Category Archives: Society

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Victorious Christian Living: Triumph in Trials

 

Testings, trials, and tribulations: these are things we would prefer to avoid. Yet, in a fallen world – where bad things can happen to good people and good things to bad people – we need to face realities. Tests, trials, tribulations, and offences will come; Jesus said that in this present world we will have tribulation (John 6:33).  

Since the Covid-19 onslaught, God’s people have been under heavy pressure with bizarre things happening to the best among us. Sometimes trials comes through our own foolishness and become a self-inflicted wound; other times we are doing all the right things and yet trouble comes. 

What are we to make of all these things? And how can we triumphantly move forward?

While it is easy to fall into platitudes, this article seeks to present Biblical principles. Platitudes don’t work but principles do. While there are no formulas or recipes, application of these divine principles applied to life’s challenges will receive a divine reward. Here are some principles you can count on:

  1. Immediate download: If you walk with God and trouble hits, expect an immediate download of divine grace and peace in your heart and mine. Isaiah 59:19: When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. When the devil works, you can expect God to work even harder. Since God promises never to leave you or forsake you, expect an extra measure of His presence and grace in when trials come (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord becomes a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1
  2. Know where you stand in God: It is easy to become disorientated in times of trouble, yet it is imperative to know your true Biblical standing in God – and keep standing. You have the perpetual promise of His presence (Matthew 28:20), that all things will work together for your good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28), and that if you persevere in trouble, God will put you in a large place of promotion (Psalm 4:1; 75:6-7). Pass the test, win the prize.
  3. Patient endurance: When the trial is on-going, understand that God is developing in you the grace of patient endurance. Immature people are impatient people, yet patient people are mature, strong, and exceedingly wise. The Book of Revelation speaks of the patience of the saints and how they honour God in the process. You are being strengthened in the process (2 Corinthians 12:10).
  4. Mileposts: In an on-going trial, God graciously gives ‘mileposts’ along the way. Like natural ones, mileposts highlight that you are heading in the right direction and getting closer to your destination. During a trial, this author temporarily lost his wallet in the main hallway of a shopping centre. He was not even aware the wallet was missing. Five minutes after the loss, he heard his name being paged. As he walked out of the cafe, a kind man handed him back his wallet. The Lord then said: ‘Just as I am watching after you in this matter, so I am in all matters.’ This was a welcome milepost. Recognise the grace mileposts and thank God for them. You are on the right track.
  5. Under control: Often times, when you have done everything you humanely can and there is no more to do at present, let the Holy Spirit remind you that the current crisis is ‘under control.’ Rest and rejoice in this fact – God is at work even while you sleep.
  6. Be strong and courageous: Nobody is organically born strong and courageous. These things come by making a decision to obey the clear commands of God, just as He gave to Joshua (1:6, 7, 9). Paul exhorted the Ephesian church to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). When you are both strong and courageous, you will be able to do things that would otherwise be impossible for the cowardly and weak.
  7. See the ‘big picture’: It is easy to be focused on the single tree even though God wants you to look on the forest. Hebrews 12:11: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Learn the divine lessons on offer and you can graduate to the next level. 
  8. Praise and thanksgiving: It is high time that God is glorified, even in and especially during times of testing. We are commanded to give thanks in everything and at every time (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Praise God regularly and liberally (Psalm 150:6), since it and thanksgiving are part of the language of faith. And faith moves mountains. Learn what it means to ‘Sow praises to the heavens and God will rain down blessing on earth.’ Praise and thanksgiving are proven spiritual weapons that will defeat the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:22).
  9. When all is said and done, keep trusting God: We were made for this. Trusting God is wisest and best thing you can do, even when it does not make sense to the natural mind. Proverbs 3:5-6 are the classic verses on this subject – Trust God with all your heart, don’t rely solely on your rational mind, acknowledge Him at all times and He will direct your path.
  10. As has been aptly said, tough times don’t last but thought people do. Your perseverance will be richly rewarded. 

