by Dr Stuart Lange | 5 Feb , 2022 | Articles, Christianity in New Zealand
Some reflections about Waitangi, Christians, and bi-culturalism
- A key background to the Treaty of Waitangi was the evangelical Christian humanitarian movement in Britain, which was concerned about the negative impact of western colonisation on indigenous peoples around the world. Some evangelical leaders persuaded the British Government to annex New Zealand – by way of a treaty – so as to regulate the colonisation of New Zealand and prevent its worst effects.
- A crucial factor in many Māori chiefs accepting the Treaty was the widespread Māori acceptance of Christianity in the preceding decade, and Māori trust in the missionaries.
- As colonial settlement increased, so did colonists’ hunger for Māori land. Tragically, by the 1860s, this resulted in war, loss of life, land confiscations, and much unjust legislation. These injustices cast a long shadow, and also adversely affected Māori Christianity.
- As Christians, we can recognise the broad biblical principles that lie behind the Waitangi Tribunal claim processes: respect, justice, apology, forgiveness, redress.
- As Christians, whether Māori, Pākeha, or another culture, we recognise and affirm the God-given worth and dignity of everyone, and embrace God’s call to us all to be agents of reconciliation.
- We also pray for reconciliation, and for the nation’s spiritual healing.
by Dr Stuart Lange | 28 Jan , 2022 | Articles, Christianity and Social & Moral Issues, Christianity in New Zealand
As we move into 2022, it already promises to be just as challenging a year as last year, but in its own way.
Front of mind for many church leaders is how our churches may best navigate the complications of life in the Red setting, showing love and respect to everyone while also trying to keep all our people as safe as we can. Covid and the lockdowns have had a negative effect on many churches, in terms of distraction, weakened engagement, reduced attendance, and disunity. But some churches have found many opportunities for spiritual and relational growth, innovation, renewed small groups, and mission.
Beyond all that, there remain some deeper challenges for church and society in Aotearoa New Zealand, such as…
- The accelerating climate crisis, and widespread unwillingness to accept effectual changes
- Worsening social inequity
- The unaffordability of home ownership for so many people
- A prevalence of broken marriages and temporary relationships
- Much violence, abuse, and family instability
- The harm caused by various drugs
- Stress, loss of hope, and mental health issues
- Suicide (especially among youth)
- More understanding, peace, and reconciliation needed between cultures
- The preoccupation of many New Zealanders with their own choices, comforts, and pleasures
- The pervasive and often negative influences of social media
- Much confusion in society (and sometimes in churches) about God, truth, and the Gospel
- A prevailing loss of confidence in the Bible or the Christian message
- A general unawareness of the positive influences of Christian values in NZ, past and present
- A growing disdain for committed Christian faith, and its marginalisation in many quarters
- Many churches’ loss of younger generations to faith and Christian commitment
- The struggle of churches to connect well with unbelievers and help them find faith in Christ
- The politicisation of radical moral views on sex, gender, abortion, euthanasia, hate speech, and ‘conversion therapy’, and their increasing imposition upon society
- The susceptibility of some Christians to unbalanced and less-than-biblical ideologies
If that is all the case (or even some of it), there is a lot for us to do in 2022!
Mā te Atua koutou katoa e manaaki, e tiaki,
(God bless and keep you all)
by NZCN Team | 9 Dec , 2021 | Christianity in New Zealand, Featured, NZCN
Glyn very capably served as National Director of NZCN from 2003 to early 2017.
Coming to Christ as an adult, Glyn was a man of convinced Christian faith. He had a strong Gospel focus, and a keen social conscience.
Glyn was personable, a superb networker, and was well-known among a great many Christians the length and breadth of New Zealand. He had a gift for connecting people, and for getting them to work together on important projects. He was always eager that the church in New Zealand should conduct itself well in a secularising and increasingly un-Christian society, and had a heart for Christians to work together well, and for reconciliation. Glyn was well-read, thought matters through deeply, and had a good eye for different sides of various issues. He was not afraid at times to speak up for a minority viewpoint.
Glyn became closely involved in the National Church Leaders’ gatherings, where his wisdom and bridge-building was much valued. Glyn was also very supportive of New Zealand’s bi-cultural journey. He vigorously supported the Te Rongopai video documentary, and was also the driving force behind the Gospel Bicentenary Statement.
Glyn’s thoughtfulness, networking skills, and wide vision also saw him become very involved internationally, through the World Evangelical Alliance as the Secretary General of the South Pacific.
