Author: Jimmy Day

Imagine, if you will, that a family arrived at your house and moved right in because someone told them your house was Casa nullias – “nobody’s house.” In any case, they considered themselves as better than you. They moved into the best rooms, took the best seats in the lounge, and the loveliest spots in the garden. They ate your food, drank your wine, wore your clothes. You protested, but it was all in vain, and, after some time, you find yourself working for this new family for little or no money. You are, literally, a slave in your own home.

Have you imagined what that would be like?

How did it make you feel?

Outraged, I hope!

Nobody’s Land

It’s the sort of stuff of which nightmares are made. You’d wake up from such a dream with your heart thumping, and gradually realise this awful scenario was just a bad dream ~ except it isn’t. This is what happened when the British declared Australia “Terra nullias” – “nobody’s land” (or wasteland).

In 1788 Australia was not “nobody’s land,” it was inhabited by about 700,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who were made up of between 500 and 700 tribes. The Aboriginals tried to protest the colonisation, but the Europeans drove them from their lands or killed them. Because of massacres, plus the introduction of disease and alcohol, the Indigenous population decreased by almost 87% by 1900.

White Superiority

Cook and Banks had seen few natives as they sailed close to Australia’s coast. They deduced, wrongly, that there’d be fewer if any natives inland. In any case, “European culture was superior to all others, and…Europeans could define the world in their terms. A colony could be established by persuading the indigenous inhabitants to submit themselves to its overlordship; by purchasing from those inhabitants the right to settle part or parts of it; by unilateral possession, on the basis of first discovery and effective occupation.” 

The Earl of Morton, president of the Royal Society, reminded Cook’s crew that Indigenous peoples were the “legal possessors of the several regions they inhabit” and “No European Nation has the right to occupy any part of their country … without their voluntary consent.”

He also advised Cook and his naturalists to “Exercise the utmost patience and forbearance with respect to the Natives of the several lands where the ship may touch. To check the petulance of the Sailors and restrain the wanton use of Fire Arms. To have it still in view that shedding the blood of these people is a crime of the highest nature.”

But Cook didn’t listen. Instead, he became increasingly frustrated that the savages refused to embrace the gift of civilisation.

Australia Day 

The first historical records of celebrations on January 26 happened in 1808, twenty years after the first fleet arrived from Great Britain.

The first official national day named ‘Australia Day’ was on July 30 in 1915 ~ a day to raise funds for the World War I effort. In the decades following, different states held celebrations on various dates. From 1935, all states and territories celebrated on the same date, although various names were still used. Australia Day officially became a public holiday for all states and territories in 1994.

First Nation peoples have been protesting the date for almost the same amount of time, with the first official ‘Day of Mourning’ held by the Australian Natives Association in 1938.

From Little Things …

Wave Hill Station was established on the Gurindji lands by British pastoralists in the 1880s. Mounted police assisted in settling the lands by killing any Indigenous people who dared to resist the invasion of their homes. Indigenous people were unpaid, had deplorable working conditions, were beaten or killed for defying the landowners, and the women were often used as sex slaves. The isolation of the Station allowed this treatment to continue for 80 years.

Then, on August 23 1966, Wave Hill workers and their families, led by Gurindji spokesman, Vincent Lingiari, walked off the Station and began their protest. The protest lasted for nine years, during which time Vincent toured Australia to lobby politicians and galvanise support. The victory was achieved in 1975!

The protest is immortalised by the song, “From little things big things grow,” written and sung by Australian Paul Kelly.

The Future

In 1835, a treaty was made between John Batman and the Aboriginal people. There was an exchange of goods and blankets for 250,000 Ha of land. However, this Treaty was never recognised by the authorities, and so Australia remains the only Commonwealth national government that has not signed a treaty with its Indigenous people.

Tasmanian Aboriginal writer and activist Michael Mansell said, “A treaty would break the 200-year-old cycle of governments not negotiating with the Aboriginal people…It would say, ‘we’re no longer just going to do things to them, but that they’re included and empowered.”

A Treaty would provide a framework for negotiations on indigenous issues such as welfare, employment, education, health and land ownership.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

In 2017, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders gathered at the National Constitutional Convention, coming from all points of the southern sky to make a statement from the heart. It’s a stunning and gracious declaration that I encourage you to read. It calls for establishing a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. You and I will have the opportunity to express our views on this in a referendum later this year.

I understand why many indigenous people, and others, call January 26 “Invasion Day.” At the very least, it is an annual event that rubs salt in the wounds of our Indigenous peoples. What harm would it do to celebrate Australia Day on another date so that everyone could celebrate this wonderful country together? This would be a tremendous act of “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

I am glad to see the Federal Government taking Indigenous issues seriously. In the future, Australia Day could be held when a Treaty is signed.

Australians Together has some excellent resources that can help you understand the importance of a treaty.

Coincidence – a situation in which things happen simultaneously without planning.

For example, in 2011 Time Magazine reported the coincidental story of a meteor crashing through the roof of a house owned by the Commette family. No one was hurt and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate the humour in this strange coincidence.

Have you ever had a coincidence happen to you? Some people put them down to random chance or luck, and indeed, some of them fit those categories. But with other coincidences, I believe something more significant is taking place.

My father-in-law says that a coincidence is when God performs a miracle but desires to remain anonymous! I think he has great wisdom and insight.

One of the most amazing “coincidences” happened to me almost 14 years ago.

In preparation for bringing our beautiful new baby, Trinity, home from the hospital, I had booked my car into a baby car seat fitting service. I drove to the site at the specified time and had our two trusty old car seats with me. While the seat was being fitted, I went into the store to pick up a few things we needed for the baby. A few minutes later, the fitter came up to me and told me that one car seat was too old and that the other one was okay, but the stabiliser bar was missing, so he couldn’t fit it. My heart sank as I was now in a position of having to buy two new car seats – and they weren’t cheap!

I began looking at new seats with a heavy heart and had just about decided which one I would buy first when the fitter returned. He was amazed that when he had gone back to his van and moved something there, lying in his van, was the same stabiliser bar that fit my car seat! He couldn’t believe it – what luck he said! I was so blessed as that “coincidence” had just saved me several hundred dollars.

Was it luck? Was it a coincidence? I think not. I believe it was a God-incidence where he performed a miracle of provision for Christie and me just because he loves us! And remember, God doesn’t have favourites (Acts 10:34).

Like any caring parent, God loves to surprise his kids in many ways. Sometimes it’s by anonymous miracles that we quickly dismiss as coincidences.

As we enter a new year, I encourage you to look out for God’s surprises in your life. Open the eyes of your heart (Eph. 1:18) and see the divine hand lovingly and anonymously at work behind the scenes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Christians can sometimes be a little too preoccupied with sin, especially other people’s sin. We tend to give ourselves a lot of grace. When I sin, it’s because I’m human. When others sin, well, God needs to sort them out, and they need to repent. We want mercy for ourselves and judgement for everyone else!

We also have favourite sins and others that we ignore. For example, the sin of gluttony is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible but rarely mentioned in church. I’ve been in countless green rooms at Christian’s conferences over the years, where lots of XXL evangelists fill their huge frames before preaching about the sins of others.

But one sin we rarely hear about is the sin of discrimination. It’s something I’ve studied as we’ve formed Bayside Church’s Inclusion Statement. I confess I was surprised at the multitude of Bible verses that address this sin.

First-Century Discrimination

First-century Jews considered non-Jews (gentiles) as unclean. A Jew would not enter a gentile’s home or eat with them as either act would lead to ceremonial uncleanness. Imagine Peter’s horror when he was praying on the roof of the house one day and experienced a vision from God. In the dream, he saw a sheet suspended by the corners and crammed with all kinds of unclean animals that a Jew would never eat. A voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter’s response dripped with spiritual pride, “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

What’s fascinating in this story is that Peter was staying in the home of Simon, the tanner. Simon was in the business of treating animal hides to produce leather, a trade that was considered unclean by the Jews. Through this vision, God dealt with Peter’s hypocrisy and discrimination, two things that made Peter’s heart impure.

The Divine Reply

God’s response is stunning, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15). The Spirit was moving, and the newly-formed church would need to welcome “unclean” gentiles into their communities. It took decades for the Jewish church to wrap its heart around this truth. Much of Paul’s letter-writing ministry was aimed at the pushback by Jewish Christian leaders against the acceptance of gentiles in the church.

