No doubt Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison hoped his recent declaration on 60 Minutes that “I’ve worn out the carpet on the side of my bed ... on my knees, praying and praying” would have boosted perceptions of his character, recently attacked by enemies and friends alike.
It may have. But it had adverse consequences as well. One was simply to provoke Morrison’s critics to respond with, ‘If you have means and do not use them to help the poor, you cannot claim to be a servant of the god you say you love.’
There was another consequence, more subtle, more theologically technical but potentially more damaging for the PM and ministers who share his Charismatic Christian faith.
Followers of Christ or the Pharisees
It has been shown here at Independent Australia and elsewhere from biblical scholars that throughout history there have been two opposing movements within the Judeo-Christian communities. One group comprises genuine disciples of the prophets of those faiths. The other is a gaudy, blasphemous counterfeit.
In the Christian tradition, the former group follows the teachings and life example of Jesus of Nazareth; the latter operates in the tradition of the scribes and Pharisees – the enemies of Jesus who had him killed.
The Jewish scriptures, which Christians also believe are authoritative, describe the evils of the false prophets. The Christian New Testament goes further, adding to the list of characteristics of the false teachers embedded within the church, against whom genuine believers must be ever-vigilant.
Warnings against making prayer public
One of these indicators is boasting about praying, thereby asserting that he or she is close to God and should therefore be revered and obeyed.
Many global leaders enthusiastically volunteer to be filmed or photographed praying in public. These include Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan, the USA’s Donald Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin as well as Australia’s Scott Morrison and his employment minister Stuart Robert.
The problem these all have is that Jesus specifically teaches his followers to keep silent about their prayer life. This is a matter strictly between the Christian and God:
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
This augments a long list of scriptural indicators of what separates genuine followers of God from those who actually serve Satan.
The challenge to elected officials professing religious faith
Politicians who claim adherence to the Judeo-Christian faiths have clear God-given responsibilities. They must always tell the truth, serve the poor first and foremost, redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor, welcome migrants and refugees, prosecute those who engage in corruption and refrain from self-aggrandising attention-seeking.
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This is part of a longer article published today by Independent Australia:
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The original article is available here in full for free:
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-perils-of-politicians-praying-in-public,16097
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“Alan Austin is a great Australian journalist and,
I think, a pirate. I steal Alan Austin’s findings all the time.”
~ Jordan Shanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtV-2X4BjQI