Maori Voting

When dealing with the Maori people, New Zealand has a long history of doing something really good, and then blowing it by allowing the good to be whittled away with mischievous behaviour.

The Treaty of Waitangi was a marvellous attempt to join to people in one nation without conquest. Unfortunately, this good start allowed a range of dubious legal practices that robbed Maori of their land. These wrongs are only being put right now, a hundred years later.

New Zealand was one of the first nations to enfranchise indigenous people in 1867. Unfortunately, this good start was spoilt by Maori voters being limited to four seats in the Parliament, as most Maori were prevented from voting because their land was communally owned. This was done to prevent them outvoting the smaller European population. By 1887 Maori should have had 14 seats on the basis of their population, but they were still limited to four seats. This unjust situation lasted until 1996, when the number was increased to five. Although early to get the vote, Maori were under-represented in Parliament for an entire century.

Now Don the Banker wants to abolish the Maori seats. He says that they are no longer needed, as Maori are well represented in Parliament. That might be true, but given that the Maori seats were set up to disenfranchise Maori, the decision about abolishing them should be left with Maori. They can express that choice by transferring from the Maori to the general roll. When the last Maori have transferred across, the separate representation for Maori will disappear. Don does not have to do a thing.

Good Government?

As New Zealand prepares for a parliamentary election in September, I cannot help thinking about the following question.

Would good government be good for New Zealand?

They had rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
(Psalm 107:11-13)

What is God's strategy?
He may have to give our nation bad government
to wake up the church.

Whats the Difference?

All the major political parties believe in salvation by the state.

Roman emperors took the title saviour, but it was just a title. They looked after their loyal elite, but treated the ordinary people as slaves. The modern government does not take the title saviour, but it has taken over the role. It promises to solve every problem that arises. Not surprisingly, it sometimes treats people as slaves.

Jesus claimed the title saviour. He also claimed the role by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. He proved that he was saviour by healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. His church outlasted all the Roman emperors, proving that he truly is the saviour. Unfortunately his people do not understand the scope and subtance of this salvation.

Up or Down

The state promises to lift us up,
when we are down,
but generally it lets us down,
and not gently.

When crises strike, the politicians fly in to assess the damage. They go on television and promise to do whatever needs to be done. But when all is said and done, it takes more than they they can do.
Many of the homeless will be sheltered by families and friends.
Real support will come from churches and community groups.
Much of the clean-up will be done by ordinary people getting stuck in.
Much of the rebuilding will be done by the construction industry.
Most of the cost will be borne by insurance companies.

Of course, the politicians will be there when a crowd gathers and the television cameras roll.
The state builds itself up,
but it lets the people down.

In New Orleans it did not just let the people down,
it let the water flow down
into the city.
The state could not even protect the people from crime and violence.

The state will restore the levees,
too late,
but most people will restore their own lives with help from family and friends.

When God picks us up,
he does not let us down.

Fathers Fun

Today is Father's Day in New Zealand. Yesterday the shopping malls were jammed with people buying boxers, aftershave, ties, CDs, chocolate and other things that the advertisers say Fathers enjoy. If you believe that you have been misled. Fathers do not have children to get presents.

What fathers want is to see their children growing to their full potential by using the gifts that God has given them. Perhaps, a little of what they become will be inherited or learnt from their father. Hopefully, they will start where he left off and go further down the road.

Each one of my three children is unique and special. I am proud of each of them. Watching them develop and grow gives me more pleasure than anything you can buy at a shopping mall.

Thanks guys!

Man's Law

The principles of civil government are primarily set out in the Old Testament.

Two different government roles are described in the Old Testament. The first is the military commander who calls soldiers together to defend the nation when it is attacked by an enemy. This is probably not a permanent position, but only comes about when the nation is attacked. Moses, Joshua and David took this role.

The second role is that of judges who settle legal disputes based on God’s law. Moses and Samuel took this role.

These two roles require different skills, so they are not always carried out be the same person. Moses did both, but Samuel was just a judge and Barak was just a military commander. The evidence of the book of Judges is that strong military commanders generally make inadequate judges.

The judges apply the law of God, as revealed in the Ten Commandments. There is no evidence in the Old Testament of a group of people being elected to decide what the law should be. They did not need to do this, because God had already provided his perfect law.

This means that there is no basis in the Bible for a parliament that makes laws. A parliament can only make man’s laws. We should be living under God’s laws.

For the LORD is our judge,
the LORD is our lawgiver,
the LORD is our king; it is
he who will save us (Isaiah 33:22).

If God is our Lawgiver, why are we voting to elect law makers?