Over the centuries, the Holy Spirit has placed a finger on various other aspects of “Christian” discrimination. Jesus’ people have been guilty of racial bias in supporting slavery and treating people of colour as second-class citizens. We have shown prejudice towards women, single parents, illegitimate children, mixed-race couples, the separated, divorced, and remarried. For decades the church has discriminated against LGBTIQ+ people.

Sin of Discrimination

All this discrimination has been justified by quoting Bible verses, but rarely has the sin of discrimination been called out. And yet, the Bible has so much to say about it. James names it bluntly, as he does so well, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism” (James 2:1).

Favouritism is “the fault of one who when called on to requite or to give judgment has respect to the outward circumstances of men and not to their intrinsic merits.” It’s forming an opinion of someone based on externals like skin colour, clothing, mannerisms, wealth or lack thereof, and either accepting or rejecting that person. Note what James says, “believers in … Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.” A few verses later, he asks, “have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” And then verse nine, “But if you show favouritism, you sin ….” (James 2:4).  The sin of discrimination!

Be Like God!

God doesn’t discriminate, and neither should his people (Romans 2:11, 10:12). “To show partiality in judging is not good” (Proverbs 24:23). Christians are required to follow God’s Word “without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism.” (1 Tim 5:21). We should treat everyone the same because “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus“ (Galatians 3:28).

The apostle Paul said that the Royal Law, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, is the fulfilment of the law because “Love does not harm a neighbour.” Jesus taught what is now referred to as the golden rule, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Notice that the Royal Law AND the Golden Rule both fulfil AND summarise the entire Bible. That’s how Christians should live, behave, and interact with others. There is no room for discrimination.

Ready to Change?

The church has not always treated others in the way we would like to be treated. I have not always got this right either. I apologise for my missteps. I aim to do better. So does our church.

With that in mind, we have crafted an Inclusion Statement as a public declaration that all people will be treated equally by our church community:

At Bayside Church, we believe that every person is created in God’s image. All are equally worthy of respect, dignity, and love, regardless of gender, sexuality, age, ability, race, or ethnicity.

Everyone is invited, welcomed, and supported to grow in their relationship with God and each other. Everyone is encouraged to use their gifts and abilities to serve God and others.

At Bayside Church, we are committed to creating a safe space for all – we do this through clear policies and pathways so that everyone can feel safe and nurtured.

At Bayside Church, we courageously love and empower people to become like Jesus.

Of course, it’s easy to write and read this. The challenge comes as together we seek to live it out as a reality and no longer commit the sin of discrimination.

 

One of the good things about a crisis is it often provokes people to read the Bible and pray. The global pandemic certainly has achieved this. It’s been a motivator for people to read Revelation. But as one of the Bible’s more mysterious books, it is often misunderstood and mishandled.

My Early Christian Years

I’ve watched Revelation being mishandled for decades. I had my first encounter with Christianity in the late 70s. Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth, was all the rage. The planets would align in 1982, starting the Great Tribulation. Cataclysmic events would unfold upon the earth, and Jesus would return in 1988. Oh, and the Pope was the antichrist because he had 666 written under his cap. I kid you not, someone told me this in all seriousness, and I believed them!

None of it was true. None of it happened, just like all the other predictions over the centuries from mishandling Revelation.

I now know better.

A Little History

The book of Revelation was (reluctantly) admitted into the Canon of Scripture in 395 CE. It was the last book to be incorporated into the New Testament.

The Western Church wanted Revelation included but didn’t appreciate Hebrews. The Eastern church didn’t like Revelation (and still don’t use it in their services), but they wanted Hebrews included in the Canon. So, the compromise was to have both books in the Bible.

The Nicene Creed

By 395 CE, the church’s doctrine was well and truly completed and stated in the Nicene Creed (325). The Nicene Creed contains everything the early church believed about the future:

[Jesus] will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

and to life in the world to come. Amen.

These statements form a summary of eschatology (doctrine of last things) and comprise everything Christians have ever believed about the end of this age:

Nothing to Fear

Notice the line “We look forward to the resurrection of the dead.” In other words, the future is not something to fear. The apostle John put it this way, “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world, we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:17-18).

And so, according to the church’s greatest creed, the future is not something to fear. It’s something to look forward to. Contrast that to an interpretation of Revelation that does nothing but inject fear:

  • Fear of antichrist and one-world government
  • Fear of the Mark of the Beast
  • Fear of the great tribulation
  • Fear of the most dreadful afflictions rained upon the earth
  • Fear of beasts, dragons, harlots, & birds feasting on human flesh
  • Fear of Armageddon
  • Fear of a lake of burning sulphur
  • Fear of a sneaky rapture where you could be left behind

Left Behind

One of the most popular Christian songs of the 1970s was Larry Norman’s “I wish we’d all been ready.” The song included the line, “There’s no time to change your mind, the son has come, and you’ve been left behind.” It was a great song, but the theology was awful.

Some particularly full-on (read, obnoxious) Christians at the time would ask other Christians, “are you rapture saved?” It was a weird question that basically asked if you, as a Jesus follower, were saved enough to be taken up in the air when Jesus returned. Again, awful theology!

One Saturday, I finished my shift on the radio and headed back home to the farmhouse I was living in at the time. I walked into the house. There were pots of food bubbling away on the stove, and two chairs were pulled out from the table and facing each other. It was as if two people had been removed (raptured) from the room. I was terrified. I’d been left behind.

Shortly afterwards, my housemate walked back into the room with another friend. I was so relieved.

Left Behind was the title of a series of novels in the 1990s and early 2000s. Some of these were made into movies starring Kirk Cameron and Nicholas Cage. They are terrible films, having attracted the lowest audience score of all time on Rotten Tomatoes (3%). Sadly, many Christians base their understanding of Revelation on the Left Behind series. These books are novels, not Bible commentaries!

A Solid Foundation

Fearmongering might be a good money-spinner, but we must not base our beliefs on these fads. Our faith must rest solid and secure on the truth as it is stated by the great creeds of the church:

[Jesus] will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

And so, when the book of Revelation was finally included in the Bible, it could not add to the doctrine as stated by the Nicene Creed. The church’s essential beliefs had been fully expressed by 325 CE, seventy years before Revelation was accepted into the New Testament (395).

Revelation was not to be used to add anything to eschatology. In fact, it was expressly stated that Revelation was not to be used to foretell the future (how ironic!)

Handle with Care

Revelation’s two main uses were/are as:

(1) A call to Worship (the Lamb upon the throne) and,

(2) A call to faithfulness (in the face of persecution and hardship).

The book of Revelation is jam-packed full of marvellous truth that applies to today. When we remove our fixation with the so-called “end times” and cease to use Revelation to predict the future or read interpretations into it from the daily newspaper, we free Revelation up to be the inspiration it was designed to be.

Revelation was written initially to seven churches that existed in the first century. But as part of inspired scripture, this book is written to every church and every disciple of Jesus. I hope you will handle it with care and not give in to the wild speculation and conspiracies that I fell for in my early Christian years.

For further study, listen to two podcast discussions between Shane Willard and myself (Rob):

Understanding Revelation 1

Understanding Revelation 2

I was recently asked if I thought the world would be a better place if everyone were a Christian. My immediate response was yes. But the answer did not sit well with me and, upon further reflection, I said, “actually, I’m not sure. I would hope so, but maybe it wouldn’t.” Here are the reasons I changed my mind.

Extreme Examples

The answer to the question depends on what kind of Christian you have in mind. If it is any of the following, the answer is no. No, the world would not be a better place if everyone was a Christian. Consider:

  • Christian snipers in Beirut.
  • Catholics and Protestants blew each other up in the Northern Irish Troubles.
  • The Lord’s Resistance Army that wanted to create a Ugandan state based on the Ten Commandments.
  • Plus, the Spanish Inquisition, Salem Witch Trials, and forced conversions to Christ during the Crusades.

Those “Christians” certainly did not make the world a better place.

Modern Examples

On social media, I am frequently exposed to Christians acting in anything like a Christian manner. Unkind, judgemental, accusatory, argumentative, aggressive, you name it. There is a definite lack of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:23-24). I try and reason with such people but often to no avail. I wonder how they treat people in their workplaces and families.

And yet, they all say they are Christian, but there is a disconnect between their faith and actions.

Christians at War

The disconnect invariably comes from what is taught in their local church. Spiritual warfare is consistently aimed at personalities like politicians even though “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” And so, they are constantly “at war” with the world rather than “in love” with it like God is (think, John 3:16).

