february 2004 Developing a Christian Worldview

Ronald Nash • Time stealers • Rings: A Christian masterpiece • Charles Colson The Certificate of GAA Christian Studies position vacant Christian Old Testament (G.Goswell), New Testament (K. Martin), Office Assistant Education Church History (P. Barnes), Biblical Theology (D. Geddes) Full time position. Resource being offered in 2002 at $60 ea. Location: Swan Hill Victoria. Centre The best selling Duties include: Westminster General office work and account keeping using MYOB 621 Punt Road Confession (main task). South Yarra 3141 of Faith for the The position also involves some serving of customers, 03 9867 4637 21st Century — [email protected] Study Edition answering telephone, message taking and various other $15 + $3 pp — work related to the sign, engraving and digital print industry. (Please make all prepared by DJW Milne, Principal of cheques payable the PTC Melbourne. Would suit person of any age, but would need to be to GAA Christian The Six Pack: for highly motivated and reasonably computer literate. Education Committee) Sessions/Bible study groups On the job training given or a traineeship available 6 copies of the WCF-21C for $92 posted! for a younger person. This is a great opportunity to work in a new premises with Walk With The Lord the latest technology and a Christian environment in a rural Daily Bible Reading Notes, currently written by Rev Dr Greg town where there is a vibrant local Presbyterian Church. Goswell, Old Testament lecturer at For further information the PTC, Victoria. contact Stephen Dyer on 03 5033 1124.

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Enq ph 03 5244 2955, fx 52436055 eml: [email protected] February 2004 No. 556

WORLDVIEW Thought-provoking: Ronald Nash ...... 4 editorial A capital idea: John Arton-Powell ...... 9

Train a child: Conrad Nixon ...... 12 hristian apologist Francis Schaeffer blamed the West’s growing irreligion and lawlessness on the Church’s BIBLE STUDY failure to apply its worldview to every aspect of mod- ern life. “The basic problem of Christians in the last 80 From the beginning yearsC or so,” he said, “is that we have seen things in bits and 20 studies on Genesis 1-11: Bruce Christian ...... 15 pieces instead of totals.” While Christians have warred on single-issue fronts such NEWS as pornography and abortion, Schaeffer claims that we have “failed to see that all of this has come about because of a shift Across Australia ...... 19 in the worldview – that is, through a fundamental change in Around the World ...... 20 the overall way people think and view the world as a whole”. In short, Christians, like an army in full retreat, have surren- On the Agenda ...... 22 dered vast tracts of intellectual territory to their opponents. However, “surrender” is not a word that should exist in REFLECTION any Christian’s vocabulary. Abraham Kuyper, the 19th cen- tury Dutch theologian, put it well when he said: “There is not In the wasteland: Douglas Kelly ...... 24 an inch of the entire domain of our human life of which Christ, who is sovereign of all, does not proclaim, ‘Mine!’” CULTURE WATCH Kuyper’s claims of the intellectual superiority of Christianity were rooted in the teaching that God was the Ringing endorsement: Albert Mohler ...... 25 Creator and universal Lord. The fact that God created the heavens and the earth demonstrated that all knowledge origi- An ecumenical Luther: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson ...... 26 nated in God and found its ultimate meaning in Him. Further, God’s exhaustive revelation of Himself in Christ underscored CHRISTIAN LIFE the relevance of Christianity to every sphere of knowledge. In philosophy, literature and language studies, for example, Stolen moments: Suzanne Eller ...... 29 Christ is the eternal Logos (Word) (Jn 1:1). In biology, He is “before all things and in Him all things hold together” (Col. PRAYER ...... 30 1:17) and in economics, Christ is the Proprietor of all things (1 Cor. 10:26). This means, as Carl Henry reminds us, “that BOOKS the Christian belief-system is relevant to all of life”. Our task as Christians is to “take every thought captive and make it Job ...... 31 obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). How? We need to cultivate a Christian mind and prepare 31 Outback Heroes ...... future generations to do so. The Church has a vital role to LITHOGRAPH BY MARC CHAGALL, 1960. Keith Murdoch ...... 31 play in education by showing that Christ is Lord over all things. It is part of our Presbyterian heritage to recognise the ESTHER. ESTHER. importance of Christian schooling and higher education. We BACK PAGE hope this issue advances that cause. ap Postmodern crack-up: Charles Colson ...... 32 Peter Hastie COVER IMAGE: THE AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN (ABN 81 498 399 755): The national magazine of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Editorial committee: Peter Hastie (NSW) Themes Editor; Barney Zwartz (Victoria) Production; Stuart Bonnington (Victoria) News Editor; Tracy Gordon (NSW), World News Editor. Graphic Design: Sandra Joynt for A&J Moody Design: www.ajmd.com.au. Advertising and subscription inquiries: Walter Bruining, PO Box 375, Kilsyth 3137; Phone: (03) 9723 9684. Subscription: $35.20 a year inc. GST; bulk (etc) $31.90 each inc. GST. Office: PO Box 375, Kilsyth 3137. Phone: (03) 9723 9684. Fax: (03) 9723 9685. Email: [email protected] Printed: PostScript Printing, Eltham Vic. (03) 9431 3414. Published: Monthly except January by the National Journal Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Australia; Convener Peter Hastie. Opinions expressed are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of the PCA, the editor or the committee. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement. Contributions: Submitted articles are welcome. The deadline is the first of the previous month. Donations are always welcome. Print Post approved 34918100384. www.ap.presbyterian.org.au

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 3 WORLDVIEW Thought-provoking Your worldview governs how you live. Analyse it.

r Ronald H Nash is a professor think like Christians, both of which of philosophy and theology at Ronald Nash require knowledge of the Christian Southern Baptist Theological talks to worldview. Knowledge of worldviews is Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. essential to evangelism and discipleship. DHe was formerly a professor of philoso- Peter Hastie I first wrote about this in my book Faith phy at Western Kentucky University and and Reason. at the Reformed Theological Seminary, Louisville each fortnight to fulfil his lec- But something very important hap- Orlando, Florida. turing obligations at SBTS. He is passion- pened in the early 1990s. I was invited to Dr Nash holds a PhD in philosophy ate about preaching the Gospel and was go to the Soviet Union to give a series of from Syracuse University, New York. He one of the most popular speakers at a lectures to teachers on the differences taught his first philosophy class in 1957 recent National Apologetics Conference between the Marxist and Christian world- and, in a teaching career that spans 45 in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is views. This was a marvelous opportunity years, has been able to make philosophy where Peter Hastie caught up with him to put my worldview message into a pack- “come alive” for the lay person. He is a for this interview. age that I would share on a more popular prolific author who has written or edited level. I saw amazing things happen. I real- nearly 30 books, many of which are still in Dr Nash, you’ve devoted a lot of your ized that worldview thinking could be an print, including The Concept of God, Faith teaching as a philosopher and theolo- effective tool in missionary and evangelis- and Reason, Is Jesus The Only Saviour?, gian to the notion of worldview. Why tic work that eventually reached several Life’s Ultimate Questions, When A Baby this area? thousand Russian intellectuals. Dies, The Meaning of History and Early in my teaching career, I learned At the end of the lectures, large num- Worldviews in Conflict. He also has a how important worldview thinking is. bers of people in my audiences came up series of audio lectures of four of his sem- Everyone has a worldview that influ- and told me that before that day, they had inary courses, free of charge, from ences everything we do and think. no idea what a worldview is; they had no www.biblicaltraining.org. He is glad to Wrong worldviews often function as awareness of the implications of the athe- correspond with readers at obstacles to people hearing and believing istic, naturalistic worldview they had been [email protected]. the Christian message. When we indoctrinated in and, before that day, they Dr Nash lives with his wife and chil- become Christians, we are supposed not had no idea how superior the Christian dren in Florida and commutes to only to behave like Christians but also to worldview is.

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 4 Why does the Bible teach that what is very young her ability to understand We need to study theology and philoso- we believe about God is the most things is rather limited. There are times phy just as we need to know music, art, important thing about us? when it is difficult to reason with a child. and the sciences. I hope this is not a sur- Every sensible person knows that But as children grow and mature, they prise for Presbyterians. Remember that within his or her total belief system, some increasingly want reasons and we should Jesus tells us that the first and greatest beliefs are more important than others. do our best to provide answers that fit the commandment is to love the Lord our Well, the most important of all the signif- circumstances. Parents have to get ready God with all our heart and soul and mind. icant beliefs in any human’s life concern for the day when their children will either Christians must not forget the mind! One what he believes about God. These beliefs get the answers from them or from the of the horrible things that is happening in not only affect your eternal destiny, they wrong people. American government schools at the affect whether your life will achieve the Christian parents do their children a moment is the almost constant attack on possibilities that God created you for. disservice if they don’t give them good the minds and hearts of our children. The organisation known as Campus reasons for their beliefs. The first day Crusade for Christ encapsulates this in a those kids enter the wrong secondary How do our built-in conceptual grids short but powerful message: “God loves school or college, other people will be act as filters that process the informa- you and has a wonderful plan for your feeding them tion that we gather? life”. When you get your thinking straight false beliefs and First of all, your question recognises about God, you suddenly realise what it bad reasons. We need to that all of us are subject to internal mental means to be a creature related to God. Consistent with grids which act as filters. That is true. study theology You realise that you have life-changing our children’s Sadly, this sometimes means that the truth duties to God and to other human beings. level of matu- and philosophy doesn’t get through. It’s blocked out. You come to understand that God is on rity, we need to just as we need What many people don’t realise is that we your side in the battles of life. ground them in to know music, actually have two kinds of grids. The first the Christian art, and the is a kind of intellectual or cognitive grid, Let me come back to the question of worldview. sciences. I hope which is linked to our underlying world- why worldview thinking is impor- Christian this is not a view. This means that if you come up tant. kids should get surprise for against a hard-core atheist he is usually I define a “worldview” as the sum-total a good intellec- not going to be open to any argument for of answers that a person gives to life’s tual training at Presbyterians. God’s existence. He has a series of built- most important questions. A worldview home so when in assumptions which make it very diffi- can have either a powerful, positive influ- they go to college, their faith is not up for cult for any evidence about God’s exis- ence on us or a negative one. A worldview, grabs. Every summer, I teach thousands tence to even get on the table. But people even when it is functioning subcon- of high school and college students at a have another grid too. This grid is a non- sciously, shapes, determines, and influ- youth ministry in America called Summit cognitive one. It’s affective. It has to do ences the way we think and act. So if Ministry (www.Summit.org). Last month, with feelings. A good example would be there’s something like this going on inside David Noebel, the leader of the Summit, prejudice against people because of their of me, I need to know about it. met people in New Zealand to discuss ethnic, racial or religious background. In One of the reasons why many people starting Kiwi sessions of the Summit. America, this plays out in the form of big- aren’t serious about the Christian faith is Perhaps the greatest reward from the off- otry against evangelical Christians. that they have not grasped the total, com- campus parts of the ministry is to run into What all this means is that we have to prehensive view of life and the world con- youngsters years later who thank me for work on two levels. We have to look for tained in the Christian worldview. Many teaching them how to think, how to non-cognitive or non-intellectual consid- Christians tend to think that the major ground their thinking on the Bible and the erations in a person’s make-up that can teachings of their faith are somehow dis- Christian worldview. prevent the truth from being understood. connected from the rest of reality. But all But we must also remember that cognitive truth is God’s truth. We need to make Why are most people unaware of factors can equally prejudice our recep- sure that what we believe about psychol- their worldview and the patterns of tion of the truth. A bad worldview or false ogy and history and the nature of the uni- thought that shape their identities? information can leave us intellectually verse fits together in a logically coherent There are lots of things that contribute crippled too. For instance, some people package. We cannot hold mutually contra- to their lack of intellectual self-awareness. may be impressed by as little as one dictory beliefs and still claim to be rational Some of the more obvious factors are sin, unsound argument against God’s exis- in our thinking. All of the things that we laziness, and emotionalism. We need to tence. On the basis of that limited infor- think we know must end up being consis- remember that feelings are usually more mation they mistakenly decide that the tent. If my understanding of human powerful than the mind for most people. many other sound arguments for God’s nature conflicts logically with my under- I am not suggesting that people should existence have no merit. standing about ethics, I’m not going to be denigrate their feelings and emotions. a very good parent, or a very good scholar, That would not be helpful. It is also Clearly some pieces of information or teacher, or human being. And this truth impossible. But Christians certainly need that form part of our thinking are not also applies to my children. to recognise that living primarily at the crucial to our approach to life. What level of our emotions is not biblical. God are the most important elements in Is it important to understand why we has made us thinking beings. We’re called our thinking that shape our convic- believe things? to develop our intellects, acquire informa- tions, attitudes and behaviour? It certainly is. Obviously, when a child tion, learn how to use it, and master logic. There is no one answer to this ques-

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 5 WORLDVIEW

tion. Many events and experiences have they have departed from a Christian ing things taking place in American brought each of us to our current situa- worldview. In that sense they are no Christendom today is that people within tion in life. Francis Schaeffer talked about longer entitled to describe themselves as the wider evangelical community are hav- something he called “pre-evangelism”. Christians. They have become propo- ing difficulty deciding what is central and Before we can get very far doing evange- nents of a different religion. what is peripheral in our faith. lism or discipleship, we need to know as We come next to issues of metaphysics. There was a time in my life when I much as possible about the present con- In this area we deal with questions such as thought that the Calvinism/Arminianism tent of the person’s worldview: how he or the relationship of God to the universe. Is debate was peripheral to Christianity. Of she got here, what good and bad influ- the universe eternal? Or did an eternal, course, every properly educated Calvinist ences have operated in the past, what mis- personal, and all-powerful God create the knows better. It is now clear to me that conceptions the person might have about world? What must Christians agree upon many of the bad things going on in the Bible and Christian doctrine, what here? I think that Christians must agree American theology are the logical conse- hang-ups the person has, and so on. Our that the universe had a beginning in time quences of Arminian theology coming task as witnesses is to seek out the real and that its beginning is directly related to home to roost. The issues relating to reasons, known and unknown, why this the sovereign choice of the sovereign God God’s knowledge of the future (open the- person in front of me does not know to create the world out of nothing. We ism) and whether people need to believe Christ as Saviour. may have our disagreements over the age in Christ to be saved (the of the earth, but we cannot disagree with inclusivism/exclusivism debate) are good Do people who share the same world- examples of this. While I don’t want to be view have to agree on every issue? Before we can unkind to my Arminian friends, they need Of course not. I wouldn’t want to give to realise that Arminianism and Calvinism get very far the impression that people who hold to are two different worldviews. They are the same general worldview will necessar- doing evange- essentially two different views of God and ily agree on everything. Even Christians lism or disci- of salvation. This is foundational material. who should share common beliefs on pleship, we such essential issues as the Trinity, the need to know How crucial is worldview thinking to truth and ultimate authority of the Bible as much as the clash of civilisations taking place as the Word of God, and justification by possible about at the moment? faith, often disagree on other important the person’s That’s a complex question. Clearly, I matters. For instance, they may under- think it’s possible to argue that the rise in stand the relationship between the sover- worldview. Islamic terrorism has occurred because eignty of God and human freedom in dif- many Muslims believe that jihad (striv- ferent ways. They may disagree over how the doctrine that God directly created the ing/holy war) forms a core belief within some revealed law of God applies in spe- world ex nihilo. the Islamic worldview. While there are dif- cific situations. We often find that It might help a lot of people to know ferent interpretations of jihad within Christians argue passionately for oppos- that 30 years ago, I woke up one morning Islamic tradition, there is no doubt that a ing viewpoints on complex issues like the and decided I was a theistic evolutionist. significant number of Muslims believe war in Iraq, national defence, the death This is the theory that God used evolu- that it calls for armed struggle against the penalty, capitalism and the welfare state, tion to bring living creatures to what they West. Hence we are facing a clash of civil- to say nothing about the issues that divide are today. I often read evolutionists talk- isations. Christendom into different denomina- ing as though evolution were some kind Recently I have taken a closer look at tions. I have written about how we should of intelligent force guiding the process. the Koran. A friend warned me that most handle our differences in my book Great One day I stopped, looked at all the copies of the Koran available in the West Divides: Ten Issues That Come Between empty holes in the evolutionist scenario, have been heavily edited in ways that elim- Christians. and asked myself what I was doing, what inate most of the references to violence reasons had I ever found to be a theistic against non-Muslims. To see this, it is nec- On what major issues must there be evolutionist. I discovered I had none. It essary to read an unabridged copy of the agreement between people who share was just pure intellectual laziness. I really Koran. When we read more deeply in the the same worldview? didn’t want to study the evidence. It was a Koran, we also find a competing view of Well, I’ve just said that the most impor- lot easier to say “well, this is just the way God. As you know, it is inexcusable to tant part of a person’s worldview consists God did it”. Finally, after years of study, I deny the many differences between Allah of what they believe about God. abandoned my evolutionary views. Given and the God and Father of our Lord and Obviously there’s no room for compro- all the tremendous amount of informa- Saviour Jesus Christ. We are talking about mise in this area. If you want to call your- tion now flowing out of the intelligent radically different views of God and radi- self a Christian, you had better be in line design movement, that was clearly the cally different worldviews. I think the with the historic creeds of the church. smart thing to do. I have tried to sum- term “clash of civilisations” seems a rea- Although theological liberals claim that marise how each new discovery from the sonable description of what is going on at they are Christians, they actually fall out- intelligent design movement reveals the the level of worldviews in the Bible and in side this camp. When they deny the his- emptiness of the pseudo-science of evolu- Islam. toric Christian position on the Trinity, the tionary theory in Life’s Ultimate Obviously I hope the terror stops. I incarnation, the inspiration and authority Questions. pray that people who are moderate of Scripture, miracles, human depravity I want to make one final point on this Muslims and respect the right of other and salvation by grace, they indicate that question. I think one of the more distress- people to disagree with Islam will gain the

