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.
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
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.
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.
The collapse of society really is coming, and most of us will find themselves completely and utterly unprepared when it finally happens.
Survey after survey in New Zealand points to a genuine concern we are not confident of our future.
If you look at the political polls conducted over the past decade, especially the question on optimism, like are you happy where the country is headed, there are more dis-satisfied people than there are satisfied.
I acknowledge over the past decade we have had changes in government, and although the recent change has brought about an increase in optimism but is that superficial based on some form of hope brought about by an inner fear, it might not happen.
If you are feeling this way, you are not alone.
In his Olivet discourse (Matthew 24) when speaking of the time of the end times Jesus used a nearby fig tree to make his point and said to his disciples “learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
So what is it exactly that’s causing people to lose heart, to lose certainty about their future.
As an honest person, one who is not afraid to speak the truth, the answer comes down to what you believe, what it is which occupies the space in your head.
There is just so much mistrust these days, every night when I watch the news, I find myself checking each story as to whether its true and not spun in a way that it “just looks true.”
Faith in all of our major institutions is dropping, and here in New Zealand the Readers Digest every year takes a poll to find what is the most trusted brand and or profession.
Last year we voted we trusted Whitakers Chocolate as the most trusted brand and doctors were number one trusted professional.
But there is a growing consensus that very challenging times are ahead of us.
Here in 2024, we will be facing huge issues not just at home, but from overseas, and while we may have plenty to say about the rights and wrongs of things like societal change it won’t matter one iota, because we here are just a small country at the bottom of the planet.
And because of our geographical isolation, we are not living in the same nightmares people on other continents find themselves in.
Later this year the people of the United states will get to vote in what is already being described as the most chaotic election season in the countries entire history, multiple wars are erupting all over the planet, economic problems are rapidly growing, destructive natural disasters are becoming more frequent, global authorities are warning us to brace ourselves for the next pandemic, and our cities are being absolutely overwhelmed by endless waves of new migrants.
The stage is set for a societal implosion of epic proportions, and many around the globe are feverishly preparing for a coming collapse that they believe is inevitable.
In New Zealand, our civil defence message was “get ready, get through.”
Remember. How we, were encouraged to have emergency kits to get us through a disaster?
The idea, like wearing life jackets on a boat is a good one but really who complied.
And like the people of Hawkes Bay found out last year having faith in your government would help keep society stable was unfounded.
Today, if you actually believe that the government will be there to rescue you when things really start hitting the fan, you are delusional.
Many New Zealanders are realizing that they will be forced to rely on themselves as society collapses, but no one, and I mean no one is spending significant money on emergency preparedness, given the cost-of-living crisis in this country, no one can afford to think beyond dinner time let alone next week.
But spending a couple hundred dollars on some emergency preparedness items simply is not going to be enough to survive what is eventually coming.
I keep coming back to this point, many, and that number increases, but many wealthy are divesting assets around the world and building shelters for themselves, some have built them here in New Zealand.
Come back to Jesus words “learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.
This is not a doomsday message by any means but ask yourself, When things get really bad, will you shut your door to those that are requesting help?
We have all seen the dystopian movies where people will be so desperate and take what they want for themselves.
We no longer have to wait for those times here in New Zealand. We see certain groups of people already helping themselves in supermarkets with no consequences.
Discussions on collapse often turn to signs and signals – The economy, politics and social tensions have become increasingly unstable for many years now, and much like adding more and more weight to a man standing on a frozen lake, eventually the ice is going to break. The question is, how do we know when that moment will be?
As cultural systems begin to dissolve due to political clashes and economic decline the real evil tends to slither out of the woodwork.
It happens slowly at first, then all at once. A sure sign of accelerating collapse is the growing prevalence of psychopaths and psychopathic behavior in the open.
As New Zealand as a country we are in the middle stages of such a collapse with many sociopaths and psychopaths beginning to feel that they might be able to act out their worst impulses without consequences.
They are beginning to test the waters to see what they can get away with.
Years ago, last century, I asked a man about the changes in society we were seeing back then if the end of civilisation was coming, his answer to me was, “If you think it’s happening, then it really is.”
