In New Zealand, ANZAC commemorations honour the hardships and sacrifices of those who went overseas to fight in two world wars and various subsequent wars. Most were ordinary young civilians, volunteers or conscripts, who accepted their duty to help defend their country. They acted bravely, in frightening circumstances. Many came home emotionally scarred, about 40,000 were wounded, and over 30,000 were killed. They came from our own families and communities. ANZAC remembrances need neither glorify nor sanctify war. But it honours those who served, those who died, and those who mourned.
In this fallen world, there have always been wars. Wars reflect the innate tribalism in human nature, competition for land and resources, the desire to dominate, and clashes of ideology and belief. And when attacked, people will defend themselves if they can.
New Zealand has had its own share of wars, both in pre-European and colonial times, and has since participated in overseas wars. This country also developed a minority tradition of Christian pacifists, who in times of war were given a hard time by authorities.
In the Old Testament times, war was seen as a means of securing and defending the land promised to God’s covenant people, and of repelling idolatrous influences.
In the New Testament, Jesus neither endorsed nor condemned warfare, but his teaching was strong on forgiveness and reconciliation, and on loving and praying for your enemies. And he declared “Blessed are the peacemakers”.
The early church was opposed to Christians serving in the military. In the second century, Tertullian asked: “Shall it be lawful to make an occupation of the sword when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword?” and Hippolytus declared that if a baptised Christians wishes to become a soldier, “let him be cast out, for he has despised God”. Part of that was that the Roman Army was very closely associated with pagan practices.
In the fourth century, the Roman Empire began to be led by emperors who now favoured Christianity, and Christians became a new elite. Christian leaders at that time became more positive about the need to defend the Empire against would-be invaders. In that context, Augustine’s teaching about “just war” recognised both the inevitability of war and the need for ethical constraints on war, such as the requirements for a just cause, a right intention (e.g. justice and peace), and proper conduct (including mercy in victory, rather than cruel vengeance). Those Christian-derived and time-honoured ethical principles remain influential, even though down through the centuries they have perhaps more often been breached than closely applied. They continue to offer useful perspectives, a way of reflecting on all sorts of wars both past and present, and into the future.
In this world, the call to peace remains, along with the reality that governments may rightly call upon their citizens to help defend others from harm. Christians have differed on how to respond to that call. Yet many have served with courage, and have acted justly even in the midst of war. On ANZAC Day, we honour those who served, and suffered, and those who lost their lives. We pray for a world where there is more peace and less war. And in faith we look forward to when Christ shall come, and there shall be a new heaven and earth, and evil and war and death shall be defeated for ever.
The oneness of all believers in Christ is a spiritual reality, which God in his grace has already given us: if we belong by faith to Christ, we believers are one in Christ, sharing the same Spirit, same salvation, same call to follow Christ, and same future glory. As Augustine said, if we belong to the Head, we are part of the same Body. But how much we cherish and nurture that oneness is something that depends in part on us: we are urged to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Eph.4:3).
What erodes our sense of oneness in Christ?
So many things! Our dispersion around the world, in countless different languages, cultures, and places. Our isolation in separate local churches. Our denominational distinctives (and pride), and our prejudices that other churches are defective, or spiritually lifeless. Our disagreements (sometimes justified) with other Christians on key matters of doctrine, and our disagreements on lesser matters. Our adoption of polarising views, or unbiblical ideologies, and our failure to listen or interact with gentleness and respect. Our tendency to assume other’s faults, or to regard some people with disdain, or to speak negatively about them.
What strengthens our oneness in Christ?
being more serious – and less selective – about loving one another (Jn. 13:34-35)
“bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2)
with the Lord’s help, being willing to forgive (Eph. 4:32)
praying for one another, including those who hurt us (Mt. 5:44)
having a generous heart towards those Christian believers who we think may get some things wrong (Rom. 15:1–2)
majoring on what we have in common, rather than quarrelling about matters where we differ (Rom. 14:1)
seeing other churches not as rivals or competitors (Phil. 2:3-4), but as part of the same team, who we want to help build up
seeking fellowship with believers from other churches and denominations
joining with believers from other churches and denominations in prayer, mission, evangelism, and service to others
1. Please pray for the upcoming General Assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance, October 27-31
At the end of this month, many Christian leaders from around the world will gather in Seoul (South Korea) for the 2025 General Assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). This is an event that happens every six years, with delegates from up to 146 different nations.
The New Zealand Christian Network is a national affiliate of the WEA, and ten representatives from New Zealand will be attending. There will also be some fifteen evangelical friends and leaders from other parts of the South Pacific.
