2010 October Journal

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Summary of the articles and information in the Journal.

Summary - Salt Shakers Journal October 2010 

Editorial (full version below)
When I hear Christians say, "God is in control", or , "this is God's outcome", especially in terms of election results I always want to ask, "What do you mean by that?" Because so often, but not always, this can be a cop-out statement.

Final Election Outcome
Peter Stokes describes the final outcome of the election and the mechanics of how the land now lies. The three Independents made their decisions and now we have much reason to be concerned about our country's future, especially now that the Greens have much more power.

Homophobia - the 'new' Blasphemy
Peter Stokes discusses the dramatic changes that have occurred to the attitudes and behaviour of politicians, church leaders, Christians and the general public towards homosexuality. Homophobia is considered a crime and those accused are persecuted.

News and Action
WA: Euthanasia; Tasmania: Euthanasia; SA: Euthanasia; EXIT: Euthanasia ads

Gambling - controlling the epidemic
Jenny Stokes highlights Andrew Wilke's proposals regarding gambling and then outlines the Productivity Commission's Report on Gambling that included these proposals. The report raises grave concerns about consequences of this addiction.

Don't believe everything in the 'news'!
Jenny Stokes alerts us to the need to find out the truth about damaging media claims. Sydney's Daily Telegraph had printed an article falsely accusing Fred Nile of viewing pornographic websites.

More legislation for 'homosexual rights'
Jenny Stokes informs us about the legislation passed in Tasmania and NSW giving more rights to homosexuals: Tasmania's Relationship Registers and NSW's same-sex adoption.

Victorian Election - November 27
Jenny Stokes urges Victorians to prepare for voting now, by finding out what the MP's have voted for and against on moral issues. The Christian Values checklist will soon be available.

Addressing Abortion From a "Positive Angle" - Tough to Do When it kills Children
Bryan Kemper, President of Stand True Ministries, outlines 13 issues about abortion which is positively a sin!

Smoking in Films
Jenny Stokes discusses the issue of the portrayal of onscreen smoking and the effect that it has to encourage youth to smoke. She quotes from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

George Soros and 'progressive' causes
Jenny Stokes informs us about the Human Rights Watch (HRW), an activist group that promotes homosexuality and abortion and about George Soros the billionaire who has given them a huge and ongoing donation.

UN - the MDGS and 'sexual health'
Jenny Stokes attended the annual United Nations Conference for non-government organisations (NGO's) and reports on the focus on global health and how Endeavour Forum was the only group presenting a message about the risks of abortion.

World Youth Conference Statement
Jenny Stokes summarises the World Youth Conference Statement and the counter-statement by the International Youth Coalition, which is pro-family.

World News
Standing up! About Iceland's lesbian Prime Minister; USA: Don't ask - don't tell - Military; Panama: 'Disrespectful' comments; Slovenia: 'Marriage' and adoption.

Editorial

When we hear Christians say "God is in control", or "this is God's outcome", especially in terms of election results, we always want to ask "What do you mean by that?" Because so often, but not always, this can be a cop-out statement.

Whilst we will not solve the great mystery between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility, we need to accept that we do have the ability to decide to accept or reject our responsibility.

Left to our own devices, because 'man is inherently evil', or through apathy or laziness or even the fear of man, we can so easily shirk our responsibility. All too often we can then excuse bad outcomes by suggesting that "it does not matter what we do because 'God is in control'."

Take the last election: faced with the political choices, what was our response? Did we honour God by properly evaluating the candidates for whom we were voting?

If the church hides its light and loses its saltiness then we can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit and affect the immediate outcome, especially of an election.

There are always consequences of wrong decisions. God does not treat us like puppets, controlling our every move.

Peter, in 1 Peter 2:15-17, talks about freedom and he talks of us not misusing our freedom "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God freedom to do all things". (NKJV)

Saying, "yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice," clearly suggests we can still make the wrong decisions because even those who follow Christ still have a choice to follow God or satan; to do His will or our own; to vote for the wrong person and, as a nation, to elect the wrong people to govern us.

Some of the decisions we make in day to day life are mundane, like what colour socks will we wear, others are life-changing decisions that determine major outcomes.

In the latter, we all have a responsibility to listen to God, who through the continuing work of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to make the right choices, if we listen . . .

This is especially true in terms of the outcomes of political elections where we are all faced with a multitude of choices. Sadly, we all have tasks, duties and responsibilities that we don't live up to, but we cannot simply brush away the consequences of those bad choices with this false notion that "Oh well, God is in control".

All too often it is an attempt to make us feel good when things don't go the way we think they should.

When we see governments legalising immorality, is God controlling those choices? No, we don't think so. 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour".

Clearly, Satan is having his way with many people today, even many Christians, and that is largely because God allows us to choose, not only what we do, but also who we elect to govern us.

If we were the 'nation under God' that we are supposed to be, we would be obeying His guide to life, His Word - but we are far from that and we will reap what we sow.

Yours in Christ Jesus

Peter and Jenny Stokes