This graph shows the last 150 years of New Zealand census religion data and church attendance, plus my prediction for the next 100 years. Over the last few weeks I’ve been part of a conference with Christian Savings, Laidlaw College, and the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning, where I talked around the idea that “something is different now” in terms of the relationship between church and society. This blog post is part of that talk. I debunk some of the hype around some census figures, and give two possible future scenarios for the church in New Zealand.
Looking at the census data in the graph below, the top line on the graph: Christian Affiliation – this is the line we hear sensational headlines about in the media when census results are released: about the church dying as this line on the graph plummets toward zero…
The vertical axis is percentage of adults, and horizontal axis is time from 1867 to 2013.
I don’t think we should believe the stories of doom! There is some bad news for the church, but I don’t think this is it.
I don’t think this downward line matters at all: what we’re seeing as this line falls is a correction in the data that will eventually match what the reality is.
As a comparison
This pie-graph shows current religion in Thailand. The yellow shows 93% are Buddhist.
I first went to Thailand in 2001, the Kiwi friends I went to visit were working with Buddhist monks – teaching them English. Looking at this pie chart, you’d think nearly everyone in Thailand was Buddhist. They might be culturally Buddhist, but not practicing Buddhism – there’s a massive difference between a cultural identity, and the following of a religious faith. My friends told me they had discovered that for Thai people: “to be Thai, is to be Buddhist” – which doesn’t mean they are Buddhist.
150 years ago in New Zealand
Think about where the Pākehā colonizers came from 150 years ago: Christian Brittan. A culture that had centuries of Christian influence shaping it.
In the first New Zealand census in 1851, I think “to be a coloniser, was to be Christian.” 93.35% ticked the Christian box (interestingly, the same amount that are currently Buddhist in Thailand – it’ll be interesting to see the figures in Thailand in 150 years from now).
I think most followers of this blog would agree: that to claim affiliation to a cultural identity shaped by an historical religious framework – does not make you a follower of that religion.
A correction
What we have with the downward line on the census graph, are people deciding they no longer need to have a cultural Christian Affiliation, and they’re now happy and able to say “No Religion” – which is the increasing green line (I don’t think “No Religion” was even an option for a long time in the census.)
Eventually, the downward blue line will level out at roughly the amount of what I would describe as active-participating-followers-of-Jesus: the church. I don’t like to use the descriptor, but maybe the blue line will eventually represent actual Christians (I know – who am I to judge? – but I hope you see what I mean: the difference between participation compared to identity-only).
This plummeting line on the graph, what I’m calling a “correction” to reflect reality, Pew Research refer to as “Religious Switching”.
These are global figures projecting the change between 2010-2050
They are suggesting: Christians globally will drop by 66 million. Unaffiliated will grow by 61 million.
This doesn’t mean 66 million people will lose their faith, it just means they will be able to articulate a different cultural association – one that matches their reality: of no religion.
This data matches my predication with the blue line on our census graph: that it will eventually reflect actual Christians not cultural Christians.
Pew also have this chart:
This chart is showing that New Zealand won’t have a Christian Majority in 2050 – they’re using Christian Affiliation figures – to suggest in 2010 57% of New Zealanders were Christian – that’s a cultural reference not a reality reference – the church was no where near that big in 2010.
If you hear media hype around this – that the church is dying – don’t believe it – it’s scare-mongering.
We don’t have a Christian majority now – what we have is a cultural identity with an historical Christian framework that is declining rapidly.
The actual church?
The data that is more significant, that might be a better indication of the church in New Zealand is this:
This is a rough graph of church attendance in New Zealand – across the same time period (percentage of adults on the vertical axis, time on the horizontal from 1867 to 2013)). The data is rough and incomplete – I talk more about this graph here in a post about when church attendance peaked in New Zealand… This line is an attempt to show regular church attendance of adults – as a percentage – by counting bums on seats at Sunday church services.
Assessing the state of the church by bums on seats is a pretty rough way to measure.
While you can be a follower of Jesus and not turn up regularly to church services – I do think regular participation in a local church community is a good indicator of “actual” Christians, rather than “cultural” Christians.
A new way to measure the church
As an aside: I’d be interested in coming up with a new way to measure how the church is going. What about this list forming some new measurement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the church:
good news to the poor,
released captives,
sight recovery,
freedom from oppression,
proclaiming the Lord’s favour.
This list comes from Luke 4:18-19, the bit from the prophet Isaiah’s scroll that Jesus read out as a manifesto at the beginning of his Gospel ministry. That’s what Jesus set out to do. Could that be a way of defining what the church is to set out and do?
The reality is, it’s much easier to count bums on seats.
