News from around the globe that the newspapers seldom print

Disclaimer and fair comment

While I agree with most of the material passed on I may not be in agreement with all. However there is much we can learn from some that we disagree with. Remember it was once thought that the earth was flat.

It is left to your judgment to determine what you agree with and what to act upon.
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Thanks Nick, that is fine. It is up to you to quote its source if you wish. It is the Editorial in the Newsletter of the Australian Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which I am the editor.

Cheers,
David M.
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A National Dilema

The bombing attacks occurring around the world are signs foreshadowing a conflict of worldwide proportions. In considering this we make one very important point. The background to our comments is that we confirm that all Scripture is given by inspiration and that every word of the canonical Scripture is "God breathed." Further, that we are bound to believe and accept the Scriptures as the truth, unequivocally and without reservation. This is the foundation of our faith and not to accept this will eventually destroy the whole structure of the Christian Church.

Further, we reject the false philosophy of the ecumenical movement that has convinced an apostate generation that "all religions are much the same and all have valid points to commend them." Therefore, with all respect we cannot accept, for example, that Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and all other man-made philosophies are reliable ways to salvation.

There has only been one God-given message which deals with man's creation, waywardness, salvation and eternal destiny, and that is contained in the Scriptures on which the Christian church is founded.

It was on these principles that the Christian church flourished since its inception. They provided the motive for Christians to travel to all parts of the globe, teaching and preaching. These were the principles upon which the framework of Western society was built and from which we derive our system of democratic government.

This whole framework is now under attack as seen by the bombings in London and around the world. This is not a conventional military attack as we formerly understood a military conflict.

Whilst we acknowledge that it is not the role of a government to restore or carry out the mission work of the Christian Church, in the present situation, Prime Minister Howard would be well advised to spend as much time and resources in protecting the nation's heritage as the nation does in combating the terrorists and their weapons.

The operations of the "terrorists" have been seen until now largely as a political and military campaign. But its long-term effects will be devastating for the Christian Church.

It is an assault on a church which will have great difficulty in defending itself, because it has in far too many areas forsaken the principles enumerated at the beginning of this article. It has also failed to speak out against immoral legislation introduced by governments in the guise of "social change". 

Assisted by the greatest mass migration programme seen for over one thousand years, Islam has stepped into a world wide spiritual vacuum created by the declining influence of the Christian churches. The number of people on the move is sufficient to change the culture of the destination where they settle.

Who would have thought 40 years ago that an Australian Anglo European nation, steeped in British constitutional democratic government would be faced with tectonic change, a situation that has the capacity to challenge both the accepted way of government and our heritage, as well as the nation's religion. Whilst the mainline churches may have been showing signs of decline, with people staying away from the conventional Christian services, the nation as a whole accepted that Australia, if it had any religion at all, was Christian.

For several decades we have seen in Australia a massive migration programme that has placed, according to some reports, up to 500.000 Muslims in our midst. Australians should prepare for the distinct possibility that the culture that has sustained us for 200 years will be drastically changed. Governments will bow to pressure to introduce laws which allow Muslims to live under Islamic customs and law. An aggressive and dedicated Islam will expand at the expense of the Christian churches.

It is hardly likely that the mainline Christian churches have the will or capacity to defend what was once the faith of the nation.

Should this concern us? As Christians we are bound to obey the Divine command of our Lord to preach the Gospel to the world, to all people regardless of their race, colour or religion.

If this is beyond the capacity of the existing church structure, then the Word will be preserved, (and we are assured it always will be), by faithful little groups and individuals across the nation, as it was in Russia under the brutal Communist rule.

In the situation that Christians may well find themselves in the coming years, they will need all the courage, hope, comfort and faithfulness they can muster. What better advice to give than that in the words of a fine old hymn;