‘Pray for Freedom of Religion, Upcoming Election, in Australia’

Above was posted on Facebook

A reader sent me the following from the Fundamental Baptist Information Service in Port Huron, Michigan:

Pray for Freedom of Religion, Upcoming Election, in Australia

May 9, 2019

Following is an excerpted from a report entitled “What a Labor Win Will Mean for Freedom, Religion, and Children in Australia,” April 30, 2019:

We are facing an election on Saturday week which will potentially put in a federal government that has pledged to make much of the church and school ministry illegal. Prosecutions will certainly take place in the very near future. The numbers are close, but the polls are indicating a win to the left party. We see some dark days ahead. Praise the Lord for the end of Psalm 2.

Religious freedom will certainly take a direct hit, as will related freedoms such as free speech, the rights of religious bodies to teach their core values and beliefs, and so on.

There are many ways one can document all this, but simply considering a recent website item will fully suffice here. One major homosexual and trans lobby group has been targeting the political parties, seeking to get them to fully fall in line with their radical agendas.

Equality Australia makes it perfectly clear that so-called marriage equality was NEVER something the militants would be happy with. They have always wanted and demanded much, much more. …

This group has sent out a large questionnaire to the various political parties, seeking their responses to a number of questions. They have already received the Labor Party’s responses, and they are frightening indeed. Federal Labor was more than happy to answer the 18 questions of the questionnaire.

The answers provided make it absolutely clear that this Party is 100 per cent beholden to the radical social and sexual agendas of the militant homosexual and trans lobbies. They will fully do their bidding, no questions asked. There is no question that Labor is fully in bed with the radical activists. …

Consider the utterly frightening response given to Question Three:

3. Will your party commit to introducing protections for trans, gender diverse and intersex people into the Fair Work Act? Will your party remove religious exemptions from the Sex Discrimination Act and Fair Work Act? Will your party reform the sports exemption in the Sex Discrimination Act that impacts on trans, gender diverse and intersex sportspeople?

‘As it currently stands, LGBTIQ students and staff at religious schools risk being discriminated against, sacked or expelled. … Labor will not give up. A Shorten Labor Government will amend the Sex Discrimination Act to remove the exemptions that permit religious schools to discriminate against students and staff on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity.’

Did you get that? Not only will religious schools be forced to take in any student with any sexual proclivity or leanings, they will also be forced to hire staff, teachers, principals and the like who also run the spectrum of various sexualities. …

Make no mistake, a Shorten Labor government will be the most radical and subversive government Australia has ever seen. The entire Pandora’s Box of sexual radicalism and anarchy will be fully opened, impacting every Australian in shocking ways that we can now only imagine.

And this will be the death of freedom in Australia. Religious freedom will certainly be sacrificed at the altar of the radical sexual ideologies. Free speech, freedom of conscience, and the rights of small business, religious bodies, schools and so many others will be greatly curtailed.

This is Brave New World material – big time. Vote wisely my friends. Your very future depends on how we proceed on May 18.

No, people’s very futures do not depend on a national election–although the results will affect people.

But, yes, Christians should pray:

Notice what Paul wrote:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. Nothing like this is said for voting that many falsely claim is their “Christian” duty–prayer for leaders is.

We are also to pray for our spiritual leaders. Notice what Jesus taught:

2 The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2).

Notice what Paul taught:

25 Brethren, pray for us (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).

We also are to pray:

14 The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14).

Similarly, Jesus taught:

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:7-10).

And that, I believe, should be the type of prayer that Christians have about elections. Followers of the true God are also told to:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Voting for one promoting evil (abortion in the case of most USA Democrats and “country first,” in violation of the first commandment, in the case of certain USA Republicans) is not a Christian thing to do.

Christians need to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Followers of the Bible need to:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Anyway, it is not just the Labor party in Australia that has embraced the LGBTQ agenda. Most politicians in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the UK, and USA have as well. No major political party that I am aware of in the Anglo-American nations is coming boldly out against the LGBTQ agenda.

Notice also a fairly brash and blasphemous position from the USA’s Hillary Clinton from 4 years ago:

Hillary Clinton: Religious Beliefs Must Be Changed to Achieve Social Justice

April 24, 2015

In a fiery speech Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton argues that deep seated religious beliefs must be changed so that everyone can enjoy full participation in every aspect of society.

Clinton, speaking in Manhattan on Thursday at the sixth annual Women in The World Summit, declared that “deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases” must be changed both in the U.S. and around the world in order to achieve social justice.

Clinton, after discussing the pressing social justice issues of domestic violence and women’s reproductive health, said:

Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.

As I have said and as I believe, the advancement of the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of their societies is the great unfinished business of the 21st century and not just for women but for everyone — and not just in far away countries but right here in the United States.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2015/04/hillary-clinton-religious-beliefs-must-be-changed-to-achieve-social-justice/#sthash.u8Q6OrVv.dpuf

Hillary Clinton wants religious views changed so that people will embrace abortion, homosexuality, and other immoral positions that Christians should condemn. She considers this to be “social justice,” yet this is in conflict with the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States on religious liberties as well as several aspects of biblical morality. Many others, around the world, share her basic view.

The Facebook photo at the beginning of this post is related to something that came out last year in Australia where a school district there was upsetting parents because of its hope to minimize biblical standards for gender (see also Local Australian and USA authorities want to ‘minimize’ gender truth).

The move away from biblical standards of morality has been relentless. It will lead to death (cf. Romans 1:18-32).

Voting in Australia’s election will not stop it–it may slow it down or instead even accelerate it.

What Australia needs is national repentance or it is doomed.

All the Anglo-American nations need national repentance. If they would repent, God would listen:

13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:13-15)

Now see that lack of repentance is listed as a reason that the King of Assyria (the final King of the North) will become Ephraim’s king:

3 I taught Ephraim to walk…5…But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. (Hosea 11:3a, 5b-7)

Ephraim is the progenitor of the British-descended peoples, including those in Australia. The prophesied shame is starting to come upon the Anglo-American powers. Without repentance, increased pride is occurring, and this will be followed by the prophesied destruction of the Anglo-American nations. And yes, other nations have their sins, but they will be punished later–But you personally can and SHOULD repent.

Individually, and nationally, repentance is needed:

20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:20-23)

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)

Your Bible says many people have made an OUTWARD show of returning to Him or repenting, but they haven’t done it WITH THEIR HEARTS! Ephraim’s repentance, and for that matter, that of the rest of the world, is the outward, superficial, WORLDLY REPENTANCE with no real sincerity or DEEP feeling.

Many repent like Esau:

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17)

Esau was sorry for what happened, but did not truly repent towards God nor wish to switch from following the way of get to the way of give. His move towards repentance, like others in the world, was hollow.

After Jesus was executed, Judas “repented himself” (Matthew 27:3, KJV)–but it was TOO LATE. So, he “went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5), which demonstrated that Judas did not understand repentance.

DON’T take chances on it being TOO LATE for YOU! Probably it is NOT “too late” yet! Don’t delay repenting and getting back to Christ!

While biblical positions are losing their influence in Australia and many parts of the world, Christians need to hold to them.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Sorry state of the 2020 presidential campaign.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also three YouTube videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’ and Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children and USA pushing gender confusion.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? A related sermons is titled: Pornography, False Comfort, and False Religion. Here a shorter YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? A related sermon is available titled Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2027 or 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2019, 2020, or 2021? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2018 o 2019? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter and newer video is: Might the Great Tribulation start in 2019?