The 1890s peak
Looking at the graph above – from the data we have, church attendance peaked in the 1890s – at 30% of adults attending. I think that’s a much better indicator of the church than the census affiliation numbers at the same time. New Zealand church attendance then is lower than in Great Britain at the time, which may have been 40% or more.
The right thing at the right time
The photo below was the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church building in Christchurch, New Zealand. I was an assistant minister there for 6 years from 2009. This building was destroyed in the 2011 earthquakes and no longer exists.
A close up of the top text:
This church building was built in 1881. They built that impressive building a decade before church attendance peaked in New Zealand. It was literally a case of “build it and they will come” – they couldn’t lose! There are stories of it being full to overflowing several times each Sunday for many decades.
I like to think they had their finger on the pulse as they sought to discern what was needed at that time and into the future. There will be similar stories throughout New Zealand. Those must have been exciting times for the church.
A strong minority
Current regular church attendance probably sits around the 10-15% mark. I think this is an indicator that 10-15% of New Zealanders are probably active, participating, followers of Jesus. Together we’re a strong minority.
In the graph below I’ve added the church attendance line to the census data:
What will the church look like in 100 years?
Now I want to predict 100 years into the future.
In the graph above I have added a church attendance line 100 years into the future that stays constant at 10% of the adult population. Imagine if the church stayed the same – we continued to be 10% of the population for the next 100 years.
This would actually mean the church grows significantly over the next 100 years, obviously as population increases, the size of the 10% increases too – so this is a pretty optimistic scenario: we stay the same percentage AND grow bigger.
As shown in the next graph, the Christian Affiliation line will correct itself and be in line with however we end up measuring the church. This is the so called Religious Switching of Pew Research:
In this scenario I’m guessing Other Religions will continue to increase – mostly with immigration – as shown in the next picture. I’ve drawn this as linear, reaching 25% in 100 years – but it might end up being exponential and much higher depending on our immigration policy…
Object to Answer will dwindle – people will be happy to tick No Religion, and No Religion will peak and then diminish as Other Religions increase:
Do you think this is possible? Is this a realistic projection?
Could the church match the historical peak?
I’ve got one more scenario:
What if, over the next 100 years, the church grew back to its 30% peak – so in 100 years, 30% of New Zealanders were active followers of Jesus:
The other lines could end up looking like this:
Can you imagine that happening?
Imagine if in 100 years nearly a third of New Zealanders were active followers of Jesus.
Coming back to 2017 – I’m interested in the things the church needs to consider now as we plan the next 100 years:
What are your thoughts on all of this?
Imagining the church in 100 years is a way to introduce ideas that help us consider what to do now as we plan for the future. In a following blog post called 5 ideas that shape church and society engagement, I run through five ideas that I think help us situate the place of the church in society – five ideas that help us critique and potentially adjust our engagement – helping us get our finger on the pulse at this time as we plan for the future.
Mike Crudge’s blog focusses on issues that in some way connect with communication, church, and society. These topics overlap with others such as theology and missiology, so if you’re interested in things like the mission of the church, being missional, or evangelism, you might find something of interest on it.
Mike currently lives in Auckland and is the Director of the Carey Centre for Lifelong Learning, which is part of Carey Baptist College, New Zealand’s Baptist theological college that has an ecumenical mix of students focusing on applied theology, pastoral leadership and mission training. Before that, he was a pastor at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, Christchurch.
Shortly after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, in recognition of the contribution of churches in providing hope and comfort as well as material assistance, NZ Christian Network’s board inaugurated a new award, known as the New Zealand Christian Network Unsung Heroes Awards.
The purpose of these awards is to honour the good work of individuals and groups which has gone largely unrecognised, to encourage others, and to give glory to God who inspired and empowered them.
In an age which has forgotten or never knew the significance of Christianity in our history, and which increasingly does not appreciate the importance of God in our country today, we are grateful for the privilege of being able to hold this event at Parliament and celebrate what God is doing in and through the lives of people. We are thankful also this year to Simon O’Connor MP, who hosted the event.
The awards are presented in categories related to New Zealand Christian Network’s key projects – Secularism, Value of Life, and Missional Living. This year we were pleased to also make two special awards for Working for Bi-cultural Understanding and Demonstrating a heart for Mission from within the Local Congregation.
This year’s recipients all received a trophy designed by Karen Sewell especially for our Unsung Heroes, a certificate, a copy of their citation and a gift card from Manna and NZ Christian Network.
Special categories for 2017
Bi-Cultural Understanding
Demonstrating a Heart for Mission
Key Focus categories for 2017
Secularism
Value of Life
Missional Living
Special Categories for 2017
Working for Bi-cultural Understanding
For many years Alistair has been preoccupied with reconciliation in Aotearoa NZ, with a particular emphasis on Pākehā identity and how we can live in a colonised land. Much of his speaking and writing reflects on Te Tiriti/Treaty of Waitangi as a doorway to reconciliation.