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 6 ascendancy over the terrorists. But I’m that will kick-start that innate belief that on the boy’s head, and said, “I love you, also a realist. I’m not sure that’s going to God exists in every human being. My son.” That simple sentence was actually happen. Unfortunately, I cannot yet see account of this material can be found in logically incompatible with Sagan’s world- any genuine attempt among Islamic my book Faith and Reason. Now I’m also view. Since Sagan’s worldview denied the scholars and ideologues to evaluate their a Calvinist, and I recognise that if an argu- existence of God and any transcendent worldview using some of the standard ment works to lead someone from unbe- values, the kind of transcendent love he tests that we apply to the Christian world- lief to faith in Christ, it is because of had in mind when saying goodbye to his view in the West. If they were genuinely God’s election and the work of the Holy son does not exist in Sagan’s cosmos. In a seeking after truth they would do it. Spirit. My arguments are just the tool or materialistic-naturalistic world, things like instrument that the Holy Spirit uses. consciousness, conscience, guilt, duty, Is it possible for Christian apologists obligation and agape love do not exist. to try to connect with people who How do we evaluate a worldview? This is part of what I mean by the test of hold different worldviews? How can What are some of the tests that you internal experience. it be done? apply? Finally, we have the test of practice. Is Oh, yes, it’s certainly possible. I think First, it is very important for us to your worldview something that you can the first thing you have to do is test their realise that worldviews must be tested. If live consistently? Does it work in the lab- sincerity. Are they open to believing in the we don’t test belief-systems, then we’re oratory of life? Or does it fail dismally? Gospel? There are people who say “prove ignoring Scripture which commands us to Several of my books argue that as non- to me that God exists!” In this case, a “test the spirits”. I recommend four tests. Christians seek to live out their world- good first response is to say: “Tell me, The first of these is the test of logic. I’ll be view, they cheat. They sneak in assump- what sort of proof would you accept?” the first to admit that logic by itself is not tions stolen from the Christian world- Their answer to this question will show if a sufficient condition to know the truth, view, such as Carl Sagan’s notion of tran- any of your arguments will work. but it certainly is scendent love. So there are four tests of a Obviously, if you are dealing with an a necessary con- worldview. Whatever a person’s world- insincere person who is not interested in dition. That is, If we don’t test view, it should meet all these tests before listening to any of your arguments, this the mere fact belief-systems, you embrace it. question will flush him out. To offer argu- that several then we’re ments to such a person is a waste of time. beliefs are logi- ignoring When people adopt illogical or It would be better to explain worldview cally consistent poorly-grounded worldviews, how thinking to him and begin a dialogue that does not prove Scripture long does it take before they realise might open some doors in the future. they are true, But which com- that their view of life is defective? However, sometimes you will find that presence of a log- mands us to In the case of many people, it never you are in the presence of a genuine ical contradiction “test the happens. Many people die before they seeker, someone who doesn’t believe in in your belief spirits”. ever realise how inadequate their world- the existence of God but appears to be system is proof view is. And the eternal consequences of genuinely open. Effective Christian wit- that there is an that are not pleasant. Something has to nessing to such a person might mark the error somewhere. A system should be happen in order for people to wake up. In beginning of a long journey. logically consistent. the first chapter of Life’s Ultimate I was greatly influenced a number of Second, there is the test of outer expe- Questions, I relate the true story of a lady years ago by a book, Belief in God, by rience. Our worldviews should fit the who had abandoned the Christian faith of George Mavrodes. George is a Christian world outside of us. We have a right to her parents for a version of radical femi- philosopher who taught at the University expect that worldviews touch base with nism. Years later, she began to test her of Michigan. He advises Christians to our personal experience of the real world. pagan feminist worldview in light of the view their arguments for God’s existence For instance, take a look at the worldview four tests I mentioned a short while ago. as tools. If you have to pound a nail into a of the American cult known as Christian For example, she applied the test of outer piece of wood, you don’t want to use a Science. It asks us to believe that there is experience to her feminist belief that all putty knife. So try to figure out which no death, pain or suffering. People who men are evil. The three men she knew best tool, which kind of argument, would believe this way are clearly at odds with in the world – her father, brother, and hus- work best with a particular person. If you the real world. band were good, not evil. One pillar of try it and it doesn’t work, don’t lose con- The third test is the test of inner expe- her anti-Christian worldview collapsed fidence in it and throw it away. It might rience. Worldviews also need to fit what immediately. Then she turned to the test work for somebody else. Just go to the we know about ourselves. Examples of of logic. Employees at the women’s shel- shelf and find another tool that might do this kind of information include the fol- ter where she worked were cheating in the job. lowing: I am a being who loves, thinks, their use of mathematics and statistics in As a philosopher/theologian I’m a reasons and believes. I have a conscious- order to justify dishonest billings. believer in what’s called Reformed ness of moral right and wrong and a sense Eventually, after her pagan worldview Epistemology. I know it’s a big-sounding of guilt for failing to do what is right. I failed other tests, she know that she had term but essentially what it means is that know that someday I will die but I have to find another worldview. She turned God has implanted in every human being faith I will survive my death. away from her anti-Christian feminism the implicit belief that He exists. Carl Sagan was probably the most and returned to the Christian faith. Therefore my task as an apologist is not to famous naturalist of my generation. As When we consider a worldview issue fill up an empty head and heart with infor- Sagan lay on his death bed, he called his that’s related to salvation and spiritual mation, but to find a trigger, something young son over to his bed, rested his hand matters, it’s got to be the Lord who brings

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 7 WORLDVIEW

about the change in worldviews. He may est ambition? He was dedicated to eradi- conversion. He abandoned his naturalistic use human beings, but in the case of this cating Christianity. Then, suddenly, he worldview for the Christian worldview, dear lady, there appears to have been no met the risen, living Christ and his world- but he wasn’t a Christian at that stage. He human agent involved. She just came to an view changed. For some people there is a also had to have a religious conversion. awareness that her pagan feminist world- long struggle. Others people have a sud- view was intellectually bankrupt. den, dramatic conversion similar to Paul. What is your great concern about I met another lady recently who had In my own case, I was just a fairly typ- parents sending off young people to been deeply involved in the New Age, ical, unbelieving teenager. I wasn’t an Christian colleges? astrology and witchcraft. Then she began atheist. My problem was that I had never This is a major burden of my life. As a to get impressions that the New Age heard the Gospel. I remember one day Christian professor I feel a real sense of worldview was wrong, that she should that I began to get impressions that I responsibility in directing people to edu- abandon it, and that she should go to should be going to church and I told my cational institutions where they will be church. She did and had a marvelous con- mother. I was just 13 or 14 at the time. She trained in rigorous Christian thinking and version. After hearing her testimony, I asked me if I was discipleship. That means that sometimes I asked her: “Did you recognise that it was ill, if I had a fever have to warn people to stay away from the Holy Spirit who was leading you away Christian – just because I some professed Christian colleges. from your New Age beliefs? Could you was going to go Because these colleges are businesses and parents have tell the difference between the evil influ- to church. sometimes think of students more in ences you had been following and the got to stop Because I knew terms of the money they bring with them, leading of the Holy Spirit?” being passive nothing about they often try hard to hide their liberal- Interestingly she said, “I know it’s hard with respect to Christianity, I ism. to explain but I knew which spirit was the their children’s ended up going The sad fact is that many so-called good one and which one was bad. Before education. to a liberal church Christian colleges in America do not I became a Christian I had a spirit-guide. where I suspect deserve our trust because they are con- And the day I went forward and made a that the gospel trolled by administrators and faculty who public commitment to Christ, the guide had not been preached for 50 years. are ignorant of the war that is taking place was in my room and he was mad.” And I Immediately, I sensed something was for people’s minds or who themselves are said: “You might as well know it. I have wrong. in the process of going liberal. Sometimes given my life to Jesus. So I want you to get Then a couple of weeks later I went to there are members of faculty who are out of my life.” And he left. Marcia’s a church that believed and preached the playing around with worldview issues experience is a reminder that God can gospel. For the first time in my life I heard which are contrary to their school’s doc- bring things about without any apparent a preacher explain John 3:7: “You must be trinal statements. Carl Henry, the great human intervention. born again.” I can remember thinking at American theologian who died last year, the time “where has that been all my life?” once said “there ought to be a way to sue Is it hard for people to undergo dra- In my case, the conversion to Christ came some so-called Christian colleges for false matic worldview changes? first; grasping the importance and content advertising”. Not when God is in it. The book of of the Christian worldview took much When I pick up a Christian magazine Acts tells us about one of the toughest longer. C.S. Lewis went also through two and I see college advertisements saying cases, Saul of Tarsus. What was his great- conversions. The first was a worldview “your child is safe with us”, and I know what’s really happening in that school, I get angry about the dishonesty. So I pub- lished a couple of books about how to ST ANDREWS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE choose a college. I have also been involved lecturing pre-college kids in Colorado ENROL NOW FOR 2004, PREP –YEAR 10 through Summit ministry. It’s something Are you looking for a school that will support you in your God given duty as a par- Australians really ought to look into. It’s ent? Our ethos is to support parents by offering a sound, traditional, academic like a two-week boot camp that grounds education within a Christian framework. young people in worldview thinking that At St Andrews Christian College we want to grow God’s kids, God’s way! gets them ready for college. If you are looking for a Christian education for your children, come along and see If a student stays awake and is a

Email: [email protected] Tel: 9808 9911 Fax: 9933 333 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125 St Andrews Christian College, St Andrews Christian College — Melbourne’s best kept secret! Our aim is to pro- vide a traditional, academic education within a Christian framework. believer, I think he or she can go to any Find out about our special Primary/Secondary transition programme in the Middle college or university in America and come School, the new computing laboratory, Accelerated Reading Programme and our out a stronger Christian than when they LEM phonics scheme. went in. They are ready to debate their For further information, application forms or an appointment with the Principal, position. They often know more than Mr. Bob Speck, please telephone (03) 9808 9911. their professors know. Christian parents SPECIAL BENEFITS OF ST ANDREWS have got to stop being passive with Comprehensive curriculum & consistently excellent academic results respect to their children’s education. They Junior and Middle School organization have to recognise that adolescence is the Strong Creative Arts programme time when parents have to get them ready Parental involvement program that ensures a working partnership between staff, stu- for the challenges of college or they risk dents & parents. seeing their children wander away from Before and After School Care the Christian faith. ap Easy access via public transport

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 8 WORLDVIEW A capital idea There is no “Christian” economic system. But one comes closer.

n the 2003/04 Budget the Federal Most nations have economies that are Government said they would spend mixed market/interventionist in nature $75 billion on social security, $31 bil- John with differing degrees of government lion on health, $13.2 on education interventionist policies. Within these Iand $14 billion on defence over the next Arton-Powell political and economic structures fiscal year. In recent times they have also resources are owned by both the private flagged their intention to reform the wel- meet) should best operate and what role and public sectors that will determine fare system, dilute unfair dismissal laws, the government should have in providing what, where and how production occurs, lower the minimum wage and reform a legal framework for market operations and how goods and services are redistrib- Medicare. and manipulation to occur. Economists uted throughout the economy. These decisions reveal the economic also examine whether it is better for pri- In the centrally planned (socialist) problem the government faces – they have vate individuals or the government to order, the government owns all the limited resources and must decide how own, process and redistribute resources resources and makes all economic deci- best to use them to ensure their re-elec- throughout the economy, and this will be sions concerning production and distribu- tion later this year. The question we need driven by their socio-economic-political tion. In a capitalist economy the private to ask is whether the government’s eco- worldview. sector would own resources, and with nomic decisions are guided by a biblical The worldview of economists will minimal government intervention view of economics, or are they motivated therefore determine their calls for the (mainly to protect the consumer) the by self-interest and the desire for staying extension of Marxist/socialist, mixed market would determine what/how and in power? market/interven- where production occurs. From a purely Indeed, what constitutes a Christian tionist or capital- economic perspective the mixed worldview of economics, and where does ist economic Debate market/interventionist and one exist? ideals. The indi- continues to Marxist/socialist systems do not lead to The study of economics involves vidual’s world- rage over an efficient use of resources. Within the assessing the actions and choices of an view will also which eco- interventionist order, capitalists are able to assumed “rational man” in an environ- influence other influence government to stifle competi- ment where man’s wants and needs are issues, such as nomic system tion and ensure products are more expen- infinite, and resources available to meet how he/she best identifies sive to the consumer than they should be. these demands are limited and unequally explains the best with biblical In a Marxist/socialist economy the true distributed. Where most people cannot use of resources, standards. cost of production is never determined get access to everything that they might why poverty and it consequently leads to market failure desire, they are forced to make choices exists and how it and the mismanagement of resources. about what they will consume now and can be eliminated, how we should respond what they will leave for another day. to the call for ecologically sustainable oth Ronald Nash and E. Calvin Generally, the choices we make will be growth, and how to respond to the need BBeisner – Christian Economics: A determined by the utility or satisfaction for greater inter-generational equity in System Whose Time Has Come (1989) – we get from consuming a particular good using our resources. claim that differences of opinion among at a given time. For the Christian, there are differing Christians regarding the Christian eco- opinions and interpretations as to what nomic worldview stems from the fact that n his book Poverty and Wealth: The actually constitutes a “Christian world- the Bible is not really an economic manual IChristian Debate Over Capitalism view of economics” as no such official which can be consulted on every eco- (1987), Ronald Nash argues that the view exists in practice. Debate continues nomic issue. Consequently, argues Nash, choices man makes as an individual are to rage over which existing economic sys- this has led Christian scholars to adopt a reflected by the “subjective scale of val- tem best identifies with biblical standards. “deductive approach” to economic analy- ues” of each individual, and that our daily Some Christians are passionate in their sis (where scholars have tried to balance choices are those we rank most highly at calling for a greater global shift towards economic principles with biblical truth) the time of consumption. The collective the adoption of Marxist/socialist princi- which has often resulted in many adopt- choices made by a society will therefore ples, while others are just as vocal in call- ing an unchristian basis for their eco- determine the total demand for any par- ing for an extension of the true capitalist nomic worldview. ticular good or service which flows on to doctrine to economic policy. Both Beisner and Nash believe that stimulate economic activity within an Globally, there is no true capitalist sys- economic analysis is a division of ethics. economy. tem for us to examine. Rather, we can only They say a Christian economic theory and Naturally, there are many issues facing examine and assess varieties of mixed mar- worldview involves five basic principles economists. For example, they will argue ket/interventionist systems and centrally according to which our economic views how the market (where buyers and sellers planned Marxist/socialist economic orders. should:

