Author: MikeBain

For centuries there has been a long-held belief that evil comes from Satan and his band of demons.

Hollywood over the years has painted these demons as anti-type angels with venom dripping from every part of the body and usually with a raspy voice for effect.

Conspiracy theorists would have you believe and are right evil comes in the form of organisations such as the illuminati, the freemasons, or other places.

I would even venture it comes from within government circles and from observations in history that assumption is also correct

But if we were looking for evil, look in the mirror.

There you will find a person who is capable of evil.

Not you?

Think about it honestly, are we capable of evil.

The answer is yes, but sometimes we just don’t know when it could happen.

Circumstances change often during the day and life sometimes shows us no mercy.

It can be a major event in our lives where someone or the system has offended us.

Out of nowhere comes this feeling that you cannot control.

You may want to simply curse at another motorist who inadvertently cut you off.

You may even wish harm on another individual who wronged you.

You may well regret your thoughts in an instant, but we are all capable of thinking evil thoughts.

Now I know thinking and acting on your thoughts are different, but really, they are the same.

But why do you have these thoughts, how can you control them.

First up let’s understand everyone has them Matthew 15: 9 tells us, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

Not for a moment am I suggesting we are at this point where we would act on any of the things I listed.

We are all guilty of thoughts but dare I say it an evil thought is like a planted seed; all it need is fertilisation to make it grow.

So, what can we do about it?

Proverbs 4; we are to Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

And if we do Pauls words to the people in Philippi should provide comfort that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The times we are living in are fraught with issues which we encounter daily.

Currently in New Zealand we have a divided nation, and unfortunately things will get worse before they will get better.

The mandating of vaccination certificates for citizens allowing them to live a free and normal life while the doors remain closed to others is not the kiwi way.

In a country which prides itself on welcoming all and shows compassion to other citizens of the world I personally cringe when I hear and now see our fellow citizens showing both judgement and discrimination towards one another.

Evil presents itself in differing forms and in these trying times we must continue to show compassion and love for one another.

We should as James puts it no be discriminatory between ourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.

Following on from the implosion of the last National Party leader we have now been introduced to a fresh face with a lot of commercial experience to lead the party with an aspiration to lead the country, come the next election

In his opening speech Christopher Luxon promised a fresh start to the beleaguered political party, drawing a line under the past and moving on with a united team.

He spoke of his desire to see New Zealand move forward.

Ahh the sweet sounds of naivety.

The reality is as Luxon is finding out is that political office comes with a new kind of pressure he may have never faced in a commercial world.

In this new age of politics, he will be closely scrutinized.

So close he will find out about things he may have forgotten about or indeed, maybe news to him.

when you wear the Christian T shirt, it comes with responsibility and commitment

Mike Bain Christian Voice New Zealand

He has had a taste of what is to come from the media and public alike.

Much has been said about his wealth, and his seven properties,

His answer has been to say, I can’t help it if I am successful.

Riches aside I am more concerned about the media’s obsession with his Faith.

Much has been said about the fact that Luxon professes to be an evangelical Christian.

You would think this as a good thing, right?

A man who holds biblical views and principles, a man who believes in morals and integrity, love for one another etc etc.

Yes, Christopher Luxon claims to be a Christian.

But he was quick to temper the medias onslaught by admitting yes,

He held Christian beliefs but hadn’t been to church for five years.

It is not up to any of us to judge Luxon or his claims to be a follower of God.

But keep in mind the warning Jesus gave to his disciples

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, he describes such people as false prophets and they are not what they appear as “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 2 Thessalonians 2:

In today’s society, it is a tough row to hoe admitting your faith to God as the hypocrisy police will be all over you if they find a chink in your armour.

But its one thing admitting you have faith

Its another, when it comes to practicing it.

You see Luxon’s response immediately made me think of the apostle Peter after the arrest of Jesus where he was asked if he was a follower of Christ.

There, right there in the heat of the brazier Luxon, did what Peter did.

By fudging his answer, he denied Jesus Christ and this my friends were just in the first few days of him becoming the leader of his political party.

You may think it’s a tough call, but when you wear the Christian T shirt, it comes with responsibility and commitment which you do not water down for political expediency.

He maybe the man God uses to rid this country of this leftist government, but Luxon will face intense scrutiny not only from the media, or the electorate at large, but also from his creator.