The old mans words really resonated with me, because they are so true.
I am sure that you have noticed the same thing. Evil is literally growing all around us, and the inmates are taking over the asylum.
And I am entirely convinced that 2024 is going to be a historic turning point.
Are you ready for the tremendous chaos that is coming?
If you have not figured it out yet?
Then let’s start by understanding why these things are happening, why Jesus told his disciple about terrible things to come and why he said, for these must happen.
Each one of us, in order to get through, we need to get ready, yes we need to ensure we have an emergency kit prepared, that is just commonsense, but we also need to ensure we have the right standing before God.
I talked about trust earlier, you can put your trust in a Whitakers chocolate Bar or your doctor, but I’ll tell you this. When society goes to hell in a handcart, I would rather have trust in what many refer to as the mystical man in the sky, I am talking about the God of the Bible who already has a record for saving individuals and nations from destruction.
How about you, who are you putting your trust into today?
If you want to find out more about God, the bible, or even what can give you faith in your future, then feel to reach out to your local bible believing, teaching church, or contact us through our website and we will be able to help.
Since our inception we have called for a united voice from Christianity, and especially the churches which represent it.
Despite being shunned by some for even daring to mention it, we will continue to call out churches and church bodies who refuse, or too cowardly to speak out on behalf of those who oppose the evil which is rife in this country.
Over the past month I have noted articles relating to the rich people in this world selling off shares and assets and the building of shelters around the world, on private islands and even here in New Zealand.
All very well for them as they must know something we don’t and dare I say it, Church leaders in this country are either too blind, stupid, or ignorant to notice what is happening in the world and being replicated in this nation of ours.
If you are a church going person, what is the viewpoint of your church leadership towards things like abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage.
Let’s go deeper and ask, what is their position on the end times discussions, are they open to debate on any of today’s issues.
In New Zealand we have church leaders mentioned in the media, Brian Tamaki from Destiny Church is the most well-known, what about Peter Mortlock from City Impact, unlike Brian Tamaki, Mortlock doesn’t get the same headlines, but his position on events happening is similar.
While Tamaki and Mortlock, both whom I have respect for, play to their own congregational audience, which is fine as they are being good shepherds in warning and steering their flock from the dangers which are fraught in our culture, the rest of New Zealand doesn’t see it.
We may scoff at the billionaires of this world building shelters, but at least they are preparing themselves for whatever may be getting them spooked.
Another voice is staring to speak and is now beating its drum within Christian circles, and this is the New Zealand Christian Network headed by Dr Stuart Laing.
In a recent newsletter to his membership of Christian based organisations Dr Laing spoke of the “growing numbers of people in New Zealand who are rejecting God, and who are wary of the church”
He mentioned the many challenges faced by Christianity today such as sexual abuse in churh related contexts, also, some of the social legislation passed by government in recent years has cast some shadow over the freedoms of belief and expression.
Dr Laing at least is asking the question of the organisations which are members of the network.
He said “In the face of such challenges, what should Christians and churches do? Succumb to pessimism? Lie low? Blame someone else. Give up?”
In considering Dr Laing’s question, try and at least answer this age-old question, “what would Jesus do.”
Funny, I already know your answer to that, but if you think that is what Jesus would do, and as a follower of Jeus Christ would you remain silent on today’s issues.
I have stated it many times over the years but for those who haven’t heard it before.
We need for the wimps who stand behind the pulpit, knees knocking as the deliver their sermon on Sunday, scared they may offend someone in the congregation, too scared to preach the word of God, too scared to mention the words sin or judgement, then they need to stand aside and allow someone who can roar like the Lion of Judah to come forward.
You can see what is happening in this nation, you are not stupid enough to bury your heads in the sand, but you also think my voice will not be heard, well you’re wrong.
Every time you open your mouth God hears you, just one voice, all alone in the wilderness.
But let me ask you this, if a lonely dog in an alleyway howl at the moon? How many people hear it.
I am not sure why the billionaires are seeking shelter, but I do know something is about to happen to this world and it’s been going on for some time.