He and his wife Jeannie live near Te Puke in the district of Tapuika/Waitaha on a farm in Paengaroa, Aotearoa New Zealand. He has postgraduate degrees in Theology, History and Tikanga Māori. His PhD in Public Theology was conferred by the University of Auckland in [2014]. Alistair is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland and his research and speaking interests include post-colonialism, reconciliation and prohetism. Alistair is involved in local and national efforts to promote reconciliation between Māori and Pākehā and exploring understandings of what an indigenous form of Christianity might look like.
Dr Alistair is a Trustee for the Karuwhā Trust, a registered New Zealand charity that seeks to engage Aotearoa New Zealand in a conversation about identity and history. They do this by facilitating groups to Waitangi. By researching the stories about our shared history and not just the famous stories and running workshops speaking at conferences, hui, seminar or retreat. In asking the question about what this conversation looks like I was struck by Alistair’s response to Mike Hosking cynical view of the Waitangi event as masquerade waiting for trouble or to quote for it to “hit the fan”. I shall read it so that you can hear the heart and the flavour of conversation with Doctor Alistair Reese.
“Discussions both informal and formal were held in Waitangi meeting houses, hotels, marquees and over cups of coffee, fried bread and raw fish. The Constitution, water ownership, the flag, the Treaty itself and the Black Caps’ chances in the World Cup were discussed and debated. People participated in the powhiri at Te Ti Marae, the Dawn Service and the later church service at Te Whare Rūnanga – the nation’s marae on the Treaty grounds. They watched the navy band, the flag being raised and waka being launched. Some bought stuff from the craft markets, Māori bibles from the Bible Society, while others protested in close proximity to those doing bombs off the bridge. Add to this, buskers, Ardijah on the main stage, swimming, sleeping on the beach and political fora against the backdrop of a sparkling Bay of Islands, and a glimpse of our national day can be seen.
“Not a ‘masquerade’, and neither did whatever ‘hit the fan’, but it was a day of significance that provides an opportunity for our nation to commemorate, celebrate and also ponder how the Treaty relationship can be restored. This is a day of conversation that looks back, examines the present, and dreams about the Waitangi aspiration of unity or kotahitanga, spoken of 175 years ago by Lt. Governor Hobson in his famous words: He iwi tahi tātou! We are now one people! Not all the same – no – but all belonging to this land because of the Treaty’s invitation to be here and prosper here, together.”
Dr Reese, we honour you this evening for your service to the Kingdom of God…
Demonstrating a Heart for Mission from within the Local Congregation
Michael Jenkins was brought up in a Christian home, with an awareness of his forebearers missional work, particularly amongst Maori. He became a Christian in his early teens, and was soon teaching the Bible in a local interdenominational Sunday School, and working with ‘at risk’ young Maori in Ponsonby.
For the last 25 years, he has ministered to young people and particularly International students at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Auckland City.
Michael has given free English coaching and keyboard tuition for many years to international students and has found this is a great way to engage with people, many of whom have had little experience of Christianity and eventually want to learn more by joining in Bible Study Groups.
He is a professional music teacher and has given many hours of free music tuition to promising students in organ, piano and keyboard. Every Saturday morning he sets up 20 keyboards he has purchased himself to give free keyboard lessons: these are open to all.
For decades, he held Friday night gospel services for mostly Asian international students, and immigrant families. He and his team of helpers have served those who came, also leading home groups and undertaking pastoral care. Over the years, they have seen many hundreds became Christians. Starbucks, opposite the church, is Michael’s unofficial headquarters where he has met with students helping them with assignments, and other needs.
Michael has played the organ and led Bible studies for a Korean church who meet in the St Pauls building. Michael has a home in Warkworth that is open to students and families, and he has often accommodated needy people in his home in the city. He is a man with a huge heart who has given a lot to generously serve many people over the years.
Please welcome Michael Jenkins…
Beryl was born and grew up in Invercargill. She trained as a nurse and began a career of using this professional expertise alongside a pastoral heart to look after others. Early in her career, she served at the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Vanuatu. She married Doug when she returned to New Zealand and furthered her mission endeavours alongside her husband working with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF). Starting out in Singapore, they trained Christian workers from all over the world, and Beryl used her nursing and pastoral skills.
From there a move to Kuala Lumpur, saw Beryl running the Guest House. She trained as a Samaritan phone counsellor and started helping people in crisis.