He maybe well to do, with material riches

 Who knows he may be just the man and I hope God continues to bless him?

 but if I had a word of advice for Christopher Luxon and his admission of faith, that would be to heed the words found in Matthew 7 where Jesus says Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

When New Zealand was first established between Māori and the colonials it was based on mutual respect and a willingness to get along.
Māori were introduced to the God of the Bible from people like Samuel Marsden and other missionaries of the time.
So, it would be fair to say as New Zealand grew, it grew as a Christian nation.
I would even go as far to suggest this foundation established and shaped New Zealand’s beliefs and acceptance.
After all it was New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote.
Our decency and spirit for justice seen us join in and sacrifice our own in defeating evil forces during two world wars.
We have as a nation never stood back when it comes to fighting for the freedoms of citizens worldwide in different conflicts since then, in Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and many other countries around the world.
In the 1970s we were outraged at nuclear bomb experiments In our backyards, we protested and then declared ourselves nuclear free.
Our sense of adventure, our courage and No 8-wire spirit saw us conquer the skies with the first manned flight, the conquering of the tallest mountain and dare I say it, winning the 2015 Rugby world Cup.
Speaking of Rugby, we marched and in 1981 we fought in the streets raising awareness of the injustice of Apartheid in South Africa during a rugby tour.
We as a nation have welcomed many different races to be kiwis alongside us.
Yes, we have been welcoming, willing to stand up against injustices and at times we have led the world with our culture.
Never could I ever imagine the day when, we as a nation would welcome the division of our population based on whether they have been subjected, out of fear, coercion, bullying into participation of a medical experiment.
Division is not the New Zealand way.
Gone is the team of five million.
Gone is the kindness.
Instead, we have the haves and the have nots.
Gone is the respect and tolerance we had for those in our community for individual choice.
If you can legislate for a two-tier system because of a vaccination, what is the next step.
This New Zealand government has pointed to it being the only source of truth.
I want to take this opportunity to disagree.
If we are looking for a single source of truth, there is only one place you can find it.
And where is that I hear you asking.
Here is the answer, The bible, 66 differing books all leading to one thing.
A book which speaks of courage, adventure, culture, a fight for injustice, and best of all love for neighbour.
To return New Zealand we don’t have to lead the world, protest, ascend greatness, or even play a game of rugby.
If New Zealand is to survive to be a worthwhile nation
We as New Zealanders need to put Christ back on the throne.
How do we do that?
We put Christ back on the throne of our hearts and our conscience.
We put Christ back on the throne of our families as much depends on us.
We get back in our right biblical place.
We put Christ on the throne of law and order and political order, as much depends on us.
As much as we can, we must push back against the darkness.
And we need to be taking that truth to world who is in bondage to darkness.
It is in this darkness New Zealanders are happy to divide themselves.
Jacinda Ardern may preach kindness.
But it is Jesus who promotes love for one another.
And you cannot show love if you separate your fellow countryman based on race, ethnicity, or vaccination certificate.
Let me leave you with this thought from an admonition Paul had for the Galatian congregation
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)

Not sure if you are noticing

There’s a change happening in the country

You may be forgiven if you hadn’t noted because we have been subjected to gradualism.

To explain gradualism, you must know about the frog.

In this story if you were to out a frog into a pot of cold water, you have a happy frog.

But if you turn the heat up gradually the frog gets used to the new temperature and remains happy.

When the water is boiling, he doesn’t jump out of the pot, he stays there Happy in his little life.

Even though the temperature is boiling he doesn’t notice its bad for him as he has been subjected to the gradual rise in the temperature/

In New Zealand we have seen a gradual change in our culture and what we as Christians will today accept as the normal whereas a few years ago we would have frowned.

In decades past thousands and I mean literally thousands marched down the city streets of New Zealand protesting the killing of the unborn.

We were opposed to same sex marriage

We were opposed to Euthanasia

But today we accept it as being the norm.

I don’t know if you have noted how influential the Gay community is in pushing its agenda through Television shows and movies, these people want us to accept it as normal.

I recall people being outraged by foul language being used in the streets, and some were even prosecuted in the court for swearing.

But the foul mouthed, blasphemous Scottish comedian Billy Connelly appeared on many tV screens across the country and the audience soaked him up.

Guarantee if your daughter brought home a boyfriend who used similar language, he would probably be frog marched out the house/

You see gradualism has been happening and its affected our values our morals and our standing with our creator.

Today we are witnessing another change in our society and this one is to quote Jesus is happening like a thief in the night.

Under emergency powers the New Zealand Labour led government is changing laws to suit their own agenda.

They have and continue to use the current pandemic to install fear into the population to accept their agenda under the guise of health and safety.

Heed the warnings, there are many in this country who are awakening, and some are starting to push back.

Christians who maybe asking is it Ok to push back.

The answer is in Romans 13 and yes, it is ok.

But we should not do it alone.

We need the church and its leadership to rise and say enough is enough.

