“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18 ESV
Xi Xi Pandrews to many is a man you would pass down the street without noticing. To others he may be someone they have seen on tv or online and not known who he was.
According to Judit K. from Braidwood Design Studio
“During the process of developing his website (for a community oriented function), I have found him as a considerate and fair person who is passionate about fairness and justice with a preparedness to fight for the cause of supporting people with disabilities so as to maximise their potential to live a full and fulfilling life. If my circumstances required any assistance, I would turn to him for help without hesitation.”
Does his sense of caring for the needy and vulnerable come from his love for his daughter and her assistance dog? Did he learn how to be considerate and fair while studying at Bible college? Or was his passion for justice instilled in him while a senior pastor of a church?
His online profile currently states he is a retired pastor but he hasn’t retired from living out his convictions.
What he did during October thankfully didn’t get him arrested. It was a windy, chilly day in Ballarat as he set up his podium in the middle of the main street. Reading from a script he’d laboured over for days a black wig aiding his impersonation. He called on his fellow Victorians to care for each other more than they already have been doing.
As we continue to see more people locally and internationally being fined and arrested for speaking out against injustices numerous bible verses come to mind. Here is a list of a few of them. What do you do when your government passes laws that contradict the word of God?
I’m not calling you to hold your own mock press conference but I am asking have you given up because the problem feels to big, or are you still fighting the good fight?
If you aren’t willing to go to jail for your faith I’d ask how well do you know Jesus? There is a difference between having a factual knowledge about someone and having an intimate relationship with them. You know a little about Xi Xi Pandrews from this article and video but you probably don’t know what he likes to drink, what music he listens to or what his dream car is. Likewise the disciples may have not been willing to die for their faith had they only observed Jesus from a distance or only read about him.
Our world is rapidly changing. With all the advancements in technology we can from a historical and factual standpoint verify the truths in the Bible more than any other time in history. Those that don’t want God’s truth known are also using technology to entice you away from him day and night.
The clock is ticking and none of us know when our time on earth will be up. Whether you have a minute, a week, a year or a decade left, the onus is on you to live it for the one who died for you.
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.