On returning to New Zealand, Beryl provided pastoral care and support for families at St Paul’s Trinity Pacific Church in Christchurch, where Doug was the minister. And later at Knox Presbyterian Church, Lower Hutt. During this time she also:
Completed a degree in Women’s Studies and Chinese Studies,
Trained and served as a chaplain for the Inter-Church Trade and Industrial Mission
Worked as a volunteer for Refugee and Migrant Services
Initiated Knox’s free Christmas Dinner for more than 100 people from the community, which has continued every year
Wrote and published a book titled ‘Opportunity Knocks’, a compilation of stories of people’s struggles and successes when their lives were shattered by early retirement, restructuring, redundancy, bereavement, or medical misadventure.
In 1994, Beryl and Doug moved to Turkey, where Doug pastored a church. Beryl provided hospitality and support to many including migrants and refugees, she was a member of the Istanbul Women’s Conference, and worked amongst street kids where she was awarded a plaque for her services by the group ‘Friends of Street Children Work in Istanbul’.
Part of the citation on the award reads: “You have been a mother to us and the children. We will always remember you and our time together in Istanbul.” On their return to New Zealand, Beryl and Doug have settled at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt. Beryl is actively involved in the church’s pastoral care committee and in providing a voice for mission organisations, and leading prayer support for persecuted Christians overseas. She has been co-founder and co-leader of a support group for refugees and migrants, she volunteers at the local Citizens Advice Bureau, helps refugees and migrants to learn driving and obtain their driver licences, is ESOL-trained and helps teach English to refugees.
To quote the people who nominated Beryl: She is an inspirational role model of 24-7 Christian faith, including worship, witness, words, and action; someone who brings to mind Paul’s statement “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Please join me in welcoming Beryl Anderson to receive this award…
Key Focus Categories for 2016
Secularism
The scriptures are full of small enterprise, Zebedee, Philemon, Lydia, Paul and even our Lord to name a few. Most of the other names including those of the original apostles that are mentioned in the New Testament are those of working people. It is Greek thinking and non-biblical thinking which separated the church as sacred or spiritual, from business and employment as secular or of the flesh. God is moving to change this and make all of life, business included, the context for the Lord Jesus to be revealed through us.
Denis and Coralie Clark are the Founders and CEO of Business Edge, a unique support business dedicated to empowering business people to become a positive force within their business, community, and nation from a Christian Worldview….!” The business world for them is a missional opportunity for the Kingdom of God.
The seeds of Business Edge began in 1989 in their experience of a business failure. In their own business experience, they have both received spiritual support and not received spiritual support. They have seen both business success, and failure. They know the joys and the grief. They have employed staff, borrowed, done the selling and the producing. They understand that as business people they exist not just for themselves but they are an integral part of the city and as Christians called to transform it.
In 2003 Denis and Coralie launched Business Edge believing that no one is more strategically positioned in a city or community than Christian believers operating in the marketplace. Business Edge, their assignment from God, is to see that you are encouraged, strengthened, equipped, and inspired to succeed in your business or work.
The vision statement of Business Edge is
“To be the business group of choice in our city and nation, unlocking all your potential for good and for God.”
Within the church family, Denis and Coralie found others who experienced a loneliness, lack of understanding and frustrations. So they gathered within their church community a business focused small group. They met, prayed, laughed, cried together and built meaningful relationships with folks who dealt with similar situations every day.
After 2 years when the group had become larger in size, they realised they needed to extend this “budding ministry” to more than a small group and more than just one church. Business people of faith all over the city were needing to be part of something that would encourage and recognize the “calling” that God had placed on their lives to be a beacon of light in the city by doing business God’s way.
Business Edge develops relationship groups, social events, business speakers, educational seminars and workshops, a bi-annual conference day with validated overseas speakers, resources like books, DVDs, CD’s, Pastoral contact, direct prayer within the business, email prayer requests and praise points daily etc.
Denis and Coralie are committed members of a local church. They have 3 married, adult children, and 7 grandchildren. I have the privilege of knowing them, I have attended a number of their events. They are just really good people with a heart for the Kingdom of God.
Denis and Coralie, we honour you this evening for faithful pioneering work encouraging Christian business owners in the mission to which God has called them…
Value of Life
Joseph’s mission in life has many forms, but in its purest form is to make sure others become all they were born to be. Joseph wants to help them dream, to design what that might look like and to set about doing it. Joseph Fa’afiu is also a Leader and a Storyteller.
Joseph has served the South Auckland community and New Zealand as a nation for over 15 years in a range of areas from free story times in libraries and schools to working with at-risk youth. He is currently a Duffy Books In School role model.
In 2015 Joseph founded HopeWalka suicide awareness and prevention movement. They are a community action group which gives individuals, families and communities who have been affected by suicide a place to connect with others who have also lost loved ones to suicide.
HopeWalk was also birthed to highlight the existing organisations and agencies that provide suicide prevention, intervention and post-intervention support. Hopewalk organise and lead walks globally in NZ, Australia, USA, Canada and the South Pacific.