Trials happen to everyone but those who love and trust God are guaranteed to come out on top. 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Silver Lining: Lessons from Lockdown – Part 01

 

From the 2022 Understanding the Times Australia Wide Tour: ‘Turning the Corner: Bringing Clarity in Confusing Times’

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation 

— 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

It was perhaps the most difficult period of our collective lives. Beginning with the Covid-19 pandemic, then the mandates and lockdowns that became all too common around the world. It was like a mighty earthquake that had repeated and unwelcome aftershocks. When was all this going to end?

People of Biblical faith need to see that God has not forsaken them in the midst of the madness. Furthermore, He takes that which is evil and turns it for our good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). During lockdown, there were some invaluable lessons that we learned – but there’s a caveat. Lessons were learned by those who were ‘watching’ and ‘sober.’ 

The above passage from 1 Thessalonians 5 describes the last days scenario with three types of people. 

One – The Sleepers: These are they who are alive and awake to the things of the world but asleep to the things of God’s kingdom.

Two – The Drunkards: This simply means a person detached from reality. They live under deception, denial, delusion, and practice escapism at the very time they need to stand and fight. 

Three – Children of the light and the day: The first two categories are to be avoided at all costs since the end result is that they will not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3). 

Do everything in your power to become the third category – a child of the light and the day. God is light (1 John 1:5) and Christ is light (John 8:12), those who follow Him at all times are also in the light (Matthew 5:14). 

Children of the light are watchman on the walls. Like weighing oneself after a calorie-busting Christmas season, we may not like what we see, but we need to see it if we are going to resolve the issues. After all, when you understand that there is a problem – and why – you are halfway towards a solution.

For those who ‘watch,’ ‘pray,’ and are ‘sober,’ here are some of the lessons we learned during the pandemic and lockdown period.

First: The Fourth Branch of Government

Constitutionally there are three branches of government:  the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. Thanks to lockdown, we learned that there is a de facto fourth branch that has developed over the years though this was never constitutionally mandated. The ‘fourth branch’ has legislative power, though not subject to a vote of the people. It can also stymie the will of the people and other branches of government. 

Who is that man behind the curtain? 

It is known as the ‘administrative state,’ the ‘bureaucracy,’ the ‘rule of experts.’ Common nicknames are ‘the swamp,’ ‘the deep state,’ and ‘the blob.’ This ‘fourth branch’ is found in the Anglo-sphere and the European Union. In the United States alone, there are 432 federal agencies that employ three million people. Bureaucrats craft regulations which have the force of law.

Remember the American constitution explicitly proscribed a large federal government, since minimal government means maximum freedom. Big government is bossy government; furthermore, it is can be costly and inefficient.

During lockdown we saw ‘the experts’ give pronouncements which influenced, if not dictated, government policy. These statements could change on a whim, contradict other statements, be accurate, partially accurate, or wholly inaccurate. The bottom line is that 100s of millions of people were affected by bureaucrats who are unelected and often unaccountable. This is not healthy for democracy.

Two: Indoctrination in Schools

Cultural Marxists have cleverly targeted the public school system for decades, dating back to the 1930s. They knew that he that controls the classroom controls the future. Teachers are the ‘dangerous people,’ who can influence an entire generation – for better or for worse. If the latter, the effects of their influence may be hidden for years until it finally bursts at the surface. For example, heretics infiltrated theological schools and then years later the unwanted crop of ‘post-biblical Christianity’ came into being. This has been a problem throughout church history.

During lockdown parents could not go to work and children to school. So school instruction happened online. Some prudent parents seized this rare opportunity to listen to what their children were learning. To their horror, it wasn’t ‘reading, writing, and arithmetic,’ but ‘woke,’ wretched and radical ideology in areas like race and gender. This unveiling – made possible by lockdown – led to an ‘awakening’ of parents, who decided to do something about their children’s education. School board meetings have not been the same since.