In my presentation “When a Nation Forgets God” which we took through the country prior to Covid I spoke often, about how we should engage with today’s world.
I am so glad to hear people like Dr Stuart Laing, Brian Tamaki, Peter Mortlock engaging their congregations and asking the pertinent questions for living today rather than burying their heads in the sands of mediocrity.
We need strong leadership, we need courage in our pulpits and we ourselves must remain strong as we identify what the issues are, that we as a church must confront to represent the God we worship.
I asked earlier for you to consider what would Jesus do?
The church and remember, we are the church, the building down the road is not the church, we are so here’s the thing while we spend some time, but not too long to identify those issues we as a church must confront.
Then we need to seek and ask what Jesus’ instructions would be to us, as we prepare for the darkness that is enclosing upon us and the deeper darkness which is yet to come.
Remember Dr Laing asked “In the face of such challenges, what should Christians and churches do? Succumb to pessimism? Lie low? Blame someone else. Give up?”
Our churches, our church leaders need to both humble themselves and repent for their own sin of not leading their flocks to safety.
We need not fear the future as it is Jesus who walks amongst us and hold us in his hands and in Philippian’s: 2:15 read it with me where Jesus can empower us to…“Be blameless and innocent children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among you who shine as lights in the world.”
Today I urge you not to be a bystander in this world but to engage with it, meet it head on and be the light within the darkness as this time draws to an end.
Hello and welcome to our Town Hall Meeting for July, the sixth in our series of eight prior to this year’s general election.
We continue on with our theme of pray, vote, stand because at the beginning of the year we felt these were the headings which were needed to be discussed in such a forum.
I’m not sure about you, but I am personally exhausted in trying to keep up with the deterioration we see happening in our society.
Over the past month it has been a whirlwind of trouble from Gangs taking over Opotiki, Government ministers displaying their arrogance, another government sanctioned move towards separatism, we continue to see our freedoms being withdrawn, and a continual shift to the left away from democracy to Marxism.
I want to share with you a couple of bible scriptures as they form the foundation to today’s discussion which maybe a little longer than normal.
The first is one I have mentioned often from Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The other is from Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil goodand good evil, who put darkness for lightand light for darkness, who put bitter for sweetand sweet for bitter.
There is no doubt in my mind and probably in yours, things in New Zealand are taking a turn for the worse, it’s like we turned the wrong way at an intersection and are travelling on a road we are not overly comfortable with and yet we believe Google Maps that we are on the right road.
I shouldn’t diss Google Maps, they have taken me down countless side roads that have left me thinking really? but I have always arrived at the destination.
How about you, what is your destination, maybe it’s a question you cannot answer because you are either, not in control of your own destiny or you refuse to take control. To be honest the latter is probably correct as there are many today who just drift along.
I often wonder if calling them Muppets is insulting to Kermit and Miss Piggy
National Party leader Christopher Luxon was correct in his comment about New Zealand, we have lost our mojo and we have become whiney. But the question can be asked why?
Back in 1981, we remember how divided this country was during the Springbok Rugby Tour, as thousands took to the street to protest the South African political regime practices of Apartheid.
The protestors in a country across the Pacific Ocean far away from South Africa showed both the people and government of South Africa, the world doesn’t accept apartheid.
But we see separatism happening in New Zealand, is the outcry from New Zealand being muted for some reason, where is the fire that was in the belly of those people in 1981, where are they today standing up for the inequity we are seeing being foisted upon this country, rather than bring all races together we are separating them.
If we were being honest and watchful, we would agree separatism isn’t just about race, its also the rich and the poor, it’s the vaccinated and the unvaccinated That is still an issue in this country, it hasn’t gone away, It’s the separation of families, a huge division is actively happening now, Its Christians vs secularism and the list is quite long.
Divide a nation, and then it can be conquered.
But who is it that will conquer this tiny nation at the bottom of the world.
This tiny nation which is so insignificant it has been forgotten by some map makers and haven’t even been included when they put the world together.
Often in past episodes I have discussed when New Zealand will be asked to make a choice about our allegiances.