Finally, the strength of Glyn’s Christian faith and character shone through as he bravely and prayerfully fought terminal cancer. We know he is now with the Lord, and Christine and family are in our prayers.
The funeral service for Glyn Carpenter will be livestreamed from 2pm on Friday 17 December at https://youtu.be/tPhJNwjgzW4
by Dr Stuart Lange | 3 Dec , 2021 | Articles, Christianity in New Zealand
As the Traffic Light system begins, there is an impressive range of ways in which New Zealand churches are planning to move forward.
- Many churches where it appears everyone is vaccinated will move ahead with certificated services
- Many churches will hold both certificated and open-entry services, either at different times or in separate spaces
- Many churches will hold just open-entry services
- Many churches will focus on gatherings in homes, at least until February
- Almost all churches will retain an on-line worship option
One way or another, most churches are working hard to care for everyone. Whatever options are chosen, the safety of our people must always be protected.
Note: in the Red level, the 10-only limit for uncertificated gatherings has now been raised to 25, and it has been clarified that staff and workers are not counted in number limits. Also, Minister Michael Wood has clarified (and this may help some) that “Workers at gatherings are only required to be vaccinated when attendees are required to hold a My Vaccine Pass. This means that workers at gatherings that choose to operate within capacity constraints set out in the COVID-19 Protection Framework, without vaccine passes, do not have to be vaccinated”.
by Dr Stuart Lange | 3 Dec , 2021 | Articles, Christianity in New Zealand
It is good if governments are inspired by a range of Christian values e.g. generosity, social justice, fighting poverty, caring for the vulnerable, environmentalism, and respect for faith, life, marriage, and family. However, too close or direct a connection between Christianity and politics can lead to very unhelpful distortions.
NZCN is politically non-aligned, not least because values that are consistent with Christian faith can be found across the political spectrum, and there are committed Christian believers in a number of political parties. We acknowledge the work of all MPs, and pray for them. We know they all face relentless pressures from many directions.
We congratulate Christopher Luxon, as he takes on the very challenging role of leading the Opposition. It has been disturbing to observe media obsessing over the fact that Luxon is a Christian, as if being a Christian has now become something obnoxious and dangerous. Some interviewers interrogated Luxon about his views on abortion, as if it were now completely unacceptable for anyone to question the ethics of killing the unborn. Some others wrote speculative and deeply uninformed articles about what sinister and extreme things it might mean for someone to be “evangelical”. Was all this a display of secular intolerance?
by Dr Stuart Lange | 26 Nov , 2021 | Articles, Christianity in New Zealand
Decision time
Church leaderships around New Zealand are busily working out how to provide church services, fellowship, and other activities for their own people, once we move into the Traffic Light system. For some churches, it will mean certificated services, for some open-to-all (uncertificated) services, and for some it will mean both. For many churches, on-line church services will continue, along with house gatherings and outdoor gatherings. Many churches in Auckland will defer large worship gatherings until the Orange level, and some until February.
Whatever the decisions, it is important we respect one another, care for everyone, and strenuously guard our unity. Churches must also do everything they can to keep people safe. Many church denominations are now putting out helpful new Covid guidelines, which emphasise churches’ legal responsibility to uphold all health and safety requirements.
Mandates
Notwithstanding the justifications for vaccination mandates for some jobs, this policy has undoubtedly brought much distress and loss for some.
A projected vaccination mandate for church staff
A media release this week by the Hon Michael Wood (Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety) signals that it could become mandatory for church staff – along with the staff of all businesses and workplaces that are “either required to or can use the My Vaccine Pass” – to be vaccinated.
- The COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Act (which was passed this week) allows the Minister the authority to issue orders that require vaccine mandates for certain classes of workers
- As indicated in the media release, such orders would include church workers
- Potentially, the order could also apply to church volunteers
- Until any orders are issued, and the detail is available, none of this is yet in effect, and it remains unclear how churches may be affected
- It cannot be claimed churches are being singled out, as the orders would apply across many workplaces
- Most churches are legally workplaces. Nevertheless, many churches are likely to feel uneasy about the State ruling who churches may retain as staff
- Most people accept that a public health crisis warrants extra-ordinary measures, but there is also concern about overreach.
- We were surprised to note in the media release that religious communities have given “broad support”, as any consultation on this particular matter has not included the National Church Leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand, the InterChurch Bureau, or the New Zealand Christian Network.
- Many New Zealanders are concerned about the way in which this legislation has been introduced and pushed through within a mere 24 hours, with no select committee process, and no opportunity for public debate. Is this sound democratic practice?
