I’ve been fascinated this year how often I see or hear things that align with what I’m writing on during the drafting process. I was watching TV after eating with friends when a show came on that though set during the war had a lot of similarities with 2020. They were depicting the trials Australian’s faced during the second world war. The food rationing, the detaining of law abiding citizens. Though we aren’t at war in the traditional sense we are very much at war against a media industry that has been pushing an agenda for decades. We are at war against politicians who are leading in an un godly manner. And we are at war against those in the world that have the power and finances to do whatever they want.
What should a Christian do about the current state of society? Nothing because Jesus has already won the war? Nothing because you believe Romans 13 says to obey authority even when they contravene God’s law?
Should Christians be publicly protesting?
Should Christians tell everyone about alternative treatments that aren’t being offered, or in some cases outlawed despite previously being available for decades?
Maybe sitting down and waiting for it all to go away is right? I mean we still have more freedoms than some other countries in the world. Shouldn’t we be thankful for that?
The easiest way I’ve come to answer any of these questions is when my time on earth is over and I’m standing before my creator will I be able to do so knowing I did the right thing?
I’ve challenged Christian and non Christians alike this year to search for the truth in all things. Want to learn about God? Research him from multiple sources, don’t just rely on one preacher or church as your only source of information.
Want to continue living in a democratic society? Exercise your freedoms while you still can and communicate with all your elected officials about your views. If the only time you do anything about the laws we are governed by is any time there is an election are you surprised by what has happened this year? Writing as a Victorian I’m horrified by the laws they are currently trying to pass. I confess I’ve been lax in my life to date communicating with politicians.
We’ve had it pretty good in this country regardless of who was in power. But if the rules the Victorian government has put in place for our health and safety, why do they still want everyone’s contact details attending any faith service at the end of the roadmap when things are back to “normal”? Why are some states borders closed when there are no cases? Why are the Queensland and Western Australian premieres saying they won’t reopen their borders until after their respective state elections?
There are way to many inconsistencies that don’t make any logical sense to list in this article but if the only news source you have is one of the main ones it’s possible you are too scared to leave your house in case you die from the super deadly pandemic killing millions of people world wide. If you’ve watched the event 201 videos you may have a different point of view. If you’ve spent hundreds of hours researching what is really going on you may not be concerned about the virus at all.
If you have researched beyond the mainstream media headlines you may be concerned about what else might actually be transpiring.
But what should a Christian be doing in times like these?
I’ve been reminded this year of the fable of the person shipwrecked on a remote island. They prayed to God every day, please save me and a week later a boat came by and they asked can we help? The reply they received was I’m ok I’ve prayed and I’m waiting for God to save me. They kept praying every day and the next week a helicopter flew by and they yelled down are you okay. The slightly weaker reply they received was I’m ok I’ve prayed about and I’m waiting for God to save me. After another week of praying and starving they died. In heaven they asked why didn’t you answer my prayer and save me? To which they received the reply I did, I sent you a ship and a helicopter.
Keep praying, keep reading the word, keep listening to all of the great teaching available on line, but what use is any of that if you are selfish with everything you are being fed with?
Next Time: What would you like me to write about next time?
Neville Hiatt was the 2020 Press Services International Tronson Senior Writers Award Winner for Australia. His previous posts for can be read here.
He spent a decade working for Radio Stations before his career was intermissioned by someone in a hurry to get home from work. For more of his award winning creativity visit http://nevillehiatt.com.
He also blogs for http://altcoincollege.com/covering the way cryptocurrencies and blockchain are changing our world.