I know where they are coming from because that used to be me. When I became a Christian in the late 70s, we thought the antichrist and Illuminati were about to launch the Great Tribulation and a One-World Government. Communism was taking over the world, and non-Christians (and lukewarm Christians) would be left behind after the rapture. Of course, none of this happened.

It is sad to see history repeat itself and a whole new generation of conspiratorial Christians waging war on nothing! The enemy has changed, but the mindset remains the same. The world is NOT a better place by the attitudes and behaviour of these Christians.

History Repeats

The Moral majority and religious right were born out of a movement protesting against desegregation in the 1960s USA. Around this time, Christian schools opened because white Christians didn’t want to have mixed-race classes, which were perceived as unholy. The home-schooling movement followed in the 1970s.

Later, the religious right added abortion and LGBTIQA+ people as enemies to fight because this religious brand constantly needs an enemy to survive. It keeps people in fear and leverages this fear to generate commitment and cash. People will donate time and money to a cause they perceive will help win the war against … (fill in the blank of whatever the current enemy is).

Inventing an Enemy

For many years, communism was the target of the religious right’s attention. When the Berlin Wall fell, it was time to identify a new social enemy against which the religious right could mobilise. Enter cultural Marxism, “the perfect post-communist adversary located specifically in the cultural realm – academics, Hollywood, journalists, civil rights activists and feminists. It has been a mainstay of conservative activism and rhetoric ever since.”

The global pandemic has provided fertile ground for Christians who love to play the victim. It is a new Cold War waged against the so-called elites. But Cultural Marxism is a conspiracy theory just like all the other “alternative facts” spread by Christians at war. The world would not be a better place if everyone were like this.

UnChristian

In the early 2000s, the Barna Foundation commissioned David Kinnaman to conduct “groundbreaking research into the perceptions … sixteen to twenty-nine-year-olds” have of Christians. What they discovered should shock and challenge all Jesus’ followers. These young adults perceived Christians to be hypocritical, anti-gay, judgmental, and insensitive. The research published in UnChristian is one of the most challenging books I have ever read.

It is a sad indictment upon the church that produces disciples of Jesus that are nothing like Jesus. Jesus, the man who hung out with the poor and side-lined and who ate with the unclean. He was scathing towards those who were religious but lacked mercy, who “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). The world would certainly NOT be a better place if all the Christians were unchristian.

The Genuine Article

The world needs to see authentic Christianity – people who are honest about their failures and mistakes. We owe it to people to apologise for our missteps. To open our lives to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus. We read the gospels to investigate what Jesus was like, who he spent time with, how he spoke, and interacted with people. We pray that we will progressively become more like him. Not people locked away in church buildings or protesting against this world, but people who get their hands dirty in helping the poor. We welcome the excluded even though we know that other Christians will criticise us and leave the church because “those people are here.” I know because I have experienced this firsthand.

On October 23 1915, Albert Einstein published an astonishing 3-page critique of the growing “Christian nationalism” in the country of his birth. He argued that the problem with hateful Christians is their departure from Christianity. Written in his native German, the little essay is titled “Meine Meinung über den Krieg” or “My Opinion of the War.” It ends with the beautiful words (translated from his German): “Yet, why so many words, when I can say it all in a single sentence, and indeed in a sentence that is most apt for me as a Jew: Honour your master, Jesus Christ, not only with words and songs but, rather, foremost through your deeds.” Apparently, the antidote to violent, nationalist Christians is … Christianity!

I think it would be helpful to rephrase the question. “Would the world be a better place if everyone were like Jesus?” It’s a massive YES from me!

I received an email a while back asking, “How do you think we should respond as Christians to Diwali? This is a typical work dilemma for me. It’s politically correct to attend an event, but I don’t celebrate Diwali, of course. I think Jesus may have attended, but He certainly would have spoken up whereas I feel I can’t.”

It’s a great question and one I’ll do my best to answer in this blog.

What is Diwali?

Diwali is a Hindu celebration (Monday 24 October this year) and part of the 5-day festival of lights. Hindus follow a lunar calendar, like the ancient Hebrews, and so the date changes each year, much like Easter.

Diwali is a festival that celebrates the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Also called the Festival of Lights or Deepavali, it takes place on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartika. The festival lasts five days and is most commonly celebrated in India and other locations with Hindu communities. With Melbourne’s growing Hindu community, Diwali is something that we are increasingly aware of, especially in the workplace.

A Christian Response

Christians will respond in different ways, usually in line with the teaching and attitudes displayed by their church community. Some will tend to be dogmatic, while others are more flexible and inclusive.

I believe this is a time for followers of Jesus to take the narrow road that Jesus taught, carefully walking a line between compromise and respect.

On the one hand, Christians do not worship idols or foreign gods (Ex. 20:4). On the other, we must not disrespect others’ faith or act like a wet blanket. The Golden Rule springs to mind, “Treat others the way you’d want them to treat you.” People will remember how you treated them, far more than what you told them. Selah!

Paul’s Pattern

The apostle Paul gives us an excellent pattern to follow. While he was awaiting Silas and Timothy to arrive in Athens, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16). To make a short story even shorter, let’s read verses 22 and 23 of that chapter, “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So, you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

I find his choice of words fascinating. Remember that he was troubled by their idolatry, but he didn’t communicate that to them. He was highly considerate in addressing the people, complimenting them on their spiritual devotion and referring to idols as “objects of worship” rather than their images! There’s a lesson here for all Christians. Are we courteous or judgmental when interacting with others, whether it’s Diwali or Halloween or Ramadan? Paul had learned to place a filter between his feelings and his words. We would do well to emulate his example.

Filling in the Blanks

As well as being respectful, Paul was also wise. As he walked around Athens, he spotted an altar with this inscription: “to an unknown god.” He realised that his audience was unaware of what this meant, so he filled in the blanks. In Acts 17, Paul twice quotes the Greek philosopher and poet, Epimenides, and for a good reason.

In the 6th century BCE, there was a plague that went throughout all of Greece. The Greeks thought that they must have offended one of their gods, so they began offering sacrifices on altars to all their various gods. When nothing worked, they figured there must be a God who they didn’t know about whom they must somehow appease.

So Epimenides came up with a plan. He released hungry sheep into the countryside and instructed men to follow them to see where they would lie down. He believed that since hungry sheep would not naturally lie down but continue to graze; if they were to lie down, it would be a sign from the god that this place was sacred. The Athenians built an altar and sacrificed a lamb on each spot where the sheep were tired and laid down. Afterwards, the plague stopped, which they attributed to this unknown god accepting the sacrifice.

Common Ground

Note that Paul didn’t just “read his Bible”. He also read philosophy, history, and poetry and used these to communicate the gospel. By finding common ground with his audience, he connected the dots and introduced them to Jesus.

The Bible is replete with examples like this. Consider what God used to lead the Magi (astronomers) to Jesus. Jesus’ parables revolved around the interests and industries of first-century people. God established common ground with people by becoming one of us.

Diwali is a festival of new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. You don’t need me to point out the apparent common ground between the Christian message and those themes.

WWJD?

I’ll finish by addressing the last line of the question I was asked, “I think Jesus may have attended, but He certainly would have spoken up whereas I feel I can’t.” I agree that Jesus would attend a Diwali celebration. The Jesus we read of in the gospels frequented weddings, dinners, and other celebrations. He ate food with tax collectors and sinners and got into trouble with the religious elite.

But would he have spoken up? I don’t know what Jesus would have said, but I do know it would have been words of love and life rather than judgement and rebuke. He saved that for the people who pretended to be holy. He seemed totally at home with people celebrating and even turned water into wine to ensure the party was successful. And so, courageously love and be like Jesus!

CoVid-19 Vaccines. One of the most talked-about topics today. So many questions and differing opinions, seemingly contradicting and confusing messages can leave us feeling confused, torn, and anxious.

The internet is flooded with misinformation concerning SARS-CoV-2, CoVid-19 vaccines, and health advice, increasing fear, confusion, division, and strained mental health. It is hard to differentiate between which ‘medical experts’ to listen to and which ones to disregard. Who is telling the truth? It can be confusing as to where to start to ‘research’ our questions. I hope this blog helps.

Earlier this year, I published a blog, Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Since then, many new questions have surfaced. And so, once again, my immunologist friend [1] has been busy researching some answers.  In writing this blog, I have also had guidance from a GP / specialist.

Why have a vaccine if I can develop immunity naturally?

