Our Present Need

Just recently as a nation we commemorated Anzac Day. We remembered the sacrifices of those who suffered and died in battle to safeguard the freedoms that we enjoy today. We indeed live in “the Lucky Country”, or better, “the Blessed Country”. We have ample resources, clean air and, above all, still a measure of basic freedoms and liberty. We should never forget that these blessings have been obtained through the blood, sweat and tears of many who have paid the ultimate sacrifice when these freedoms were under threat. Many of us are migrants and have been welcomed with open arms to share these blessings with other Australians.

Over the last few months, pastor Paul has been preaching through the The Epistle to the Hebrews in the Chinese congregation. Last week he explained to us the significance of Melchizedek, mentioned in Hebrews chapter 7. We received much enlightenment for reflection and application. The story of Melchizedek is recorded in one of the early chapters in the Bible, in Genesis chapter 14. We are all familiar with the context. Abraham and Lot (with their wives) had travelled all the way from Chaldee, according to the LORD’s call, to settle in the land of Canaan. However, not everything went smoothly.

The author of Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek was king of Salem as well as priest of the Most High God (Hebrews 7:1-3). On the one hand he was a political or civil ruler, but on the other hand he was also a priest or a religious leader. Political and spiritual authority were combined in his office. There was no demarcation between civil governance and spiritual authority. This of course has always been the case and will continue to be so. Any government, whether socialist or liberal, governs in accordance with its religion (i.e., its ideological worldview). Politics and spirituality are always intertwined.

The author of Hebrews also insightfully provides his Greek readers with an interpretation of the meaning of Melchizedek’s name and title. The name Melchizedek in Hebrew means “king of righteousness” and king of Salem means “king of peace” (Hebrews 7:1-3). The main story line of the Bible and Salvation History concerns the re-establishment of God’s kingdom peace (shalom) which was lost at the Fall. Our world is in desperate need of peace. In Hebrew peace or shalom does not just mean the absence of war or hostilities but also blessing and wholeness. But note that, according to the inspired order of the text, the “king of righteousness” comes before the “king of peace”. There cannot be any lasting peace without righteousness. Wrongs must be righted, debts must be paid, and justice must be established before there will be true peace in the world. All these truths are beautifully illustrated and fulfilled in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Melchizedek was a type. Since Jesus paid our debt on the cross, satisfying the demand for righteousness, we may have peace with God (Rom 3:21-26; 5:1). These truths will be completely consummated at the return of the Lord Jesus when He will first judge and destroy all the enemies of the gospel and then deliver all God’s elect who cry out to Him day and night (2 Thess 1:9-10). Christ is King of Kings, and all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on the earth. Therefore, the Bible counsels all rulers to “kiss the Son lest He be angry” (Psalm 2:12) and insists that “every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:9-11). This inevitably involves politics.

The story of Melchizedek also reminds us of Abraham who rescued Lot from the marauding four kings of the north (see Genesis 14). When Abraham heard that Lot was captured and taken away with all his goods, he immediately sprang into action and marshalled a trained force of 318 men. Abraham pursued the kidnappers, attacked them, defeated them, and rescued Lot. Then after his successful military campaign, Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God, blessed him. God enabled Abraham to obtain the victory and save his nephew Lot. Abraham, the father of the faithful, was not a passivist but bravely confronted aggressors to protect his family.

We are certainly not advocates for war, knowing that peacemakers are blessed (Matt 5:9) and that those who live by the sword will die by the sword (Matt 26:52). But we do need to read the whole Bible and be informed by church history. At times, war is necessary to defeat evil and protect family and freedom. Over the last 50 years the church has been heavily influenced with passivist ideologies. A few weeks ago even the pope made the silly comment that God does not listen to the prayers of those who are engaged in warfare. As we mentioned at the beginning of this reflection concerning Anzac Day, if the free world did not oppose Hitler and Hirohito during the Second World War, Australia now would have been either a German or Japanese police state. If the Crusaders did not defend Europe from Islam during the Middle Ages the whole world would probably have been overrun by a Muslim caliphate.

In conclusion, I would like to propose three points of application. Firstly, we, especially our older folks since we grew up in a more congenial environment, need to realise that things have changed; western society is not just no longer Christian but has become anti-Christian. In the West, our culture has been hugely influenced by the Bible and Christianity. Because of Christianity, we have valued inalienable human rights, such as equality, right to private property, freedom of expression, liberty of the conscience, and freedom of association and belief. However, around 40 years ago, in the 1980s, things began to change. Through the influence of neo-Marxism, more and more educators propagated the ideas of secularism, multiculturalism and pluralism. Those who have gone through this educational system are now in charge of our institutions and have replaced our traditional Christian worldview with an anti-Christian one.

Secondly, the church needs to address these issues and expose the idols of multiculturalism and pluralism. Over the last few decades the church has by and large ignored these social changes and has failed to address these political issues. The church cannot exist in a corner, ignoring politics. Certainly, the church is not political in terms of aligning itself with any particular political party, but at the same time the church is not apolitical. We are to be salt and light. The Old Testament prophets, Jesus and the apostles had many words for political leaders, Jews and Gentiles alike. They did not shy away from speaking God’s truth. The church needs to hold government to account and witness in the public square. Like our Anabaptist forefathers, we always need to insist on the separation of church and state (the two-fold office of Melchizedek prefigures Christ not the church), but this does not mean that the state is a law unto itself. Church and state are distinct spheres of authority, but both come under the jurisdiction of the Lord Jesus Christ. Governments must acknowledge Christ’s authority and rule in accordance with God’s commandments. If not, we will always end up with oppression, corruption and chaos. We need to expose the myth of neutrality and destroy the idols of multiculturalism and pluralism.

Thirdly, the church needs to equip believers to know how to navigate the myriads of social and political challenges that we face today. Many churches have censured its members from raising political issues fearing division. Since the church has failed in recent years to address matters of social ethics, Christians have been shaped by non-biblical worldviews and secular influencers. Science teaches us that nature does not like vacuums, so too Jesus taught us that unless the purified heart is filled with God’s truth, worse demons will come in and occupy the space. We cannot restrict ourselves to messages of personal piety while the world around us is disintegrating. Just last month the Canadian government passed legislation, after debate was banned, where a person could be charged with hate speech by quoting portions of the Bible. The same thing will happen here in Australia, unless we repent. Christians again should become familiar with the whole Bible and use it in daily life and witness. The pen is mightier than the sword, especially the styli that wrote the infallible words of God’s holy book. Christian social ethics, the Ten Commandments, should again be read and taught in our churches.

According to the Great Commission, we need to disciple the nations (Matt 28:18-20). Countries, including Australia, need to be Christianised. We need to teach and obey all of Jesus’ commandments in every area of life, privately and publicly, when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. Discipleship is not for cowards but for overcomers and the forceful. This is our present need. We need to proclaim that Christ is the true King of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace. Sooner or later Christ Himself will return to judge all those who disobey the gospel and create a world in which righteousness dwells, resulting in eternal peace.