Joseph says, “This movement is about giving people a voice which they are told by society they can’t have because its taboo, an unspoken topic and so on. We need to break the shame, stigma and silence around suicide – it starts and ends with us. We need to remember that we are talking about people, not numbers on a piece of paper.”
In 2017 Joseph was acknowledged for his work by being the runner-up for the Maori/Pacific Ministry of Health Volunteer of the Year 2017 and recipient of a LifeKeepers Award for work in suicide prevention.
Joseph served on the Counties South PoIice Pacific Advisory Unit in 2016 and was also the recipient of a Kiwibank New Zealander of the year local hero medal two years in a row in 2017 and 2018 for his ongoing work in the community. In 2017 Joseph was awarded Sunpix Pacific Community Leader of the year.
Joseph was educated in Glen Innes and Lives in Mangere, South Auckland with his beautiful supportive wife Lydia and 5 sons. Joseph’s favourite quote is from the movie Gladiator “What you do in this life echoes in eternity”.
Joseph, we are privileged to honour you and Lydia in your service and ministry…
Missional Living
Lui and Ane Ponifasio: Lui – Pastor, entrepreneur and founder of Samoa MultiMedia Group and Radio Samoa, Chairman of Pacific2Nations, and the Senior Pastor for LifeChurch in South and West Auckland and internationally West Papua. Ps Ane – currently the Managing Director for Radio Samoa, Senior Pastor for LifeChurch South, West Auckland and West Papua.
LifeChurch is a flourishing church community, committed to seeing the gospel declared in this nation and internationally. Lui is one of the international leaders of the Pacific to the Nations Movement (P2N). Pacific to the Nations seeks to mobilise the Pacific people into missions from across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and beyond. Lui also has a significant leadership role in the Samoan Brethren Churches in New Zealand and Australia.
The genesis of the Pacific2Nations movement began several years before the first meeting was held, as the Holy Spirit started stirring the hearts of several Pacific ministers and leaders in Auckland and the Pacific Islands to mobilise Pacific people for global missions.
The first group of pastors and mission organisation leaders gathered in September 2012 to discuss how they could mobilise Pacific people for world missions. There has been a sense and evidence of sovereign connections taking place to achieve this vision. There was a recognition that Pacific peoples had taken Missions very seriously after they first received the Gospel through European Missionaries. Many went from Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, and travelled west to Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea with the good news.
Many were martyred and died of sickness and disease, but when the news of someone losing their lives reached the country they had been sent from, then in many cases others quickly volunteered to take the place of those that had lost their lives. The Pacific2Nations movement wants to stir this legacy again in the hearts of Pacific Island peoples, especially the younger generation, so that a fresh wave of Pacific people may be sent into the nations of the world. This is principally a Church-centred thrust, but also has tremendous support and input from Missions Interlink and several member organisations that actively support the Pacific2Nations vision.
A wide variety of Churches are already involved, from all spectrums of the body of Christ, including Mainline, Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches. All of them recognize that the time is right to re-engage Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians in a new wave of Missions in its various forms. Leader of the Pacific2Nations Movement, Pastor Lui Ponifasio says, “We are not trying to recreate what our forefathers did in the 1800s and early 1900s, but we feel that they have handed over to us a strong legacy and a mandate to fulfil the heart of God by going to the nations, to unreached people groups as they did. This is our time.”
Pacific2Nations held its inaugural conference at the Vodafone Events Centre Auckland, on the 8th and 9th of November 2013. A second event was held in September 2015. Over 3000 people attended both events. In May 2017 Pacific2Nations was held in Sydney Australia. Similar mission events are planned for the USA and the Pacific Islands in 2017 and beyond. P2N500 is an initiative to reach 50 countries with the gospel in 2017. Over 500 missionaries will be sent from over 100 churches in short-term teams with an emphasis to reach unreached people groups.
A supporter of the P2Nation movement writes “I believe ‘The Pacifc2Nations’ is a (movement of people) – whereby ‘people’ can share resources in doing Christian mission together. It is in sharing resources and networking and connection that people can be encouraged to do mission. For the purpose of evangelising and discipling people towards the great commission.”
Lui and Ane, we acknowledge you for your vision and passion to mobilise the Pacific people into missions…
The following message comes from Rasik Ranchord, Convener Prayer @ Parliament
THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO PARLIAMENTARY PRAYER
The new Speaker of the House Rt. Hon Trevor Mallard has asked Members of Parliament for their Feedback on the new version of the Prayer that is prayed by the Speaker at the opening of Proceedings each Sitting Day.