This question comes from an underlying misunderstanding of how our immune systems work. There are two sides to your immune system 1. Innate Immunity 2. Adaptive immunity. The adaptive immune system is the side that we activate through a vaccine to produce antibodies that can combat CoVid-19. These antibodies can’t be created or boosted ‘naturally’ without coming into contact with the virus itself, as antibodies are distinct.

Also, your immune system does not differentiate between naturally catching the virus or the ‘synthetic’ vaccine – it just recognises both as foreign bodies or antigens. Simply put, to build immunity to CoVid-19, you either get the virus naturally or get a vaccine. The risks of catching CoVid-19, its unknown long-term effects, hospitalisation and death rates versus the low risks associated with having a vaccine and the benefits of herd immunity need to be carefully weighed.

Before reading further, I recommend watching this short clip explaining how the immune system works.

Have these vaccines been tested properly? It seems like they’ve been rushed.

The CoVid-19 vaccines have been developed quickly, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been adequately tested. Most vaccines take a while to get passed, but that is usually due to a lack of funding, scarce resources and political red tape. The CoVid-19 vaccines had millions of dollars and resources injected into them due to the severe nature of the virus – the entire world was working around the clock and was invested in developing these vaccines. At the same time, thousands of people lined up to volunteer for clinical trials. These factors contributed to the speed of vaccine production.

These vaccines have been through the same trials and processes as other vaccines and the same stringent approval process by the same regulating bodies (e.g. FDA in the US and TGA in Australia). Essentially, it was the bureaucratic processes that were sped up, not the vaccine safety testing.

The mRNA vaccine technology is new. How can we trust it?

The mRNA vaccine technology has been in development for over 30 years. These vaccines have gone through all the proper testings and trials and have proven safe and effective by the same standards as other vaccines.

While the mRNA vaccine technology has been in development for a long time, it hasn’t been until now that the finances and resources were available to push into this ground-breaking area.

Are all the vaccines currently available in Australia the same?

No. Different vaccines use varied technologies. For example, the MMR vaccine uses ‘live attenuated’ organisms to produce an immune response without making the host sick. The polio vaccine uses the ‘inactivated’ virus, while other vaccines use fractions or deactivated toxins.

The three CoVid-19 vaccines that are currently available in Australia are Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca). Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology, while AstraZeneca utilises a virus vector. A fourth vaccine, Novavax, a protein-based vaccine, is currently being considered for use in Australia. All of these vaccines are designed to produce an immune response against the protein spike on the CoVid-19 virus.

What are the known side effects of the CoVid-19 vaccines?

Like all medications and vaccines, the CoVid-19 vaccines have a list of common mild side effects including redness and soreness at the injection site, mild body aches and tiredness. Although many people reported little to no side effects, most of these mild symptoms clear up within a couple of days. The complete list of side effects is published on the Australian Department Health website.

There have been reports of more severe side effects from these vaccines. Some of these are so rare that they weren’t picked up during clinical trials. These include Myocarditis, pericarditis and Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart), occurring with Pfizer and Moderna. The risk is 1 in 30,000, with men under 30 more susceptible. This side effect can be serious but is usually easily treatable with a quick recovery.

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is blood clotting and is linked to AstraZeneca. This condition is so rare that it didn’t show up in the clinical trials. The risk of death is 1 in 1 million. Here is a list of higher risks:

  • Risk of death from general anaesthetic is 18 in a million
  • Risk of being struck by lightning is 2 in a million
  • Risk of death due to daily aspirin is 100 in a million
  • Risk of death from giving birth is 67 in a million

An interesting article from the ABC suggests that the mortality rate has decreased due to higher awareness of this condition enabling doctors to identify the symptoms and intervene. There are effective treatments available for TTS. 

There have been reports that over 500 people have died in Australia from the vaccines. Shouldn’t we be worried?

The ‘reported’ number of over 500 deaths ‘linked to CoVid-19 vaccinations’ through the Australian TGA website is an inaccurate statistic. The true number is NINE deaths. While we don’t want to minimise any fatalities, we need to acknowledge that correlation does not necessarily equal causation when it comes to fatalities and vaccinations. The reasons for this are explained below.

As of October 14 2021, the true number of confirmed deaths from CoVid-19 vaccination in Australia is nine with over 31,994,741 doses administered.

Where did the ‘500+ reported deaths’ come from then?

Side effects associated with any vaccine or medication can be reported to the TGA. A similar reporting system in the US called ‘VAERS’ acknowledges that their reporting system is not ‘regulated’ regarding who can and can’t report side effects, with all side effects listed publicly.

It means that anyone can report anything, and it will be listed. With people ‘trolling’ the sites there are all sorts of nonsensical listings such as ‘being bitten by animals’, ‘boredom’, ‘gonorrhoea’ and ‘becoming elderly’. Sites such as VAERS and the TGA take all reports seriously, and medical professionals investigate each death in Australia as to whether the vaccine directly caused it.

There would be no doubt that over 500 people died within a couple of days or even weeks after receiving a CoVid-19 vaccine. With over 30 million doses administered to date, we would expect more than 500 people to have died from other causes (some even naturally) close to the time of their vaccination. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the vaccine caused their death.

An equivalent example is this: 50,000 people went out on the same night and ate similar ice cream. Ten people died within the next two days. Can we conclude that ice cream kills people? What is more likely is that those ten people died of other causes at a frequency not above what we would ‘normally’ see. The point is this: correlation does not equal causation. We need to be careful with interpreting data and mindful of misinformation that is circulating on social media. When taken out of context, these inflated figures can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.

How do we know what the long-term effects of the CoVid-19 vaccines are?

Scientists and medical professionals have a pretty good understanding of the long-term effects of these vaccines.

Vaccines, unlike ongoing medication, are not stored up in the body as you are taking a tiny dose (usually only once or twice). The purpose of a vaccine is to produce an immune response, then for the vaccine to disappear from the body. This process of being cleared from your body usually takes between 3-7 days. After that, there is no trace of the vaccine.

Vaccine technology has been around for decades, and modern medicine has developed in leaps and bounds. Scientists have an excellent understanding of the long-term side effects because all of the ingredients are well known to science. This means that scientists and medical experts already know how these ingredients behave and work in the human body.

Although you can never entirely rule out long term effects, with over 6.6 billion (2) doses of CoVid-19 vaccinations administered across the globe over the last year, scientists and medical experts have a good understanding of the side effects to date.

Can the vaccine cause infertility?

I saw a viral video of two men claiming that a Japanese paper running clinical trials on mice using the mRNA vaccine showed a build-up of the vaccine in the ovaries. They concluded that CoVid-19 vaccines, therefore, interfere with fertility. It was disappointing to watch as it was another example of the inappropriate interpretation of scientific data).

Studies have found no evidence to suggest that the vaccines cause infertility. All the studies and data SUPPORT the safety of women being vaccinated DURING pregnancy. We need to keep in mind that Australia is at least six months behind the rest of the world regarding vaccinations. This gives us a unique position to have a front-row seat. People have now been vaccinated for over a year, which means that hundreds of thousands of women (dare we say millions!) from all over the world have fallen pregnant and given birth with no indication of fertility issues. The only data scientists have that suggests any fertility issues is in fact in men who catch CoVid-19 naturally. Studies have shown a reduction in sperm count and an increase in impotence issues caused by the virus’s effects on blood vessels.

The Royal Australian & NZ College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) recently ran a ‘Pregnancy and CoVid-19 vaccination’ webinar and stated clearly that the CoVid vaccines DO NOT impact on fertility.

People who are fully vaccinated are still catching CoVid-19. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?

The vaccines don’t stop you from catching the virus altogether, although they do reduce your risk. A new study has suggested that within the first three months of a person’s second Pfizer vaccination, they are between 70-90% less likely to catch and transmit the virus. The primary role of the CoVid-19 vaccine is to significantly reduce the risk of severe infection and hospitalisation.

Currently, the strategy of both the NSW and the VIC governments is to vaccinate as many people as possible to minimise serious disease and not overrun the health system. If our health systems are overwhelmed, then all other medical emergencies (Heart attack, stroke, accidents, & surgery) will not get the care they need.

Why does getting vaccinated matter? Does an unvaccinated person put others at risk?

A reliable pre-print study from the UK suggests that the vaccines are better at preventing the spread of CoVid-19 than we first thought. Getting the vaccine isn’t just about protecting yourself. It is about reducing your risk of spreading it to others. There a many people in our community who cannot have the vaccine. They may be ineligible (babies and children) or unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition. In making the decision to be vaccinated you are protecting these members of our community who are most vulnerable.