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 9 WORLDVIEW

Appeal to Scripture as the supreme of “justice”. The question we need to ask and to give generously (2 Corinthians ethical standard, is: what is justice? 8:7). Can a coercive government’s actions • Not embrace policies that run contrary Nash believes that the redistributive be motivated by “love”? Both Beisner and to biblical standards, agenda of those who call for “social jus- Nash argue that governments cannot act • Be based on biblical teaching concern- tice” within the community has no basis out of Christian love. Both concur that ing the nature of God and the sinful- in Scripture. He argues that the Old love is a fruit of the Spirit, which is per- ness of man, Testament idea of justice is “righteous- sonal and free. Such qualities are not asso- • Adhere to the biblical notion of limited ness” – with the example of Noah being ciated with non-Christian institutions civil government, and provided as a “just” man, one not involved whose ultimate sanction is force. Nash • Respect the history of Christian in “dishonesty, fraud, theft, bribery, and states emphatically that “where force thought in ethics. exploitation of the weak, poor and power- (government action) is present love must One major issue Christian economists less”. He stipulates that the formal princi- leave”. Beisner goes further arguing that face in formulating a Christian economic ple of justice (dating back to Aristotle) “any economic system that attempts to worldview is the state’s (government) role demands that one “treat equals equally, force acts of love, such as charitable living, in the economy. Marxists and socialists and unequals unequally”. violates the true nature of love” and is call for increased government control in a Many Christians who are sympathetic therefore not Christian in its ethos. nation’s economic agenda. True to a Marxist/socialist agenda have a dis- Capitalists call for less government inter- torted view of the concept and believe n the Australian Government’s vention. Nash provides the example of that “justice” involves treating all equally – I2003/04 Budget $75 billion, or 42 per Saul (1 Kings 8) to show what transpires something that cannot be achieved. Nash cent, of its spending has been pledged to when government (or an individual within highlights the contradiction of the “social social security programmes. Christians it) has too much power in controlling justice” protagonists in Western Mixed with socialist sympathies argue that this is resources and enforces a political and eco- Market economies. In their attempt to insufficient. However, it is difficult to jus- nomic agenda on a people. He also cites promote an egalitarian society, liberals tify increased expenditures on welfare by Acts 5:29, 1 Corinthians 6:2 and appealing to the Christian notion of love, Revelation 13:3,4,16,17 in support of the since its application to the state is biblical notion of limited government. He extremely tenuous. Further, excessive Nash states maintains that economic systems should spending on welfare also ensures there is not be manipulated by powerful political emphatically less available to be spent elsewhere (in forces and argues that government should that “where education and health for example) with- legislate to ensure “exchange occurs freely force (govern- out the government going into debt. In with no coercion, no lying, no fraud, no ment action) many instances, the welfare state doesn’t stealing and no violation of contract”. is present love encourage people to help themselves, and Outside these parameters, government’s must leave”. it has led to moral disintegration within role should be limited. society. Consequently an in-depth appli- cation and extension of the welfare state eisner argues that when judging or in both mixed market and centrally Bformulating an economic agenda continually call for more government- planned economies makes no moral or from a Christian perspective it is neces- funded programs (with little accountabil- economic sense. sary to examine the issues from the ethical ity) to be provided for the disadvantaged. In promoting liberty as a Christian perspectives of justice, love, liberty, prop- However, using the socialists’ defini- ideal for an economic system, one does erty and incentives. tion of justice, a question that must be not have to advocate a total freedom that The Bible is clear in its call for justice. answered is, is universal justice being will lead to anarchy and disorder. Beisner Exodus 23:3-12 and James 2:1-10 forbid served within a community when one suggests that any Christian economic partiality. This means that every Christian group continually receives more assis- order should provide liberty for individu- economic order must enshrine the notion tance at the expense of another? als to behave “within the bounds of God’s Christians should not be against govern- law” in their economic decision-making. ment funded programmes; however, it Nash says that socialist and Marxist eco- could be argued that the material princi- nomic systems cannot provide this ideal. ples of justice which determine criteria for He argues that in these systems there is redistribution within an economy should no individual freedom for individuals to Visiting examine more than the assumed “need” make rational economic decisions for factor of man – other factors could themselves. In Marxist regimes the state include the effort, achievement and merit owns the means of production and deter- Melbourne? of the recipients and the presence of mines what, where, how and for whom to Worship with us at South Yarra accountability measures in the program produce. With individuals having limited Presbyterian Church (do the recipients begin to help them- choice in what they can own, produce and 621 Punt Road selves?). A Marxist and socialist approach consume, there is limited liberty. Every Sunday 10 am. & 6.30 pm. will not, and cannot, bring justice into any Nash advocates what he calls “true cap- Minister: Rev Stuart Bonnington economic system. italism”. He argues that a true capitalist Phone: (03) 9867 4637 A Christian economic worldview must system provides a “system of voluntary (Less than 3 kms from CBD) also give expression to the notion of love. relations within which people exchange Christians are instructed to love others freely within a framework of laws that

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 10 prohibit acts of force, fraud, theft, and market” economy where minimal govern- tems that we see in the world, it is appar- violations of contract”. He believes that ment interventionist policies are the ent that there is no definite Christian one. minimal state involvement provides the norm, Nash argues that capitalists will However, based on the criteria of justice, liberty people need to make their own provide incentives in order to convince love, liberty, property ownership and economic decisions within a Christian consumers to purchase their product. incentives, the free-market capitalist economic order. Within this structure, capitalists will also economy is more “consistent with biblical The issue of private property owner- be required to behave with integrity and ethics than a controlled economy” ship is also central to any study of a accountability – lest they lose market (Beisner), or indeed a mixed Christian economic worldview. Many share or are pun- market/interventionist economy. Nash is Christian socialists have stated that the ished for hurting quite clear that he believes capitalism to be concept of private property leads to the others. An economic “the superior economic system…and that development of an unjust society that is There is also system that more have benefited from the capitalist unchristian in nature. They cite Leviticus evidence to show puts nature approach even within mixed 25 (Jubilee Year concept) as evidence of that where incen- above human- market/interventionist nations, than any- the unbiblical practice of private property tives exist for ity – environ- one ever did under Socialism”. ownership. people to work, The reality is that all current economic mentalist Nash counters this claim by pointing they will do so. systems fall short of God’s standard for a out that the Jubilee Year principle never Scripture is clear movements – moral and practically efficient outcome in applied to property within the walls of a that those who is therefore the way in which we use the resources we city, and nor did it apply to capital ven- can should work sub-biblical. have been given for the benefit of all. tures (fishing vessels, restaurants, hotels). (2 Thessalonians Until larger numbers of decision-makers Instead, he argues that the Bible promotes 3:7-13). around the world adopt a Christian the idea of private property ownership, Conversely, in many cases the welfare worldview, little will change in the practi- which we see in Abraham’s purchase of state provides people with little incentive cal outworking of today’s economic sys- land (Genesis 23) – an “exchange which to work and to achieve self-sufficiency. tems. occurred freely with no coercion, no Certainly, when people begin to rely com- lying, no fraud, no stealing and no viola- pletely on the state for continued, unac- John Arton-Powell is director of activities at tion of contract”. There is no question countable support, they will assume there Trinity Grammar School, Sydney where he that in owning property and other factors is no cost for their actions as others are teaches Christian education, economics and of production, there is a responsibility on providing for them. This creates a self- business studies. He worships at Ashfield the capitalist to treat employees fairly and perpetuating culture of dependence. Presbyterian Church, Sydney, where he is justly (James 5:1-6). There is also a need Amongst the present economic sys- an elder. ap for those who profess faith in Christ to regard themselves as stewards who are accountable to God for the resources He has given them (Luke 16). Seeing ourselves as stewards also raises the long-term consequences (for man and the environment) of economic action. Keynesian economic thought and prac- tice, which was at the forefront of many international mixed market government policies for much of the 20th century, encouraged continual government spend- ing to stimulate economic growth. The result has been the accumulation of public and private debt that future generations will inherit and have to pay – “spend up big and let the kids pay for it”. This is hardly a biblical ideal.

urther, in using resources Beisner Fargues that “man was created to rule over the earth, not to be its slave, and an economic system that puts nature above humanity – as do some modern environ- mentalist movements – is therefore sub- biblical”. Finally, any Christian economic system must consider the issue of incentives – of how to get people to respond to the pro- vision of goods or services that are being marketed. Within a true capitalist “free

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 11 WORLDVIEW Train a child There is no “value-neutral” education, so make it Christian.

teve Chalke tells of a woman who might be suggested that provided God is was travelling on the London not being mentioned within school, then Underground. She was intrigued by this represents a position of religious neu- the behaviour of a businessman Conrad trality. But surely one of the most effec- whoS spent the whole journey studying a Nixon tive ways of communicating the idea that map in his diary and comparing the places God is irrelevant is simply to leave Him on the map with the names on the station out! By not talking about God in the platforms. Eventually it became clear that deliver the basic facts, while the family classroom, we constantly reinforce the this man was hopelessly lost and so she and the church can take responsibility for idea that God is of no importance in our moved next to him and offered her assis- the spiritual or moral explanation and world. If I turn up at a party and the host tance. interpretation of such facts. There are does not welcome me, the other guests do It was now obvious why this man was problems with this view of schools. not acknowledge me, and I am simply having such difficulty. Not only did he Firstly, a person’s perception of reality allowed to remain in the corner without have very little grasp of the English lan- will always be shaped by the beliefs that anyone bothering me or showing any guage, but he had never previously been person has about interest in me, I am unlikely to go home outside Germany, his diary was French the world at large, singing the praises of all those people who and the map to which he was referring One of the and so it is not maintained a “neutral” attitude toward was of the Paris Metro! most effective possible for me. This is God’s world, and nothing will ways of com- schools to teach A common view of Christianity is that make much sense if we leave Him out of municating the mere “facts” in it is, at best, a private spiritual matter of no the picture. Without the right worldview, isolation from relevance to what goes on in the real idea that God we will always struggle to understand the values and atti- world. Therefore it has no place in the world and our place in it, let alone negotiate is irrelevant is tudes. These val- classroom. It may be of importance to the correct path as we journey through it. simply to leave ues will form the some people in their search for personal So what are the implications for the Him out. context in which meaning, but it has nothing to say about education of children within the school such facts are politics, economics, social justice or pub- context? It ought to be said at the outset intended to be understood. lic morality. Two things ought to be clear that there is sometimes a tendency to see Therefore, a fundamental question that to us: the Bible is relevant to these and all education within the school as a reli- ought to be asked is whether such values areas of life, and no school can ever in real- giously “neutral” activity and to assume are based upon the premise that human ity be “value-neutral” when it comes to therefore that schools can be left to beings are autonomous or instead these or any other areas of life. accountable to an “outside” authority. If one adopts the former premise, then one ith these things in mind, the impor- will regard that which is right and true as Wtance of establishing a Christian being determined by the individual. This worldview within schools becomes more Prezra would make as much sense as an approach evident. Colossians 2:3 makes it clear that School of Theology to cricket that required batsman and God ought to be central in the process of and bowler to come to an agreement as to the education, since it is in Him that all the PCA Ministries worthiness of an appeal, rather than treasures of wisdom and knowledge are to accept the umpire’s decision. In a perfect be found. Ultimately, it is neither the stu- world, it might be workable. Based on my dent nor the content of school education Are YOU willing to STUDY and SERVE years of watching cricket, I wouldn’t re- that ought to be regarded as central to the in the Presbyterian Church of South commend it. process of teaching and learning, but Australia? rather God Himself. The danger with any Christian worldview appreciates first other approach is in failing to understand Prezra School of Theology offers the A that we are not autonomous but creation properly and making it the object ThL and ThA (ACT) Diplomas FREE. rather accountable to God, and second of our worship rather than the Creator. Consider serving as an Approved that we have a nature that has been so The Scriptures teach that it is God who PCA Worker to start a House Church; drastically affected by sin that we need brought all things into existence and who or shepherd a small existing church; God Himself to reveal to us the correct sustains all things. All things are subject to or assist in a Parish as you study. path to follow, and this He has done Him and find meaning in Him (Jn 1:1-4; through the Bible. Col. 1:16, 17). Therefore, whatever the Contact: Rev Dr Reg Mathews Second, the place that is given to God topic of study, it will not be fully under- 18 Aragon Road, Ingle Farm, 5098 and the Bible within a school conveys a stood unless seen within the context of Tel: (08) 8395 7841 message which is anything but neutral. It this relationship between Creator and cre-

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 12 ation. Psalm 8 expresses this perfectly. stand the design and purpose of the build- common to church schools and some of When the Psalmist contemplated the ing and not just its beauty. Furthermore, I these things take place in state schools. beauty, order and vastness of the universe, went away still amazed at the building, but What is far less common is the perme- he marvelled at God! The purpose and the now curious to find out more about its ation of a Christian worldview through- end point of our learning is God Himself. designer. The problem with education out school curricula, and it is at this level Furthermore, it was within the context of that leaves God out is that while we will that there remains a great deal of work to this relationship that the psalmist prop- perhaps be impressed by human beings be done. erly understood his own nature and pur- and the world in which they live, we are pose and that of the world in which he failing to acknowledge the designer and hy is this work so necessary? If the lived. His purposes for His creation. Wday to day curriculum is taught and This same principle applies to all So how will a Christian worldview be studied as though God does not exist or is spheres of life and learning. It is within the reflected in schools? In many ways: it will not important, then there is the danger context of this relationship between be reflected in the lives of Christian teach- that what is said in chapel will be seen as Creator and creation that we properly ers, who will demonstrate Christian having no relevance to the “real world” understand and appreciate the natural behaviour to the students and perhaps studied in the classroom. It is therefore laws which God has devised for proper have opportunities to speak to students important that in all their curricula, as well order, the moral laws that He has invented about the Gospel. It will be reflected in as other areas of their life, schools affirm for our own good, our responsibilities to times of worship that this is God’s world and it can only be one another as social beings, our obliga- really understood when studied in the tions – as managers and not owners – Faith changes context of that relationship and in the regarding the environment, and the not only our light of His revelation. To do otherwise is beauty and wonder that surrounds us at perspective of to portray faith as some kind of an “add- every point. Every area of learning falls God, but of on”, of use in only a limited and private within the realm of God’s creation and is the whole manner, and to essentially maintain a sec- therefore properly undertaken by appreci- world. It ular classroom, with the Bible and ating His purposes and letting them shape affects our Christian faith being confined to just a the manner in which we live. small corner of school life. Such an Passages such as Colossians 1:16, 17 analysis of the approach treats faith as an important part demonstrate that understanding Christ’s world, as well of life, rather than something that informs relationship to his world is foundational as of ourselves. and transforms every area of life. to a proper understanding of the world. So what does it mean to have a whole- Therefore, a Christian worldview is foun- in chapel services and assemblies and in school curriculum that reflects a Christian dational to every area of living and learn- those lessons specifically devoted to Bible worldview? It does not mean that the class- ing. Such a perspective will enable us to teaching, and in meetings of groups of room becomes a centre for Bible exegesis make sense of the world and to live appro- staff and students for times of prayer and or that the school is transformed into a priately within it: to understand not only Bible study. It will be reflected in the lead- church. Nor does it mean using every the natural but also the moral laws that ership and governance of the school and opportunity to introduce Bible passages God has instituted and to use them as the in school policies and procedures that are into geography lessons or using an English basis for our lives. Furthermore, such a framed in Christian terms and developed novel as some kind of a parable. To do that view will enable us to clarify our under- according to Christian principles. is to diminish both the subject under exam- standing and defend Christian truth in the These characteristics are generally ination and perceptions of the Bible itself. face of a multitude of challenges and divergent views. vividly remember visiting for the first COUNTRY & TERTIARY STUDENTS Itime the Taj Mahal in India. I marvelled at the majesty of this structure – it was vast, ornate and filled with precious gem ACCOMMODATION stones. I went away most impressed. We aim at providing not only first class accommodation but an During a later tour of the city of Agra atmosphere where young people can grow through pastoral care I came once again to the Taj Mahal. But and the opportunity to study God’s word. this time it was different. I was accompa- These units are under direct on-site management. nied by a guide who explained the origins of this building, how it had been designed by one of the Mogul emperors as a tomb APPLICATION FORMS AND FURTHER and tribute to his wife. Such was his love INFORMATION FROM: for her, and his grief at her death, that he named this building “eternal tear drop”. Mrs. J. Baldwin, Honorary Secretary The guide walked me through parts of Presbyterian Council for Students’ Residences the building that I had previously seen but 1 Rosemeadow Drive Cape Cabarita, 2137. not fully appreciated. So it was that, Phone: (02) 8765 1642 within the context of an Emperor and his Managers’ Phone: (02) 9569 7613 I love for his wife, I finally began to under-

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 13 WORLDVIEW

Rather, we need to see, as the psalmist opportunity to analyse the actions of indi- approach allows biblical principles to recognised in Psalm 119:105, that God’s viduals and societies: to examine the influ- inform and interpret all of our studies. word is a light that informs and guides in ences giving rise to such actions and to The Bible does not become the geography every aspect of life, so that within the evaluate these actions in the light of their textbook; rather, students are enabled to school context biblical principles need to consequences as well as biblical standards. make better sense of geography when be applied in enabling students to learn At a deeper level, the events of history they allow biblical principles to permeate about God’s world and their responsibili- ought not to be their study of it. Nor should schools, of ties within it. Faith changes not only our viewed as ran- necessity, shy away from the study of the- perspective of God, but of the whole The Bible does dom or discon- ories or texts that are built upon or por- world. It will affect our observations and not become the nected, but as an tray unbiblical premises or patterns for our analysis of the world, as well as our geography text- outworking of living. Students need to understand not view of ourselves and how we ought to book; rather, the purposes of only a Christian worldview, but also the live. God Himself. In non-Christian views of life that they will students make At a practical level, this will mean that the study of encounter and will need to be able to cri- the study of subjects like mathematics and better sense of English, a stu- tique. science will be undertaken from the per- geography dent is continu- Worldviews make a world of differ- spective that this is God’s world. The when biblical ally faced with ence. The big picture that one has of life world has observable patterns and order, principles the need to and the world is what ultimately directs because God Himself is a God of order, permeate their examine the one’s daily decisions and actions. Within a and creation reflects both His character study of it. mind-set, the school setting, it will determine the man- and His ongoing sustaining of his world worldview, the ner in which we seek to treat people, the (Heb. 1:3). Our use of technology and perspective of rules that apply, what is taught and how it the benefits of scientific discovery must the author under investigation. Here, per- is taught. Any worthwhile education pro- reflect our responsibility and accountabil- haps more than elsewhere, teachers and gram will seek to address at some stage ity as managers of God’s creation. Our students have the opportunity and the questions to do with the emergence of study of both science and geography responsibility to critique such perspec- human societies, problems within human ought to lead to the praise of God as we tives in the light of their own perception societies and the means by which such learn of the beauty, variety and complexity of reality and the Bible’s description of problems might be resolved. within God’s creation, but should also reality. challenge us to see the ecological impacts Rather than ignoring the Bible, or undamentally, we are dealing here of human rebellion against God. endeavouring to draw analogies between Fwith questions of creation, fall and The study of history provides an subject content and biblical ideas, this redemption and it is difficult to see how such questions can be adequately answered without reference to a Christian worldview. In Morocco is the ancient walled city Rejoice! Worship of Fes. It is a labyrinth of thousands of The Hymnbook for today’s The Book of Common Order twisting, narrow alleyways: in some places so narrow you struggle to get out of the church. of the Presbyterian Church of way of the donkeys – laden with produce • contemporary Australia – that regularly come charging along. It’s • Christ-centred the kind of place in which it’s hard to • Book $29.95 believe there’s a modern world some- • suitable for all ages • CD-ROM Version $34.95 where beyond the walls, and you can so • more than 43,000 copies sold easily lose your way completely. But if since 1987... (CD-ROM includes Worship Book you can find your way to the northern in Adobe Acrobat format tower, there’s an amazing view over the Editions available: and all RTF type files old city, and from there you get a whole Organist: $40.00 that allow editing of text new perspective. We desperately need a perspective that Words Only: $16.00 to suit individual needs. Suitable for PC and Mac users.) will enable us to make sense of the world, Melody Line Only: $16.00 negotiate our way through it and discover All prices quoted in this advertisement the God who has made it all and loves us are inclusive of GST. beyond measure. He Himself provides All orders plus postage and handling. this perspective in the Bible. In the realm of education, there could hardly be a more worthwhile pursuit than the development Available From: and application of a Christian worldview that shapes every aspect of our teaching, Miss Mary Beavan, PO Box 190, Portland NSW 2847 learning and living. Phone (02) 6355 5063 Fax (02) 6355 5783 Email: [email protected] Victoria: Presbyterian Resource Centre Conrad Nixon is head chaplain at the Scots 156 Collins St, Melbourne, 3000 College, Sydney. ap Phone (03) 9580 5940 Email: [email protected]

