Interesting Times

I have no idea of its origin, or its accuracy, but I was told many years ago that an ancient Chinese curse was: "May you live in interesting times."

As we begin another month, in the second year of the new millennium, we are certainly in interesting times.

On the one hand, there is the ever-increasing threat of war in Iraq, the worsening situation with North Korea, and the ever constant carnage in Israel, allied with heightened anxiety about terrorism. There is a greater sense of insecurity in the world today than we have experienced for many years.

The recent world-wide demonstrations against war, with surprisingly large turn-outs, are an indication of the level of deep emotion that there is in the community about the prospect of war. Interestingly, surveys have found that the greatest level of opposition to war is to be found in the younger generation, who have never known war. Unfortunately, it seems that the demonstrations have had very little effect, apart from encouraging the Iraqis, and only a miracle can prevent a war from occurring.

However, I believe in miracles! Our Christian faith is focussed on the God of miracles, who has performed supernatural signs and wonders for His people for over 4,000 years. Especially, our God has done great things, and promises to great things, in response to the prayers of His people. There is much evidence, for example, that the peaceful resolution of the horror of apartheid in South Africa was directly attributable to the prayers of Christians.

It is significant, then, I believe, that in many parts of the world Church leaders have called a Worldwide Day of Prayer for tomorrow, 03.03.03. Who knows what can happen when God's people take seriously Jesus' instruction to "watch and pray"?

Closer to home, this month will see an election in our State that will determine the nature of our Government for the next three years or so. While I do not believe it is appropriate for me to comment on issues that are purely political, there are some important moral matters which need to be addressed.

In the Queensland and Victorian Parliaments, just before Christmas, Churches and Christian schools lost the right to appoint Christian staff. There is an item about this in Southern Cross. An attempt was made to introduce a similar measure in NSW, but it was spotted and blocked by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes, who is now a member of the NSW Upper House, as a representative of the Christian Democratic Party.

It is through the activities of this group in the Upper House that the Christian voice has been most clearly heard, and a Christian balance brought to many forms of legislation. As the community becomes more and more anti-Christian in its basic moral values, and as other groups such as the Greens, with very non-Christian values, gain power, the role of the Christian Democratic Party is increasingly important. We need to be much in prayer about this election.

The day after the election has been designated "National Family Day". It is in some ways a sad reflection on the society today that we have to set aside a special day to focus on the family. Many politicians make warm noises about the value of the family, yet it seems to me that in all my years I have never seen the family under greater threat than it is today.

On one hand there are the pressures of modern living that draw both parents into the work-force. Not only does this leave the children in the hands of those who are not 'family', it also pulls the parents in different directions. Alongside this, and increasing the tension, is the general attitude in the community that regards broken families as almost normal. Considering that at least 50% of marriages end in divorce, this is considered unremarkable in today's society. It takes a very strong commitment to withstand such pressure.

And then, alongside all this there is the steady erosion of sexual values. While the Gay and Lesbian movement may be in serious financial trouble, their influence in the political arena, and in the media is still strong. There is a growing pressure in the community to accept the activities of "sex workers" as a normal part of the social fabric. But, the most worrying trend of all is the general acceptance of the view that sex outside of marriage is perfectly normal, even for young teenagers.

In the midst of such "Interesting Times", the challenge to us is not only to stand firm in those values which we know to be right, but to be living examples of their 'rightness'. And above all, we need to pray.

John Davies

2 March 2003