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Over the past decade in various presentations around the country, we here at Christian Voice New Zealand have been calling for the church of this country to have a united voice.

As the culture grows darker and people from all aspects of society question the future direction of this country with its new laws, its losses in freedom, possibly losses of jobs and segregation, we are looking for leadership.

We know Satan will soon fill the void left by our political leaders, but in the meantime, I continue the call on the church to be the salt who can influence our culture and to be lighting the way forward.

Why those who oppose God, Christianity, Democracy and Freedom are changing the face of society comes down to one thing. – organisation.

They are united, they are organized in their beliefs and so to put it into practice is easy when the side you want to take down is so disorganized.

Don’t get me wrong there are dissenting voices, but it sounds like a lonely dog howling at the moon.

There are many moral issues we expected the lead to be taken by the church over the years.

Things like Abortion, Homosexuality, Euthanasia, Hate speech, Critical Race Theory and the latest on Conversion Therapy.

Yes, the church had its chance to speak, and it was dismissed.

The reason is obvious when you look at what has happened.

All submissions on these subjects go before a parliamentary select committee.

But while that committee hears the voice of many Christians, and the family lobby groups, they are confused, hearing differing viewpoints and biblical interpretations, rather than a united voice.

You see unlike those proponents of the bill who are united, well organized, and set on a goal, the church is the opposite.

So what is the church offering as an alternative, it’s not a united voice, its not a united stand and its certainly not in some cases, biblically backed.

If I were to describe the various submissions could sound like the voice of Babel.

Full of different interpretations, mixed messaging, and a lack of direction.

The latest census indicates around 36% of New Zealanders hold a belief in a higher authority.

Whilst the number is dropping it’s still a significant number and if united who knows what we can achieve.

Jesus in the third book of Mark says If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.(

The church should stay United as the apostle Paul in his first letter to the congregational leadership of Corinth encouraged all amongst them to agree with one another, that there be no divisions among them but to be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1Cor:1)

God even said to Moses about unity when he said:” five of you will  chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, your enemies will fall by the sword before you” (Lev.26:8) 

Despite the numbers of differing churches, practicing diffing strands of religion they are united in one belief is that God exist, and the bible is the truth, but there must be unity in a secular sense.

We have seen in recent times where there is an appetite from opponents of God to come after individual lobby groups church leaders and church organisations with regards to tax exemptions and status.

Like the wolf preying on a flock, these opponents will pick of the churches who are outside of the group, those who stray and are independent.

I would encourage church elders and other leaders to look towards Christian organisations such as the New Zealand Christian Network as an example of unity, one voice, one direction.

 We as Christians need to stop the babble, we need to encourage our leadership, our pastors, to put aside their differences and to speak with one voice.

Paul told the Corinthians “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts forms one body, so it is with Christ.” (1Cor:10)

I want to ask you a strange question.

What does KFC and the apostle Paul have in common?

In the Bible we know Paul was subjected to lockdown, but I don’t think he ever got to a level 3 lockdown – you know Level 4 with KFC.

No that wasn’t it.

Back when KFC was first introduced it was called Kentucky Fried Chicken.

But as the world became more food conscience, Fried food was nolonger acceptable

So the Kentucky Fried Chicken altered its name to KFC.

Oddly enough, it was still fried chicken.

So, what does this have to do with the apostle Paul.

Paul was first introduced in the Bible as Saul.

After his Damascus revelation, it was an event in the life of Saul which led him to cease persecuting early Christians and to become a follower of Jesus.

In Romans 1 Saul introduces himself as Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.

This significant step in Pauls life was an acknowledgement he had left behind Saul and became Paul.

This wasn’t just a name change like KFC, this was a whole new direction.

Paul acknowledged himself as a bondservant.

Why is this so important

In the time of the New Testament, a bondservant could refer at times to someone who voluntarily served others.

In most cases, however, the term referred to a person in a permanent role of service.