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 14 BIBLE STUDY

he world in which we now live has moved right away from the truth God has revealed to us in His written Word, yet we Tstill feel reasonably secure spiritually because we enjoy the legacy of a society whose rules and mores were founded on Scripture. This is an extremely danger- ous position. I can think of no better From the way of facing up to this danger and addressing it than a study of the first 11 chapters of Genesis, taking a fresh look at what God intended, what the beginning central factors were in how we messed it all up, and how God dealt with our rebellion. A trip back to the Beginning will help us clear our heads and get a better perspective. For instance, there’s the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The word “knowledge” comes from the same root word used in Genesis 4:1 to describe what Adam did to get Eve pregnant! It was about Adam becoming intimately, actively and determinedly involved towards his wife to produce offspring. The tree represented a watershed. By choosing to eat, Adam and Eve announced, in effect, “We want to be in charge here.” Aren’t we doing 20 daily Bible studies on exactly what Adam and Eve did in the garden? Let’s see how God dealt with Genesis 1-11 all this... Bruce Christian

DAY 1 In the beginning God.... DAY 2 Man in God’s image. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 1:1-25 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 1:26-2:3 THE POINT What we think about the first few chapters of THE POINT Just as God wants us to know that the Earth is Genesis affects our whole world view. Do we treat the (often unique in the Universe, so he wants us to know that we are unique unproven) claims of science as fact and try to accommodate the among all created life forms. We are neither an accident of evolu- Genesis account to them, or do we accept God’s declaration to us tion, nor the (so far) most advanced development in the food chain. of what he did and why, and then bow in wonder as we see scientific We were made at the very beginning as the CEOs of Earth, running discovery confirming his infallible Word? God uses precise language it on God’s behalf, not as robots but within his communicated cre- to tell us what otherwise we can only speculate about as atheists ative and ethical framework. We are therefore fundamentally differ- offer various theories about the origin of the universe and life. ent from the animals, in spite of the fact that we have similar bodily THE PARTICULARS functions because we were designed by the same Creator to live in • Light (electromagnetic energy) is the basis of all matter. When the same environment and eat the same food. God created light he brought into being substance from nothing. THE PARTICULARS • The phrase “there was evening and there was morning” seems to • There is no difference between men and women in terms of their define the days of creation as 6 x 24-hours as we know them. created dignity – we are all made in the image of God. • God makes it clear that our planet Earth is unique; we should not • God wants us to see clearly the relevance of the Seventh Day as a expect to find anything like it anywhere else in his created Universe. special holy day of rest, set apart to him (cf Exodus 20:8-11). God sees his Universe as geo-centric (earth-centred). TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • Everything God did was good; ie it served his ultimate purpose. • How does the fact that God sent his only Son to earth to redeem TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY it confirm that the Universe is Earth-centred and Man-centred? • Starting with Genesis 1 as revealed truth, what exciting things has • How does the example of Jesus’ life help us to see more clearly man discovered to confirm it (eg in astronomy, genetics etc)? what God intended us to be and do on earth (see John 5:30, 6:38)?

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 15 BIBLE STUDY

DAY 3 Man in his environment. DAY 6 The blame game. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 2:4-14 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 3:8-13 THE POINT In this second account of Creation God underlines THE POINT What a modern ring there is to these verses. The the truth he has already communicated in Chapter 1 – Man has a guilty pair are well aware of the sin they have committed and they very special place and purpose in the created order, and his home on slip into 2 forms of denial: trying to hide from their planet Earth is a deliberate part of this Plan at the design stage; man Creator/provider/friend whose rule they had broken; and, when is as necessary to the earth as the earth is to man. But how he exe- found, trying to lay the blame on someone else. Is this not exactly cutes his task will be tested via a tree! what is corroding our head-in-the-sand, litigious society today? THE PARTICULARS THE PARTICULARS • The interdependence between Man and the Earth is spelt out in • Perhaps because they had sinned, Adam and Eve were especially detail to emphasise the fact that the Creation was accomplished in a sensitive to God’s presence in the garden, something they would short space of time. Genesis does not acknowledge the concept of a have just taken for granted up to this point. gradual creation process over millions of years. • Their attempt to hide from God was as futile as a child covering • Man as a single living entity (soul) has a spiritual dimension (God his eyes to avoid detection; but it is often what we do when we breathed into him the breath of life) as well as a physical dimension know we have broken God’s laws and fail to confess our sin. (he is made from the dust of the ground). • There is something inherently threatening about nakedness. • The narrative’s specific geographical locating of the Garden of • Their claim on their right to decide for themselves what is right Eden in Mesopotamia (“in the midst of the rivers”) identifies it as and wrong, using their own God-given ability to reason, was very historical literature and not mythology or aetiology. God is reveal- short-lived; they knew at once that this claim was invalid. ing true historical facts about actual time-space events. • He blamed her, and indirectly, God; she blamed the serpent. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • God made everything good for us to enjoy. When did you last take time to smell the roses? – or thank the rose-maker? • Why do we need an urgent, Holy Spirit initiated revival today? DAY 4 Man in his home. DAY 7 The curse.... THE PASSAGE GENESIS 2:15-25 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 3:14-19 THE POINT God has blessed us abundantly with many good THE POINT A curse came upon the whole of God’s Creation as things to enjoy. He wants us to be contented and happy. But, a result of Man’s sin. As T. Dudley-Smith put it (Hymn 383, unlike the animals who are bound by their God-given instincts, we Rejoice!): are able, and in fact required, to make moral choices because we are In Adam’s fall falls every man, with every gift the Father gave; made in the image of God. For this to happen there must be rules. the crown of all Creation’s plan becomes a rebel and a slave. The command not to eat from one particular tree (good in itself like Each of the participants in the act of disobedience received a specific all the others) was to be the grounds of the test. Ironically, the one curse, but the ultimate catastrophe was that the principle of decay God would form to be Man’s “suitable helper” would be the one and death had now become an integral part of an otherwise perfect who would help him to fail the test! The misuse of good things world. Paul called it “the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2); scien- brings pain and distress instead of the happiness intended. tists call it the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. THE PARTICULARS THE PARTICULARS • God ensured that the rules of the garden, and the consequences • The serpent’s curse was universal humiliation and alienation. of disobedience, were clear and unambiguous; to disobey would be • The woman’s curse affected what should have been her greatest an arrogant refusal to recognise God’s legitimate authority. joys: increased pain in childbirth and subservience in marriage. • In naming them, Man was given authority over all the animals. • Adam’s sin was 2-fold: failing to assert headship, and disobeying • The Woman was God’s gift to the Man as a “suitable helper”. She God’s command. The final blame rested on him. His curse affected would be to him what the animals could never be. She came from the whole created order (see Romans 8:20-23). him and would remain part of him in an exclusive union. • The ultimate curse was exclusion from the Garden, from direct TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY fellowship with the Creator, the source of life (cf Romans 5:12). • Why is nakedness a problem for us today? How is this related to TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY our tendency to misuse what God intended for good? • How does Romans 5:12 help us see our shared guilt in Adam? DAY 5 Man fails the test. DAY 8 ...and the cure. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 3:1-7 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 3:20-24 THE POINT The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was so THE POINT Even as God pronounced the curses he was setting called because it was to be a testing device. Was the Man willing to in motion the process for annulling them. Yesterday’s reading con- submit to God’s command without trying to make his own, inde- tained a hint of it in verse 15 – someone coming from the woman pendent moral assessment of its “good”ness? Would he submit to would conquer Satan’s curse, but not without personal suffering; God’s definition of “good” and “evil” or would he assume he could define these himself? This was the real test. He failed the test today we see other indicators of a hopeful future in spite of the because he reasoned for himself that it was OK to do what God had seemingly terminal nature of the effects of Man’s rebellion. Our expressly forbidden him to do. He was now like God: he could God is truly by nature a God of mercy and grace. define “good” and “evil” to suit his own purposes. Sound familiar? THE PARTICULARS THE PARTICULARS • In spite of the warning of death as the assured outcome of disobe- • The serpent spoke on behalf of the one who himself rebelled dience (2:17), Adam was allowed, after the Fall, to give his wife a against God’s rightful authority (Isaiah 14:12-15; KJV “Lucifer”). name identifying her as the mother of all the living! • By twisting God’s words, and playing on the fact of Man being • God took the initiative to cover the shame resulting from sin. made in God’s image, he made what God called “evil” seem good. • The banishment and the angelic guard, rather than the removal of • The 3 features of the forbidden fruit that attracted the Woman to the tree of life, indicate a possible future time when a saviour will it are paralleled in the 3 devices Satan used to tempt Jesus to aban- remove the effects of the curse and provide access again into the don the Father’s assigned path to the Cross (Matt. 4:1-11). garden – by accepting the curse by dying on another “tree”? TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • What are the specific subtleties with which Satan deceived Adam • Does it seem to you that the Plan of Salvation was already in the and Eve? What does this teach us about the dangers of neglecting to mind of God at the time of Creation, ie before the Fall? Is this read God’s written Word regularly and often? what is meant by Matthew 25:34 and Revelation 13:8/17:8?

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DAY 9 Two ways to live. DAY 12 Enough is enough. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 4:1-16 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 6:1-8 THE POINT Cain and Abel introduce us to some basic motifs THE POINT God’s patience has run out. The ripple effect of God will use throughout the whole of Scripture to set before us his Adam’s rebellion in the hearts of his descendants has been operating Plan of Salvation. One is that there are two ways to live: our own for a couple of millennia and everything has gone from bad to way and God’s way. Another is that because of the effects of the worse. We saw in chapter 4 that Cain and Abel modelled two differ- Fall, a person either dies, or God graciously accepts the death of a ent ways to live, and in chapter 5 that Seth and some of his line substitute. This motif becomes like a scarlet thread running adopted the Abel model. The idea of a “faithful remnant” (salt and through the whole of the Bible. It is the basis of the Covenant of light) in a wicked world, and the mandate for this remnant to resist Grace, finding its ratification in the death of Jesus. pollution from the world, become a theme through all of Scripture. Reference here to the “sons of God” marrying “any” of the “daugh- THE PARTICULARS ters of men” is best understood in terms of such pollution by • Eve acknowledged God’s help in the outworking of her role. “mixed-marriages”. God would allow 120 more years of grace to • God must have already made clear in some way the need for a rectify the situation and then remove his life-giving Spirit from the blood-sacrifice to atone for man’s sin (see verses 6-7). Cain’s offer- earth. Because of Man’s place at the head of the created order the ing was his gift to God, an attempt to earn God’s favour. Abel’s animals would have to die too. Enough is enough. Only Noah and offering pointed to God’s grace in accepting a substitute. his immediate family would be the remnant. • Cain’s sin started with jealousy which, unchecked, led to anger THE PARTICULARS and then murder. Cain was aware of the wrongness of his act. • Like longevity, large physical stature was a feature of the human • God’s promise to protect Cain was a clear act of grace and mercy. race at the time of the flood. “Heroes” and “men of renown” could TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY well be euphemisms for “bullies”, men wanting to be God. • Hebrews 12:24 compares Jesus’ blood with the blood of Abel. In TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY what way was Jesus’ death like Abel’s? How was it better? • How are we going in terms of 1 Peter 2:11-12 and James 1:27? DAY 10 Exit Cain, enter Seth. DAY 13 Noah walked with God. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 4:17-26 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 6:9-7:5 THE POINT Critics have always enjoyed asking questions the THE POINT God goes to some pains to make clear that his Bible doesn’t (can’t?) answer. Such questions usually lose their judgement on the earth by means of the Flood was not arbitrary or force when we realise the Bible is only giving us very selective his- vindictive or impulsive. It was a deliberate, purposeful and necessary tory, the things pertinent to God’s Plan of Salvation (eg 5:3). Adam action after a very patient and gracious appraisal of the circum- lived 930 years (5:4), plenty of time to establish a large family tree stances. Noah, along with his covenant family, stood out alone from which Cain could get a wife (the adverse genetic effects of among the people of his generation. God would save him and his marrying a sister were not yet developed, nor were other degenera- family from the coming deluge. It is typical of God’s nature that tive effects of the Fall, hence the longevity). With the coming of the means by which he was to be saved would involve his obedient Lamech, with all his godless ways and boasting (polygamy, the abil- response. It was grace alone that saved him, but “faith without ity to protect himself when it was God who had graciously pledged deeds is dead” (James 2:26). It was by building the ark (a major to protect Cain, etc), God is now finished with Cain’s line. Now construction project in an environment that seemed to show it to his saving purposes will be realised through Seth. be useless!) that Noah demonstrated the reality of his faith. THE PARTICULARS THE PARTICULARS • Cain’s family is marked by a failure to acknowledge God at all. • The “ark” was a carefully dimensioned box designed to carry • Lamech totally ignored God’s blueprint for marriage (2:23-24). large/precious cargo and stay afloat under adverse conditions. The • Lamech boasted self-protection where Cain relied on God’s. word is only used of Noah’s boat and baby Moses’ basket. • Seth being seen as a replacement for Abel (in spite of many other • Noah was careful to obey all God’s detailed instructions. siblings) brings us back to God’s “Covenant of Grace” motif. • Enough animals were taken to ensure the earth’s replenishment. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • Can you see evidence of God’s grace at work in your family? • What statements in this account make clear God’s intention to destroy completely all life on earth except for those on the ark? DAY 11 God’s “Who’s Who”. DAY 14 Noah worked with God. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 5:1-32 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 7:6-24 THE POINT Of most of the 13 men whose names appear in this THE POINT chapter we know nothing except that they are in Noah’s family tree. The 600th year of Noah’s life is a beautiful display of the close interweaving of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsi- And yet, unlike the countless others who lived before the flood and bility. Noah worked hard for many decades to build the ark accord- who have long since been forgotten, their names are inscribed per- ing to God’s revealed plan, and then on exactly the right day, in manently in millions of Bibles being read in thousands of different exactly the right combinations, the gene-bearers of the future popu- languages around the world! In his wildest dreams Mahalalel could lation of the whole earth just turned up and walked onto the strange not have thought we would be reading his name today, nor Enoch structure “as God had commanded Noah” (9, 16)! that he would appear in the honour list of Hebrews 11 as one who “walked with God”! But each is vitally important in God’s eternal THE PARTICULARS Plan because he provides a link between Adam and Noah and there- • The deluge and ground-spring activity lasted only 40 days (12). fore in the life-line to the one who would come to crush the ser- From the beginning of the rain to the time the bottom of the ark pent’s head. touched down on Mt Ararat was 150 days or 5 months (24). It would be 7 more months before they could leave the ark (8:14f). THE PARTICULARS • Every living thing today has an ancestor who was on the ark. • Some interesting deductions from the list: • In spite of theories developed by atheistic scientists, the flood is – Noah’s father, Lamech, was 56 when Adam died and could have the best explanation we have today of the fossil record, geological got a first-hand account of what happened in the garden; formations, the distribution of minerals (especially Arctic oil), etc. – Adam’s son, Seth, only missed seeing Noah by 14 years; Everything around us points to a cataclysmic disruption of the – Methuselah died in the year of the flood, 5 years after Lamech; Earth’s crust in the ‘recent’ past (cf Romans 1:18-20). TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • Are you content to walk humbly with God, even through per- • Much scientific evidence today points to the accuracy of the plexing circumstances, trusting him to get the big picture right? Biblical account of the Flood – but it requires a God who rules!