Quickfire myths:

Do we even know what is in the vaccines?

Yes, we do. Click here for the full list of ingredients.

Does the vaccine contain Graphene Oxide?

No, Graphene oxide is not listed in the ingredients. No, they didn’t miss it off the list ‘on purpose’. How do we know? For starters, the vaccines are the wrong colour. Graphene oxide is dark brown, the vaccines are clear. You would be able to tell very quickly if graphene oxide was present.

Do people become magnetic after having the vaccine?

No. There is nothing present in the vaccine which could make a person become magnetic.

Do the statistics show that half the new cases of CoVid-19 are vaccinated people? Does that mean they don’t work?

The statistics may show that a significant portion of people catching CoVid-19 is vaccinated. Simply saying ‘half the CoVid-19 cases are vaccinated, so the vaccines don’t work’ is incorrect and is called a baseline fallacy. What we have to consider when interpreting these statistics is the denominator.

For example, if we wanted an accurate understanding of how many people from each group (the vaccinated or unvaccinated) were catching CoVid-19, we couldn’t simply say ‘50%’ of each. If 50% of cases were vaccinated yet still developed CoVid-19, we need to consider the denominator or size of each group from which those figures came.

Let’s do some maths: If Victoria has 80% double dose vaccination, that would mean around 5,360,000 people in the ‘vaccinated group’ (based on a population of 6.7mil). That leaves 1,340,000 in the unvaccinated group. Let’s say that 100,000 people got CoVid-19, and 50% were vaccinated. That would mean that 50,000 out of 5,360,000 or 0.93% of the vaccinated group. The other 50% (also 50,000) has a denominator of 1,340,000. That is 3.73% of the unvaccinated group. You can see how these statistics tell a dramatically different story when placed in context – this isn’t an ‘equal’ statistic. The most important data, however, is the data concerning hospitalisation and death. The vaccine significantly reduces your chance of severe infection, hospitalisation, ICU admission, and death.

The people who are dying and in hospital from CoVid-19 are vaccinated.

Incorrect. This is misinformation spread through viral videos which show ‘bloopers’ or slip-ups during Victorian press conferences, which were later addressed and rectified.

Big Pharma wants to take your money!

Yes, they do, just like any business. But the medical industry would make more money off you NOT having the vaccine. Your hospital bills and treatment would make them more money. Let’s also keep in mind that the government is currently freely providing this vaccine.

Will we need booster shots every year?

It’s not uncommon to need booster shots for ongoing immunity. Vaccines such as tetanus require a booster every ten years. We also have three doses of vaccines such as hepatitis and the human papillomavirus (HPV). Scientists are hopeful that only two or possibly three (which we call a ‘booster shot’) doses provide long-term immunity for CoVid-19.

Won’t the booster shots damage my immune system?

No. Your immune system is combating foreign bodies it encounters every day. It is a great and robust defence mechanism. We may need a ‘new’ vaccine if mutations of CoVid-19 begin to arise, which are no longer covered by the immune response triggered by the current vaccines. We see this occur with the yearly flu vaccine. At this stage, the current vaccines protect against all of the CoVid-19 variants pretty effectively. We need to keep in mind that this pandemic is not static, and science needs to pivot as the CoVid-19 situation evolves.

If I have already had CoVid-19 why would I need the vaccine? Don’t I already have antibodies?

It’s suggested that some countries and cities internationally have accepted proof of ‘recent’ CoVid-19 infection as the same status as ‘vaccination’. While it is true that a recent CoVid-19 infection produces antibodies, recent studies have shown that an additional follow up vaccine produces an even stronger and longer-lasting immune response. We need to keep in mind that each person’s immune system is complex, and not everyone will have the same immune response. Current data suggest that vaccines are the most consistent form of immunity.

Reputable people to follow on online platforms:

It can be confusing as to where to get quick and easy access to reliable information online. Below I have suggested a few reputable sources and people you can follow and engage with online.

The ABC do a daily ‘CoronaCast’ 10min update where the presenters talk about the latest scientific developments, citing peer-reviewed journal articles and the most up to date and reliable information.

TikTok: Although this platform can be unhelpful in many ways, the following people are quick to debunk misinformation and viral videos when they arise:

  • @scitimewithtracy (Dr Tracy has a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology). Tracy has some excellent links and peer-reviewed journal articles listed in her
  • Dr Kat Wallace Epidemiologist
  • Dr Sara Marzouk on Facebook

Disclaimer: This blog doesn’t provide medical advice. I recommend talking to your trusted GP. The science around CoVid-19 moves fast. All of the information was up to date at the time of writing.

Helpful Resources

A short online course from Johns Hopkins University will take you through the overview of the CoVid-19 Pandemic including information on the medical therapies, vaccines in development, epidemiology and the spread of CoVid-19.

More information on the efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccines.

Below are the fact sheets for each of the available vaccines in Australia:

Comirnaty (Pfizer)

Vaxzevira (AstraZeneca)

Spikevax (Moderna)

[1] She has a Bachelor of Science from Monash University (double major in Immunology/Molecular and Microbiology and a minor in Genetics). She does not currently work in this field.

 

When a significant issue becomes politicised, it creates polarisation. That is what has occurred with climate change. People hear those two words and view them through the filter of their political leanings. But what if we could take the heat out of global warming? The good news is we can, simply by understanding all the complexities of climate change through compassionate eyes.

Compassion: The Heart of God

Jesus emphasised compassion as the primary attribute of God’s nature. He said, “Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:36). In other words, this is what God is like, now imitate him.

Compassion comes from the Hebrew word for “womb” and means “to feel the feelings of others.” Compassion is “to feel the suffering of another deeply and be moved by that suffering to act.” So, let’s look at climate change through the eyes of compassion and take the heat out of global warming!

Compassion for the Planet

We live on a beautiful planet, and there is nowhere else to go (take a moment to process!). We need to look after and have compassion for the earth.

The first expression of human impact on earth’s climate was in 1896. A few decades later, amateur scientist Guy Stewart Callendar linked global warming to CO2 emissions. And here we are 75 years later, and governments are finally waking up to the impact humans have on the planet. It is not too late to act, but we are running out of time.

More evidence of this flashes across our screens every day. From unprecedented fires to unusual weather, extreme heat, to exceptional flooding. For example, a few weeks ago, the mercury soared to a record 49.7 degrees in the village of Lytton, Canada. The following day the town was destroyed by fire.

According to BBC News, the number of days reaching 50 degrees and more has doubled since 1980. Natural disasters are increasing. It’s been reported that “nearly 1 in 3 Americans live in a county hit by a weather disaster in the past three months.”

Compassion for the People

People are affected by climate change already, and that will only increase unless we act. Sadly, developing nations are the most affected. And developed countries are the biggest polluters because of our never-ending desire for more, but at what price?

Wealthy nations need compassion for developing countries and their people. “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” said John Donne in the seventeenth century. The English poet and Anglican cleric was correct. Humanity is intricately woven together. Compassion for one is compassion for all.

The impact of climate change on countries like Haiti displaces people and compels them to seek safety and welfare elsewhere. According to Time Magazine, Haiti is just one of many countries that will face the most severe consequences of climate change.

Unless we address the root causes, developed nations will be inundated with climate refugees. And it is the poorest people in developing countries that will be hardest hit and least able to get help. Compassion will compel us to act.

Compassion for Affected Communities

Any plan to address climate change must consider the communities that currently rely on coal, gas, and associated industries. We cannot blithely forge ahead with little or no regard for the people whose livelihood depends on these industries. While we stand with those suffering from the impacts of climate change, we also have compassion for people working in industries who stand to lose their occupations.

With pressure from investors and international agreements, many mining towns and regions have a limited lifespan. Coal is on the way out, and other cleaner sources of renewable energy are taking over. It’s reported that coal mining is amongst the most rapidly declining industries in the world.

Compassion will cause us to work closely with affected regions to ensure they don’t become ghost towns in the years to come. Rather than a “gas-led recovery” out of the pandemic, Australia’s government should direct post-COVID spending to renewables. “Stimulus programs backing clean energy as a path out of recession would create nearly three times as many jobs for every dollar spent on fossil fuel developments,” according to a financial consultancy analysis by Ernst & Young.

Right now, we are leaving people in these communities to an uncertain future. Compassion will not abandon them; it will work creatively with each community and plan for the future NOW!