Three: An Authoritarian Streak

It is no secret that leftist ideology, whether cultural Marxism, secular progressivism, socialism, and related beliefs, seek to care for the people by controlling them. In order to take care of their constituents, these leaders demand complete compliance. Individualism and freedom are the price. There can be no deviation from the plan of action. In summary, leftism is coercive and demanding by nature.

For those who understood this and watched, it should have come as no surprise that there was a strong authoritarian streak from some of our democratically elected politicians, especially from the aforementioned Anglo-sphere. The Covid-crisis could not go to waste and a legislative power grab ensued in some jurisdictions, with sweeping edicts that had little to do with the pandemic. Though the politician is the ‘face’ of authoritarianism, the instigation could be from the bureaucracy, special interests, or another hidden party.

These are only three of the major takeaways of what the children of the light and day discovered during the bizarre period of pandemic and lockdown. There are more, which we will learn in the next article.

TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

ELIZABETH II 1926-2022

It was the day that Britain and the Commonwealth dreaded. She was last photographed at Balmoral, her holiday home in Scotland, with a beautiful smile but with obvious frailty and a bruised hand, greeting the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss. Then in less than forty eight hours, she was gone. 


Arguably the most and photographed famous woman in the world, with a ubiquitous presence: the image Elizabeth II graced postage stamps, coins, and banknotes. Though most never met her in person, many also felt a familiarity. Now that she belongs to the ages, there was something reassuring as the transition finalised between the reigns of Elizabeth II and Charles III occurred with velvet smoothness. While there is understandably great sorrow at the passing of a long-term and beloved monarch, there was reassurance that her legacy of dedication, diligence and duty, will continue on.


While many tributes have been paid to the late queen, this one will focus on three key things. The first is that the Queen served as a living link to history. She was related by blood to historical figures like Henry VIII, George III, and Queen Victoria. The mind whirls at the events she witnessed during her ninety-six years on this earth. At the age of ten, she watched – perhaps with bemusement – how her uncle Edward VIII forsook the crown to marry an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, thus catapulting her father to the throne as George VI. This meant that she now became the first in line to the succession. At the age of fourteen, she witnessed the Nazi blitz of London, when even Buckingham Palace was hit. She participated in the war effort as a driver and mechanic. And who can forget the euphoric moment when the royal family stepped out onto the balcony of the Palace as the crowds gathered to celebrate V-E Day, May 8th 1945, the end of the second world war. The British people weathered the war and came out on top. She was there for it all. 


The array of political leaders with whom she interacted is staggering: Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy – the list goes on. Elizabeth II was more than an observer of history – she made it; a young woman in a geo-political man’s world, she held her ground and earned the respect of all. 


A leading figure in the United Kingdom and the West, Elizabeth embodied the best of all these worlds. Remember that the ‘West’ embodies reason, scientific breakthrough, technology, the industrial revolution, renaissance, reformation, the market economy, abolition of slavery, the formation of parliamentary democracy with its balance of powers, separation of powers, and recognition of human rights. All these important things find their powerful symbolism in the Crown, which embodies history, heritage, governance, and way of life.


As the British Empire began its peaceful dismantling, it was wonderfully reconstituted into the Commonwealth of Nations, which even includes countries that were not under British colonial rule. Elizabeth II skilfully and successfully navigated this entire process; she proved to be a very popular uniter. 


While most sang her praises, there was a few noisy cultural Marxist voices who wished her ill. It’s not that she had personally done anything egregious against anyone – she had not and they know it. They were attacking the civilisation which she so ably represented.


Finally, as noted in the third and final instalment of the Crown Chronicles, Queen Elizabeth II was a conspicuous and vocal Christian. She faithfully attended the local church where she was located at any particular occasion, even on her holidays. Prayer given and received was an important part of her life. Of course, she was famous for her annual address to the Commonwealth on Christmas Day, where regular mention was made of her faith in Jesus Christ. In her one and only ‘Easter Address,’ of April 2020 during the beginning of the Covid lockdown, she famously said that while other things had been cancelled, Easter would never be – it was un-cancellable.


