of evil is evil itself’.
In his ‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail,’ King said in his silence complicity argument “we will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? Proverbs 24;12
So, reading the subtle nature of the country, just what is the mood of the room of all new Zealanders.
The majority I am sure is for this country to agree to disagree and move towards unity which will bring about prosperity.
Maureen Pugh in her role as the speaker of parliament to my mind, in administering the rules of standing orders relating to decency and decorum should be applauded when faced with opposing voices and opinions.
We today are still fortunate where our rules, our society, even our country, our foundation was set up on the word of GOD and for that one reason we should be thankful.
I am disheartened by the many New Zealanders who understand that but choose to remain ignorant or just defiantly refuse to acknowledge the source of moral values and ethics.
By doing so, they do not see, they still are blinded by what is happening.
Unlike Maureen Pugh, who indeed read, not what was in front of her, but had read the rules of her environment, todays culture does not understand, the weight of the actual time period in which we live.
From a cultural perspective, our inability to recognize, comprehend, and accept the divinely ordained principles for behaviour results in our nation’s failure to accurately gauge the societal climate.
PANDEMIC TREATY UPDATE
Hot news has been the withdrawal of the Covid 19 vaccine made by Astra Zeneca after admissions it could cause very rare, but life-threatening injuries.
But just hold the phone before ringing your solicitor to start legal proceedings because the spin doctors have been banging on their keyboards.
Now the Swedish-British Pharma company are reporting , “The withdrawal was due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” against new variants of the novel coronavirus.”
I acknowledge the vaccine regardless of its source whether it be Astra Zeneca or Pfizer is a hot button for many, especially in New Zealand so I am not going to talk about the pro’s and con’s on vaccination.
Instead, I am going back to a subject we have previously discussed and that is the United Nations /World Health Organisations Pandemic Treaty.
Here is what I call the Readers Digest version of why W.H.O initiated the idea and its implications.
First, following on from the varied response from many nations WHO have promoted the idea of a worldwide, if you like uniform response to any future pandemics,
The WHO claim this is a health response and on face value, its not a bad idea, but they always say, the devil is in the detail and in this proposal it really is.
What WHO is wanting, although they will claim it to be untrue, is when another pandemic arrives WHO will act within a nation, take over its sovereignty and act accordingly in terms of the treaty.
WHO is looking for signatures of all member nations, but New Zealand has indicated it won’t be signing up, and while there is a great deal of lobbying against the United States signing it, President Biden is likely to.
Losing your sovereignty to a global organisation like the WHO is a huge thing for any government to do as this eliminates any power a democratically elected government has.
Now the United Nations timeline for signatories all done and dusted is the end of September, not far away really.
Now there is an increased amount of news reports regarding the next pandemic which is due and that is the avian or bird flu which is affecting various species around the world.
Whether it has the potential to crossover to humans has not been discovered but I guess slipping it into a market in Wuhan hasn’t happened.
The United Nations along with the World Economic Forum, yes, you probably wondered where they figured in all of this, but both have been promoting the idea of a new pandemic which has been referred to as X which attacks your mind is expected to make an impact in 2025.
Hence the need for the nations to come together and sign up for the Pandemic Treaty.
Now I don’t have to tell you but with varying and conflicting news reports and stories, it won’t be a hard sell for pandemic fervour to be whipped up again.
Did I mention that this X pandemic will also promote the onset of cancer, and this is the reason Pfizer, Bill Gates and all the other rich listers have been taking over as many cancer research companies.
I know, it all sounds like a huge conspiracy theory, but it’s not, it is actually a thing, and what I’m discussing maybe news to you, and really why is that?
The left-wing news media in this country is more concerned about its new role: being the opposition to the current coalition government and let’s not forget the new carpet in Christopher Luxon’s office than reporting the facts about anything which of substance to the future of New Zealand.
I have to say it, there is a great deal of ignorance of world affairs in this country, despite being able to access as much information as possible via the internet, and this ignorance comes from the habit of watching and believing everything we hear on the 6pm news bulletin.
And here it is, what is really happening and the reason we have raised the pandemic treaty and the reason why the UN/WHO/WEF wants to seize sovereignty of countries, why these organisations are behind Centralised Digital Banking, 15 minute cities, why they are attempting to manipulate a famine by encouraging farmers to grow less and why we are being told we need to decrease our populations by 25%, why we have to own nothing to be happy.
Not a conspiracy theory, Check it all out for yourselves.
We won’t be sucked in again, I hear you say, it was so easy for these people to inject you with fear, close your borders, and ruin your economy, who’s willing to say it won’t happen again. But it’s happening.
And why is that? It’s because those who have the real power in the world are steadily moving to a point in time the Bible speaks about, a time when we will see a centralisation of everything, a one-world-government.
Yes, you have heard about it, now is this making sense and who, just who will run this one-world-government, it will be the one the Bible speaks about as the man of perdition.
Many claim he is here today, many also claim he has been, he may well be here today, unknown to you and I but he will reveal himself soon, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
The admission regarding the Covid vaccine is important because it underpins the one thing, we all want in life and that is the truth.
Will the world be sucked in again to lockdowns, to mass vaccinations again, the answer is yes, because the number one weapon of choice is being used and used freely and that is fear.
Call it a conspiracy, even laugh at the suggestion of a one world government, the idea of an antichrist, some will even laugh and mock the suggestion there is a GOD, but the father of the Lie Satan the devil wants you to do.
When it happens and it will you will be like the population clinging onto whatever you can as this world suddenly changes.
You will see the world change and scoff at the warnings you hear, the people you labelled as foolish, and that is how it will be for a very short time until it changes, just as they did in the Days of Noah as he and his family went about building their ark.
Today is the day I urge you take some time out and think, and I mean really think, use the internet, find out for yourself, speak with your Christian friends, but above all I urge you today to prepare yourself as to what is to come.
Look, even if you just read and believe what is written in 2 Thessalonian Chapter 2, you have made a start towards overcoming your fear and be set free when you see the truth.
Unlike the company Astra Zeneca who manufactured the Covid Vaccine, no bible student will try and manipulate the truth about this message or its impact.
May the blessing of God be upon you for reading, we welcome your comments, and we remind you if you haven’t, to subscribe.