Many Christians are horrified that Australia will soon have elected to Prime Minister an openly professing atheist living in a de facto relationship. Several folk sought my opinion about these remarks from Danny Nalliah, “If you still say ‘I will vote Labor’ that is your choice.   That’s the freedom we enjoy in a democracy, but I must say you definitely cannot be a Christian who has a proper relationship with Jesus if you vote this way.” What happened to justification by faith alone Danny? I also received various emails containing, “The Australian Christian Values Checklist 2010 Federal Election”. Most are agreeable, but the list makes no mention of concern for the materially poor and oppressed. In scripture, such neglect is always a symptom of idolatry amongst God’s people. This connects with several scriptures I believe the Lord gave me about this election.

Jesus says to the Laodicean church, “you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Rev 3:17-18) The dominant spiritual ethos of the churches today is Laodicean: prosperity, comfort, peace for our families is central to popular Christian spirituality. This is why the manifest presence of God’s glory is missing from our congregations.

The next text is crucial, “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great…”” (Rev 17:4-5). The outwardly resplendent but spiritually corrupt Babylonian power is certainly on the rise in Australia, but why? The woman’s “pearls” are the key to this puzzle. Since Julia Gillard rose to power wearing a string of pearls has become her trademark. This apparently makes her look dignified, mature, stateswoman like and prosperous to the Australian people. Julia wants to give off the same vibe that most of the church aspires to; she is a reflection of our material priorities. As such, the unblushing fornication of our PM is a reflection of our spiritual poverty and powerlessness.

This brings me to my climactic scripture. Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’ (Mark 13:45-46). There is plenty of evidence that believers are seeking material pearls[1], but where are those seeking the pearl of great price, the kingdom of God, at whatever cost. How can God preserve our “Australian Christian heritage” when the saints, and so their prayers, are so Laodicean?

Perhaps the only way that the Lord can turn around this nation, since “it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God” (1 Pet 4:17), is for Christianity to lose its privileged position, peace, respectability and prosperity. Perhaps our compatriot Julia Gillard is God’s way of getting our attention about our spiritual anaemia, perhaps we are so far gone that affliction is the only way Jesus move us forward. I of course think all these sentiments are “Kingdom Values”, but what do you think?