Progress and Success

Many Christians in the west seem to have become queasy about success. If success become an idol or our source of meaning, it is dangerous; but success is also something we need to get used to. The Holy Spirit contains all the personality and power of the living God. If we hang around with him, we are bound to experience some success. If we obey God, he will often bless what we do. There is nothing wrong with being successful in godly endeavors; the challenge is remembering that the success is his and not ours. The problem is not with success, but our taking credit for the works of the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s strength was that he had learned to cope with both success and failure. When he was successful, he thanked God. When he failed he still trusted God.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being ontent in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Phil 4:11,12).

His attitude to success and failure gave him the peace that transcends understanding.

Those who are grouchy about progress seldom find a cave and live there on self-sown Indian corn. They generally continue to use the benefits of progress, even if they are unable to enjoy them.

The great irony is that most people living in the third world need a great deal more progress and prosperity to lift them out of poverty and squalor. It is a bit rich for those who are have benefited from progress to stop it before others can experience the benefits. Telling people stuck in poverty and sickness that prosperity and progress are dangerous is unfair.

No American or European is forced to be prosperous. The solution for those who find themselves too prosperous is simple: just give some wealth away. No one is forced to buy things. If you are being sucked into hedonism, you do not have an incurable disease. This is the one disease where no harm comes from giving it away. Those who have a problem with the love of progress should find someone better to serve.

Attaction or Mission

We must be careful about pushing the dichotomy between the “attractional” and the “missional” models too far. After all, they have both always been present. Even at the height of Christendom, there was some missional activity, if just almsgiving to the poor.

Whenever the church is at its best, people will be attracted to it. If Jesus is present in the church then people will be drawn in. On the other hand, there have always been people who will not come to the church. A church that is not looking outward will eventually stagnate. On the other hand, if the church has nothing to share, there is no point in going out.

The balance will depend on our culture. When the gospel has been widely accepted, the attractional model will be more important. When we are in a minority, the missional approach becomes more appropriate, and the balance of our activity should shift that way.

The problem for the modern church is that we have not shifted the balance to reflect our declining influence in our culture. However, the reason for our emphasis on the attractional model is not that we have clung to misguided belief in Christendom, but the dominance of the pastor/leader model . If the pastor/leader overshadows the church, people need to see him. The pastor/leader cannot be everywhere, so those who need to see him, must come the church.

We are living in a culture where the influence of the gospel is declining. This situation requires a strategy that shifts the balance away from attraction towards mission.

Reality Election

The political debates on television have become another Reality TV program. The television organizations are only interested in entertainment, so they have turned the election into “Political Survivors” or "Pop Idol". The politicians shout at each other and the audience stamps and cheers. Maybe people could text in their votes at the end of the program.

It is very exciting, but this is no shape the future of a nation.

Tax Cut Illusion

All the political parties are offering tax cuts.
- Michael the socialist historian is offering tax cuts to families.
- Don the central banker is offering tax cuts to everyone else.

We should not be deceived. We will continue to to pay more tax under both Michael and Don.

Offering a $2,000 tax cut to someone from whom you are taking $15,000 is hardly generous.

The prophet Samuel called a government that takes more than a tenth a tyrant.

This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen (1 Sam 8:10-18).

What would Samuel say about politicians who promise to take only four tenths of everthing. He would not call them generous.

Iraq Oil

The politicians in Iraq are trying to agree on a constitution. The stumbling block seems to be the ownership of oil revenue. Some want the oil to be controlled by the regions and others want it controlled by the central government.

The really important question is not being addressed at all. Why should the oil be owned by the state?

Politicians always take a short term view, so they are likely to waste the oil resource.

When the Israelites entered the promised land, Moses divided the land between tribes and families. This gave them a fresh start with a productive asset.

A parallel approach for a new start in Iraq might be to give each Iraqi a share in the companies that control the oil. This would give the Iraqi people a reliable source of income, collateral for starting a business and a real stake in the destiny of their new nation.

What have We Become?

In the previous two elections, each of the major parties claimed to be a responsible economic manager and stood on a platform official rectitude. In this election, they are falling over themselves to give handouts to the voters. These bribes will harm our nation. The Bible says,

A wicked man accepts a bribe ... (Proverbs 17:23).

In taking this approach to the election, our politicians are trying to make us wicked. They are encouraging people to vote on the basis of what is in it for themselves. People are looking up tax calculators to find out which party will put the most money in their pockets.

By offering bribes, the politicians are causing people to vote selfishly. Very little thought is being given to what is good for the nation. The most important issues are being ignored.

We cannot expect good government, if we are voting for the party that will pay us the biggest bribe.

Cheap Salvation

Leading up to our election, all the political parties are offering us packages that will save us from all our troubles.

Jesus provided real salvation. He also paid the price when he died on the cross.

Politicians offer salvation, but then make us pay for it.

Israel and the Gaza Strip

The Israeli government has forced Jewish settlers to leave the Gaza strip. Some Christians are upset about this withdrawal, because the believe that God gave the land to Israel. The problem is that the promise of the land was conditional on obedience. While promising to bless Israel, God also warned that if they failed to obey him, they would be removed from the land.