THE TWO PRAYER VERSIONS
The Former Version
“Almighty God, Humbly acknowledging our need for Thy guidance in all things, and laying aside all private and personal interests, we beseech Thee to grant that we may conduct the affairs of this House and of our country to the glory of Thy Holy Name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the honour of the Queen, and the public welfare, peace and tranquillity of New Zealand, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The New Version (in English and also in Te Reo)
“Almighty God, We give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on New Zealand. Laying aside all personal interests, we pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the public welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.”
There are at least two significant omissions
The Queen
Jesus Christ our Lord
ACTION REQUIRED
Please write to the Speaker of the House and send copies to the following:
This matter is very urgent. The Speaker is already using the new version! He has asked MPs for their feedback within a very short time. It is therefore imperative that we respond immediately.
GUIDELINES
Keep it brief
Write in your own words (mass-produced letters have little impact)
Be respectful
Here are some reasons for retaining the Former Version
HISTORICAL
History shapes every Nation: India is shaped by Hinduism; Thailand by Buddhism; Pakistan by Islam; Israel by Judaism. Each country uses its predominant faith in public prayers. NZ has been shaped by Christianity. We celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the coming of the gospel in 2014!
Some of our Statutory (i.e. mandated by Law not just custom) Holidays are Obviously Christian namely Easter and Christmas. Religious Days of no other Religion has been mandated by law in NZ.
Christianity is still the largest faith in NZ. According to the last Census (2013) Almost 45% of the population (almost 2 million) described themselves as Christians.
The former version has been used since 1962, over 50 years ago and some form of Christian prayer has been used since 1854!
Proposed revised prayers have been rejected 3 times in recent Parliamentary History under Speakers Jonathan Hunt, Margaret Wilson and David Carter in 2014.
OTHER REASONS
You can add other reasons
DISTRIBUTION
In a democracy numbers count, please circulate this information to:
Your Congregation
Ministers in your own denomination
Ministers’ associations in your area and appeal to them to act immediately.
PRAYER
Please saturate this issue with much prayer. Jesus said Christians are salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-14). New Zealand has a Christian Heritage which has not only blessed us spiritually but also politically, economically and socially (see Duet 28).
LET US ACT NOW TO STOP FURTHER EROSION OF OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE!
The Reformation, triggered 500 years ago next week by Martin Luther’s publication of objections to practices of his own Roman Catholic Church, is being commemorated in surprising places.
In Budapest, capital of a predominantly Catholic Hungary, 95 square-shaped concrete tablets representing Luther’s 95 Theses have been laid in Calvin Square, each featuring a pair of quotes from Reformers and prominent Hungarian authors.
On a visit to the city this past weekend, I also encountered large colour posters in bus shelters and metro stations announcing performances by the Hungarian State Opera telling the story of the Huguenots and the French Reformation.
Last month in the heart of traditionally-Orthodox Kyiv, a gathering of Protestant Ukrainians in Maidan Square, planned for about 5000, snowballed into a huge crowd including many non-believers. Estimates varied from 160,000 and 500,000 strong. President Petro Poroshenko had earlier signed an order to recognise the anniversary of the Reformation, to recognise ‘the enormous contribution of Protestant churches and religious organizations … and to express respect for their role in Ukrainian history.’
Some observe that Ukrainian officials are seeking outside their own tradition for the spiritual resources to help them reform the country. Fearing Russian Orthodoxy will only ‘pull the country backwards’, they have become aware of the Reformation’s influence on all of society, culture, economics and politics.
Ratings For the Reformation led to profound changes in the societies where it took root, a fact largely forgotten or ignored in western nations. The long-term effect can be seen in charts of global ratings measuring the strength of democracy, corruption and Gross National Product.
A click on each of these links will reveal a consistent pattern. Allowing for the distortion of oil-rich economies and off-shore banking havens in the GNP ratings, nations with Protestant backgrounds typically top the ranks, followed by Catholic and then Orthodox societies. Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem and animist societies lag well behind. Japan and Singapore are ‘exceptions that prove the rule’, having had strong American and British influence shaping their social institutions respectively.
Some would say that the high ranking of the Protestant-background nations is due to the ‘emancipation from religion’, i.e. secularisation, which first emerged in those nations. Indeed, the Reformation did produce the factors giving rise to secularism, for reasons we cannot explore here. Yet Harvard historian Niall Ferguson once lamented in the NY Times that ‘the stunning triumph of secularisation in Western Europe’ had produced a decline of the Protestant work ethic in Europe.
On the 500th anniversary of the start of this world-shaping movement, we should pause to ask what causal links can be demonstrated between the Reformation and economic growth, democratic stability, and social justice in Protestant-background countries. Would Ukraine’s leaders be wise to look to Protestant spiritual resources as they seek to move their nation into the future?