Governments must consult with the affected communities, facilitate exit strategies from coal and gas, and support them in making the most of Australia’s exceptional natural advantages. To do less is to abandon them to an uncertain and dismal future. Together, they should determine the best plan for each community and develop specific goals. What industries and activities are best suited to each area? Wine, tourism, horse studs, solar, heat pumps, wind farms, and so on. Different locations will offer distinct opportunities.

To be compassionate towards these communities involved in the extraction, use, and export of coal and gas supports a fair, planned, and sustained transition to more diversified local economies. But unless the federal government acts to support renewable energy, the Australian economy will be left behind by competitors.

Compassion for Future Generations

What sort of world are we leaving for today’s youth? And what will the world be like in generations to come? A new study published by Forbes Magazine showed that “even moderate climate change” would lead “to cascading effects of accelerated sea level rise and species loss.” The world’s environment is carefully and intricately balanced. If we don’t rise to the challenge of climate change, the future looks bleak.

Does the greatest commandment, love your neighbour as yourself, only apply to people today? Or are we to love our future neighbours too? We cannot simply wash our hands of an unfolding human tragedy. In the name of the one who calls us to love one another, it is time Christians be part of this human struggle for the future of humanity.

In the lead up to the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow in November,

Bayside Church is encouraging people who feel passionate about this issue to contact their Federal MP. Click here for more information.

My intention in writing this blog is to point out something that I hope will be helpful to us all in recognising potential unhealthy behaviour and adjusting our lives accordingly. Also, that we would all would continue moving in grace and compassion with those we encounter.

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that when someone begins communicating in an edgy, argumentative way, there is ALWAYS something going wrong in their life. It could be a loss of a job, health, a marriage, or a ministry.

I always reach out privately to such people. Sometimes I get a response. Rarely does it change anything. So, I’ll repeat, every time someone is edgy, argumentative, or aggressive in the way they speak or interact on social media, something is going on in their own life that is causing frustration.

So, What’s Really Going On?

A helpful article published by the University of Montreal on conspiracy theories sheds some valuable insights into this phenomenon.

In summary, the authors address “significance loss” and how a person behaves to satisfy this need. The article speaks to why people embrace conspiracy theories to recover significance. The dopamine hit they used to get from their importance as a preacher, a husband, or their job is replaced by the audience they gain on social media. They “feel good” again because they have an audience, a platform, a voice, influence and allies. Significance has returned. Sadly, they lead others down a poisonous rabbit hole into a dark world of imaginary schemes where others are simply gullible sheep.

In all of the examples, I am aware of; the person has experienced loss: loss of ministry, relationship, job, house, or health. We all have lost something this year, especially freedom, but most people can rationalise this and not allow their behaviour to become toxic. But some, for whatever reason, do not possess this capacity. So, they attempt to recover from their loss of significance.

Something Else

In psychology, projection is an understandable self-defensive mechanism. When we don’t like what is going on in life, we are tempted to project our frustrations on others. Invariably this will be somebody we love or a person in authority who we perceive should do something to help us.

While projection is understandable, it is not healthy or godly. Projecting your frustrations on others only causes angst in friendships and relationships. I have held onto some friendships “by the skin of my teeth” over the past couple of years.

Rather Than Ranting, Try Talking

Firstly, if you are a person of faith, talk to God. Allow God to be a circuit breaker for your frustrations. Confess what is vexing you to him and invite the Holy Spirit to refresh and heal your wounded soul. Make a covenant with the Lord that you will not say or write anything in the public space when you feel irritable or anxious.

I have found it very therapeutic to write an email when I’m feeling frustrated and then put it in the drafts folder for a day or two. Note: DO NOT put the person’s email address in the “To:” line just in case you send it by mistake! After a day or two, I either delete the email entirely or rewrite it in a much gentler tone. But the action of writing the email can be a tonic.

And talk to someone you know and trust. It could be a professional such as a pastor, counsellor, or psychologist, or maybe a faithful friend. Tell them what you’re going through and how you are feeling, and ask them if you can chat regularly and for them to hold you accountable.

A Final Example

I did this recently when I had watched a guy I had known for years being extremely edgy on my Facebook page. Here’s my message to him, “You and I have known each other for a long-time. I have always respected you greatly. I am concerned about the way you’re engaging online. Of course, you are totally free to post what you like on your own page, but when you’re commenting on mine, could you please keep it respectful? I’m asking, kindly, could you please use some self-control when commenting on my page? Thanks so much.”

He wrote back, “I’m sorry Rob I should not have replied to that comment, although they were laughing at my opinions, I just should not have bitten back anyway. I’m needing to change my social media approach 100%…as hard as it is to bite my tongue I simply must now. I’m sharing that with you so you can hold me accountable if you feel like I’m stepping over the mark please feel free to poke me. Bless you heaps.

That was a good outcome. But it’s rare. I encourage us all to be like that and, if we are feeling frustrated because life is tough, we need to find a healthy outlet by chatting with God and a friend. Let’s tell them what’s REALLY going on.

The Bible’s book called Proverbs contains some of the oldest writings in Scripture. It is a fascinating work jam-packed with ancient wisdom, most of which is still relevant today. So, let’s discover the best ways to understand this book.

The Purpose of Proverbs

Proverbs was initially compiled as a training manual for young men to be leaders in the king’s court. So, its first audience was teenage and young adult guys. The term “my son(s)” is found over 20 times in Proverbs.

We find the purpose of Proverbs clearly stated at the beginning, “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young” (1:1-4).

Wisdom’s Women

Proverbs, chapters one to nine, personify wisdom and foolishness as two gorgeous women. Remember, the audience was testosterone-filled young men. Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly were two women competing for the attention of these immature guys. Lady Wisdom is a godly influence encouraging young men to live a life of courage and integrity – a life that embraces justice, generosity, and kindness – to win favour and a good name (Proverbs 4:23-27).

Madam Folly is the opposite. She is pictured as an adulterous woman who constantly tries to entice and lead the guys astray. For us all, life is about choosing to follow the right woman, Lady Wisdom, rather than Madam Folly.

Now, it is essential to understand that no one sat down to write the book of Proverbs. Proverbs took over twelve hundred years to compile between 1400 and 165 BCE when the Tanakh (Old Testament) was completed. By that time, this book which was initially intended for young men training for leadership was now meant for everyone who desired to live a life that follows Lady Wisdom rather than Madam Folly.

What is Wisdom?

Simply: Knowing how to apply your knowledge.

A more complex definition: Wisdom is the quality of character that knows how to choose the right path in life: the right words, actions, and responses. Wisdom tells you when to speak and when to remain silent.

For Example:

  • Wisdom does not harm one’s neighbour.
  • Wisdom shuns laziness and works hard.
  • Wisdom receives correction and instruction.
  • Wisdom guards the tongue and spreads no gossip.
  • Wisdom doesn’t quarrel or criticise.
  • Wisdom is generous to those who are needy.
  • Wisdom gives voice to the marginalised.
  • Wisdom is tenacious but humble.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! (Proverbs 1:7).

The Structure of Proverbs

Proverbs is divided into six sections. The book’s introduction is chapters 1 – 9, followed by the most extended portion, “The proverbs of Solomon” (10:1– 22:16). The rest of Proverbs consists of four shorter parts:

  • The words of the wise (22:17 – 24) are drawn from the ancient Egyptian wisdom text, The Instruction of Amenemope, from the 14th to 11th Centuries BCE. This teaches us that wisdom is drawn from other cultures, faiths, and people.
  • More proverbs of Solomon (25 – 29) were collected and compiled by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. Hezekiah reigned between 716–687 BCE. Solomon died in 930 BCE. So, these proverbs had been around for over 200 years before being included in this book.
  • The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance (30). Agur was weary and tired and didn’t think of himself as wise, and yet we have his proverbs preserved for our benefit. I hope you find this as encouraging as I do. It doesn’t matter how you feel or what you think of yourself. God sees the gem in the lump of rock!
  • The sayings of King Lemuel (31). An inspired utterance his mother taught him. Lemuel is possibly a pet name Solomon’s mother gave him. She says, “Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! Do not spend your strength on women…” (31:1-3). Proverbs 31 is often taught at Women’s Conferences, but its application is much broader. The final chapter once again personifies wisdom (Lady Wisdom) and demonstrates how a wise person lives.

Types of Proverbs

There are two kinds of proverbs ~ Sayings and instructions. A saying is a nugget of wisdom. Consider these examples:

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (11:13)

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (12:10)

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (15:1)

“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” (25:24)

Instructions may be positive or negative (i.e., you need to do this / not do this). Examples include:

“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court.” (22:22)

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.” (22:24)

How can we get wisdom?