A bondservant was considered the property of a Roman citizen.

But Saul, who became Paul, had made it clear and understood as a bond servant he had no right to leave his place of service.

The importance of referring to himself as bondservant should not be overlooked.

Despite proclaiming a message of freedom from sin in Jesus Christ, Paul dedicated himself to Jesus as his one and only master. -one he could consider leaving.

So why is this so important to us today.

Saul who was Paul,in changing his identity did so, not just in name, but in his life direction.

I’m not suggesting you change your name, but like Paul when you make the conversion from non-believer to believer, you make a similar commitment to God.

You are as the bible says a disciple of Jesus and like Paul, there is an expectation that you will both love the lord and work tirelessly for his forthcoming kingdom.

You see when you become known as a Christian, you have signalled to the world you have changed the direction in your life.

We can all be like Kentucky Fried Chicken; we can put up a new title on our lives.

No matter how they dress it up-KFC is still fried chicken.

We as Christians need to act and be confident that people will see the change.

We must be like Saul when he became Paul, no one saw Saul the persecutor, they just saw Paul the apostle.

The question is often asked about how the German population in the 1930s were so gullible to support the Nazi party who went onto kill millions of people in the second world war.

We should say, not every German was supportive, but dissenting voices were quietened either by imprisonment or by death.

The German people at the time were swept up in a furore by Adolf Hitler who was saying to a destitute nation what they wanted to hear.

Hitler told them what they wanted to hear.

He would make Germany great again and this became music to a destitute population and economically ruined nation.

What culminated was frenzied and terrified nation, they were spurred on by Hitler’s persuasive words.

Even the children of Germany became swept along with the tide joining up to Hitler Youth.

But the German people haven’t been the only nation swept along by the tide of public thinking and persuasive words.

Think back to when the ruler over Judea in Jesus time Pontius Pilate put the freedom of Jesus to the mob alongside of the anarchist Barabbas.

The cry to free Jesus was drowned out by the majority who immediately chanted Free Barabbas.

History is filled with scenarios where the fate of someone’s life was influenced by the crowd such as in the Roman Colosseum.

Fast forward today, in today’s sporting colosseums we see a similar scenario where we urge a team or individual to beat the opposition.

Yes, it can be just a game, maybe a political rally but the intensity of some crowds becomes frightening, especially if you are cheering on the opposition.

Have you ever been in a situation where you shout for your team but have felt intimidated by the crowd and you go silent or end up cheering for their team?

This is what it was like for the people of Germany, for some, self-preservation was to turn a blind eye to what was going on.

Even the church did so.

Today in New Zealand we see division in our society perpetuated by those who use persuasive words to suit their own agendas.

We’ve witnessed it in race, equality, science, gender and now we see it in the current health issues.

I neither agree or disagree with a recent protest regarding the rights of Freedom in this country.

But I am saddened to see the effects of mob rule insisting Police prosecute the organiser of the rally which took place at the Auckland Domain.

As a country despite the numbers of abuse cases towards children resulting in deaths, we have never seen such an outpouring of venom and hatred towards the individual concerned.

The 130,000 plus who signed the petition in just a few days, were not directly affected by the protest, possibly never will.

But we asked earlier how the people of Germany could be swept up by the furore of the Nazi Party

How could the people decide to let go Barabbas over Jesus?

Its simple the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

The saying the devil looks after its own is true in this case.

But as a Christian should we indulge in the rule of the mob?

In 1 Samuel 17: we are told the battle is the lords but sometimes it is our duty as followers of Christ to call out that, which is not right, just and unacceptable practices to the Lord  such as abortion or Euthanasia or other things which are morally wrong.

In Nazi Germany the prominent Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller welcomed the Nazis like everyone around him, but he emerged as an outspoken foe of the nazi regime and speak out the wrongs he saw, he was too late.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

We need to find the balance in these changing times when people are being swept up in all sorts of causes.