Firstly, the Reformation opened the path to freedom of religion, of conscience and of expression. Religious freedom reduces corruption once religious monopolies are broken. Encouraging tolerance and respect, it reduces conflict in society. Civil and human rights are promoted under conditions of religious freedom. Freedom of conscience also led to the value of the individual. The emphasis on each individual accepting responsibility for one’s own spiritual welfare contributed significantly to the development of human rights.
Entrepreneurship Secondly, the emphasis on reading the Bible daily led to literacy and better education. That, in turn, increased labour productivity, fostered technological innovation and economic improvement. Max Weber’s thesis that Protestants were generally more diligent in their work is often quoted as explaining the economic success of Protestant-influenced countries. Understanding work as worship, as Luther stated, gave Protestants higher motivation in their work productivity, and encouraged a spirit of entrepreneurship.
Thirdly, the recovery of the concept of the priesthood of all believers undermined traditional hierarchies and produced a stronger civil society. Alexis de Tocqueville used the phrase ‘the art of association’ to describe the Protestant America he observed almost two centuries ago where a strong spirit of voluntary cooperation has continued to shape community life.
Wherever the Reformation took hold, governmental structures were radically altered and contributed to the emergence of representative parliamentary government. In Geneva, where John Calvin replaced ecclesiastical hierarchy with elected elders, it was soon realised that what was good for the church was good for the state. The Geneva model was eventually adopted in Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States, which in turn became models for democratic governments formed worldwide.
Yes, the Reformation also had its darker side, which we may address in a future blog. But politicians in Ukraine, and for that matter anywhere, should reflect seriously on the evidence of the charts linked above.
Have you seen the social media hashtag #metoo? It seems to have sprung up everywhere since American actor, Alyssa Milano tweeted:
Me too.
Suggested by a friend: ‘If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote “Me too” as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.’
Like thousands of other women around the world, I responded. Me too.
Sadly, I wasn’t surprised when several my friends and relatives did the same. But this particular post captures the heart of what happens when someone allows Jesus to intervene.
On behalf of so many others, thank you Lyn, for giving me permission to share it here.
I’m not posting this just so people can be aware of how big the problem of sexual harrassment/assault is. Yes it’s important to know the problem exists and how widespread it is. Yes it’s important that we speak up and do all we can to stop it.
But I’m posting for those who have had this happen to them – it’s important to know that your life doesn’t have to be forever defined by what happened. How do I know because I’ve been there. I was abused for many years by family members. What happened was real, horrific to go through and wrong on so many levels.
But what happened to me and to you does not have to define who you are; only you get to choose what defines you. You are the only one who can choose whether your identity is bound to what happened or you can choose whether your identity is found in who you are apart from that event or events. Your identity is not found in being “a victim of…” Your identity is found in who you are in your personality and character – are you honest, funny, kind, loving, giving, etc – that’s who you are, that’s your identity!
If you need help in processing what you’ve been through then please get help, don’t feel you are alone or have to go through this on your own. There are many good counsellors out there who are experienced in helping people and giving them the skills needed to move beyond this. Can I also suggest that there is true healing to be found – in the one who bore our griefs and sorrows in himself – Jesus. I know some of you will not agree with me speaking about Jesus but for myself I have found that as I have allowed him to bring comfort and healing that has been beyond mere learning how to cope, He has truly taken away all the sting and pain of the many years of abuse I suffered.
Remember – even though something horrific may have happened to you it doesn’t define you – you are still you, you are valued, loved and loveable, you are unique and precious and all of us need you to stand up and tell your story.
If you haven’t been through this yourself then please be aware that many have, please don’t stay silent – silence is part of what allows this hideous practice to continue.
If you’re a Christian then can I ask you – please reach out to those who are hurting and love them back to wholeness again. Grieve with those who grieve, pray with those who need prayer, and fight for those who can’t.
#metoo
Continuing on the #metoo theme for just a little longer. I am all too aware that sexual harassment and abuse is not confined to one sex only, it is not only women that are preyed upon; too many boys and young men are preyed upon by others (male and female) too.
Again I have seen this in my family growing up, some of my brothers were preyed upon by men who should have known better, who should have been the responsible adult yet whose sexual appetite ruled when their brain should have. As a result of the abuse we suffered as kids my family grew up having to deal with much brokenness, believing lies about ourselves, being tormented by memories and sometimes physical effects, wrong mindsets about who they were and with dysfunction in so many areas. Each of us responded differently but the trauma and pain is still evident for so many of us. And so the abuse continues – it did not end just because the physical part of it ended – it continues to have an effect in our family even today.
There are too many men who feel they cannot speak out for varying reasons – because their manhood would be questioned, they would be ashamed etc. So they live with brokenness and dysfunction, hoping no one finds out yet secretly hoping someone will recognise they need help.