You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God. Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other (Deut 28:62-64).

God did not give the land in perpetuity. He warned that if they rejected him, they would be scattered among the nations. This warning was fulfilled when Jerusalem was destroyed and the people scattered throughout the earth. Given that God scattered them, they cannot claim title to the land until God gives it back to them. His word promises that he will do this after he has poured his Spirit on Israel. He has not yet poured out his spirit on Israel, so they do not
yet have a right to the land.

The Nation of Israel does not have a divine right to the land (as many people claim). The land was given to Israel on condition of obedience. The Jews lost their land in AD 70, because they rejected Christ. Until they acknowledge Jesus (Matt 23:38,39; Luke 21:24), they do not have God's blessing on their ownership of the land. At present, Israel's right to the land depends on a United Nations decision and a successful defence of the land. This title is as legitimate as that of many other nations, but it is not a divine right. Israel will only have a divine right to the land when it fulfils the covenant by coming to faith in Christ (Deut 30:1-5).

For a more detailed study of this topic see the parable of the Three Sons.

Big One Twelve - Real Salvation

Narrow Obstacle
The modern world looks to the state for salvation. The state is expected to eliminate every problem (effect of sin). The government should do something about it is our catch cry.

Many Christians have more faith in the state than in God. We offer the world forgiveness for sin, but for salvation from the effects of sin, we point to the state.

Real Solution
Jesus death, resurrection and ascension accomplished perfect salvation. The Kingdom of God can deal with the consequences of sin better than the state. Deacons are the best solution to poverty. The gift of healing is the best solution to sickness. To see revival, we will need to offer a broad salvation that deals with all the consequences of sin, including poverty and sickness.

Big One One One (11) - Gospel of the Kingdom

Obstacle
God will not bless a narrow vision. Christians have focussed their energies on the church, but have retreated from the world, allowing Satan to control what is not his.God is not interested in revival in a ghetto. He sent Jesus to destroy sin and Satan, so his church could establish the Kingdom of God. We will not experience his blessing if we are unwilling to complete this task.

Kingdom Solution
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, so we should do the same. The Kingdom of God is the solution to all the problems of the world.

God has given the church responsibility for establishing his Kingdom. When we get serious about this task, we will begin to experience his blessing. The gospel of the Kingdom is the key to revival and victory.

Tenth Big One - No Excuses

Attitude Obstacle
Most Christians believe that the world will get worse and worse until Jesus returns. When the world deteriorates, they take it as a sign that Jesus is coming soon.

Christians should not be pessimistic about the future.
People who believe in defeat are easy to cheat and beat.

Simple Solution
God’s people need a better grasp of his plan. He is in control and is working out his purposes. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross and is shaking the nations, so his church can establish the Kingdom. The kingdom of man is rotting from the inside and is ready to fall. We can share in Jesus victory, if we understand his plan for winning.

Big One Nine - Send out the Best

Pedestal Obstacle
Jesus never said to get people to come; he always said the church should go to people in need.
We will not go, so we do not grow.

As a leader is surrounded by more and more Christians, their ministry is diffused. They are put on a higher pedestal from where it is easier to fall.People with big ministries are being called apostles, but the word “apostle” means “sent”. A person cannot be called an apostle until they are sent out.

Apostolic Solution
Multiplication is more effective than addition. The best people should be sent out as apostles to establish new churches. Just as Jesus left his home in heaven and dwelt among us, apostles should go and live among the people where the spirit is moving.

Apostles will start with the end in mind. They will identify a person of peace or influence and start a new church in their home. The person of peace will be trained up to be an elder, when the apostles are sent out again to plant another church.

Eighth Big One - Healing Evangelism

Painful Obstacle
The modern church struggles with evangelism methods that do not work. Our approach is a church meeting consisting of worship, sermon and an altar call. We use clever gimmicks to attract people, because people of the world are not comfortable going into a church.

Healing Solution
Jesus and the apostles had a very effective method of evangelism. They would go to where the Spirit was moving and pray for a sick person or cast out a demon. When a crowd gathered to see what had happened, they would preach the gospel. The evidence of God’s love and power would be standing beside them, so their gospel was hard to resist.

Maybe we should wait till we have power from on high needed for healing evangelism, rather than rushing on without it.

If we cannot heal the sick, why should people believe that our gospel is true?

Seventh Big One - Power Pairs

Isolated Obstacle
Most men are ineffective in ministry, because they serve God on their own. When Peter got out of the boat alone, he sunk in the water. When he worked with John, they healed a lame man and challenged the Jewish authorities. Jesus sent his disciples out “two by two” to preach the gospel. We go alone and often fail alone.

Related Solution
Pairs of men should serve the Lord together. Two men who trust each other will achieve more together, than they can separately. They will stir each other along and gain confidence to try things that they would not normally do. Jesus promised that when two men work together in his name, he will be there with them in a special way.