But Persecution for Christians as we have seen in this country is just around the corner.

So today I want to encourage you to look up to where your salvation comes from.

Strengthen what remains and I encourage you to dig into God’s word, to encourage you to digest and understand what it is that God wants and requires from you.

As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to circulate around the world, it becomes increasingly clear it poses a threat to more than just global health.

Governments everywhere, even here in New Zealand are using the crisis to expand their power and trample individual liberty.

 As 2021 draws to an end, governments are increasingly dividing the world into two camps – the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.

We are seeing that situation happening here as our political parties regardless of colour look to divide this nation into the haves and have nots.

Throughout the world, society is singling out the unvaccinated for punishment.

Those refusing the COVID vaccines face potential loss of jobs, healthcare, freedom of movement, and liberty in general.

Those who support vaccine mandates and vaccine passports want to ostracize the unvaccinated from society.

We see in NZ where the government is applying pressure to force the unvaccinated into compliance.

Does any of this sound eerily familiar? It should.

The Book of Revelation describes a similar system whereby the people of the world are forced to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.

Refusing to comply means you will be unable to buy or sell. You’ll effectively be cut off from society. 

The answer to the question is no

COVID vaccines are not the mark of the beast written about in the Book of Revelation.

The scriptures make it clear, accepting the mark of the beast involves a conscious decision to give one’s allegiance to the Antichrist. No one will accept it by mistake. 

Nevertheless, vaccine mandates and passports create a social system enabling the mark of the beast to happen.

While I don’t believe the current COVID vaccines are the actual mark of the beast, vaccine mandates and vaccine passports impose a social system identical to the one imposed by the mark of the beast.

 How? By blacklisting from society anyone who refuses to accept the vaccine. 

In pushing vaccine mandates and passports, the world is paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist and the implementation of the mark of the beast.

Whether or not you accept a COVID vaccine is a personal choice.

Feel free to take it or not take.

That’s up to you. I support your choice either way.

But if you support coercive vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, you’re complicit in establishing the infrastructure and the precedent for the mark of the beast system.

To be clear – the current COVID vaccines are NOT the mark of the beast.

If you’re vaccinated, there’s nothing wrong with that.

If you’re unvaccinated, there’s nothing wrong with that either.

Whether or not you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated does nothing to establish the mark of the beast system.

However, vaccine mandates and vaccine passports do.

They create the very foundation for the mark of the beast system. 

Every Christian should oppose vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, because supporting them is the same as supporting the mark of the beast system.

In practice, they’re one and the same.

If you accept the idea the government has the rightful power to inject a substance into someone against their will (or pressure them to submit), then government power has no limit. 

Unfortunately, far too many people believe the government does hold this power.

And their belief enables the mark of the beast system, creating a world ripe for the rise of the Antichrist.

Someone says something about you which isn’t true, would you go to war over it.

In the book of Joshua there’s a story about how after they inherited the promised land some of the twelve tribes of Israel started sharpening their swords to go fight with one another.

In the account found in Joshua chapter 22 we see the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, leave to cross the Jordan river to the territories given as their allotted home.

The Jordan River was the only thing which divided these tribes until it was crossed.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh felt distanced from their brothers and raised concerns about whether future generations wouldn’t see themselves as a part of the other tribal families.

They built a gigantic alter to praise God for what he had given them.

But here’s the problem, they built it on their side of the Jordan against the land of Canaan

Word got back to the remaining tribes about this alter as well as reports they had turned their backs on God.

Based on second-hand information or hear say the tribes took offence.  

Now these guys were basically all from the same family and yet they were ready to go to war over what was a misunderstanding.

How often have you been like this?

How often have you heard something that has motivated going to war with another person?

In today’s challenging times, we are constantly bombarded with information which could be construed as dodgy at the best of times.

Regardless of where our news is sourced from Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24 to watch out that no one deceives you is so true today.