While it is technically possible for a non-Christian to exhibit good character traits, the Queen led the way in sterling qualities: integrity, loyalty, honesty, truthfulness, consistency, faithfulness, and, let’s not forget, her unflinching dedication to duty. In seventy years on the throne, she could be counted upon to fulfil her obligations, without a loss of temper, control, or coarse language. It is concerning that the Queen’s character, bolstered by her Christian faith, seemed to be something unique, relegated to a museum, rather than the mainstream in a ‘Christian society.’ For sure, these qualities were far more plentiful in 1952, when she came to the throne, than in 2022. Yet, the outstanding and consistent example she set is an opportunity for others to walk in her footsteps. When you follow Christ, the light of the world, you will be a reflection of that light.


The symbols of her coronation on June 2, 1953, were all of the Christian vintage: the orb, sceptre, crown, holy oil. For all practical purposes, the monarch’s coronation is a Bible-based anointing service. And the coronation vow itself is powerful. The monarch swears “To maintain the laws of God and the profession of the Gospel.” It was a recognition that Her Majesty’s kingdom is a Christian realm and that she as monarch, and the government she leads must maintain it. Even the monarch is subject to the King of kings and Lord of lords.


As we celebrate the life and memory of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, other realms and the Commonwealth, let us remember to pray for her successor, King Charles III. He has a tough act to follow, but he has also had seventy-three years to prepare for it. By God’s grace and our prayers, he will do just fine. 


Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Winning the War on Truth – Part 02

All-out war has been declared against truth. If we are going to win this war – and the stakes couldn’t be higher – then we need to know that there is a war and what we are fighting against. In Part 01, we learned about the enemies of truth, which come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colours. This includes words and phrases like spin, disinformation, misinformation, post-truth, double-speak, smoke and mirrors, and gaslighting. To this infamous list we add a few more items in the vocabulary of deception:

  • Mendacity: Another word for untruthfulness and lying, particularly as a regular part of daily living.
  • Half-truth: An interesting and deadly variant of the virus of lies. One could be telling a story that is technically factual but the goal is not to shed light but to obscure it. ‘Tell-all’ biographies can fit this description. They may actually be telling ‘the truth’ but the question needs to be asked: Why are they telling this story at all? Is it for the public good? Does it bring accountability to society’s leaders? Or is their real intention to embarrass, harass, or even destroy a public figure? Or to make millions off someone else’s misery? If the latter, then it really should be labelled as a violation of the ninth commandment – giving false witness. A good rule of thumb: If the words are right but the spirit behind them is wrong, then it is wrong … no matter how accurate the wording may be. Remember, a positive account (factually accurate) plus a negative account (spirit of defamation and destruction) equals a negative. 
  • Right words/Wrong Spirit: A good example of saying the right words but nullifying them by a bad spirit, is the incident in Acts 16. At Philippi, a girl with a spirit of divination followed the apostles Paul and Silas continuously while declaring aloud ‘These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation’ (verse 17). There was no untruth in her statement; however, she kept following and harassing the apostles with this unwanted ‘commendation’ over a period of ‘many days’ (verse 18). This situation became so intolerable to Paul that he cast out the evil spirit in the girl (verse 18), who was wonderfully delivered.

  • The politicisation of knowledge: Used by politicians, media outlets, and administrative experts, this means that ‘truth’ and ‘falsehood’ are declared for political ends. Facts are accepted or rejected according to political expediency. Furthermore, facts and information are fashioned around a political agenda, meaning that if lying serves the ultimate goal, then go ahead and lie. The political left will state that a situation is not true when the political right is involved, then turn around and say the exact same situation is true when it meets their goals.
  • Content Moderation: This means someone comes and edits your written content, often without your permission. Tweets can be ‘moderated’ to neutralise any challenge to the prevailing narrative.
  • Fact Checkers: Social media and others claim to use third-party fact-checkers to guard against fake news. The idea is to check the veracity of a story to promote correctness in reporting. Though it sounds like a good idea, it often happens that fact-checkers are biased, too. Some of them could be political operatives disguised as truth-seekers. Again, fidelity to the narrative proves to be more compelling than the facts themselves.