We cannot and should not rest on our pulpits.

And this is the warning I give to the church,

If you don’t stand up and lead your people, they will drift off and find someone who will.

The Bible talks about such a leader who will give them an answer.

This leader is identified as the Anti-Christ.

Vaccination passports are not the mark of the beast but it’s a pointer of the things to come.

So, wake up church, wake up, the water in the pot is near boiling point.

My friends as we await the coming of Jesus Christ, I don’t have to tell you,

The signs are here, we are very near the end.

This is our time. We have been called, we need to ensure we are right with God today, and we must continue to carry out his commands of taking the Good news of Gods kingdom to every man woman and child that we can reach.

If someone gives you something, it’s yours, right?

But what if you found something and it was full of riches, you can claim it be yours but is it.

It’s a simple question and the answer is certainly simple.

If you discover or find something, yes you can claim it but it begs the question as to whom it actually belongs too.

One of the big issues now is a bit like this.

On one hand we have a group of people claiming they own the land and everything on it.

But on the other hand, theirs another group that says hang on, it doesn’t work that way.

The current debate about the three waters that is the fresh water, the grey water and then there is the black water.

Let’s start with the black water, I’m more than happy for anyone to lay claim to this not so valuable resource and given all the talk from our politicians, well its only likely to increase.

The grey water, well it to can belong to any entity which wants to take care of it.

Ah but the fresh water, this is an asset which came with the land in form of rivers and lakes.

Here’s the thing, no one owns this resource, but it is up to mankind to protect it because of its value to all.

From a biblical perspective mankind was put on this earth which was created by God and in his words it was good.

Adam and Eve had been given the job to look after and expand on the garden of Eden.

But later on in the Bible we see a covenant given to Abraham where land, entitlement was given by God.

The land spoken about was vast, so Abraham and his descendants were entitled to settle there.

No arguments this was land given by the creator to Abraham, which gave him and his descendants rights to everything the land contained.

Not just in New Zealand, but worldwide, land has just been inhabited by man either through discovery or conquest, but here is the point.

Unlike the land God gave to Abraham and his seed, no one really has entitlement to ownership of the land but they are allowed by the grace of God to occupy it.

Water is such a valuable resource which is and should be freely available to all who occupy the land.

When we start squabbling who owns what we need to stop and remember, this is God’s earth, he created it with light, darkness, mountains, valleys, plants, animals, rivers, lakes, and seas and it is He who has sovereignty over it.

To squabble over these things is as King Solomon voiced it in the book of Ecclesiastes Its like chasing the wind

Traffic lights vaccination targets Vaccination passports, open borders, freedom, and free speech.

There is a lot going on in little old New Zealand now.

So, I thought it was right time to suggest we cancel Christmas.

Now this is a decision I have thought about for a few years, so I haven’t taken it lightly.

Every year we Christians ask what the reason for the season is, and every time we answer that Jesus is the reason.

But ask someone who is from a secular background and their answer will be a lot different.

It will feature time spent with families, presents and holidays.

All good reasons but they miss the point.

Christmas Day along with Easter are deeply rooted as traditional Christian holidays based on traditional and theological Christian beliefs.

My reason I want to cancel Christmas is not so much of being a grinch but being realistic.

The 2019 statistics showed a belief in God by the population has diminished to less than 39%.

But then in that figure is a lot of other beliefs like Eastern religions and the Church of the Spaghetti Eating Monster and let’s not forget the Jedis who number around 20,000.

Christmas is a time when the country stops to rest, but unfortunately not to reflect.

If it did then most people would reflect on what and why Christmas and the birth of Christ is so important.

I can hear somebody saying but didn’t Constantine combine a pagan festival in with Christmas.

Yes, that is true, but Christmas is and always will be about the birth of Jesus.

I want to see the Christmas holiday scrapped for non-believers.

After all we are no longer a Christian nation so why should the majority take the day off work.

Why should they have the gifts of giving and receiving, why should they be able to sit down and enjoy a meal and time together.

Why because these things are traditional, and an effort to go through the motions for just one day.

But everything I have spoken about is an integral part of what God has given us.

We reflect God’s grace in giving out of love.

But can we confidently say most people on Christmas Day will think on these things.

Will parents explain to their children about Jesus, about Mary, about Joseph, the angels the shepherds the wise men about the virgin birth about our Father in heaven?

You would hope they would but sad to say, it would go against the grain of those who do not believe.

But here’s the thing, if the government cancelled Christmas (and its possible because this is the same government who took Jesus out of the parliamentary prayer) as it is no longer relevant to the beliefs and the culture of New Zealand.