People grow wise through experience either gleaned from others or learned from their failures and mistakes. The Book of Proverbs is one source of wisdom. There are 31 chapters, so you could read a chapter a day and get through the entire book in a month.

As we step out and take risks, we will fail, make wrong decisions, choices, and mistakes. The alternative is never to do anything, but that’s not very wise!

Proverbs 24:16 states, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” It reminds me of a song – I get knocked down, but I get up again. Is the tune stuck in your head now?

In my (almost) 30 years of leading Bayside Church, I’ve made loads of decisions. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again. In this journey, I’ve gained some wisdom. And it’s that which I seek to impart as I continue to lead others.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted the following on my Facebook page:

I’d like to gauge how people are feeling about the possible use of Vaccine certificates for entry into certain places and venues as we begin to open up from lockdown restrictions. Select the number below that most accurately expresses how you resonate with the following statement…

“As we move into the next phase of living with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, proof of vaccination is very important to keep people as safe as possible from the COVID-19 illness this virus causes.”

    • Strongly agree
    • Agree
    • Disagree
    • Strongly disagree
    • Unsure
    • Don’t care

You may include ONE sentence of explanation if you feel it’s necessary. But please, no commentary, no arguments, and NO links to videos or articles. The post received almost 400 comments. Most people followed the rules. Some people can’t help themselves. Here are the results (Response numbers in brackets):

    • Strongly agree (122)
    • Agree (54)
    • Disagree (15)
    • Strongly disagree (88)
    • Unsure (14)
    • Don’t care (3)

Worth Noting

Several things stand out from these responses. Firstly, vaccine passports are an extremely divisive issue. The overwhelming majority of people are in favour of some proof of vaccination. Most people with medical training voted number 1.

Also, I don’t assume that everyone who is against proof of vaccination is anti-vax. I acknowledge those of you who are not yet vaccinated or are vaccine-hesitant. Some people are pro-vaccination but have concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines. Others have trypanophobia, a fear of needles. I reference anti-vaxxers once in this blog. In that comment I mean people who are completely against all vaccines in every circumstance.

This blog is not about ridiculing anyone. I respect where you’re at right now and affirm your freedom of choice. For Christians, let our unity and love for one another focus on Jesus and not our opinion of the pandemic, politics, or vaccines.

Where I Stand

I resonate most strongly with number 2. As we move into the next phase of the pandemic, living with COVID-19, I believe it will be vital to have some proof of vaccination for entry into any place where a crowd will gather. The thought behind electing “2” rather than “1” is my concern around implementation and a divided community. Governments must not be heavy-handed in the execution of this, and as much personal liberty as possible must be preserved except where it impinges on the right of others to be safe. Business owners, and church leaders, should not be made to be security guards. And any vaccine passport should be implemented for the shortest time necessary.

Ultimately, my concern is for people and especially the most vulnerable in the community. I believe everyone who wants to be vaccinated should have that opportunity BEFORE we fully open up. A medical exemption for those who cannot be vaccinated has already been referred to medical experts to facilitate. I’m also hoping that a negative PCR test, or proof of recovery from COVID-19, will be an option for those who are not yet vaccinated, whatever their reason may be. Privacy of personal information must also be a high priority.

Paul’s words to the Philippian church should ring loud in our hearts, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:3-5). I encourage you to use these verses as your filter and guide.

There’s no doubt that the next few months will be the most challenging of the pandemic. In one sense, it’s easy to shut things down. Opening up, well, that’s much more problematic. Striking a balance between bringing life back to normal, whatever that looks like, and keeping people as safe as possible, is no mean feat. Please be prayerful for our State and Federal government leaders at this time. They all need great wisdom.

Vaccination Passports are Not New

By definition, a vaccine passport is quite literally just an immunisation record — a document that notes whether someone is protected against a particular disease.

In 2007, I was teaching at a pastors’ conference in Uganda. Afterwards, I flew back to Jo’burg. Arriving at the airport, I realised I’d left my vaccine certificate in the desk drawer of my home office. I did my very best to explain this at customs. The person I spoke with was kind, understanding, and insistent. I had three choices:

    • Stay on the wrong side of the airport
    • Fly back to Uganda
    • Have the Yellow Fever jab

Even though I was fully vaccinated, I had no proof. So, I rolled up my sleeve and had another one, after which I was given my vaccine passport and allowed entry to South Africa.

Before 1973, travellers had to carry an International Certificate of Cholera Vaccination. Until May 8, 1980, travellers needed proof of smallpox vaccination. No jab, no travel. One person who commented on my post said, “when I travelled overseas to the [Middle East], 40years ago, we had to carry proof we were vaccinated against cholera, typhoid, smallpox, polio, etc. No one thought their rights were being violated back then.”

From 1 January 2018, Children who have not been immunised due to their parent’s vaccine conscientious objection cannot be enrolled in childcare.

A Little History

An Italian health pass (fede di sanità) for travel during times of plague, 1722

In Bible times, people with leprosy had to show themselves ‘clean’ before re-entering the community and restart everyday living. Until then, they’d shout out “unclean” to warn people nearby to keep their distance.

With the advent of the first vaccine in 1796, it wasn’t long until some proof of vaccination was required. The initial evidence was the scar left on the arm of people who had the smallpox inoculation. During the smallpox epidemic in the United States (1885), the hardest-hit states made vaccination compulsory with “official certificates of vaccination” required for people to “go to work, attend public school, ride trains or even go to the theatre.”

The need for vaccine passports increased with the arrival of air travel because of how much faster local smallpox outbreaks could occur. So, before people could board planes, they had to undergo vaccine certificate checks “with forcible isolation at airports of any passengers considered to have dubious documentation.”

Some Americans resisted these public health measures. The predecessors of today’s anti-vaxxers questioned the vaccine’s effectiveness or falsely claimed that it caused smallpox or other side effects. One writer dramatically claimed in 1923 that “A scar from forced vaccination is a brand, a mark of medical tyranny and despotism.” Some preachers regarded a vaccination scar as the “mark of the beast” referenced in the Bible’s Book of Revelation. It seems little has changed!

What About Freedom?

Much of the current narrative revolves around freedom, and I agree, human free will is an incredible gift from God. But freedom doesn’t mean that we can do as we choose in every instance. Just ask Adam & Eve! There are real-life consequences for the choices we make.

We already accept various requirements in numerous situations. There are compulsory requirements, such as voting or wearing seat belts, and conditional requirements. For example, if you want to go on a mine site, you have to wear a hard hat and a high vis jacket. In other words, if you’re going to do (A), then here’s the minimum you need to do (B). It has nothing to do with personal beliefs. You could say that “Jesus is my protection” and “I’m shielded by Psalm 91.” You can believe anything you want, but you still need to wear a hard hat!

In a global pandemic, the exercise of your freedom NOT to be vaccinated will activate the liberty of others NOT to admit you, NOT to permit you to fly, NOT to allow you to work near others. All of this is because OTHER people have freedom too. Freedom to choose belongs to all, as does the responsibility to face the outcomes of your free choices.

No one is being “compelled” to be vaccinated. It is “optional but conditional.” You can choose not to vaccinate but then face the consequences of how others react to your choice. Participation in certain activities is forfeited for a short period as the community adjusts to living with SARS-CoV-2, just like a visa is denied unless specific requirements are met. It’s called “considerate regulation to minimize risk.”

Living with COVID-19

Society needs to open up as safely as possible. That will include a season, maybe six months, where proof of vaccination is required for entrance into cinemas, swimming pools, museums, spas, indoor restaurant dining, theatres, pubs, clubs, and sporting venues. Tourism and travel need to reopen too. Being stuck in lockdown has taken an enormous toll on these industries, not to mention the impact of restrictions on people’s mental health. We cannot stay locked down forever, but we must open up carefully.

Even if Australia doesn’t introduce vaccine passports or the equivalent, it appears highly likely that Aussies will be impacted as they travel. For example, France bans unvaccinated U.S. tourists. The European country is the latest to tighten restrictions for American travellers. Israel has followed suit. The bottom line? If you want to travel, you’ll need to be vaccinated and be able to prove it.

Medical Apartheid?

Several people mentioned their concern about an ‘us versus them’ society. I find it interesting that it is Christian people saying this. The whole premise of evangelicalism is a separation of ‘us’ and them,’ ‘in’ and ‘out,’ and ‘saved’ and ‘lost.’ John Calvin, in his Institutes divides the human race into “the elect” (chosen) and “the reprobate” (damned).

