Biblical Principles For Churches Wrestling With Vaccine Mandates

Pastors and other leaders have had to wrestle with issues they never saw coming. Who should they "allow" to come to worship - the vaccinated only, everyone? Churches have divided by arguments over vaccine passes. What principles should guide us in this incredibly complex time?

George Wieland, Director of the Carey Centre For Mission Research and Formation, has written identifying some of the biblical principles he see as being relevant. It is an article that has received a lot of affirmation and it might be valuable for all of us to ponder prayerfully.

Anxiety: There Are Things We Can Do

There is a huge amount of anxiety around. We hear reports of the anxiety amongst children, let alone adults trying to cope with an uncertain and threatening world.

Josh Weidmann has put together 48 things you can do to relieve anxiety. They come from his own experience and they are practical. They are things we can do and it is only in doing them that the results will be found. They are also Christian. Peace is found through the Prince of Peace. It is the knowledge that God is still in control despite the apparent chaos that allows us to relax.

These might be useful for you or someone you know.

May God give us all His peace.

pastor's Wife Might Be Imprisoned For Quoting The Bible

This video speaks for itself. It is another example of the restrictions being imposed on Christians who believe the Bible. Keep praying for our nation as well as so many others following this same pathway.

Why John Cooper Is "Brazen" About Deconstruction

John Cooper is the lead vocalist, bassist and song-writer/producer for the rock band, Skillet. He has recently spoken forcefully about the "epidemic" of Christian influencers, often musicians, who have "deconstructed" their faith. The strength of his assessment has brought criticism which he answers in this article (actually, a Facebook post).

People use "deconstruction" to describe different things and that is part of the problem. Cooper distinguishes between reading the Bible seeking to discover its truth even if that means abandoning some former beliefs, on the one hand, and simply questioning traditional Christian beliefs, perhaps on the basis that the Bible is not reliable, or God is a moral monster, and encouraging others to abandon their faith, on the other. He says the first is what we should be doing all of the time, It is the second that concerns him. It is people's attempts to destroy other's faith that causes him to speak strongly.

Read the article yourself and tell us what you think.

 The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act has now been passed by our parliament and is the law in our country.

Despite the "chilling effect" of this legislation, this video from Family First encourages parents, counsellors, faith leaders etc and those who are seeking counselling or unwanted sexuality or gender issues to "keep going" upholding God's truth on sexuality and gender. Bob McCoskrie emphasises that this must be loving and gracious, avoiding coercion and any abusive methods but by being faithful, we will be in the right side of truth.

He cites the example of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego who refused to bow down to a statue of the emperor even if God did not rescue them.

You would not think that acting lovingly and graciously, or acting in line with one's conscience would be unlawful but, in our country, it now is. The video is, in that sense, counselling us to break the law. What do you think about that? Is this a sufficiently important issue that Christians may have to keep going?

Carey Nieuwhof's Most Listened Podcasts #4 - Steve Carter

 The fourth most listened Carey Nieuwhof podcast of 2021 featured Steve Carter.

Carey wrote...

In 2018, Steve Carter was one of the named successors to Bill Hybels at Willow Creek. At 38, he was poised to become the senior pastor of one of the largest and most influential churches in America.

Steve talks about the devastating revelations about the ongoing abuse that had been happening under his predecessor’s leadership, leaving Willow Creek, what crisis taught him as a young leader, and why character matters so much.

Again, these podcasts can be found on Carey's website or on your favourite podcast site but here is the YouTube version. You can click in the bottom right corner to make it full-screen.

Conversion Practices Prohibition: Should We Care?

Last night the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill passed its second reading with only 7 of the 120 MPs opposing it.

Does it matter? How serious is it really?

I suspect it depends how it is implemented. It might be more symbolic than anything. There might be very few prosecutions. On the other hand, if there is a zealous desire to put it into practice, there could be very serious consequences for many groups, including Christians.

At its worst, the new law will:

• prevent parents from expressing any negative view towards a child who says he/she wants to transition to the other sex (e.g. a parent telling a 12-year-old he/she cannot go onto puberty blockers but rather wait),
• prevent counsellors from discussing other options with a person who says he/she wants to transition,
• prevent Christians from expressing a biblical view on gender or sexuality issues where that is seen as seeking to persuade a  person.
• That, of course, will include preventing Christian pastors and leaders from giving biblical advice. Prayer is explicitly included in the legislation as  "conversion practice" and so would be illegal.

That means that the legislation would also prevent a person wanting to explore his/her gender identity or sexual orientation from hearing different views. This Bill will enforce one view only.

It is noteworthy that the legislation is clear that this refers only to conversion practices opposing gender fluidity or homosexuality. It will be legal to pursue pro- and pro-homosexual "conversion practices".

At its worst, the legislation would seem to deny some basic human rights:

• the right to seek advice and determine one's own future
• the freedom of speech and opinion
• the freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice that religion

Christians could end up in prison for no reason other than expressing biblical teaching and caring enough about people to speak honestly and lovingly to them.

There might still be amendments proposed during the third reading of the Bill. Please make this a matter of urgent and persistent prayer.

See the new Zealand Christian Network's "Urgent Prayer Alert".