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DAY 15 Noah worshipped God. DAY 18 Everybody’s family tree. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 8:1-22 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 10:1-32 THE POINT The flood waters peaked some time between the THE POINT Not only are we all descendants of Noah, we all cessation of aggressive water activity (40 days) and the resting of come from one of Shem, Ham or Japheth. The information is too the ark on top of Mt Ararat (150 days). Once the ark came to rest general for most of us to identify which branch we are in although the flood was officially over, but there would be another 74 days of it could make for a fascinating study in the light of place names, receding water before any land would be visible (5), and a further ethnic connections, etc. What the Scriptures are interested in is the 146 days before it would be time to leave the ark to resume normal line of Shem because, as we will see in chapter 11 it is this line that life on earth. God had carried out his purpose; the Judgement, will lead to Abraham, the Jews, and finally Jesus (see Luke 3:23-38 though not the sin (21), was over. It was time to start again, for the whole family tree of Jesus back to Adam.). This is probably although man’s survival would still be on the basis of God’s sover- why Shem is left to last, and Japheth is disposed of first because his eign grace (hence the blood sacrifices) and promises. descendants had little to do historically with the Messianic line. THE PARTICULARS Ham’s descendants had a closer, but also a more hostile, involve- ment with the descendants of Shem. • The flood isn’t properly understood unless seen as worldwide. • The raven was sent out first because it is hardier than the dove, THE PARTICULARS and feeds on carrion – of which there would be ample supply! • This list does not attempt the same numerical precision as the lists • The first thing Noah did after the flood was acknowledge God in in chapters 5 and 11:10ff; it gives a more general picture of how worship by sacrificing the animals God had provided. It was an Noah’s descendants spread out in groups after the flood. expression of faith in God’s grace, not a “work”. • Shem and Eber are the names from which Semitic and Hebrew • Contained in the promise of verse 22 is the implication that cli- come. mate etc became different after the flood (see 2 Peter 3:3-6). • Paul’s comment at Athens (Acts 17:26) is relevant and sobering. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • Do you live each day as a trophy of God’s mercy and grace? • God’s Plan of Salvation involves an ever-narrowing selection process until it gets to Jesus; then it reaches out to all people. DAY 16 God’s covenant bow. DAY 19 The lesson of Babel. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 9:1-17 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 11:1-9 THE POINT God was making a whole new start – new blessings and new life rules, signs that the effects of the curse were being THE POINT In the Garden of Eden, Man wasn’t content with dealt with. All relationships had been inverted in the Fall. Man had just being like God, he wanted to be God. Now, a flood and many lost control of the animals, but now fear instilled in them will help generations later, the problem is still the same. His biggest problem man re-establish his headship. And God was prepared to give his is his arrogance and pride. At Babel he thought he could use his word, confirmed with a very visible sign, that he would not destroy power, skill and technology to build a man-centred, humanistic man and his world that way again. Grace prevails. society and a “world tower” that would be a monument to his greatness. He wouldn’t need God. It all sounds depressingly famil- THE PARTICULARS iar. Today we still live with all the problems caused by language dif- • All life is precious to God, especially Man, made in his image. ferences and their influence on culture, in spite of our leap forward • Animals are now included in the human diet. They are there for in communication technology. But our biggest problem is that the us, but we must still treat their life-blood as important. This will be lesson of Babel has been lost on us! The events of Pentecost (Acts a significant aspect of sacrificial atonement for sin. 2) show that only God can reverse what he did there, so we need to • There is no Hebrew word for rainbow. The word used here is the address first the matter of our alienation from him. ordinary word for an archer’s bow; there is no mention of “rain”. THE PARTICULARS The covenant sign for Noah represented a weapon for bloodshed • We are not told what the one language everyone spoke was. pointing up to God. The uppermost colour is red! • The problem did not lie in using their God-given creativity to • Introduction of the bow is further evidence of major changes in build, but in doing it for their own purposes, advancement and atmospheric conditions and patterns after the flood. Many geologi- glory without reference to God – much like we mostly do today! cal “dating” methods today ignore this fact (cf 2 Peter 3:3-6). • Man still hasn’t learnt what happens when God is excluded. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • What do we learn from the flood about God’s faithfulness? • Are you right with God? How involved is he in your plans? DAY 17 A blot on the new page. DAY 20 Next stop Abraham. THE PASSAGE GENESIS 9:18-28 THE PASSAGE GENESIS 11:10-32 THE POINT When I was at primary school we had nib pens and THE POINT God gave Man a fresh start in his world through inkwells. They were very messy to use. It was always good to Noah – and he gave Noah a covenant promise and sign that he “turn over a new leaf” in our copybooks, but a disaster when it got would never destroy the world with a flood again. But after the “blotted”! New work situations, new relationships, going to a new flood mankind settled into the same pattern of disobedience and church, all give the opportunity for a fresh start – but we soon mess wickedness that he had before and which would continue to domi- that too. That’s how it was with Noah. Again, something God nate his life and world. The next stage in God’s rescue plan, the intended to be a blessing to Man, used wrongly, became a liability Plan he had devised even at Creation (see Ephesians 1:4), would and a cause for sin, with extremely far-reaching consequences. The centre on a particular person, Abraham, a promised land, Canaan, results, however, remained a vital part of God’s sovereign purposes and a promised line of numerous descendants right down to the in election and in history (cf Genesis 50:20). birth of the one who would be the Saviour of the whole world. The THE PARTICULARS point of today’s passage is to link Noah to Abraham through the • Noah’s sin, as with many parallels among the Bible’s heroes of line of Shem, and to introduce us to two major obstacles that could faith, reminds us of the need for vigilance (cf 1 Corinth. 10:12). only be overcome by God’s sovereign grace: Abraham’s father, • Ham’s sin revealed a basic mindset that was to flow on down Terah, settled in Haran instead of going to the promised land; and through his line. The way Hebrews 12:14-17 deals with Esau could Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was unable to have children! equally be applied to Ham, Canaan and their descendants. THE PARTICULARS • The curse on Ham/Canaan cannot justify the black slave trade. • Man’s lifespan after the flood became progressively shorter. • Only the blessing on Shem uses the name LORD, finding its ful- • All human history is in God’s sovereign hands; his Salvation his- filment in God’s Messianic purposes in election (cf Romans 9). tory is recorded in the Bible to demonstrate his faithfulness. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • How does this account again remind us about sovereign grace? • How has Genesis 1-11 helped you in your journey of faith?

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 18 NEWS

Yo o to Sydney Young Nak. dren meeting fortnightly. With a new Across The Presbytery of Northern Rivers building opened in February, 2003 was an Australia ordained and inducted Rev. Steven North exciting year for the charge which is under as assistant minster in the Tweed Heads the leadership of home missionary Don charge on 24 September. Kennedy and his wife Lillian. Honoured doctor Victorian moves 90th birthday

A record congregation attended the The Presbytery of Benalla conducted a Geelong West (Vic) celebrated its 90th Presbyterian Theological College liecensing service for Michael Wishart on anniversary in November. The small con- Melbourne graduation held on 28 19 December at the Tatura Church. Rev. gregation is enjoying a period of steady November at Canterbury congregation. Dr Dallas Clarnette preached. spiritual and numerical growth under the Dr Allan Harman received a honorary Rev. Andrew Matthews from the USA leadership of Dr Allan Harman (interim doctorate from the Australian College of has been appointed to St. Stephen’s, moderator) and home missionary David Theology and the guest preacher was Rev. Flemington (Vic). Mr Matthews began Assender. A special service was held with Alan Demond of Blackburn North his ministry at the congregation (which is a video presentation of the congregation’s Baptist Church . Three Presbyterian can- part of the Scots Church parish) at the history, attended by 160 former and pre- didates graduated – Tony Archer, Andres start of December. sent members. State moderator Rev. Peter Miranda and Michael Wishart, who have Orchard preached. been appointed to Warburton, Caroline Mission Possible Springs (church planting with Melton) GAA dates and Dromana/Mornington respectively. Rev. Stuart Bonnington of South Andrew Bawden of Syndal Baptist Yarra, Vic, was the main speaker at the The 2004 General Assembly of Church also graduated with a view to annual Youth Bible Conference of the Australia will meet in the Chinese proceeding to ministry within the Baptist Grace Presbyterian Church of New Presbyterian Church, corner of Albion Union of Victoria. Zealand, held near Dunedin in early Street and Crown Street, Surry Hills, January. Mr Bonnington spoke on Sydney, from 13 to 16 September. Further Ministerial movements “Mission Possible” from Matthew 9-10. details will be sent to commissioners People came from all over New Zealand. soon. Rev. Richard Vaughan was ordained and commissioned to the Norman Park Youth camp Forster extension charge in October. Rev. Bruce Lowe was inducted into the Coorparoo charge in The Presbyterian Youth of Victoria The Forster-Tuncurry (NSW) charge November. Rev. Roger Marsh was held its 2003/2004 summer camp between has submitted to the local council plans ordained and inducted into the South 27 December and 1 January on Phillip for a building extension to to its current Burnett charge in December. Rev. Island. Rev. Peter Owen of Melton spoke building that will seat 170 people. More Andrew Richardson was ordained and on relationships. space has become a pressing necessity due inducted into the Scots Church, to steady growth in all departments of the Clayfield, charge also in December. Rev. On their way church under the much appreciated min- Russell van Delden moved from Cairns istry of Rev. Peter and Stephanie Flower. to Arundel last month. Rev. Don Paul and Anthea Pearce from the Broadwater has returned to the USA Presbyterian Church of Victoria have A blooming plant after serving at Cairns for a number of completed their studies at Sydney years. Missionary and Bible College with the Cooperative church planting work Rev. Laurie Peake, who recently left assistance of a $5000 Pioneers between the Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Inland Mission, is serv- Scholarship. They report that $3000 has the Christian Reformed churches in ing as home missionary at Wandoan gone toward college fees and the balance Hobart continues to develop. It is based (Qld). In November he did a six-day was used to fund a short-term cross-cul- on The Kingston Protocol which dates patrol in the area west of Taroom and tural visit to a Pioneers field team. They from the time of the original organisation Wandoan. hope to leave for the Middle East soon. of the (Christian) Refomed Churches in Rev. Peter Dunstan of Toukley More details of the scholarship program the early 1950s. When Dutch migrants (NSW) has accepted a call to historic can be obtained from Pioneers first arrived, they intended to join the Annadale-Leichhardt charge in the (03) 9879 2900, [email protected] Presbyterian Church but they were put Presbytery of Sydney. off by theological liberalism and Rev. Wally Johnson was commis- Holiday program Freemasonry they found in the denomi- sioned in December by the Presbytery of nation and reluctantly decided to set up the Murrumbidgee to Balranald in west- In September, Shailer Park-Cornubia their separate Church. However it was ern NSW. (Qld) congregation took part in a very always understood that if the Presbyterian The Ministry and Mission successful KidsGames Holiday program. Church returned to its historical theolog- Committee (NSW) has announced the Nearly 100 children attended and, with ical postion, the (Christian) Reformed following placements of graduating stu- the help of the nearby Logan charge, 60 Church would have little justification for dents: Al and Naomi Burke to leaders assisted. As a result Shailer Park- separate existence. Coonabarabran and Luke and Hae-Ja Cornubia now has a Kids Club of 35 chil- A practical expression of the drawing

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 19 NEWS

together of the two denominations is the in Victoria, work on campus through the Rev. Peter Thorneycroft. Dr Nathan joint work in southern Tasmania. Since student-run Christian Union groups. The Patrick will work part-time in the area of leaving St John’s in Hobart, three years staff workers at La Trobe, Melbourne and pastoral care and Rev. Dr. Benno ago, Rev. David Jones has been supervis- RMIT also have appointed teams of Zuiddam has taken a full-time post to ing the Crossroads church plant. Now trainees to work with them in this gospel share in the preaching and pastoral min- application has been made to the mission. istry and in the development of some Presbytery of Tasmania to appoint a Christian training at both local and state home missionary to Crossroads. In co- Dancing pachyderms levels. operation with Kingston Christian The home mission station of Reformed Church Crossroads has Can the Presbyterian Church adapt to Riverside–Glengarry–Winkleigh is now planted Cornerstone, which is petition- the challenges of 21st century ministry? in the care of Pastor Norman Shellard, ing the Presbytery to be received as a new The Ringwood-Heathmont congrega- who returned there in 2001. Winkleigh congregation of the Presbyterian Church. tion (Vic) is hosting a seminar on this had its 116th anniversary service in Other church plants in progress out of topic entitled “Who says the Elephants November. Crossroads are Hobart Central and can’t dance?” to be led by Rev. Richard i-church. The Christian Reformed Quadrio of Sydney’s Macquarie Chapel. Vale Church of Kingston has replanted a con- The seminar, on 20 March from 9.30am to gregation at Margate and plans a new 4pm, costs $10 including lunch. For more AP has been advised of the death of church in Blackman’s Bay this year. details, contact Rev. Andrew Venn Francis Archibald Adams (1912–2003), (9870 5182, [email protected]). an elder at Condobolin in NSW. New church building A memorial service for Mrs J. Aitken Apprentice ministers was held at Kilsyth, Vic, on 23 November The multi-function church building of 2003. Rev. Peter Swinn led the service. the Gungahlin-North Belconnen In many Tasmania congregations there is Mrs Aitken was the widow of the Rev. (ACT) congregation was opened on 26 significant interest from young people in John Aitken, who was minister of St October. It is the first church building to full-time ministry, and a number are Andrews, Bendigo, for many years. be erected in the Gungahlin area. The already doing ministry apprenticeships address is 107 Wangeneen Avenue, before starting theological studies. Ngunnnawal. The congregation is led by Apart from some 16 months under the Rev. Mark Adams and his wife Kathryn. ministry of Bryan Crawford, the Scottsdale/Bridport Charge had been Around Evangelical appointment vacant for almost seven years, but last year Greg Munro was appointed as supply. He the World Rev. John Wilson of the PTC and his wife Catherine and their two chil- Melbourne has been appointed chairman dren settled into the manse at the begin- Power of prayer of the Australian Fellowship of ning of February. The Presbytery of Evangelical Students area committee for Tasmania has given him a three-year People who pray regularly live longer, Victoria. AFES works in seven of the appointment. are more healthy and more satisfied than eight public universities in Victoria. AFES Two assistants have been appointed to others. More than 1200 studies world- staff workers, of whom there are about 10 the minister at St.Andrew’s, Launceston, wide have shown a correlation between faith and health, according to Michael Utsch, psychologist and officer of the Protestant Centre for the Observation Hills Family Funerals of Cults and Ideologies in Berlin. Offering Christian Care & Concern According to an American study, a 20- year-old regular worshipper can expect to live more than six years longer than some- • Christian Funeral Directors one who never attends church. Those • David is an Ordained Minister who worship only occasionally still live of the Presbyterian Church four years longer on average. • Australian family owned and operated A study in Hamburg defeated the the- ory that religious people are more neu- • Kindness and understanding rotic than the non-religious. Researchers • Bereavement counselling found that people with a living faith are • Serving all Sydney suburbs less prone to loneliness and feel more con- • 24 hour service tent with life. • Pre-Paid and Pre-Arranged Services According to Utsch, some doctors David & Josie Brand have considered prescribing prayer as a therapy. But the idea had been abandoned because true religion should not be mis- used for medicinal purposes. Good health (02) 9838 7711 was only a side effect of a living faith. Email: [email protected] Web: www.hillsfamilyfunerals.com.au Religious Liberty