A Nation which rejects God

I wonder if it would be accepted or would there be an outcry.

• Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season,
• without him he could not have impacted the world,
•  he could not have died for our sins,
• he could not have risen to sit at the right hand of God,
• he could not come again and reclaim this earth for what it is- God Creation
• and establish his kingdom.

Amen

In today’s fear inspired society I am reminded of the story in the bible of Esther.

There she was the queen, in a privileged position with her own people under threat of annihilation.

For Esther to speak out about the injustices proposed upon the Jewish race at the time, would have meant two things.

She would reveal to her King, her true identity and secondly may suffer at the hands of those forces who were besieging the Jews at the time.

I am reminded of the words of Mordechai to his niece Esther.

^{Esther 14} For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.

Like Esther you have come to this position for a time such as this.

This is our time, and as Christians our voice should not waiver.

The church in New Zealand is not broken but under threat of annihilation.

New Zealand does not need a new brand of religion.

It need’s the one thing that only God’s word can give it -the unchangeable, unchanging truth of God.

Like Mordecai, I am calling on the many timid church leaders who have caved – conforming to this world to speak against the tyranny which is enveloping this country and most of all return to teaching the truth about Gods word. 

Pastors maybe under a lot of pressure to tell people what they want to hear as their congregations aren’t always interested in what God says.

We must stop confusing God’s patience with His approval and preach with conviction from the pulpits again— “as dying men to dying men”.

We do not need hesitancy in our pulpits but strong leadership and united churches in this country to rise.

Can you hear them?

Just listen and you will hear the drums beating as the call to battle grows louder.

The peace and unity of this nation founded on Christian values of things like have love for one another is changing as forces attempt to divide it.

You and I have heard the cry from some “This nation is under attack”

Even some pastors are waking up to the fact that society is changing, and they now need to speak up, take some action, even join forces.

The question is from whom, from whom does the attack come.

It’s not like we have an army camped on our borders, ready to take control of the population.

If there is an attack and I agree there is an attack on the Freedoms of everyday New Zealanders with the vaccination passport.

But if there is an attack, it came with our own hands.

Like the apostles who accompanied Jesus to the garden of Gethsemane New Zealand has been asleep.

The apostles only woke when the soldiers came for Jesus.

Remember Peter pulled out his sword and cut of a soldier’s ear.

Our church leaders like the apostles, are now awakening, but dazed because some have been in denial and were not prepared for what suddenly came upon them.

But from the moment the soldier’s arrived to arrest Jesus, judgement had begun.

Our nation has been under attack for decades but in our good old kiwi way of she’ll be right has allowed attacks for decades, on families, on life, and the very foundation of New Zealand society

We opened the door and let the devil in and now it’s too late.

We must accept that this nation, New Zealand, is under judgement.

Not sure? check out Paul’s description of a nation under judgement in Romans 1

“What’s our message to this nation?”.

from today we must learn how to conduct ourselves as a minority, in a majority post-Christian era.

We must look and ask what faithfulness looks like in New Zealand, understand why it lost its way, – accept our nation is under the judgement of God

 To those pastors, and servants of God, to those who shepherd and to those who make up the church of God. To those who have been sleeping I say, “Wake Up” and strengthen what remains.

The battle for this nation is not over, we must not give up on fighting for the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens.

The drums are beating for freedom but choose your battle.

Some things are worth fighting for, others are not.

Remember Peter drew his sword.

And then Jesus told him to put it down.

This fight we are in is not a physical fight,

It is a spiritual fight not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

But if you are going to be prepared like Peter was, if you are going to draw your sword and go into battle then make it count.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand.

For our master, Jesus Christ is coming back soon.

And we need to be prepared for his return.

Look up my friends, look up for this is where your salvation is coming from.

By its very nature, cancel culture is joyless and lifeless.

It is built on negativity, criticism, and fault-finding.

 In the long term, it cannot be sustained.

Cancel culture produces death rather than life and fear rather than faith, stifling creativity and suffocating free expression.

As expressed by John Cleese of Monty Python fame, “I mean, if you’re going to come out with something really interesting artistically it’s going to come out of your unconscious, and if you’re having to edit everything you say before you say it then nothing it going to happen creatively—and also things that are rather lovely and funny in ordinary conversation, they’re not going to happen either, because everybody’s thinking ‘Ooh, somebody might [be offended]’.“

The latest intended victim of cancel culture is Clint Eastwood, based on a joke he made back in 1973—yes, 1973—during the Academy Awards.

As reported on Fox News, “The clip in question comes from the 1973 Academy Awards in which actor Marlon Brando famously refused to accept his award for best actor in The Godfather.

