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Advance Australia where?

Another Australia Day has passed, with our pride and celebration of all things Australian, including awards to those who have done great things for our nation.

In celebrating and promoting what is Australian, do you notice how hard it is to define what Australian values are? So various suggestions have been made, such as ‘mateship’, ‘a fair go’, ‘standing by your mates’.

Even if these could be defined clearly, the application of them in relation to each other is not always agreed upon. For example, the police have had to enforce alcohol bans in public places, and address racist attacks against ethnic minorities, such as Indian students. Some have reacted against this, by saying that banning alcohol is ‘unAustralian’, and justify racist behaviour against those they feel are ‘not Australian’.

There seems to be increasing reaction against any attempt, real or perceived, to suggest or impose values that must be agreed upon, or apply to everyone. So this week, Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been criticised for even suggesting that young Australian women should consider remaining virgins until being married, which is a view consistent with Catholic and Biblical Christianity. He has been criticised for moralising and imposing his religious views on others, when young women should be free to make their own choices.

So how do Christians promote the cause and values of God, that we believe will improve our society?

Firstly, we do need to engage in public debate, arguing that Christian views are actually good for our well-being, are right and ultimately pleasing to God.

But, secondly, only God can transform hearts, minds and behaviour by the power of His Holy Spirit, through the message of Jesus. So the Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 5:19–24:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

We can notice the sinful nature is characteristic of everyone, unless God rescues us and grants us the Holy Spirit to transform us into His new creations. Naturally, with the sinful nature we selfishly choose our own moral or sexual values, are hurtful towards others, and react against God’s values.

However, the sinful nature is dead for anyone belonging to Christ, and instead the Spirit produces change in us to willingly submit to God’s standards, harmony with others and producing godly sexuality and morality.

We need to pray passionately that God will graciously grant His Holy Spirit, through the proclamation of Jesus, to transform our nation. Only with the Spirit’s help, can we see true unity, acceptance of godly values that will advance Australia.

In Christ,
Jon Phua

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