Daily, many times whether it’s at home, at work, on TV via social media we hear every man’s opinion which they believe to be correct.

Sometimes we hear news which maybe second hand, whispers, hear say about others, family members, friends or even our brothers and sisters in God.

What happens when you hear this news =You believe and may start to repeat and even make accusations based on that snippet of news.

You see no one had enquired of the tribes as to why they built the alter.

Based on just hearsay, second-hand information they were ready to go to war.

Isn’t this how some families act today.

So, this is important for us.

This is a common problem that happens among people.

 You listen to hear say, you don’t get all the facts.

Like the Israelites -You jump to conclusions. You start making accusations.

That’s not the way Christian should behave.

But unfortunately, somebody said somebody said somebody, look don’t give place to hear say.

The swords of the Israelites may have been sharpened and ready for use, but discernment came to the fore.

The Israelites from the remaining tribes were sent out to enquire about the intent of the alter,

The Reubenites consented to hear the enquiry from the remaining tribes of Israel- even though it was more accusation than enquiry.

What’s this about? We serve the same true and living God that even though the river divides you and from us, there’s no division in terms of the same God that we serve. That’s what the altar is all about

Only then did they satisfy the reasons the alter was built as a reminder to future generations of its ties to God and their brothers across the river.

When We stop fighting the common enemy and start fighting ourselves our real enemy loves it.

A river was all that was between these two and a half tribes and their inheritance.

But Satan wants to drive more than a river between us and our physical and spiritual families.

I encourage you not to go to war with your family or friends

Allow no room for hearsay, Do not act on what you do not know.

Get the facts with communication, learn from the Reubenites let others speak, to explain themselves and correct at the time where others are wrong.

Remember Jesus word See that no one deceives you.

Throughout this time of uncertainty, we have seen many restrictions placed on the population of New Zealand.

One, that has affected the Christian community has been the restrictions on the size of people gathering.

While Churches have been compliant and have gone along with this restriction, they have found other ways of reaching their congregations via live streaming of services which have been successful for some, others not.

As we look towards the end of lockdowns, we are hearing of the introduction of a vaccine passport which essentially creates a two-tier situation for the haves and have nots.

I think it would be fair to say that most Christians are watching this development very closely, asking themselves: Is this the mark of the Beast”.

It’s a question I am not prepared to answer at this stage, but suggest you use your own discernment based on your own knowledge and interpretation of the scriptures.

But the vaccine passport is … well to call it inconvenient is perhaps a bit light.

To say that I cannot join my vaccinated friends for a coffee is a travesty or to be seated in a section marked for the unvaccinated is abhorrent to the leper that I am.

Coffee aside, how might this impact potentially on the church.?

Looking at the way separation is being mooted in government circles this would be impossible from a theological perspective.

This is something that would be unacceptable from the perspective of the Church, and indeed it would be a contradiction of the message of the Gospel.

The thought that someone would be barred from coming to church to hear the gospel is abhorrent.

I hope and pray that no church in New Zealand would do it.

You know our churches are full of the vulnerable and the weird, the wacky that’s who Jesus attracts, isn’t it?

We have people who are very vulnerable within our congregations.

It would be difficult and, to just think that we would demand proof that they’ve been vaccinated is outrageous.

Look at the very nature of the message of Christianity.

It is for the outcasts. It is it is for the vulnerable.

It is for all, and so yes, it’s utter madness if churches are asked to bar people who are unvaccinated.

 I would hope no church worth its salt would even countenance such a thing.

I have seen reports of churches in places in the US with sections for the vaccinated and unvaccinated

It’s so shocking that that’s such a thing could even be.

Let’s get back to some sort of sense of proportion for Covid 19 disease, which we know now has a fatality rate in the range of influenza, which has always been with us and will always be with us.

To have the state say who you can and cannot have in your church is wrong on every level.

There are all sorts of serious theological issues here as well, aren’t there?