We all agree, we want the freedom which democracy affords us, but at the same time we are a capitalist nation which relies heavily on trade which comes from the unholy alliance with China.
But who is it, today is fighting for the hearts and minds of New Zealanders.
I mentioned the word Marxism earlier, New Zealand a country built on Christian values and morals has moved from the source to another, as we practice social justice, Now don’t get me wrong, it has a place, or should I say the ideals of those who originally brought the format to fruition were honourable but it has now been hijacked.
Today, we see Social Justice in a secular format infiltrating into our church society today and on the surface, it sounds great, but reality produces the opposite.
As a nation, we are not blessed by God, therefore we do not receive the blessings God can bestow on us, we are missing out, and if you want to challenge that statement, I am more than happy to debate it.
New Zealand underwent a huge cultural change at the turn of the century where we flicked a switch and said God no longer matters and church attendances and those professing a belief in God declined rapidly.
From that time,
We have chased God out of our lives,
We have chased God out of our schools,
And we have chased God from our land.
Who is it fighting for the minds and hearts of New Zealand.
Show me your laws and I will show you your God.
In the early part of this millennia, we saw law changes, yes, we changed laws in order for things to legal, but were they moral.
Why was there such a paradigm shift from what was unlawful to become lawful.
We used to convict and imprison people who aborted babies, sold their bodies in prostitution, who engaged in the act of sodomy, who aided ending the life of others.
Now it’s legal to do these things, encouraged to do these things we used to call vile, yes, they are legal but are they moral?
You know we used to have police in this country who knew his neighbourhood and held respect, who was dare I say give kids the kick up the bum they needed, but not today.
Most New Zealand settlements and cities were built around a church, it was the centre of the town, now its just a good café or beer hall.
Back in about 2010, at a church in Whitianga, I was present when a man whose name has been forgotten but not his message.
He kept referring to the Winds of change were coming,”(repeat) and how they would envelop this country.
His presentation has stayed with me mainly because of the forcefulness of his winds of change delivery which was often.
I keep asking, who is after the hearts and minds of New Zealanders
The thing about wind is you don’t see it, but you can both see and feel its affects and isn’t that where we are today. The winds of change have been blowing across this nation for well over two decades, and you know, we missed it.
But it brings me to the first of our topics and that is Pray, that is spelt P R A Y not, P R E Y as a few former members of the clergy in days gone by interpreted it.
Oddly, I’m not going to spend a great deal of time on this subject because it’s quite clear we need to be praying for a turnaround in direction his country is heading.
So, I hear you say Pray, for some they have no idea how to pray, but maybe getting down on your knees closing your eyes and start a conversation with God, thank him for life itself and then ask him for his blessing on this country, to have minds thoughts and hearts changed for the betterment of you and your neighbours.
Pretty simple. You don’t have to do a Judith Collins and oh just pop into a church while you have the media present. You can just pray wherever you are comfortable, in the car is great, at home, wherever.
Remember the words of the Psalmist Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
If we want a restoration of the blessings, earlier generations enjoyed.
We need to put God back into our family,
We need to put God back into our communities,
We need to put God back into our schools,
We need to put God back into our workplace,
We need to put God back into our law and order
We need to put God back into our decision making in Parliament.
Above all, we need to put God back into our lives.
Now there, my friends, is a list of things you can pray for.
Moving onto our next heading Vote.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil goodand good evil, who put darkness for lightand light for darkness, who put bitter for sweetand sweet for bitter.
Today in politics we are seeing a lot of that.
Over the past five years and possibly before that, we have seen and been subjected to so much spin from our politicians and business leaders, greatly aided by the former truthtellers and journalists of history The media.
Before I get into the subject of Politics, as some of you know I came from a media background.
As a journalist particularly the print media, it was impressed upon me what I wrote would be a snapshot of history, so it was important that how I wrote was the story of the time.
It was other people’s stories and beware you don’t put your own thoughts into the story you write.
One project I worked on was the 50th anniversary of a community paper which I had to write a synopsis of the past 50 years and through the stories written I had a sense of the community and how people lived and just how much had changed.