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 20 NEWS

Buddhists attack Christians trict police officials, and a village chief of Christmas hope each village. Bibles were also confiscated Rioting marked the funeral of the during the arrests. Despite freezing temperatures and dense Venerable Soma Thero, a Sri Lankan Christian Aid fog that halted travel, a ministry in north- Buddhist monk who championed ern India was able to let their light shine Buddhist nationalism, the World Witness in India over Christmas. Evangelical Alliance prayer bulletin The leader of a Christian ministry said reports. Even though the Buddhist leader A ministry in the Telegu-speaking area of it was able to bring the Christmas message died of a heart attack while in Russia, India invited 200 non-believers to its to more than 4000 Hindus and Sikhs Buddhist monks labeled his death the Christmas observance held in a tent in through its school Christmas programs. result of a Christian conspiracy, sparking front of its office. Children of the women The ministry operates several schools, anti-Christian hostility. taking sewing classes taught by the including a school for 1800 children. On Sunday 28 December, two leader’s wife put on skits depicting family About 4000 relatives and friends attended Christian churches in Puvakpitiya (60 problems and how the Lord Jesus brings the program put on by the students over a kilometres east of Colombo) were peace. It was the first time most of the three-night period. attacked as they ended morning worship. audience heard the story of the birth of The ministry also reached out to a There were no immediate reports of casu- Christ and the announcement by the home for 116 children of leprous parents. alties, but property damage was extensive. angels of peace on earth and God’s favor Despite freezing temperatures and Fifteen people have been detained for on people. Then all those who came were dense fog that halted rail and air trans- questioning and arrests are expected. given a simple meal. portation, the team of missionaries also Police security has been stepped up “The Spirit of God moved among the went out caroling three evenings. The around Christian churches, particularly in people,” the mission leader told Christian leaders said they were well received into vulnerable areas. Aid, “and many shed tears when they the mostly non-Christian homes they vis- On Monday, December 29, dozens of heard that Jesus gives them peace and for- ited and thanked God they completed Buddhist monks protested “unethical giveness if they can open their hearts and their rounds safely. conversions” by Christians and demanded let Him come in. When the people were Missions Insider anti-conversion laws be enacted immedi- leaving the tent, we noticed a great peace ately. in their hearts.” Pakistani pastor shot Missions Insider Missionaries conducting similar pro- grams in outlying villages reported similar Gunmen shot and killed a pastor at a rail- Laos Christians flee results. One missionary said because of way station in central Pakistan on January drought people in his area had to buy 5. Mukhtar Masih, pastor of the Church Six women and children arrived in the drinking water brought from the city only of God in Khurrampra, had arrived at the city of Pakse in southern Laos after being once every ten days. Ten litres of water railway station at Khanewal around 3am to threatened in their home village in costs $US1. catch a train to Lahore, when he was shot Attapue province because of their “Poor people cannot afford it,” the twice in the chest by unidentified gunmen. Christian faith. The village chiefs report- missionary said, “so they use any water At last report, there was no indication who edly fined the Christians 150,000 kips from gutters or anywhere they find for the killers were, but the deputy superin- (US$20 – about a month’s wage) for drinking, which causes many health prob- tendent of police in Khanewal, believing in Christ and demanded they lems. Many farmers committed suicide Mohammed Shahzad, told Associated Press renounce their Christian faith. If they did because of dry fields and inability to sup- that it appeared to be an act of terrorism. so, they could still remain in their village. port their families. People are running Money and other valuables were not Those who did not renounce their faith after any god or goddess looking for taken, ruling out robbery. According to could be shot. Two families decided to hope.” The crisis gave the missionaries his son, Mukhtar had previously received leave, having endured the fire of persecu- open doors to share the good news to the threats from Islamic militants attempting tion for many months. “The situation is hungry and thirsty. to close down the church. Mukhtar had six getting very unstable and dangerous,” two daughters and one son. of them said. Their flight followed on the heels of raids on Christians in at least four other places in Attapue province in late December. On December 27 police arrested six believers gathered for worship in Kang village and another Christian in Somsouk village. On December 28 authorities arrested three believers in Donphai village while conducting wor- ship in their homes and another believer in Sanamsai City. Their only “crime” was believing in and worshiping Christ. According to reports, the arrests were conducted by provincial and district reli- gious affairs officials, provincial and dis-

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 21 NEWS

Bomb hurts 15 Chronicles of Narnia – in which the God- shaped hole is filled by a talking lion – A powerful car bomb has blown up out- On the Christianity has always maintained a pres- side a Pakistan Bible Society centre in ence in the secular arts. So what’s new Karachi, wounding 15 people, damaging a Agenda about the phenomenon in the 21st cen- nearby church and destroying parked cars tury? The answer, paradoxically, may be in the first instance of anti-Christian vio- rooted in the shrunken importance of lence in Pakistan’s largest city for more A popular Jesus Christianity and all faiths in the secular than a year. The motive for the attack was culture of our time. not known. By Mark Abley A generation or two ago, North Police said they received an anony- Americans could take it for granted that mous phone call warning that the Bible One figure you don’t expect to find in Christianity was the bedrock faith of soci- Society would be targeted. contemporary pop culture is Jesus Christ. ety. Jews – and to a lesser extent Shortly after officers arrived at the Or at least, you may not have expected to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and other scene a small explosive device was lobbed bump into him there in the past. But, in faith groups – had a place here. But in at them from a passing car. Fifteen min- the past couple of years, Jesus has been schools, courts and legislatures, utes later, a bomb hidden in a nearby showing up all over the place. A few places Christianity was the norm. It was, if you parked car exploded, police said. where he’s been in view: like, our default religion. That has Among the 15 people injured were six • On the big screen, in new films like The changed, partly because of the pressure of police and paramilitary officers and two Gospel of John and Mel Gibson’s contro- widespread immigration from non- workers at the Bible centre. The attackers versial The Passion of Christ. Christian countries and partly because of escaped, police said. • In the best-selling thriller The Da Vinci the increasing lack of belief among native- Karachi has been the site of several ter- Code, where he appears as the secret hus- born Canadians and Americans. rorist attacks in recent years, as well as band of Mary Magdalene and the father of Christianity is, in official terms, just one bouts of sectarian and political violence. their family. religion among several. Shahbaz Bhatti, the head of the All • In a series of books about modern cul- In Europe, the pluralistic, secularising Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said the ture, including The Gospel According to trend has extended even faster and fur- attack had increased the sense of insecu- Tolkien, (more surprisingly) The Gospel ther. Jeanne d’Arc and Therese de Lisieux rity among Christians. According to the Simpsons and (most sur- were not just Catholic saints; they were “We are shocked, grieved and worried,” prisingly of all) The Gospel According to also proud Frenchwomen. Yet in their he said. “These people are hell-bent on Tony Soprano. motherland today, practising Catholics creating anarchy in the country.” • In rock music, where Christian faith are outnumbered by Muslims. Across the Associated Press underlies not just the great songs of the English Channel, the percentage of chil- venerable U2 but also the music of newer dren attending Sunday school has fallen in Tell the world your news groups like P.O.D. (Payable on Death). less than a century to four per cent from Years have sped by since U2 first sang 55 per cent. As for the next head of the If your church has a story to tell, share it about “looking for to fill that God-shaped Anglican church (nominally, at least), with AP readers by sending it to hole” and “looking for the baby Jesus Prince Charles recently declared news editor Stuart Bonnington, under the trash”. “Nobody has a monopoly on the truth.” 621 Punt Rd, South Yarra, Vic 3141, And whether it be gospel music or the He meant it as an overture to Muslims. email: [email protected]. But, remembering Jesus’ words “I am the way, the truth and the life,” some The South Yarra Centre for Contemporary Christian Discipleship Christians took it as an outrage. Quebec, as in so many ways, follows a The SYCCCD is an activity of the South Yarra Presbyterian Church which is European pattern more than an American located at 621 Punt Road South Yarra in the heart of inner urban Melbourne. In one. As late as 1986, almost half of all 2004 four Christian Growth Days are planned with guest speakers of interna- adults in Quebec attended a religious ser- tional standard. The CGD run from 9:30am to 2:00pm, feature a bring and share vice at least once a month. By 1998, the lunch and cost $10 to attended. There is plenty of free, secure parking on site. figure had dropped to just 29 per cent. l And a growing proportion of those wor- Saturday 13 March (OT focus) shippers were not Christians at all. Two Alistair McEwen ‘The Message of Judges – Then and Now’ years ago the Christian Commitment l Saturday 22 May (Missions focus) Research Institute, a national organiza- (Part of the SYPC Missionary Weekend) tion based in Ottawa, published a paper Allan Harman ‘Covenant and Mission’ with the provocative title “Why are fran- l Saturday 3 July (Church History focus) cophone Catholics disinclined to reli- (Part of SYPC 150 Anniversary Celebrations) gious involvement?” (It gave no definitive Peter Barnes ‘Robert McGowen’ answer.) l Saturday 11 September (Ministry equipping focus) Even in the US, Christianity has Murray Capill ‘Using the Bible in Ministry’ taken some hard official knocks. The most recent came, of all places, in the For further information please contact Stuart Bonnington on Bible Belt heartland of Alabama, where 9867 4637/9874 1007 [email protected] in November, a judicial ethics panel

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 22 NEWS

removed the state’s chief justice from devout non-believers. It’s a difficult trick church websites are linked to the same office after he defied an order to move to master, and in the world of rock music data, ensuring that information is both a Ten Commandments monument few except the Irish group U2 have suc- consistent and easily maintained. Access from the Supreme Court. The result is ceeded at it. to church details – location and worship that even in the purpose-driven realm For fear of alienating fans, the Goth service times – are open to the public. For of George W. Bush, committed queen of 2003, Amy Lee of the Arkansas security reasons, access to personnel Christians may feel beleaguered. They band Evanescence, publicly denied that details is restricted. can’t count any longer on enjoying lyrics such as “My God, my tourni- A link to the database can be found on favoured treatment from judges and quet/Return to me, salvation” should be the National Website Home Page so that school principals. counted as Christian. But for all her reti- people wishing to locate a church in their Some blame the “liberal media” and the cence, Lee is no doubt aware that the area can do so without the need to search evil desires of the United Nations. It’s not American market for overtly Christian all over the web. the UN that has been campaigning to music — in hip hop, rock, country, even A new feature of the national website rename Christmas trees as “holiday trees” rap — has been steadily growing. is the PCA Open Forum. This has proven or to replace Jesus with Frosty the to be quite popular and topics of interest Snowman in school concerts. Only last This article is reprinted from the Montreal have been keenly discussed. It is hoped week, a group named the Society for Gazette, Canada. that this forum will become a tool that Secular Humanism demanded the can be used by national and state com- removal of a creche from Calgary city hall. mittees. Private forums can be created so The result of such efforts may well be a Spinning the web committee members can discuss matters heightened determination on the part of of interest in a closed discussion area. Christians to get their message across. A great deal of change took place on the This should be a real cost saver – reducing Many Christians now see themselves as Presbyterian Church of Australia web- expensive phone calls or interstate travel rebels with a cause. sites last year – and much more is planned to committee meetings. Mike would be Christian faith is not a requirement for for the coming year. During 2003 the pleased to hear from any committee or anyone to take pleasure in Peter Jackson’s finance committee of the General church group wishing to make use of this movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings. But if Assembly of Australia appointed Mike service. (like the novels’ author, J.R.R. Tolkien) Wharton as the webmaster of the PCA One of the primary aims of the website you happen to be a committed Christian, Website. is to provide access to useful resources you doubtless find extra meaning in many His responsibilities are to develop and that can be shared for the building up of of the scenes and characters. In The maintain the national website. He is also God’s people. There is a growing list of Return of the King, Theoden, the dying available to help and advise any congrega- resources available (and you can even add king of Rohan, tells his daughter Eowyn, tion that wants to develop a church web- your favourite resource to the list) at “I am going to my father’s, in whose site. Several congregations have already www.pcvic.org.au/resources/index.php mighty company I need not now feel taken advantage of this service. The national journal has a website ashamed.” You don’t have to interpret the As well as maintaining the national site where people from all around the world line as referring to Theoden’s heavenly Mike has carried out work for various can access past articles and order the mag- Father – but Tolkien surely meant to raise national committees that saw a need to azine online. Many national and interna- that idea. Likewise, Gandalf’s white- establish a web presence, including the tional orders have been received in the robed return from his plunge into the Australian Presbyterian World Mission, time that this website has been function- darkness under Mount Moria may bring Australian Presbyterian, and the Public ing. To visit the National Journal website to mind the resurrection of Jesus. Worship and Aids to Devotion commit- go to www.ap.presbyterian.org.au. Tolkien’s faith was starting to become tees. These have been developed or are The Public Worship and Aids to unfashionable in the 1950s, when The undergoing further development. Other Devotion Committee is making material Lord of the Rings was published; and when GAA committees have also been available. The book Worship is already groups like Led Zeppelin alluded to the approached. online and the latest (and as yet unpub- trilogy in their early songs, it wasn’t with On average the Presbyterian Church lished book) “Pray” is currently being any Christian intention. But the books, of Australia websites maintained by the placed online. To view these point your and their inner message, quietly bided webmaster are accessed more than 3000 web browser to their time. Like his friend, C.S. Lewis, times every day. To ensure that informa- www.pwadt.presbyterian.org.au. whose Narnia stories will soon follow The tion on these websites is as up to date as Mike would be pleased to receive any Lord of the Rings to the big screen, Tolkien possible Mike has developed database-dri- suggestions for additions to the web- managed to span the widening gulf ven websites for both the New South site. He can be reached at : between devout Christians and equally Wales and Victorian churches. These state [email protected]. Bethel Funerals ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––The caring Australian alternative A unique Christian Funeral Company supporting the work of missions 24 hour 7 day service Pre-arranged and Pre-paid Funerals Phone: 03 9877 9900 (all hours) / fax: 03 9877 0544 Member of A.F.D.A. PO Box 441 Blackburn 3130 / Suite 4, 60-64 Railway Rd, Blackburn 3130 Email: [email protected] / Website: www.bethelfunerals.com.au SERVICING ALL SUBURBS

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 23 REFLECTION In the wasteland Civilisation might be collapsing, but the Gospel is equal to the challenge.

do not believe it would be very hard note here that there are more kinds of to convince most observers whether idolatry than literally bowing to images of they were conservative, liberal or Douglas Baal, or taking part in orgiastic rituals in moderate, that our society in the the groves of Ashtoreth. If we do not IWest is profoundly diseased. For a correct Kelly realise this, I think we will not be able to diagnosis, one must first be able to know analyse properly the ravaging cancer of the signs of good health, both physical intimate trust, deepest fidelity, tenderest our times and the culture in which we and mental. Then you can more accu- communion. have to minister, raise our own children rately spot what is wrong. It is the same The Authorised Version of Genesis 4:1 and live our own lives. Because we may with counterfeit money — banks train tells us that Adam “knew” his wife and not see actual idol statues, we must never people to spot counterfeit notes by having they had offspring. The Lord Jesus says in imagine that our culture is idol-free. them observe closely and repeatedly true John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that pound notes, euros or dollar bills. they may know you, the only true God, ecades ago Carl Mannheim, a Similarly, in order to diagnose what is and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” DGerman sociologist, stated: wrong, we must first ask the question, Salvation and health are ultimately know- “Civilisation is collapsing before our “What is the proper wholesome relation- ing God. The sanctity of the human mar- eyes.” “If God is dead,” said Dostoyevsky, ship of human beings with Almighty ital relationships “everything is permitted.” I believe that a God?” is a reflection of large part of God’s judgment on our idol- If we wish to summarise the entirety this most pre- atrous culture is to let it take the logical of the written Word of God, surely we Essentially this cious and crucial consequences of the horrendous choices could say that both the Old and New is the disaster form of “know- it has made in abandoning Him, the Testaments are covenants. The two parts of our culture, ing”. framework of His saving gospel, and His of this book are bound together by the that instead of Essentially this holy, secure law. concept of God’s one covenant of grace knowing God, is the disaster of Sections of the church have played a with sinful humanity in sovereign mercy: our people our culture, that large part in this drift away from God. He plans that we should be His, allows know idols. instead of know- C.E.M. Joad saw that the Church of the Fall, puts human beings as part of the ing God, our peo- England was being transformed by the plan, intervenes as the trinitarian God in ple know idols. process of accommodating the views of His redemptive mercy and ultimately We are called to naturalism and materialism. He accused it sends down the new Jerusalem where He minister in a time that is characterised by of becoming a mere purveyor of vague, will be our God and we will be his people. idolatry more than anything else. What is ethical, religious uplift. By His inexplicable grace He chooses to idolatry? It is a vicious, heartless rejection The Old Testament reminds us that be our God and He chooses us to be His of the noble, generous and tender Lover when the prophet and priest are cor- people. to whose infinite mercy and affection the rupted, cultural disaster cannot be far otherwise helpless beloved owes behind. Amos says there is no famine like he essence of the covenant of grace is absolutely everything. That is how God a “famine of hearing the words of the Tthat we know God, as we see in sees idolatry. That is why He reacts Lord” (Amos 8:11). Yet no matter how Jeremiah 31:31-34, taken up in Hebrews against it so powerfully and sent a whole bad our cultural collapse, God can change 8:6-11; He is our God and we are His peo- people into captivity for it. it; His gospel is competent to handle it. ple and as such we know him. When the A crucial principal about the nature of culture is rotting and breaking down, it is idol worship is that persistent spiritual This extract is taken from New Life in the because the people do not known God. idolatry leads to intellectual and physical Wasteland: 2 Corinthians on the Cost and The word “know” must be given its full adultery, then on to other kinds of mental Glory of the Christian Ministry, by Douglas biblical sense of personal relationship, and sexual perversion. It is important to Kelly (CFP,2003). ap

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AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 24 CULTURE WATCH Ringing endorsement The Lord of the Rings is undoubtedly a Christian masterpiece.