The Bible speaks of sheep and goats, wheat and weeds, and the book of life and those scratched out. But we feel concerned when it’s us who are excluded! No one likes to be left out.

The term “Medical Apartheid” is highly offensive, especially to people who lived through and were impacted by apartheid in South Africa. The book Medical Apartheid “traces the complex history of medical experimentation on Black Americans in the United States since the middle of the eighteenth century.”  Comparing these atrocities to the public health measures during the current pandemic is highly offensive.

What About Church?

Firstly, if you are part of Bayside Church, Christie and I will communicate privately with you via email. We are still sifting through the detail, but here’s what we know so far:

70% fully vaccinated (26/10): Outdoor gatherings with 50 fully vaccinated people (or 20 of unknown vaccination status).

80% fully vaccinated (5/11): Indoor meetings with 150 fully vaccinated people (or 20 of unknown vaccination status outdoors)

When the Services Victoria app is updated, it will contain your vaccination info when you sign in with the QR code.

I’ve asked our Bayside Church COVID Safe Team to follow up on two questions:

    • What about people who have recovered from COVID and carry natural immunity? Antibodies stay for at least 6-8 months, which provide protective measures against reinfection.
    • Is there any provision for people to prove they are negative 48 hours from receiving a COVID test? Can they be allowed at a gathering?

Rest assured, Christie and I, and the leaders and pastors of Bayside Church will do all we can to protect and accommodate everyone in our church community. I would expect nothing less from any other church.

Concluding Thoughts

The main issue, as we begin to open up, is to prevent hospitals from becoming overloaded. Vaccinations will reduce the number of people in hospitals. If only vaccinated people could gather in large groups, then hopefully, an outbreak in this group would be less severe. But we need to ensure life is possible for everyone. People who are recovering from COVID can’t get vaccinated, and some people react to the vaccine, so the answer is not simple.

I believe Denmark sets a fine example. Vaccine passports have allowed the Danish people to live a semi-normal life until 80% of 12+ people were vaccinated. Having arrived at that point, they have discarded the passports altogether.

Armed with their pass, people could get a haircut, have a drink with friends or attend a cultural event. “It was getting one’s freedom back instead of having to sit at home in isolation.”

Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said, “the epidemic is under control” but warned: “We are not out of the epidemic,” and the government will act as needed if necessary. A majority in the age group of 50+ had the two shots. The face mask is still mandatory at airports, and people are advised to wear one at the doctor’s, test centres, or hospitals. Physical distancing applies, as do strict entry restrictions for non-Danes at the borders. The outbreak is “an ordinary dangerous illness.”

In Australia, Proof of Vaccination is an interim measure to be utilised as a tool to assist the country in reopening as safely as possible. Once that is achieved, the vaccine passports (or whatever they’re called) will no longer be necessary. SARS-CoV-2 will be endemic in society, and we will need to live with it.

In the meantime, let’s be kind to one another so that our friendships endure longer than the pandemic!

Fake news is nothing new; it’s been around for centuries.

Consider Jesus’ resurrection. A story was fabricated by the chief priests and the soldiers guarding Jesus’ tomb, saying that “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” The writer continues, “And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” See that? “Widely circulated!”

The story of the stolen body was fake news. It wasn’t an alternative fact. It was just plain wrong.

With the advent of the internet and social media, false facts have taken on a life of their own. Reliable news and misinformation live together side by side, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. It’s enough to make you cynical like Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. At his trial, Jesus told Pilate, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate mockingly replied, “What is truth?”

As a Christian, I want to be a person of truth. I don’t want to be responsible for sharing anything misleading. I imagine you feel the same way, so here are a few things I do before I post or share so I don’t end up being a jerk online:

Take a deep breath

If a headline or post grabs your emotions, you’re more likely to share it. And yet, the more a post provokes you, the more likely it is to be misleading. Do you know that feeling of outrage? You can’t believe that it’s true, and you’re incensed, and you have to share it so others can be furious too. That’s when you need to take a deep breath. Decide never to post anything when you’re in that frame of mind ~ or when you’re tired, stressed, or anxious.

Check the facts

Genuine news will include sources for all information presented. Who’s quoted, and what are their qualifications? If statistics are cited, from which study are they taken? Was the research professionally conducted and peer-reviewed? If sources aren’t quoted, odds are it’s not authentic.

Don’t believe everything you read or watch. It could be a hoax, a wild conspiracy theory, or misinformation. Do an internet search to see if it’s been quoted by reliable news sources (Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, for example). Has it already been identified as false? If there’s a photo, is it genuine or fake? If it’s a video, who is presenting? Check out who created the video. What organisation(s) do they represent? What is their motivation?

The internet is teeming with fake news sites and other outlets with very low ethics of truthful reporting. Check out their media bias and level of factual coverage. Avoid far-right and extreme-left sites and especially those that perpetuate baseless conspiracies. Some fact-check sites give a tin-foil hat rating!

Regularly I receive links to articles and videos. Rarely do these come with a message like, “Hi Rob, would you please look at this and let me know your thoughts?” I know the motivation behind this. “They” want to convert me to “their” way of thinking on the topic of the day. I usually take the time to check it out and get back to them with a fact check. Predictably there’s no response, no “thank you so much for taking the time.” There’s just silence until the next article or video arrives. I eventually ask people like this to stop sending me unwanted commentary. That rarely works either. Choose not to be a jerk like that!

Sadly, false information gets blindly shared hundreds of thousands of times. Some people refuse vaccination because they’ve watched or read something and are now more fearful of the vaccine than of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. People are getting very sick and dying because they’ve listened to this sort of fake story. As Australia moves into the next pandemic phase and learns to live with the virus, we will see many more people getting sick. Many will recover, some will develop long-COVID, others will die. Most of this is highly preventable simply by being vaccinated. I strongly encourage you to chat with your GP and get a second opinion if you’re not satisfied.

See through the hype

Fake news will invariably play on people’s hopes and fears, anger, empathy, or sense of justice. And, have you noticed, it’s ALWAYS someone else’s fault? Blame the government, blame the health experts (think Dr Fauci, America’s Chief Medical Advisor to the President, and the heat he’s copped from people who don’t know the first thing about viral pandemics and immunology).

Harmful propaganda will always play on our fears and blame others for our problems. The 1918 flu pandemic was blamed on the Germans’ Submarines. In the 14th Century, the Bubonic plague was blamed on Jews, acting on behalf of the Muslim prince of Grenada, who had bribed the lepers to contaminate public fountains and wells to kill the Christians.

Casting blame legitimises our despising of the “other” who is viewed as the cause of our problems. If you’re a Christian, behaviour such as this lies far below the Royal Law of Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (James 2:8). Your behaviour online must be in line with the faith you profess!

Be Honest

I do all of the above BEFORE I post or share anything on social media. If you are a person of truth, you must do due diligence BEFORE you say or publish anything. But we all get it wrong sometimes. And when we do, let’s own it and apologise.

If I notice something false on someone else’s page, I invariably send them a private message. Sometimes I leave a comment on the thread. Mostly, my message is ignored, and the post remains.

Several months ago, a friend posted this on Facebook, “After hearing Mark Zuckerberg saying that posting the Lord’s Prayer goes against their policies….” He then posted the Lord’s Prayer and encouraged other people to share his comments that anything of the Gospel is considered HATE speech by Facebook. He continued, “So, I posted this because the Lord’s Prayer is against their company policy.” I let him know that this is a hoax that has been circulating on Facebook since 2014. He didn’t reply. No comments. No, “thanks for letting me know, Rob.” I’ve come to expect this kind of ghosting on social media. But what a sad day it is when we can’t be grateful, humble, and truthful. By the way, this false information was shared 257 times by his Facebook friends. People carelessly passed on the fake news and commented, “Amen,” dozens of times as if this was gospel truth. Which it isn’t. God help us!

If you post something fake or inaccurate, don’t be embarrassed but please be responsible. Apologise for the post and make sure others realise that your original statement was wrong.

Wise Up

Some of the bogus information circulating online is spread by bad actors. For example, a German-based conspiracy group (Worldwide Demonstration) has helped to coordinate protests across the globe, including in various Australian cities. “The group’s various Facebook and Telegram pages are awash with anti-vaccine and Covid-19 conspiracy theories, as well as other conspiratorial content such as QAnon and Islamophobia.”  (See reference)

Sadly, Christian people are being captivated by this dangerous rhetoric that leads them to behave in a less than Christian way. We must be better than this!