Celebrating Australia Day & Remembering Our Christian Roots!

"O my people, listen to my teaching, ...I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - ....stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did...... He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them - even the children not yet born - so they in turn might teach them to their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." (Psalm 78: 1-8 The NLT).

Few Christians are aware of this nation’s rich Christian heritage and the fact that it was dedicated to the Lord, or that many of our early explorers, pioneers and politicians were men and women of God. It is largely unknown and, sadly, seldom taught in our schools, that Captain James Cook, Captain Charles Sturt, Edward John Eyre, Flynn of the Inland and many other famous names were men with a heart for the Lord. Certainly the "Providential" hand of God was upon their many of their lives.

How many people are aware that Australia has seen the Holy Spirit poured out in some 70 documented revivals?

Many of this nation’s founding fathers were Christians. However this does not mean that they were without fault, as many of today’s critics are eager to point out. When we use the term Providential History (the hand of God on this nation) we do not mean a "sinless" history. As the Bible shows, God uses people, despite their shortcomings and faults. Many of this nation’s early explorers, leaders and politicians did have shortcomings. They did mess up, like all men. However, many of them had a heart towards God and a will to obey Him. In "Australian Christian Life from 1788" the author writes:"Christian history is a history of surprises. From such unpromising beginnings an heroic form of resolute, self sacrificing yet ‘singing’ Christianity began to make its way. From among soldiers, convicts, settlers, and Aborigines also, churches came into existence which powerfully affected the greater part of the entire population." (Murray I).

Many Australians today have a man-centred or humanistic national view. This is one of the main differences between our founding fathers and modern Australia, and is a major reason why our nation has such serious problems.

Henry Parkes, the Father of Federation, said: "we are pre-eminently a Christian people - as our laws, our whole system of jurisprudence, our Constitution.......are based upon and interwoven with our Christian belief.." (Sydney Morning Herald 26/8/1885).

There are ungodly, humanistic forces at work that wish to change this nation, alter our Constitution, destroy our Judeo-Christian heritage and even change our flag. If they succeed then Australia will cease to be a Christian nation. We will have, like Easu, "sold our heritage"!

Daniel Webster wrote:"If we and our posterity shall be true to the Christian religion, if we shall live always in the fear of God and respect His Commandments…...we may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country.....But if we…neglect religious instruction and authority....trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

Many Australians have been cheated out of an honest look at their past, our Godly foundations. Winston Churchill warned: "This ...leaves that generation without a sense of definition or direction, making them the fulfillment of Karl Marx’s dictum, ‘A people without a heritage are easily persuaded.’ What is required when this happens and the society has lost its way is for leaders to arise who have not forgotten the discarded legacy and who love it with all their hearts. They can then become the voice of that lost generation, wooing them back to the faith of their fathers, back to the ancient foundations and bedrock values ....." (Never Give In The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill, Page 190).

I have a great love for this land and consider it a privilege to live here. But with that privilege comes responsibility! As you read there are dozens of nations in turmoil, civil war and bombings. While here in this wonderful land we take that peace and prosperity for granted. But most of these blessings can be traced back to the Biblical foundations our founding fathers put in place - their faith and prayers.

Do you really care for your county?

Then change must start with us, a return to biblical values and morals.

Albert Schweitzer summed it up this way; "Example is not the main thing in life – it is the only thing." My desire is to infuse the faith, the courage, the values of our founding fathers into the hearts of our youth. We must ensure that Australia always remains what it was intended to be - South Land of the Holy Spirit. Firstly we must pray for our land and secondly, teach our children their Godly heritage. Why? "So they may place their hope in God"! Our children must know that we are conquerors, not convicts!

So this Australia Day let's do more than have the traditional 'barbie', take the time and effort to make sure our families (and neighbours) are aware of where the blessings this great nation enjoys - comes from - the Lord!

Blessings

Col Stringer