hat can explain the fact that and children “is an accident of our domes- millions of Westerners – tic history”. Children, he suggested, are grown-up Westerners – have Albert not best equipped for understanding the flocked to see a movie version tales and their meaning. “Fairy-stories ofW what its own author called a fairy tale? Mohler have in the modern lettered world been The Return of the King remains at the top relegated to the ‘nursery’, as shabby or spot in box office sales, and this third and most imaginative and powerful dramas old-fashioned furniture is relegated to the final entry in The Lord of the Rings trilogy ever brought to the big screen. Tolkien’s play-room, primarily because the adults deserves top billing. faithful readers – most are fanatics by do not want it, and do not mind if it is Behind the movie’s success stands the some definition – will find artistic depar- misused.” enduring popularity of author J. R. R. tures from the books to be grating, but Fairy-stories are too important to be Tolkien and his fantasy world of Middle- will revel in the battle scenes, the beauty relegated to the nursery, Tolkien argued, earth. Those who consider themselves too of Jackson’s vision of Middle-earth, and because this form of story enables adults sophisticated for these fairy tales reveal a the sheer giganticism of the settings. to understand the very real crises of the tragic lack of moral imagination—and Those Tolkien purists who despise the very real world. Christian imagination. movies lack the capacity to allow their J. R. R. Tolkien [1892-1973] was one of reservations to take a nap while their olkien denied that reading fantasy was the 20th century’s greatest scholars of lan- imaginations are taken for a ride. Ta form of escapism at all. To the con- guage and the culture of pre-Christian The Lord of the Rings represents one of trary, the story-teller creates a “secondary England. His invented worlds were drawn the greatest literary achievements of the world” that helps to explain the “primary from knowledge gained during his exten- last century. Tom Shippey, Tolkien’s suc- world” we know as reality. In Tolkien’s sive career teaching at the University of own words: “What really happens is that Leeds and Oxford University. He was one the story-maker proves a successful ‘sub- of the “Inklings”, a famed group of writ- Tolkien was creator’. He makes a secondary world ers and literary figures that included his certain that which your mind can enter. Inside it, what friend C.S. Lewis. the world of he relates is ‘true’: it accords with the laws I read The Lord of the Rings as an ado- myth and fairy of that world. You therefore believe it, lescent because I thought it was the thing stories was while you are, as it were, inside. The to do. I read the books almost out of a moment disbelief arises, the spell is bro- sense of obligation – encouraged by absolutely nec- ken; the magic, or rather art, has failed. teenage Christian friends who claimed essary for an You are out in the primary world again, that the books changed their lives. My life understanding looking at the little abortive secondary remained unchanged by my obligatory of the “real” world from outside.” reading. I was fascinated by Tolkien’s world. Tom Shippey goes so far as to argue imaginative world of Middle-earth, and that literary fantasy has been “the domi- often lost myself in the wonder of the nant literary mode of the 20th century”. work’s intricate plot structures and cessor at Oxford University, names He claims George Orwell, William Tolkien’s incredible power of description. Tolkien “author of the century”, a claim Golding, H. G. Wells, Kurt Vonnegut, and Nevertheless, I was deathly afraid of that does not sit well with the literary Thomas Pynchon as others who wrote in becoming a “Hobbitologist” or Tolkien establishment. During his lifetime, a fantastic style and genre, using such sto- fanatic. I much preferred to read realistic Tolkien’s work was routinely disparaged ries to reveal the darkness that stood at novels, historical biographies, and non- by the academic establishment and the lit- the heart of the century’s moral crises. fiction. Looking back, I am now struck by erary elite. They dismissed the whole cat- “Those authors of the 20th century who what I failed to see. egory of fantasy and fairy tales, consider- have spoken most powerfully to and for ing such works to be of interest only to their contemporaries have for some rea- he release of Peter Jackson’s magnifi- children. Now, as then, ideologues have son found it necessary to use the Tcent The Lord of the Rings trilogy attacked Tolkien’s work as anti-feminist, metaphoric mode of fantasy, to write prompted me to rediscover Tolkien and fascist, and escapist. Tolkien was unde- about worlds and creatures which we his greatest work. These remarkable terred, and remained certain that the know do not exist, whether Tolkien’s movies accomplish what many Tolkien world of myth and fairy stories was ‘Middle-earth,’ Orwell’s ‘Ingsoc,’ the fans were certain could never be done – absolutely necessary for an understanding remote islands of Golding and Wells, or they bring these epic tales to life and, in of the “real” world – a world of which he the Martians and Tralfamadorians who the main, get the story right. was only too aware. burst into peaceful English or American Moviegoers who have never read the In his essay, On Fairy-Stories Tolkien suburbia in Wells and Vonnegut.” Seen in books will find the films to be among the argued that the association of fairy-stories this light, the enduring appeal of Tolkien’s

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 25 works rests on the fact that he presented Christian truth behind and beyond his “a deeply serious response to what will tales. As Ralph Wood of Baylor t Anne help us, there are so many be seen in the end as the major issues of University explains, “Tolkien’s work is Luthers to choose from! One Luther is his century.” all the more deeply Christian for not the enlightener of the benighted Middle The secondary world of Middle- being overtly Christian. He would have Ages, defender of the sovereign con- earth is the setting for Tolkien’s epic of violated the integrity of his art – and scienceS and originator of modern individual- the Ring – a story that carries far more thus the faithfulness of his witness – if ism. Another Luther is the Volk hero whose moral and theological weight than most he had written a 1,200-page novel to linguistic and political achievements were used moviegoers will ever understand. This is illustrate a set of ideas that he could to forge a new image for imperial Germany in an epic story of heroism and deep evil, have expressed apart from the story the late 19th century. Yet another Luther is the of fellowship and betrayal, of love and itself.” first great anti-Catholic, darling of partisan honour and war. The Lord of the Rings is, Taken together with The Protestants; on the flip side is the heretic most essentially, a Christian story. Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings anathematised by the Council of Trent. A fifth includes and illustrates the Christian Luther might be the anti-Semite of the Shirer themes of truth, creation, redemption, myth, lately demythologised but still blotting The Lord of vocation, sin, love, and longing. The the conscience of post-Holocaust Christians. the Rings Christian Gospel is the great Fairy- And then there is the Luther of Lutherans’ includes and story that – different from all others – own table talk, all beer and bowels, profanity illustrates the is true. He coined the word eucatastro- and profundity, known chiefly by his Small phe to refer to the great turning point Catechism and a great many aphorisms taken Christian in a story from despair to hope. Writing out of context. themes of to his son, Christopher, Tolkien Among these aphorisms is the infamous truth, cre- advised that the Resurrection of Christ “Sin boldly,” and this, apparently, was the guid- ation, redemp- “was the greatest ‘eucatastrophe’ possi- ing principle of the screenwriter and director tion, vocation, ble in the greatest Fairy-story – and of the recent film named for its protagonist. sin, love, and produces that essential emotion, One could hardly do otherwise with such a longing. Christian joy, which produces tears colourful and controversial figure. Rather like because it is qualitatively so much like the New Testament scholars who – according sorrow, because it comes from those to Albert Schweitzer’s famous Quest for the J.R.R. Tolkien was a deeply Christian places where Joy and Sorrow are at one, Historical Jesus – find in Christ a reflection of man whose literary vision and fantastic reconciled, as selfishness and altruism their own faces, Hollywood has uncovered a tales were intended to point to eternal are lost in love”. usable Luther for the silver screen. realities. A fervent Roman Catholic, Tolkien took the pagan inheritance Tolkien was influenced by John Henry and pointed it toward the Christian his is not, wholesale, a bad thing. Director Cardinal Newman, in whose oratory vision and reality. The Lord of the Rings TEric Till has gone out of his way to tell the Tolkien and his brother received early is a fundamentally Christian and story of the decadent late medieval church education. Like Newman, Tolkien was inescapably theocentric classic. while causing minimal offence to contempo- deeply suspicious of modernity. The “The Incarnation of God is an infi- rary Catholics. The whole business of indul- modern age brought technological nitely greater thing than anything I gences (selling get-out-of-purgatory-cheap progress, but moral degeneration. would dare to write,” Tolkien once con- tickets) is presented more as an Italian foible In Tolkien and the Great War, John fessed. The Christian Gospel – the true than anything else, political rather than theo- Garth traced the great tragedy of World story of Christ’s incarnation, death, and logical, a regrettable episode in the history of a War I on Tolkien and his generation. resurrection – is God’s story. As Tolkien largely well-meaning church. This is an unsur- That war – a conflict that still scars the understood, “To reject it leads either to prising way to handle what otherwise counts European conscience – took the lives of sadness or to wrath.” as a grave embarrassment all around: to Britain’s young men by the millions. Millions of viewers will enjoy The Lutherans for having to tell it, to Catholics for The war introduced gas attacks, trench Return of the King without ever under- having to remember it. warfare, and murderous stalemate to the standing the great story beyond the After all, the past century has been one of modern world. Tolkien’s short service as story. To see and to understand the unprecedented ecumenical convergence, espe- an officer on the battlefield introduced Gospel of Jesus Christ is to experience cially between the historically hostile Roman him to the horrors of war – and influ- eucatastrophe – life out of death. To Catholic and Lutheran communions. The enced the intense battle scenes of The miss it, on the other hand, is not just most remarkable symbol of this change is the Lord of the Rings. More personally, it tragic – it is nothing less than the cata- Joint Declaration on Justification which was cost Tolkien his friends. “By 1918,” strophe of all catastrophes. signed by the respective churches on Tolkien later wrote, “all but one of my Reformation Day – that is, October 31, the close friends were dead.” Albert Mohler, Jr, president of the anniversary of Luther’s posting of the 95 Southern Baptist Convention’s flagship Theses – just four years ago. he Lord of the Rings is not an alle- seminary, is one of America’s leading If the history of what the Joint Declaration Tgory of the Christian Gospel as conservative evangelical figures. He is a regards as an unfortunate misunderstanding is found, for example, in the Chronicles of frequent guest on radio and television going to be told at all, it can be told tactfully, Narnia written by his friend C.S. Lewis. news shows; hosts Truth on the Line, a can’t it? Hence the decision to conclude the Tolkien acknowledged his “cordial dis- daily radio program; and writes his own movie’s narrative at a rather deceptive moment like” of direct allegory, and instead weblog, from which this is republished. of peace with the presentation of the pointed more indirectly to the ap Augsburg Confession. The following century

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 26 CULTURE WATCH An ecumenical Luther The Reformation as a movie.

of religious wars, resulting in the unravel- name was unworthy to be applied to those ling scepticism of modernity, hangs like a baptised into Christ. (European heirs of his cloud over the credits – unmentioned but Sarah Reformation, for instance in Germany, looming like another thunderstorm in the aptly call themselves Evangelische, of the distance. And this is to say nothing of the Hinlicky Wilson gospel, while the English-speaking have ugly side of Luther that emerged with ill- done the very thing their reformer hated in ness and age, culminating in his horrifying for the sale of indulgences; his growing calling themselves Lutherans.) hostility to the Jews. fame through the printing press and the This ecumenical Luther is a greatly patronage of Frederick the Wise (delight- he story of Luther is in fact unfaithful appealing character, to be sure – and accu- fully portrayed by Sir Peter Ustinov); the Tto Luther if Luther is the object of rately depicted in that appeal. His sincerity election of Leo X as Pope; discipline from glory – however glorious and inspiring his is unwavering, his compassion is deep, his Rome resulting in the Diet of Worms, cul- story may be. For Luther, it was always and humility quite unlike that of Protestant tri- minating in the famous, and fittingly only sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus. umphalism, and much the better for it. But modest declaration of “Here I stand”; the His conscience was captive to the Word of screenwriter Camille Thomasson seems capture in the forest and hiding at the God, and on that he stood. His doctrine of not to have trusted Luther for being who Wartburg Castle; Carlstadt’s iconoclastic justification meant a blessed abandonment he was, and so introduced a few characters misunderstanding of Luther’s teaching of sin, death, and the Devil in a joyful who make a point rather than re-create his- exchange with Jesus Christ, whose life, tory; that is where the film goes most awry. love, and forgiveness became the sinner’s In particular the extra-historical episodes of This roller- own. His theology of the Cross was a death a poor mother with her crippled daughter coaster view of to all the glories of this world, rising to a and a suicide victim try a little too hard the man and new life in which a Christian becomes a (and a little too sentimentally) to illustrate his time gives a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none, the pastoral concerns that only over time and a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject blossomed into outright theological criti- sense of the to all. cisms of his church. sweeping tide And remarkably, for all its flaws and Overwhelmingly, though, Joseph of events. foolish dazzle, Luther the movie bears the Fiennes as Luther far exceeds the limita- same witness as its hero. That is only fit- tions of the script, brilliantly moving from ting. If God is at work while we drink beer, battles with the Devil to keen classroom and the outbreak of the peasant rebellion; as Luther said, then certainly he can also be wit to humble protests before the emperor. and the beginning of the end of a united at work while we watch (and make) (The Fiennes version, we may hope, will Western Christendom. movies. finally lay to rest the anemic Luther of the (For new Luther enthusiasts and for old 1953 black-and-white film which has been ones who can never get enough – not to Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, recently married, is a inflicted on countless confirmation stu- mention all those left bewildered by the doctoral student in systematic theology at dents over the past half century.) parade of historical personages – James A. Princeton Theological Seminary. She owns Nestingen’s short biography Martin red socks that say “Hier stehe ich. Ich kann f only we had a bit more of Luther the Luther: A Life, complete with movie stills, is nicht anders.” This article is reprinted from Ihusband; Katharina von Bora’s role is so a lovely treatment of the reformer.) Books and Culture magazine. ap limited that the strong and saucy Katie of It almost would have made more sense Lutheran memory is little more than a for- as a miniseries than a single film: there is ward nun with no subtlety of character. too much here to cram into two hours. But there could hardly be more room But alongside this vice is also found the Songs of for Katie, given the ambitious scope of movie’s virtue (a proposition which Deliverance this project. The movie begins in 1505 Luther himself, who coined the theologi- The new CD by gifted Australian with Luther’s thunderstorm vow to cal expression “simultaneously sinner and singer-songwriter Jason Coghill become a monk and ends two and a half saint”, would surely have approved): this formerly of Sons of Korah decades later in 1530 with the Augsburg roller-coaster view of the man and his time Confession at the emperor’s behest. In gives a sense of the sweeping tide of events Featuring new settings of 10 psalms includ- ing Ps 8, 34, 51 and 102 between we have Luther’s struggles with and the enormous cast of characters that God, the Devil, and himself in the precise book accounts simply cannot $29:95 including postage, monastery, and his fearful first celebration match. [email protected], 0421 163 624, of the mass; his trip to Rome and teaching Yet Luther’s own self-image, we’d best 7 Davey St, East Geelong 3219 post at Wittenberg; his challenge of not forget, was of a maggot, a beggar, a Jason is available for ministry in churches Tetzel’s hellfire-and-damnation preaching snow-covered heap of dung, one whose singing and sharing from the psalms.

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 27 CHRISTIAN LIFE Stolen moments Have you fallen victim to these four time stealers?

was restless—again. Try as I might, I work, school, or ministry. Phone calls and just couldn't settle down and focus e-mail were banned. Today, the Lays’ on a recent writing project. So I monthly family day is a treasured tradi- decided to take my customary televi- Suzanne tion. “We might visit antique shops or just sionI break and plopped down in front of Eller enjoy nature,” she says. “Our goal is sim- the tube to watch Judge Judy and munch ply to have fun and relax.” on kettle corn. Kathryn now can look through stacks Half an hour later, with Judy still keep- young children, she identified with my of photos from her monthly family days ing me company, the discontentment I'd dilemma. She called it “hummingbird and see the value of the time devoted to been trying to avoid lingered. It was then head” syndrome, flitting from one activity her loved ones. For Kathryn, learning to that God interrupted my vision of Judy to the next but accomplishing little. say no meant reclaiming precious family hammering a hapless defendant and whis- “It’s a lack of focus and it’s a huge time time. pered his own verdict: You’re restless killer,” she said. because you aren’t making good use of After our discussion, I decided to 2. You’ve got mail! your time. tackle this problem head on. I needed to Technology, touted to make our lives I decided to take an honest look at my identify my time stealers, those things simpler, is a chief time stealer among life and my schedule. Having three kids in that blurred my focus and robbed me of many women. E-mail from friends, edi- college at the same time meant there was a the time I had each day to fulfill God’s tors, publishers, as well as industry ream of financial-aid paperwork to com- newsletters and forwards used to con- plete each year. I travel frequently to sume me. It wasn’t unusual for me to speak to teenagers and women. I teach a receive more than 100 e-mails a day, espe- discipleship class for teens every Sunday Technology, cially after a conference or ministry morning and volunteer as a youth staff touted to engagement. Any time I heard that magic member on Wednesday nights. make our lives tone from my computer, I stopped to read Through prayer, God helped me see simpler, is a and answer incoming e-mails. that all these activities weren’t the prob- chief time Similarly, my friend Brandy Brow lem. My problem was the time stealers — stealer among started two online support groups as a such as the lure of the tube — that had many women. ministry and they quickly consumed crept into my days. chunks of her time. She found herself When I looked closer at the flow of a stopping to respond to “just one more e- typical day, I realised I operated at a spas- mail,” and before she knew it, other things tic level — writing for 30 minutes, playing purpose for my life. All the days I’d said, were pushed to the side. computer games for 30 minutes, starting a “I have no time,” I was actually squander- Brandy decided to combat this time load of laundry, watching a half hour of ing precious moments. stealer by reserving a specific time each television, then writing for another half As I talked with other friends, I day to read and respond to e-mail. “Since hour. realised this was a common challenge. I’ve instituted this self-ban, my priorities When I talked with my friend Jane Though our schedules and family situa- have straightened out tremendously,” she Jarrell, a work-at-home mother of two tions vary greatly and we’re in different says. seasons of life, we all struggle with the issue of time. As we chatted, we identified 3. Must-see TV? O Worship the King! four culprits that regularly rob us of the Louise DuMont admits that at one valuable moments of our day—as well as time she felt as though she was stuck in some strategies for stopping these pesky front of the television every evening. St John’s time stealers. After crunching numbers all day at work, Forest Street when she walked through the door at Bendigo 1. Stressed by “yes” 5:30pm “I was bushed,” she says. invites you to One friend, working mom Kathryn Louise would throw a load of laundry worship when Lay, confesses that over-commitment in the washer, start dinner, then crash. “All visiting Victoria used to rob her of valuable family time. “I I wanted to do was vegetate,” she admits. used to say ‘yes’ to too many things,” she “Once I plopped down in front of the The Lord’s Day says, “and then I decided to do something television set, I didn’t want to budge.” But 10:30 am about it.” beneath her couch-potato tendencies, she Kathryn set aside one day each month longed to spend her free time with family Minister: Rev Andrew M Clarke as a family day, then planned an all-day or or participate in activities that were (03) 5443 6189 overnight trip that had nothing to do with healthier for her.