Just to name one, which is just very, obvious, is that Jesus Christ himself.

Part of the reason he was so scandalous to people is because of his relationship.

 Examples in the Gospel of Jesus laying his hands on people with leprosy and healing them, making them clean as it were, and Matthew Chapter 8 for example, Jesus comes down from the mountain side with large crowds following him and a man with leprosy came and knelt before him.

He asked Lord are you willing to make me clean

Jesus reached out, his hands touched the man saying, I’m willing, be clean.

It seems to me to be highly problematic, to say that the Christian Church as followers of Christ, we should theoretically even ban people who are potentially infectious.

 It would be a denial in many ways of the very heart of God, as it’s revealed to us in the incarnation, and then another message, the central message of the gospel, which is the gospel is for everyone.

It’s not just for people who have been vaccinated. It’s not for people who are safe, but it’s for absolutely all.

To deny people access, to turn them away, it surely must be absolutely unthinkable.

I would be very uncomfortable in the future where certain churches may require people, to prove that they’ve had a negative test.

 It would be wrong to put a barrier up for those seeking Christ.

It should be the church and not the state to decide who should be welcome into Gods House.

To any pastor, priest, minister, Church elder.

When the time comes, I urge you to stand firm, to speak out and to proclaim the true gospel is for everyone, not just some.

The news of the death of The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has become a time for reflection of the halcyon days of Rock n Roll.

Charlie Watts is revered as one of the great drummers of his time. and immortalised alongside other greats such as Ginger Baker.

Watts, the quieter member of the Rolling Stones unlike Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, and Keith Richards.

Despite their longevity playing in the same group, it was common knowledge that both Jagger and Watts didn’t get along with each other, and rather than party Watts would often go to bed.

The story goes where Jagger, hosting his daily wild after party in his hotel room, rang Watts, waking him.

 “Where’s my drummer” demanded Jagger.

Out of bed and dressed Watts went up to the party, found Jagger and punched him in the face.

“Let’s get this straight,” said Watts,

“I’m not your drummer, you are my singer.”

 It’s easy to remember back to the good times when the Stones alongside other great British bands dominated the music scene.

Drummers like Watts understandably believe their role in the band is understated.

After all, it is the drummer who provides “the beat” of the band for everyone to follow.

I couldn’t help reflecting about today’s music where it sounds like a competition where each member attempts to outdo one another.

The sound is just “noise” where one either switches off or covers the ears hoping it goes away.

The messaging about Coronavirus is a bit like this today.

Today there’s a new breed of drummer called the PR companies who pound out the information on both sides of the debate regarding the vaccine.

Daily, social media inboxes are flooded with well-meaning people trying to persuade us of both sides of their argument regarding the vaccine.

Only time will determine which side is right.

As the drums get louder, we must ask whose beat is it we are following?

At some time in history the world may have moved to the beat of Charlie Watts drum.

This world now moves to the beat of a new drummer whose timing is precise and tempo infectious.

Christians, need to ignore “the noise” and focus on “the beat” providing the rhythm inside of us.  

Our hearts should be beating in tune with our beliefs, our faith, our God.

In today’s climate I am urging all Christians to remember the old saying “a rolling stone gathers no moss”.

This new Charlie Watts who is beating his drum has been around a long time.

Like the forgetful Jagger, we all are members of society, we all have a role in making this world harmonious.

Each of us has a different part to play , we can’t all be a Jagger, a Richards, a Wyman, or a Charlie Watts

But we do have a part, but be mindful about whose beat you’re dancing to.

So beat out the sound, let it beat for our saviour, let it beat, for our king, let it beat for the chosen one, Jesus Christ.

Author Dr Rev Stuart Lange, National Director NZ Christian Network,

In the early church, great numbers of Christian believers were persecuted or killed by the Roman State, which demanded on pain of death that everyone worship the emperors and the pagan gods.