I had a sense of what the community valued and reading through the years, you could sense those values change.
Today’s media is all about them, their thoughts, and opinions, even if there is a mention of the subject in the story, you will find it leans a certain direction.
To be honest if stories matched the click bait used as a headline it would be interesting reading.
When I worked in the media, it was a privilege to be trusted to write other peoples stories and report balanced news of the day.
So back to the current political situation.
Let me just give you some thoughts.
Law and Order- the township of Opotiki, the Police minister Ginny Anderson claims Police acted correctly in closing roads for over two hours denying law abiding citizens egress on the roads while the Mongrel Mob had a free pass.
She recently attacked New Zealand’s prison system, says it’s no place for Māori offenders. Prison is for non/Māori. This is the same Police Minister who has spun we were safer with 1800 more frontline police officers on the beat to keep people safe.
She obviously wasn’t including dairy owners who are now imprisoned by bars in their business and the countless numbers of retail workers who are terrified about going to work, where they maybe injured during a robbery or the worst case scenario beaten and killed, all for a pack of cigarettes.
Let’s not overlook the 23-year-old man who raped and sexually abused a young girl for years, including pinning her down and choking her, received a discount off his sentence because he told the judge prison would be difficult.
Our health minister who is allowing ethnicity to be put ahead of need for operations who tells us, it’s not true.
Let’s not forget the various ministers of the crown who denied the rights and freedoms of new Zealanders during the Pandemic.
On Housing, we hear of millions of dollars being spent on housing just for Māori, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn’t this the plan for Ihumātao a few years back to build housing with some designated housing for Māori.
We all remember the standoff between the developers Fletcher’s and local iwi, let’s not forget the intervention of Prime Minister Ardern and the $30 million from the taxpayer cheque book.
So, what has happened to Ihumātao, is it being used for Māori Housing, well no, building has been carried out and no housing, but a 7000 square metre Science of the Soul Study Centre for an Indian religious sect among the distinctive stone walls of the historic Ōtuataua Stonefield’s Historic Reserve, which was the focus of the controversial Ihumātao occupation.
Abortion, we are such a caring nation a story which missed the media was the case of a child which was born after surviving an attempt during a late term abortion was born, but medical staff were not allowed to aid, and it took two hours to die.
From the moment the child was born it was no longer a foetus according to law and was legally a child and yet it was left to die, Shame on all those involved. That is the legacy of government policy on abortion.
I have had plenty to say about our education curriculum and the alphabet mafias freedom to groom our children to the unnatural, I won’t speak anymore about them as we are under a warning of being banned from some social media platforms for speaking truth.
On what planet does a mandate protester get jail time and a multiple child rapist get home detention?
On what planet is governance decided by ethnicity not racism.
On what planet does 50% of our population get forced to accept that in fact their appearance only determines that separation?
And in what universe do unelected governors collectively get to decide laws that criminalize expression of thoughts?
It’s not existential or theory: it’s group think psychosis, where ethical & moral values secede to fear of punishment that has no crime.
It’s even worse than Orwell imagined.
Look I could go on, but now here is an awaking happening and people are saying how did our country changed.
It is changing socially, culturally and morally – all by stealth.
Right now our government is enacting a policy on co governance, you probably haven’t heard much of it this year because they say they have shelved plans for it, but it’s still happening. Last month we saw the introduction of a multimillion dollar extension of Te Pae Oranga, a scheme where Māori offenders are placed before community panels instead of courts.
I’ll tell you how, because you exercised your vote without thinking through the short- and long-term ramifications for the country.
Right now, I am not telling you how you should vote, nor am I endorsing any party, how you vote is your decision, but I ask you exercise your right thoughtfully and urge you to vote.
Christians will often feel reluctant to put their faith into anything other than Gods Kingdom, but I remind you that governments, good or bad are in place because of Gods authority.
As Christians, we should not see politics as the primary answer to New Zealand’s problems, and we should avoid confusing or compromising the Gospel with worldly political ideologies.
Jesus made a point in his sermon on the mount for followers to be salt and light, by exercising your right to vote, you are adding salt into the culture.