As we enter into prophetically significant times, expect the war against truth to intensify. It is ultimately a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weaponry to win (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The forces of darkness — the devil and his demons – focus on stealing, killing, destroying (John 10:10) and deception (John 8:44). The Lord of hosts excels in light, life, love, edification and truth. The contrast couldn’t be greater.

War in the West: The greatest battlefield of the war against truth is in the western world. Why? Ultimately because the West was based on Judaeo-Christian or Biblical foundations. This includes the Ten Commandments, which teach us the highest standards of ethics, morality, and conduct the world has ever known. While the Commandments cannot give salvation, they show our need for the Saviour (Galatians 3:24). 

While far from perfect, western civilisation was built on truth from a Biblical worldview. On this foundation, the West became the place that spawned modern science, the renaissance, the reformation, and two industrial revolutions. Great technology has helped modernise life. The market economy lifted many out of poverty. In addition, the West gave the world parliamentary democracy, rule of law, the recognition of private property rights, the separation of powers, the balance of powers, and the codification of human rights. Our world has been made a better place because of all these things.

All of this was made possible by a high, respected view of truth and the Ten Commandments, rightly considered the bedrock of the western legal system. On the other hand, cultural Marxists and revolutionaries have worked hard to decouple the West from its Judaeo-Christian foundations. These foundations teach us there is a higher power above all governing authorities, that liberty is God’s gift to humanity, and the primacy of faith, family and freedom. The Marxist idea is to detach dependence on God and His truth and focus it on the state. If that happens, the first thing to go is the truth. 

Historian Niall (pronounced Neil) Ferguson, an academic authority on western civilisation, said that “Loss of faith in the West is more menacing than the rise of China, radical Islam, and carbon climate change.” This is an additional reminder that the greatest foe of all is not those on the outside, but those within.

As we ponder, pray, and act on the challenges of our world, let’s not forget Christ’s immortal words in John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Boris Johnson: Why Did He Fall?

He is a highly gifted leader. Educated at Eton and an expert on the classics at Balliol College, Oxford, he had the vision to be another Winston Churchill. People describe him as witty, entertaining, optimistic, populist and pragmatic. He rose to the highest political office in the land and in December 2019 he had an electoral landslide that gave him a whopping eighty-seat majority. His campaign slogan?‘Get Brexit Done.’ He was able to do what his immediate predecessor could not – he got a Brexit deal passed through the United Kingdom parliament. So far, so good.

Yet, on 7 July 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. To which we ask: what went wrong? How did he go from landslide to train wreck? Whatever the reasons, do they compare with what’s happening ‘across the pond’ (the Atlantic Ocean) or the instability in Israel with five national elections in less than four years?

Without question, his biggest single achievement was delivering Brexit – the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Though the electorate voted to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum, there was heavy opposition all the way. The Labour Party was for ‘Remain,’ many Conservatives were the same, and ‘the Blob’ – the entrenched UK bureaucracy – opposed it at every turn. 

Boris thrived on the challenge to ‘Get Brexit Done.’ Instead of taking orders from eurocrats in Brussels, the sovereignty of the UK parliament as the chief lawmaker was restored. From that point, he was set up to be a consequential leader like Churchill and Thatcher. 

So what went wrong? Why did he fall?

Boris’s time at the helm coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. He himself got a bad case of the virus and had to be hospitalised. Things may have even been ‘touch and go.’ He did credit the revered National Health Service (NHS) as having saved his life. Yet, the bouncy, indefatigable politician with dishevelled hair was now quiet, subdued, and seemingly withdrawn. Of course, that alone was not enough to end his leadership, but his handling of Covid was.