In medieval times, Catholic authorities were involved in burning heretics (and later some Protestants) at the stake.

In modern times, Christians in many parts of the world are subject to discrimination, violence, and bloodshed, as are members of some other faiths.

By comparison, Christians in New Zealand lead a much easier life.

We need to be aware, however, that any poorly-written legislation in the areas of ‘hate speech’ and ‘anti-conversion therapy’ could pose significant risks to the freedoms of religion and expression for Christians, and also for people of other faiths.

But we can acknowledge there is a case for changes to legislation that would deal more effectively with extreme and deliberate incitements to hatred and violence.

Author Mike Bain: Christian Voice New Zealand August 5 2021

There has been so much printed and spoken about its removal of free speech, liberty, and rights.

Everyone agrees the Government’s proposed new hate speech laws are a mess.

The consultation document and explanations by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her ministers proves what New Zealanders have been saying since the law was first proposed – the Government cannot define what hate speech is.

The key for this debate comes down to tolerance.

What is tolerated and who is tolerated.

What I say today in a Christian setting may not be termed as hate speech.

But if I were to repeat it “elsewhere” to a “different” audience it may be seen as such.

National leader Judith Collins has it right when she say’s “New Zealanders are having to second guess everything they say.”

With any new law I like to look at the starting place.

Let’s go back to the intent of the law.

Prime Minister Ardern seized on an opportunity following the Christchurch Mosque attacks resulting in deaths of 51 people.

Her intentions at the time I believe, were honourable.

Albert Einstein said, “in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.

And the opportunity has been seized from the left to take away control of how we think and speak.

We must be allowed and tolerate differing opinions and debate them.

Tolerance is the key word here, tolerance about different people, ideas, and race.

In his book “Why the rest hates the West,” Meic Perse shows this new tolerance we have today, will have an adverse effect on society.

“The currency of the term “tolerance” has recently become badly debased,” he said.

“It used to mean the respecting of real hard differences.

Now it has become come to mean instead the dogmatic abdication of truth, claims and a moralistic adherence to moral relativism.

Departure from either is stigmatized as intolerance.

Where the old tolerance allowed hard differences on religion and morality to rub shoulders and compete freely in the public square.

The new variety wishes to lock them all indoors as matter of private judgment.

The public square must be given over to ambiguity.” The issues with the proposed legislation noted by many comes with significant risks for the freedom of our society, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights: notably items 13/14 referenced below.

13 Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, including the right to adopt and to hold opinions without interference.

“14 Freedom of expression: Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.”

Regardless of the intent, the outcome of any proposed legislation to shut down free speech should be vigorously opposed.

Author: Mike Bain Christian Voice New Zealand

For many church goers their approach to communion is respectful but in a ritualistic way.

I am encouraging an approach to the act of communion with a different mindset.

In the gospels we read how Jesus broke bread, passing it around his disciples saying, “this is my body.”

Then came the cup of wine with Jesus saying, “this is my blood.”

Familiar words for many but not entirely understood.

You see if we finish Jesus’ sentence, we hear of a new covenant or promise made for you and I.

The sign of the new covenant was the shedding of Christ blood on the cross to purchase us from sin.

Right here, God made an unconditional, unilateral promise that if you accept JC and believe his sacrifice on the cross and his shed blood, it is sufficient for you to pay for your sins, and accomplish what you cannot do yourself, – you shall be saved, – that is Gods unconditional unilateral promise.

 Many covenants made by God were made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Jesus.

This last supper covenant is significant in that it was the last covenant made in the Bible.

Yeah, okay you say why is our approach to communion different after all we believe in the death of Christ where he gave his body and shed his blood.

Well, here is the thing.

When God makes a promise- he never breaks it.

He seals it, his signature is his oath, and a covenant also involves the shedding of blood as a signature of that oath God makes.

So next time you approach communion do not be down hearted for the death of Jesus.

But rejoice for what the death of Jesus really provides for us.