As I said earlier I know of only one who bore our griefs and sorrows, taking them upon himself and in doing so made a way for us to be healed and that was Jesus. Can I ask, please if you need healing, consider reaching out and asking Jesus to bring you healing, he’s the only one I know who can.
Men – as I said in my earlier post today when I shared my personal story – even though something horrific may have happened to you it doesn’t need to define you – you are still you, you are valued, loved and loveable, you are unique and precious and all of us need you to stand up and tell your story.
If you haven’t been through this yourself then please be aware that many have, please don’t stay silent speak out against it; silence is part of what allows this hideous practice to continue.
If you’re a Christian then can I ask you – please reach out to those who are hurting and love them back to wholeness again. Grieve with those who grieve, pray with those who need prayer, and fight for those who can’t.
Andy and I have just come from the Auckland Prayer Breakfast where over 500 were gathered at Eden Park to pray for our city. It was truly amazing to worship God collectively and to pray fervently for issues that face our city and nation.
There were 4 prayers leaders and I was asked to speak on the area of Marriage and Family. I wanted to share what I spoke about because I feel that it’s relevant to each and every one of us.
“My husband Andy and I have been leading the ministry of FamilyLife for the last 24 years where our goal is to inspire and equip couples to stay successfully married for a lifetime. During that time, I have experienced God heal so many broken relationships …
Here’s what one husband said after attending our last marriage getaway:
“Where do I start? I thought we were coming to hopefully fix my wife! Turns out I had as many, if not more, issues than her. This has literally saved my marriage of 17 years. You have inspired me to give 100% not only to my wife but my children as well.”
Comments like these fuel my passion for building strong marriages and families … but you might be surprised to learn where that passion comes from.
It’s grown out of a messy upbringing. My mum has been divorced twice, along with two broken de-facto relationships (considering her background, there’s no wonder); I lived in an Air Force children’s home for a year, and throughout my teenage years I lived with guardians … who also divorced.
You probably all know the stats: with that background I was 5x more likely to commit suicide and 10x more likely to have psychological issues. And if Jesus hadn’t revealed Himself to me while at Uni I’m sure I would have succumbed to at least one of those.
A church initiative to help young students navigate life in a new city was a saving grace. A local church family kind of ‘adopted’ me while I studied for 3 years. I got to see first-hand how marriage and family is meant to work when God is present. I was invited round for Sunday lunches, family dinners and sleep-overs. Of course, with all the brokenness I’d seen I’d given up on the whole idea of marriage.
Now I had a completely different picture.
Fortunately, when Andy and I married we went to a FamilyLife weekend getaway and we learnt even more about how to build a marriage according to God’s Plan.
At that time, just one year into our young marriage, little did we know what we would face: 17 years of Andy on a kidney dialysis machine, 2 kidney transplants, cancer, a serious stroke, 2 heart attacks and the tragic death of our eldest daughter Natasha, at just 16 years old, in the Elim/OPC canyoning disaster in 2008.
Now why do I tell you all that?
When we share our own journey at our marriage events, without even being aware, we’ve been modelling to other couples, that despite serious challenges in life we can all still find deep significance and satisfaction in our marriage.
Think about this: Our marriages are taking place on a spiritual battlefield, not on a romantic balcony.
In Genesis, Satan targeted Adam and Eve – attempting to destroy their relationship with their creator and also with each other. And He is doing the same today.
We would all do well to remember this: My spouse is not my enemy!
Marriage is under attack as educators, politicians and the media try to redefine it. In fact, I can’t recall one Politician in this recent election who raised the idea that building strong marriages might just be one of the answers to so many problems that weigh down our country today.
Consider this:
We live in a beautiful country. It’s so majestic that New Zealand even has a nickname, Godzone. Isn’t that interesting when so many in this great land don’t know the God who created it. Those of us here who are married have one of the most amazing tools to tell people about God. It’s a marriage. A marriage built upon Jesus Christ.
Just as that church family modelled to me a different vision all those years ago, you too are modelling your marriage to others in your community. Your marriage is more significant than you may have thought.
By living out God’s principles for marriage in our own lives – in unconditional love, mutual respect, understanding and forgiveness, we are reflecting God to a younger generation who desperately needs Him.
Let’s each commit to rebuild the family in our spheres of influence, one marriage, one home at a time. May God grant us favour, not just in our own families but also in the lives of others – and may each of our legacies be mighty.”
What will the church look like in 100 years?
In Budapest, capital of a predominantly Catholic Hungary, 95 square-shaped concrete tablets representing Luther’s 95 Theses have been laid in Calvin Square, each featuring a pair of quotes from Reformers and prominent Hungarian authors.