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 28 Louise’s solution? To tape her favorite my Bible and talking with God. I took Emmons spoke truth when he said, “A shows. “I watch them on Saturday morn- long walks with my husband in the habit is either the best of servants or the ing,” she explains. “My children are older evening or worked outside with our worst of masters.” Today, I see the fruit of and sleep in, so I get up early, take a walk, horses. Because my writing and tasks for my still-evolving disciplined life. then snuggle in with a café latte and watch the day were complete, I could enjoy Eliminating time stealers has allowed me my shows.” This eliminates Louise’s habit these things with a clear focus and with- to concentrate on the things that really of parking in front of the tube each out guilt. Several of these “luxuries” I’d matter. evening. Also, knowing she’ll have down- often neglected in the past because I had time later in the week motivates Louise to “too much to do” and “not enough time”. T. Suzanne Eller, an inspirational speaker spend her evening hours with her family When the fast was over, I came to the and the author of Real Teens, Real Stories, or doing activities she loves. conclusion that God had more for me – Real Life (RiverOak), lives in Oklahoma not a legalistic list of tasks to perform, with her husband and three children. She 4. Games women play but a new way of thinking. I began to see can be reached at [email protected] or I feel silly admitting that playing com- the hours of my day as opportunities, [email protected]. This article is puter games was my biggest time stealer. I each moment as a possibility. It’s evident reprinted from Christian Woman maga- loved to play Spades, and when my kids that 19th-century pastor Nathaniel zine. ap left for college I lost my best partners so I started playing online. It began as a diver- sion, but soon turned into a habit that regularly stole at least an hour of my valu- Presbyterian Theological Centre able time each day. Not only did these games keep me from going to bed at a decent hour, they also lured me to remain “REACHING THE BUSH” in front of a blinking, impersonal com- puter while I neglected my live, much- Rural Ministry Conference loved husband. I decided I needed to quit these games March 15-16, 2004 altogether. Despite the fact I’d convinced myself otherwise, computer games had To be held at become addictive. I realised that the first 77 Shaftesbury, Burwood. day! The computer seduced me like a siren, calling me to play just one game. For those involved in ministry But as I remained firm in my resolve, at in the Country. the end of the first week I realised I’d reclaimed seven hours simply by eliminat- Guest speaker: Philip Hughes ing one silly computer game! For more details contact the PTC (02) 9744 1977 I quickly learned you don’t realize how [email protected] entrenched a habit has become until you try to cut it out of your life. While many www.presbyterian.org.au/ptcsyd of my friends simply eliminated time stealers, I wrestled with them. One day in utter frustration I knelt and asked God to help me reclaim the hours in my day. I decided to fast. Instead of giving up food, I eliminated my time stealers for 30 days. I checked my e-mail only twice a Presbyterian Theological Centre – Sydney day. Computer games were gone. I set limits on the number of programs I A watched and refused to turn the television Graduation Ceremony on at all during the day. This forced me to and choose a couple of favorite shows, which I watched in the evening with my hus- Commencement Service band. During the day I popped in a CD Tuesday 16th March 2004 and filled my home with my favorite wor- at 7.30pm ship music. As the fast concluded, I looked at what To be held at I’d gained. My life hadn’t changed, just St James Presbyterian Church the management of my time. I still had the same 24 hours available to me each Belmore Street, Burwood day. I still was busy. I still had deadlines. A But I’d uncovered pockets of precious The Occasional Address will be given by moments that I chose to fill carefully. I spent a portion of my morning reading Rev Michael Raiter

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 29 PRAYER

parish (Qld Gold Coast); with about Rockingham W.A. parish station; and 80 c&a, 12 yf and 1 e. South West country ministries includ- ing Augusta and at Braemar homes, MARCH Fremantle. FEBRUARY 2004 1 North Adelaide parish with about 60 12 Balmain parish inner Sydney; with c&a, 8 yf and 7 e. Graham and Beth about 70 c&a and 6 e. Ivan and Joan 21 Presbytery of North Queensland; 8 Lyman. Ransom. parishes and 3 home mission stations 2 Presbytery of Sydney South; 15 13 Presbytery of Maroondah, southern totaling 16 congregations with 1050 parishes and 1 home mission station Melbourne; 8 parishes and 1 home c&a (communicants and adherents); 3 totaling 18 congregations with 1200 mission station totaling 8 congrega- defence force chaplains, 1 retired min- c&a; 3 church department leaders, 7 tions with 600 communicants and ister, 1 under jurisdiction, the retired ministers, 3 under jurisdiction, adherents; 6 retired ministers, 3 under Moderator and the new clerk. 4 theological candidates; Russell Stark jurisdiction; Doug Fraser clerk. 22 Southern Cross parish, East Lismore clerk. 14 Andrew and Belinda Satchell in his exit far north NSW (near Southern Cross 3 Norm and Tricia Iliss from Gladstone, appointment at Manilla with about 90 university); with about 185 c&a, 90 yf Qld serving until June with RSTI (Red c&a, 50 yf and 3 e; part of the (younger folk – Sunday School and Sea Team International) in the Middle Tamworth-Manilla parish, where he youth) and 3 e (elders). Steve and East teaching computing and English. serves with current NSW Moderator Rosalind Cree. 4 Interim Moderator, preachers and the Stuart Andrews. 23 Clayton parish, Melbourne; with about filling of the vacancy in Gosford parish 15 Cliff & Sue Letcher APWM / 135 c&a, 100 yf and 12 e. Michael and north of Sydney; with about 260 c&a, Australian Indigenous Ministries Kerry Jensen. 20 yf and 15 e. workers giving leadership at the AIM 24 Barbara Brown APWM / Navigators 5 Gregory and Rosemary Braid APWM headquarters, Winmallee NSW with worker from Croydon Hills, serving / Wycliffe workers from Ulverstone, the Leggotts of the Presbyterian among students and business people in Tas. serving in South Asia in a ministry Church of Eastern Australia (“free Melbourne. support role. church”). 25 Ministerial students who have com- 6 Walter and Christine Jones previously 16 A vision in our church courts and con- pleted their studies and are taking up of Townsville as they begin ministering gregations for church extension and their first “exit” appointments includ- in Miles parish on the Qld Darling church planting in all parts of ing on Qld Darling Downs Roger Downs including Condamine and Australia, particularly in your own Marsh in the South Burnett parish Dulacca; with about 105 c&a, 50 yf region. (Kingaroy, Goomeri and Wondai ) and 12 e. 17 Wangaratta Regional parish Vic. with about 70 c&a, 20 yf and 2 e. 7 David and Lalit Clarke APWM / CMS including Myrtleford and Yarrawonga; 26 The principal, staff, council and stu- workers from Mt Evelyn, Melbourne with about 115 c&a, 25 yf and 5 e. dents at Fairholme College, serving in Cambodia as church Neil and Barbara Harvey. Toowoomba. planters. 18 Interim Moderator, preachers and the 27 Tony and Shona Archer in his exit 8 All the staff who work in the church filling of the vacancy in Taree and appointment in Upper Yarra parish, offices at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Lower Manning parish NSW north Warburton, Vic.; with about 60 c&a, 8 Chalmers St., Sydney and Collins St coast; with about 175 c&a, 15 yf and yf. Tony previously served there as Melbourne. 15 e. home missionary. 9 APWM / MAF workers Graham and 19 The work of the Bible society in Chile 28 Michael and Jennifer Wishart in his Caroline Sharp from Kogarah, Sydney including its internet presence and the exit appointment in Dromana – serving in aircraft maintenance at Alice effort to reach the people of Easter Mornington parish southern Springs. Island with God’s written Word. Melbourne; with about 60 c&a, 25 yf 10 Craig and Sonja Bland in his exit 20 Wentworthville parish western Sydney and 6 e. appointment at Parkes-Forbes-Peak including Girraween; with about 140 29 Russell and Laurel van Delden in the Hill parish western NSW. c&a, 75 yf and 6 e. David and early days of their work in Arundel 11 Paul Bloomfield as he serves in the Margaret Griffin. Subscription form

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put things in their true perspective: “The Keith Murdoch: ultimate mystery is not suffering man, but Founder of a Media Empire Books suffering God!” R.M. Younger With a sure touch and a pithy style, Harper Collins, 2003. Peter is a most helpful guide to this most Reviewed by Stuart Bonnington important book. His scholarship is pre- Job sent, but worn lightly. Not many Bible Peter Bloomfield guides provide good models for preach- Keith Murdoch was a contemporary of Darlington: Evangelical Press, 2003. ing, but this one does. To all Bible teach- John Flynn. Their lives make for an inter- Reviewed by Peter Barnes ers out there: read, learn, and imitate. esting contrast as presbyterianism led them to contribute to the development of Peter Barnes is AP books editor modern Australia in a way that was clearly Peter Bloomfield is the pastor of Bald (in the case of Flynn) and much more Hills Presbyterian church in north implicitly (with Murdoch) based on Brisbane, and has previously published a Outback Heroes Christianity. work on Esther in this same series, known 75 Years of the Royal Flying The life of KM (as Younger refers to as The Guide, put out by Evangelical Keith Murdoch) followed, sadly a familar Press. As Peter points out, Job is a book Doctor Service spiritual pathway for people of his gener- that has little in common with the pros- Kay Batstone ation, as Christianity came under the pres- perity gospel or with the inane ditty: A lit- Lothian Books, 2003. sure of rising doctrinal liberalism. “Faith” tle talk with Jesus makes it right, all right. Reviewed by Stuart Bonnington faded from being based on clearly held Peter sees Job as a real person, who beliefs, to being a matter of a “benevo- lived in the days of the patriarchs (i.e. lent” lifestyle. before the law of Moses). Not being The appearance of Outback Heroes, KM’s daughter Anne remembers weighed down by the unscientific specula- another book dealing with the life, min- (p.177) “We occasionally visited the tions of the evolutionary hypothesis, istry and influence of Rev. Dr John Flynn, Toorak Presbyterian Church ... but my Peter, in his treatment of the questions is gratifying. While it is acknowledged as father was not a regular church goer, even thrown up by God in Job 38-41, maintains being dependent on earlier famous books though he remained true to the religious that behemoth and leviathan refer to by W. Scott McPheat (1963) and Michael principles of his upbringing.” He was the dinosaurs. Indeed, the idea that behemoth Page (1977), nevertheless Outback Heroes eldest son of Rev. Patrick Murdoch, the refers to a hippopotamus is ludicrous – a gives the reader a very helpful overview of distinguished minister (1887-1928) of hippo does not have a tail ‘like a cedar’. Flynn, the Inland Mission and the RFDS. Trinity Church in Camberwell, where the With less credibility, but with great It does by presenting the story “...in five congregation included notable people chivalry, Peter does what he can to defend sections, each from the perspective of the such as Andrew Fisher and Robert the spiritual integrity of Job’s wife. main protagonists – Flynn himself, Alf Menzies. Peter sees the Elihu speeches in Job 32- Traegar who developed the famous pedal A stutter kept KM from the presbyter- 37 as the key to understanding Job, for radio, the aviators, the nurses and the doc- ian ministry and he turned to journalism “the cross of Jesus is the ultimate out- tors. And throughout we hear the voices under the influence of his Uncle, Walter working of the message of Job”. Elihu – a of the Inlanders, who embraced the Murdoch. Younger’s biography gives a mysterious figure to many commentators Service and who, 75 years later, continue good case study of the “reduction” of the – is, in Peter’s view, a pointer to Christ, to support it with the same passion”. Christian faith to the pursuit of excellence who is the key to all of the Scriptures. While at times there appears to be a punctuated by good deeds, in what Elihu’s speeches are profound, and Job lack of detail/precision/accuracy, Outback became the first post-liberal generation. does not reply to them, nor does God cor- Heroes will be widely read and valued. Keith Murdoch is a well written, excellent rect them. The book of Job raises and addition to general Australian history and answers – insofar as we are given answers Stuart Bonnington is minister of South inadvertantly to Presbyterian history as – the biblical questions concerning the Yarra Presbyterian Church, Vic. well. mediator, resurrection and revelation. To

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AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 31 ESSAY Postmodern crack-up From soccer moms to college campuses, postmodernism is in trouble.

s postmodernism – the philosophy you can do is try to impose your prefer- that claims there is no transcendent ences on others before they impose theirs truth – on life support? It may be Charles on you. premature to sign the death certifi- But then came September 11, the day Icate, but there are signs postmodernism is Colson terrorists imposed their preferences, mur- losing strength. dering 3000 innocent Americans. If one’s I spoke at my alma mater, Brown 1993 to 39 per cent today. Clearly, this worldview is true, it has to conform to University, in June, arguing that without generation, witnessing the dreadful legacy reality – to our real-life experiences. Post- acknowledging moral truth, it’s impossi- of abortion, isn’t buying pro-choice 9/11, few Americans could continue ble for colleges to teach ethics. I’ve been claims. believing that there’s no such thing as saying this since the late 1980s, all over In recent years, Americans have moral truth, no such thing as good and America, and I’ve yet to be successfully become increasingly tolerant of homosex- evil. contradicted. Whenever someone claims ual rights. But since the Supreme Court’s These encouraging signs – that his alma mater teaches ethics, I ask him to Lawrence decision (2003), which many Americans are recognising the flimsiness send me the curriculum, which invariably believe paves the way for gay marriage, of postmodernism’s presuppositions – turns out to be pure pragmatism, utilitari- support for gay causes dropped sharply. afford a great opportunity. I believe peo- anism, or social issues like diversity and Why? Because ple today can be attracted to a belief sys- the environment – good things, but not while it was fash- tem that is rational and defensible. The ethics. ionable to con- question is, who or what will fill the vac- At Brown – one of the most liberal Soccer moms sider ourselves uum if postmodernism collapses? campuses in the country – I was shocked are now called tolerant, Christianity offers a belief system that when the professor who introduced me security moms Lawrence jolted is, as Paul tells Festus, “true and reason- acknowledged that he could no longer because these us back to reality able”. I can’t think of a more critical time teach ethics, adding: “Chuck Colson will days they – back to an for pastors, scholars, and laypeople to be explain why.” worry primar- understanding of grounded in a biblical worldview and to In Red Wing, Minnesota – a town ily about their how destructive it defend it clearly to those hungering for Democrat Al Gore carried in 2000 – the kids’ safety. would be if we truth. majority of high school students consider overturned the But are we prepared for such a chal- themselves pro-life. As one sophomore definition of mar- lenge? George Barna recently completed put it, “I think it would be better to over- riage as a union a tour of American churches and came turn Roe v. Wade.” between one man and one woman. back with a dismaying report that most According to the New York Times, kids Soccer moms – a constituency that church and lay leaders – 90 per cent, aren’t inheriting these attitudes from their worried about abortion rights, good according to one survey – have no under- pro-choice (and horrified) parents. But schools, and civil liberties – are now called standing of worldview. How are we going they are reflecting national trends. security moms because these days they to contend with competing philosophies Among the young, support for legalised worry primarily about their kids’ safety. if we’re not even rooted in our own truth abortion dropped from 48 per cent in Time magazine recently quoted one system? mother who said she normally chooses political candidates who strongly support ronically, just as there seem to be welfare and abortion. But since September Iencouraging signs in the culture, there 11, she said, “All I want in a President is a are also signs that the church is dumbing person who is strong.” down, moving from a Word-driven mes- September 11, theologian Michael sage to an image and emotion-driven mes- Novak says, was the beginning of the end sage (note how many Christian radio sta- for postmodern preeminence. People are tions have recently converted from talk beginning to realize postmodern presup- and preaching to all-music). positions simply don’t work. It would be the supreme irony – and a And what are those presuppositions? terrible tragedy – if we found ourselves Postmodernists claim we can have no slipping into postmodernity just when the “grand meta-narrative” that makes sense broader culture has figured out it’s a dead of reality. Since there’s no such thing as end. truth, all principles are merely personal preferences. As professor Ed Veith This article is reprinted from Christianity explains, the postmodernist claims that all Today, December 2003. ap

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN • 32