Liberal supporters disappointed that Scott Morrison wasn’t interested in fighting the Culture Wars will be dismayed to discover that Peter Dutton seems intent on fighting them, but for the other side.
The Opposition leader took time out from not opposing Net Zero madness to vilify orthodox Christian beliefs last week, describing Christian teaching on homosexuality and abortion as ‘an abomination’.
Dutton’s commentary on the Essendon Football Club’s decision to part ways with their CEO because of his links to the Anglican church began well enough.
He said the media and political pile-on that forced Andrew Thorburn from the job he held for just 24 hours was ‘an egregious attack’ on religious freedom.
Praise the Lord!
But then Dutton suddenly felt the urge to outdo Daniel Andrews in vilifying Christianity, no small feat.
It was like Dutton, having listened to Andrews deride Christianity as ‘absolutely appalling’, told the Victoria Premier: ‘Hold my beer…’
The Liberal leader, turned theologian, told Sky News Australia:
‘The views that have been expressed by a pastor at this church in relation to gay people, or to the issue of abortion – they’re an abomination and I condemn those points that have been made by that particular pastor.’
Tell me Christians, with good friends like Peter Dutton, who needs enemies like Daniel Andrews?
No one can ever accuse the Liberals of playing to their base. These days they spit on it.
I get that some Liberals – even the Liberal leader himself – might be pro-choice. But for the Liberal leader to declare it an ‘abomination’ to believe the mysterious thing detected by the ultrasound in the pregnant woman’s womb is a human being? I mean, it’s not a potato, Mr Dutton.
And I appreciate that some Liberals might want to join their inclusive, diversity-loving Labor colleagues at the front of the next Gay Pride Parade. By all means, Mr Dutton, wave that rainbow flag like your political future depends upon it.
But to condemn the Biblical view of sexuality as an ‘abomination’?
If only the conservative leader spoke in such strong terms about the maddening obsession with destroying the economy in pursuit of Net Zero emissions.
If only he had condemned lockdowns and vaccine mandates as an abomination…
Sigh.
Instead, Mr Dutton saved his most virulent rhetoric since becoming Liberal leader to denounce Christian belief in the sanctity of life and the supremacy of the traditional family unit.
His choice of words was interesting. Christian views on sexuality were an ‘abomination’, Mr Dutton said, and he ‘condemned’ them.
As Dr David van Gend pointed out so brilliantly in this week’s Spectator Australia Magazine, it was the lawgiver Moses who declared about 3,000 years ago that sodomy was an ‘abomination’.
(Christians don’t use language like that anymore.)
And it was the saviour Jesus who, personifying both the law of God and the love of God perfectly all at the same time, told the woman caught in sexual sin that even though she had sinned He would not ‘condemn’ her.
The essence of Christianity, then, is clarity around ideas while exercising charity toward people, and especially toward those with whom we disagree.
It is for this reason that Andrew Thorburn’s pastor can believe homosexuality is wrong while warmly welcoming homosexuals.
And it is for this reason that Andrew Thorburn can believe abortion is tantamount to murder (if indeed that is what he believes) while working graciously alongside women who have had abortions.
But can Christians argue for the sanctity of life and the supremacy of the traditional family unit while belonging to one of the two major parties?
Daniel Andrews reckons Christian views are ‘appalling’. Dutton reckons Christian views are an ‘abomination’.
With Labor and the Liberals appearing to be on a unity ticket when it comes to condemning timeless Christian beliefs, and with 11 million Australians still prepared to identify as appalling and abominable, there are a lot of voters looking for a spiritual home at the next election.
(This article was originally published in The Spectator. If you’re not a subscriber to The Spectator, you can sign up here. Honestly, it’s the best source of conservative opinion available and it deserves to be widely read)
As a man who believes in the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, with a few minor reforms, I still use language like Moses did as I continue to quote the bible as God's word for all men.
I do not call Sodomites Gay. I do not call murder abortion or euthanasia.
The left continues to redefine words and if we accept their definitions then all arguments are lost and we have been controlled (1984).
Speech is important and free speech can only be possible if we all agree on meanings as Kel Richards says.
I believe what God has said about His word, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12) and that is why I continue to quote it directly as I do not want to pollute its meaning with my bias. It is our only attacking weapon, " And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6: 17) against the devil in the battle as he fires his fiery darts at us continually.
The woke left change meanings continually as they try to deceive and kill us, e.g. gene therapy mRNA experiments are now called "vaccines" even though the active part was registered as a bioweapon in 2017 by the NIH. How many would have volunteered to take them if they told them it was a gene altering experiment that had never worked on humans before, killed all 200,000, except for 5 in the 2013 trial and had killed all the animals in the Covid-19 vaccine trials?
So we can see that the meanings of words can be a matter of life and death.
How much are we told about the sad side of being a Sodomite? Diseases, deaths, suicides, etc. and none are because "Christians" think it is an abomination, but it may be that they know it is wrong as they still have a conscience.
How much are we told about the problems of women who have abortions? Their life long guilt, infertility, deaths, damages, infections, etc. Are we told how much hospitals get paid for selling aborted fetus body parts? I hear it is very profitable and they have amazing health benefits for the buyers. Are we told Satanic worship is really behind killings of babies?
What difference would it make if we had freedom of speech and open debate on these things rather than both sides of politics agreeing on such "abominations"?
I think we do need another party to represent those 11 million people who must be very disappointed with Dutton. I suggest the name, "The Faithful Party" and make it clear that they will not support murder or Sodomy, but call them abominations. May the weak, woke, wet LNP and the Communist aligned Labor, Teals and Greens all be judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer eternally. Then we may say once again, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2: 14)
Meanwhile, some Christian networks, councils and denominations are making their stand on such matters. Generate Presbytery in South Australia, a large section of the UCA, the Presbyterians and of course the Catholic bishop's statement. Others? While their core Gospel work is making disciples, these and more will be looking for leaders with integrity standing at the next election.