It takes a lot to stand against opposition and against the status quo. Many times it feels like the beach is washing over the rocks, gradually grating the rocks down until there is no resistance. It is at the hardest of times that we must stand on the rock that will never be corroded and dare to be different.

 

We can take heart from some examples presented to us recently. The other day Tennis legend Margaret Court spoke in defence of marriage. It is irregular for a celebrity to be a conservative. Perhaps because the liberal celebrities are so loud. For instance, George Clooney is a very passionate liberal who is just about to release a movie with a strong liberal lean:

 

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He may be the figurehead but there are many others who follow in his footsteps: Matt Damon, Leonardo Dicaprio, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt & Robert De Niro. It is safe to say that in Hollywood liberalism is king. Thankfully, Margaret Court does not live in Hollywood. She resides in WA but still faces opposition for her position against homosexual marriage.

 

Standing with her is Kevin Rudd's sister Loree who quit the Australian Labor Party today because of the new stance the Party has on homosexual marriage. Loree Rudd said:

 

"I don't believe gay marriage is good for the community. Homosexuals should be loved and treated right and they should not be discriminated against.

It is a horrible thing for them to be discriminated against and that's why my brother introduced laws so they are not discriminated against. But to make that huge leap from their rights to breaking a commandment of Moses, to say homosexuals' relationships is marriage, is utter nonsense."

 

Of course the vast majority of the 500+ comments below this article in today's Age (a notoriously left-leaning tabloid) echo some variation of "it's great that the Labor Party now has one less bigot". I hope for her sake that she is not keeping an eye on what people are saying about her because some of it is extremely rude. So I will try and counterbalance this somewhat by saying how impressed I am with Loree Rudd. Not only is she putting her position into the spotlight but she is going further and quitting the Party that she has stood behind for many, many years. It is surprising that it has taken Loree this long to question her Party's policy in light of scripture but her conviction to uphold biblical truth cannot be faulted on this occasion.

 

Homosexuality is not the only issue to which people have to stand against the flow of society. John Howard, last night, spoke at a book launch for Ian Plimer's new book How to Get Expelled from School. This book aims to correct misinformation about climate change and is very much a hot potato issue. For John Howard to place himself on the side of scepticism puts him very much in the progressive cross-hair. Yet, this is exactly what he has done and it sets him apart.

 

It is on days like today that my confidence in humanity is restored. Not the confidence that a humanist has but the confidence that I know that God is the ultimate power in this nation. We are His instruments even if we do, at times, struggle to remember our purpose. We must not "conform to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2). Instead we must be the "salt of the earth" and a "city on a hill" (Matthew 5:13-14).

 

In the popular kid's picture book series (at least it was popular when I was a kid) one has to flip through pages containing massive pictures and try and find a candy caned coloured man with a walking stick called Wally (or, for some bizarre reason in America his name is Waldo). The hard part, of course, is that he blends in so well with the rest of the picture that it is hard for the human eye to discern where this mischievous character is hiding. Wally's ability to blend in with the world around him is not something that we should emulate. We are set apart and must remain this way so that others can be set apart. Not so the world becomes like us (as Wally's world does) but so the world can become God's kingdom. Essentially we are accountable to God for when we are a poor example but we are not responsible for the salvations of others.

 

For many this feels like it is all hard work and no glory. So they remain silent about their faith. After all, who wants to be the next Mel Gibson? Yet engagement is the only option. We cannot remain silent on issues and hope that no attention will be drawn our way. The book of Jonah paints the picture of an unwilling servant. We are not told exactly why he runs away from what God commands him to do. We can speculate on ideas such as:

• Jonah had a comfortable life that he didn't want to leave
• Jonah was physically afraid of the Ninevites
• Jonah was afraid that the Ninevites would laugh at him

 

Any of these reasons would have great practical application for my article; however, it is dangerous to read between the lines when one is discussing theology. Instead, I shall keep to the text. Jonah is tasked with giving bad news to, what he believes, will be an unwilling audience. Today we will likely face an unwilling audience but we should not approach our task as Jonah did. He was sure that these people were going to reject his message and, even if they didn't, God would destroy them anyway. Thankfully God is more gracious than Jonah and does spare those who turn to Him in humility. It is with humility that we should approach the task of being God's light-bearers. Of proclaiming the need to be reborn through Christ and living up to these declarations. God has a deep love for all the people in this nation and around the world. He has not forsaken us yet.

 

One final question: why can't Tim Tebow talk about his faith, yet George Clooney can waffle on about his liberalism without rebuke?

Margaret Court Article

 

Loree Rudd Article

 

John Howard Article