Instead he sent a Native American activist on stage to lament Hollywood’s treatment of American Indians by the film industry.”

The activist, Sacheen Littlefeather, explained his reasons as being a protest regarding the treatment of American Indians then by the film industry, and on television in movie reruns.

When Eastwood came to the podium to present another award, he quipped, “I don’t know if I should present this award, on behalf of all the cowboys shot in all the John Ford Westerns over the years.”

And for that, Eastwood has now been targeted (not that he will care, especially at this stage of life).

To be sure, our treatment of Native Americans over the centuries has often been shameful.

And without a doubt, there has often been a stereotyped, negative portrayal of them in movies, especially in past decades.

But to make an issue out of a joke Eastwood cracked in 1973 is to put the absurdity of cancel culture on full display.

That’s America for you, but what about New Zealand.

How long will it be before someone cancels our country’s much-loved comedian Billy T James and his portrayals of both Māori and Pakeha.

What about David Mc Phail, Jon Gadsby or Ginette McDonald for their past characters.

Today, jokes can’t be funny, lest someone be offended, whereas, for centuries, the offense was understood as part of the joke, as we all laughed at ourselves.

And there can be no nuance in a message, lest someone misunderstand the meaning, thereby putting everyone in fear of saying one wrong word.

Today, one cannot tread too carefully, which will result in smaller and smaller circles being drawn until only the tiniest, super-elite segment remains in good standing.

The key to overcoming this stifling, suffocating atmosphere is to reject the superior moral standing of these elitists, telling the few that we, the many, will not be intimidated or manipulated by them.

For our part, as followers of Jesus, it is love that compels us to honour and respect others and to interact graciously with those with whom we differ.

We would never intentionally insult someone or cause them pain or shame.

And if we have a blind spot, wouldn’t we want someone to point that out and help us to grow in sensitivity.

But I will not, for one moment, bow to a suffocating ideology that cancels and destroys all dissenters and silences all dissent. Neither should you.

And along the way, remember to smile. And laugh. It will do you good

Although 9000 plus episodes have been made of an American TV show called the price is right we have never seen it in New Zealand.

But the title “The Price is Right intrigues me because when you consider life, everything comes with a price.

Let me give you an example, when we were kids we learn the value of negotiation from the moment we sat in the high chair and your mum tried to give you brussels sprouts or something equally repulsive.

Mouths firmly closed we weren’t going to open them until the price was right.

This required parents to perform, and they did and still do with silly things like playing the game where the spoon was a choo choo train or an aero plane.

And this behavior continued as we grew up.

Whether you like it or not, you will be prepared to consider anything if the price is right.

I said consider because there are things I just would not do.

Uh uh, like lie in a box and allow cockroaches to crawl all over my face.

That’s a bridge too far for me, but for some, they do it.

Having worked a part of my life in marketing I know people will do just about anything, if the price is right.

Watching the New Zealand governments attempt to increase the number of Covid vaccinations where incentives were offered particularly for the Super Saturday event was a great example.

With all the messaging leading up to this event, what was it that coerced 130 plus thousands to go have a vaccination on this day?

Simple answer: The price was right.

For many the price was right whether it was a sausage, free KFC, or watching the director General of Health do a dance.

Now look I am not making judgement, just making an observation.

What we must ask ourselves is, What is my price?

You see Satan the Devil will tempt you, and tempt you and tempt you until you give in.

Look I’m easy, a bar of chocolate for the little things.

Yes, you can laugh. But think for a moment of the words of Jesus in Luke 16 who said if we can be faithful in small things, will be faithful in large ones.

And it is the little things we give into when it comes to temptation.

But like all things, the little block of chocolate, graduates to not so small things, and eventually you ender up lying in a box with cockroaches crawling over your face, you wonder how come you came so far.

Remember, we all have a price, so don’t beat yourself up about it because even those closest to Jesus had a price.

For Peter to deny Jesus three times, Satan found his price.

For Judas we know it was just thirty pieces of silver.

For God, to save you and I, he knew what he had to pay.

He gave his one and only Son.

So, I ask again, do you have a price which is right today.

What is it you are doing in your life which is not right before God?

What price would you pay to continue to live in this world.

A former chair of the United Nations Henri Spakk was reported in saying following WW2, the nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to the world’s problems.

What will be the price we will be willing to accept for these things?

For me, forget the chocolate bars I like the price offered in the Bible.

You know like in that Tv Show when the compere calls down a member from the audience to play “The Price is Right.”

I’m waiting for Jesus to do the opposite, call me up into the clouds so I can look towards the prize of eternal life.

That’s when the price is right.