The UK had Australian-style lockdowns, with three months locked in, and six months of freedom, followed by another three months of lockdown. There were stiff penalties for breaching the guidelines, which separated families, enforced isolation and caused relational ruptures. Yet, while Britons were confined in their home and couldn’t even visit dying relatives, it was ‘party-time’ at Number Ten Downing Street. This is the prime minister’s residence and a government office. Dubbed ‘Party-Gate,’ while citizens were locked up, government workers were having social gatherings with drinks and chips in abundance. 

This was a flagrant breach of the Johnson government’s own Covid-19 guidelines. When asked about this later, Mr. Johnson initially lied about it before finally telling the truth and paying his fine. Some people, even those who voted for Johnson, have spoken to this author of their deep resentment of the double standard of ‘rules for thee and not for me.’ This, of course, is not just limited to the UK political elite, but it was a bitter pill for many to swallow. 

Then he hired Chris Pincher as Government Deputy Whip – a man who was the subject of serious allegations of sexual misconduct. First Boris denied knowledge of these allegations and then finally confessed that he knew after all. This led to mass resignations of his chief ministers. Boris’s resignation happened shortly thereafter. 

So what do we make of all this?

Though Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party, there were actions of his government that are not conservative at all (an accusation that can also be levelled at some in the Australian Liberal Party and the American Republican Party). During Covid-19 any notion of past economic austerity was forsaken as a massive spending spree ensued. Boris went as green as green could be, committing Britain to ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions, which caused energy prices to rise. With looming inflation and recession, this was not the time to raise prices and taxes, including green taxes. Yet during this time, the payroll tax (national insurance) was raised 25 points to fund the NHS and green taxes. The Wall Street Journal denounced ‘Johnsonnomics’ as ‘dumb.’

Commentators have said that Johnson’s eighty-seat majority, including electoral constituencies (districts) that voted Conservative for the first time, was a squandered opportunity. Instead of building on the ‘Brexit bounce’ and carving a new and fresh pathway for the UK, while celebrating its history, heritage, and traditions, Boris Johnson the ‘conservative leader’ gave the appearance of governing like a left-of-centre, tax and spend, progressive globalist. 

Conservative voters resent so-called conservative politicians that don’t govern as conservatives. They don’t like being taken advantage of by backslidden or fake conservatives who think they can always count on the conservative vote, since there is nowhere else for the conservative voter to go. That mindset is a recipe for electoral defeat.

Finally, could the character issue have been the final straw for Boris Johnson? Character appears to be a factor in his fall: lying about Partygate and then lying about Pinchergate may very well have done him in. At least when it came to telling the truth. (Just as an aside:  Boris and his then-girlfriend Carrie moved into Number Ten Downing Street while he was still married to his second wife. It was the first time a British prime minister lived in the official residence with a de facto rather than de jure wife. Boris and Carrie also had a child out of wedlock shortly thereafter. While the couple subsequently [and quietly] married, and had a second Downing Street baby, it appears that such a scenario hardly raised an eyebrow in Britain these days. Cohabitation before marriage is considered acceptable, even among young royals. Yet, when it comes to character, is such a standard acceptable for public figures, when lying is not?). 

Boris had many powerful critics and enemies: the BBC; the Church of England; Scotland’s secessionist first minister Nicola Sturgeon; his former chief advisor turned enemy Dominic Cummings (who vowed to bring him down); the bureaucracy; and Remainers who have now morphed into Rejoiners. Yet, in the final analysis, it is not the enemy from without – but the enemy from within that is most deadly.

Boris Johnson is a gifted, talented man and if somehow he learns his lessons, then he, like his hero Churchill, could make a political comeback. In the meantime, we all would do well to heed the exhortation of Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.



Photo Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Boris_Johnson_official_portrait.jpg attribution Ben Shread/Cabinet Office