The roots of the World Evangelical Alliance go back to 1846. Its identity as “evangelical” has nothing to do with earthly politics, but is simply about a united commitment to Christ, to biblical faith, to the proclamation of the Gospel, and our oneness in the Spirit for all who are in Christ. For evangelical Christians, our oneness in Christ (Gal 3:28) transcends all differences, including race, culture, nationality, denominations, worship styles, and secondary doctrinal issues. The number of evangelical Christians worldwide is thought to be about 600 million. Many who come to the Assembly will come from countries where Christians are subject to significant persecution, or where there is war, poverty, or other major problems.
Many matters will be addressed, but the theme is “The Gospel for Everyone by 2033”. This is a call to Christians all over the globe to unite in effective Gospel proclamation, in the lead-up to the 2,000-year anniversary of the Cross and Resurrection.
There will be great support – not least in prayer – from many Korean Christians. The General Assembly venue is the Sarang Church, led by Rev. Dr. Jung-Hyun OH.
Pray for great fellowship, for inspiration, for safety, for good health for all, and for God’s sustaining for everyone working hard to make this a first-rate gathering. Pray that the Lord may be glorified, that the Holy Spirit may move in the hearts of all who are present, and that through this event the global people of God made be strengthened and blessed.
2. Do we yet have a real, deep peace in the Middle East?
The cease-fire deal in Gaza and long-awaited prisoner and hostage exchanges are an encouraging start, but progress towards a real peace has barely begun, and faces multiple obstacles. Keep praying!
All around the world, in every context of enmity and war, what is needed is a really profound peace: not just an agreement to co-exist without killing one another, but also a heart-felt embrace of forgiveness, reconciliation, compassion, justice, and sharing. That is not the way of the world, but it is certainly the way of Christ: “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44).
3. A follower of Jesus, from Nazareth
Interestingly, the newly-appointed Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (Botrus Mansour) is an Arab Christian from Nazareth, where Jesus himself lived. A lawyer who lives in a Muslim neighbourhood, Mansour describes his identities as “evangelical, Christian, Arab, Palestinian and Israeli”, and asserts that “my identity in Christ transcends these different views”. He declares that “we are all made in the image of God and Christ has come to bring fullness of life for all”, and that we must actively share “the wonderful news of Jesus”. No doubt Mansour holds some views that some other Christians may not. But what matters more is that those who belong to Christ are called not only to love God, but to love others as much as themselves – and that Christ has broken down the “dividing wall of hostility”, reconciling all who belong to him in one body (Eph 2: 14-18). After all, aren’t we meant to be “all one in Christ Jesus”?
Auckland Christian Singles exists to fill the much-overlooked gap in life and our church life of “how do 30+ singles and single again people in our churches connect with others who find themselves in the same place in life?”
Sadly, most such people find themselves in a minority and often their local church has little to offer them. Being able to access people in many churches adds so much to an individual’s life! Whether single or Independent-single parents raising a family alone, these people have needs so many don’t comprehend. For them just having peers to relate to in similar situations brings immense comfort and adds new dimensions and possibilities…let alone meeting others and moving forward in life.
Auckland Christian Singles started in May 2015 by Australian Michael Lee Jr, a young married pastor as he started a church here, who’d immigrated to nz via theological studies in New York where he’d met his Chinese wife. Ian McInnes, a former pastor, counsellor and therapist worked with Michael and has run the group since mid 2015. There are over 300 people registered on the Meetup site. There’s been over 100 events during the past 3 1/2 years ranging from coffee outings, bring a plate shared dinners at members homes, restaurant dinners, cycling adventures, group relationship seminars with experts such as Steven Dromgool, hikes and the like. We are always mindful of costs for our members and always minimise such.
Being a match, hatch and despatch unit is not our primary intention, however three of our members married in 2018.
To take a peek or join just go to the Facebook page, click on the Meetup link, post a visible picture and mention where you attend church…or at worse, last did. People who don’t meet those 2 simple pre-requisites will be removed after being asked to fulfill them. NZ isn’t a large country, but over a decade there can be as many as 75,000 marriage failures and with something like 70% of the population living north of a line drawn from between Hamilton and Tauranga, let alone the challenges of the internet and this “tinderised” world where people are seen as a smorgasbord to be plundered rather than friends to be treated regally, the need for such a group is imperative.
People on the site, which is an open site, are free to make the most of the events or contact members. We look forward to seeing you soon
Auckland Christian Singles
New Zealand Christian Network is not the organisers or coordinators of this group. However, we do recognise that this group tries to fill a valid need within the body of Christ. We also confirm that, at the time of this post, this is a legitimate group with trustworthy oversight. Please contact them directly, via their Facebook page or Meetup listing.