But with prayerful and careful voting, let’s do what can do to strengthen a proper Christian presence and voice in our Parliament.
Since MMP began in 1996, there have been Christian-values or Christian-friendly parties, including current contenders, because it still makes up a sizeable block.
Dr Stuart Lange from The New Zealand Christian Network in his recent newsletter observed “politics is a highly demanding and complicated environment.
Those Christian MPs who are already in Parliament very much need our support, especially in prayer.”
It should also be noted that those who have made it in the past, enter Parliament with great Christian ideals and yet leave parliament very much like their secular counterparts defeated by having to vote for things they may be questionable and perhaps against their own conscience.
I have only touched on some of the shenanigans of our politicians but every time they open their mouths I often wonder if calling them Muppets is insulting to Kermit and Miss Piggy but honestly when you hear the leader of a party suggests condensation on windows disproportionately affects Māori and Pasifika.
Te Pati Māori leader Rawiri Waititi I quote “damp windows did not exist before Pakeha colonialists invaded the Aotearoa motu”.
C’mon stop rolling your eyes, I can’t make this stuff up.
Let’s just say, we understand this country is economically, and morally broke and what is needed is leadership, something we do not have at present.
It is hard to look at the incumbents vying for the job, there is a dearth of leadership material, although one in particular looks a possibility but politics is rough and its going to take someone with leadership strength to lift this country out of the mire.
I have had it up to here with all parties, I want a plan, I don’t want to be told that 2=2 now equals 5 because it doesn’t
I don’t want politicians to tell me there is fifty shades of grey.
And I am sure you will agree when I say, I don’t want a government who cannot define what a woman is or can’t tell the difference between what is natural and unnatural.
The time to stop contextual morality, it’s time where a government is going to lead and the first place, they need to start from is from a foundation of Truth,
Remember Truth?
We are living in a relevant time right now where truth has been discarded, people are resorting to relativism about everything.
Truth is not “flexible”—it’s solid and unyielding.
Truth liberates.
Truth rebuilds.
Truth restores.
Truth heals.
Truth transforms.
Truth prevails.
You do not change truth.
Truth changes you! Amen?
Earlier I mentioned how New Zealanders were prepared to take to the streets because they stood for a cause and that brings me into the third subject of our meeting Stand.
There is just so much we as a nation should be standing up for, Over the past meetings, I have given you numerous topics but, I have come back to this.
If we stand up for something we must be sure we believe in it 100%
Think back to the last century and how many people have given their lives for what they stand for.
If you are going to draw a line in the sand, you better be sure it’s something you are prepared to give up everything for.
Last month a Christian teacher in New Zealand was fired, struck off the register, which means he can never teach again because it was against his conscience to buy into the culture and took a stand and refuse to call a pupil by his assigned pro noun.
My friends how strong are you in your belief in God?
It is finally happening in New Zealand, we have been reading about the lefts intolerance to God happening overseas, friends what happened with this teacher and Bethlehem College in Tauranga is just the beginning, believe me, your faith is going to be tested.
Make a Stand but make sure you are equipped with the answer. 2 Timothy 4:2?
The clearer we hear our call from God, the more courage we will have to face the spiritual battles ahead of us.
Our faithfulness should see us keep praying for New Zealand to return to God.
We want to be strong, courageous, gracious, but uncompromising as witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, amidst a culture of increasing hostility towards the Christian faith.
When Jesus said you are the salt of the earth he was saying, “you are the preservative of a decaying culture”.
We. As Christians, followers of Christ, 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.
From today and as I put you on notice, from today we must learn how to conduct ourselves as a minority, in a majority post-Christian era.
We need to know and be confident on engaging the culture without being contaminated by it.
And we need to be taking that truth to world who is in bondage to darkness.
Let’s pray, lets pray and when the opportunity presents, let’s engage as Christian citizens in a god honouring legal way, lets stand for that truth no matter what the opposition says, or whoever may try to cancel us.
So, I end by leaving you this thought.
Since we are not dead, we are not done, we’ve heard it, let’s do it.
