WHY I LOVE AUSTRALIA

Australia has been my home for some twenty years now. About four years ago I became an Australian citizen (or should that be “Australian subject”?) Yes, Australia’s system of democracy is a Constitutional Monarchy. Some wish Australia to become some sort of republic. I suppose I wouldn’t mind Australia becoming a Christian republic. However, no doubt it would be some sort of anti-Christian republic model that would win the day. So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we end up a Secularist (read Atheist) Australia. Secularists are trying to distance Australia from its Christian heritage, aren’t they?

Some want to change the Australian flag. “Why give Britain (read England) free advertising?” So, they wish to remove the picture of the Union flag from the top left of our Australian flag. I reckon the Australian flag would look great with just the blue background with the white stars, O I love that Southern Cross! But, people want to change the colours and put weird-shaped kangaroos and all sorts of critters and shapes on the flag. So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we remove the reminder of our Christian heritage from our flag. And those crosses in the Union flag, they are Christian symbols, aren’t they?

Before becoming an Australian citizen I began deeply to contemplate what Australia is and who the Australian people are. What is the glue that holds the Australian people together? Down Under it’s called “mateship”. What is “mateship”? It’s doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. It’s loving your neighbour as yourself. If the Secularists have their way will “mateship” still be the rule of life in their Godless republic? So, best let sleeping dogs lie, I say, lest we end up following the “survival of the fittest” philosophy or some other anti-Christian rule of life.

Where did Australian “mateship” come from? In other words, what philosophy has impacted Australian life so much so that the whole nation has adopted it? Well, I’ve already mentioned the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule of What? Islam? Buddhism? Secularism? Humanism? Socialism? Communism? Atheism? Which of these has most influenced the Australian way of life? None of them!

Where do we find the Golden Rule? It’s found in the Book that our Constitutional Monarchy is based upon – the Holy Bible: “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” Luke 6:31. This rule is not about sitting on your comfy couch and watching the news. It’s about actually “doing” something. It’s about loving your neighbour as yourself, Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31. The Jesus who said this is the same Jehovah who said, way back in Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Thus Jehovah-Jesus.

It’s great that Australia has adopted the teaching of Christianity and it’s even more great that she puts it into practice! In the recent Queensland floods, (in which at least 22 people lost their lives, perhaps more), Australians demonstrated true love for neighbour. Whole houses with people’s belongings were washed away. Cars were piled on top of each other by the power of the rushing water. In Brisbane city whole suburbs were awash.

I heard someone on the radio say that when the floods hit New Orleans all the city’s roads were blocked with people trying to leave the city. But when the floods hit Brisbane all the city’s roads were blocked, but not with people trying to leave, but with people trying to get into the city to lend a hand! Television pictures of thousands of volunteers lining up to help brought tears to my eyes! I am proud to be called an Australian! What a people! “Mateship” in action!

Our Queensland State Premier went from zero to hero(ine) and then back to zero in the space of a few days. Before the floods her ratings were the lowest of the low. During the floods she demonstrated great leadership – even asking for prayer for the flood victims! After the floods her ratings plummeted when she and her government wanted to “means-test” flood refugees before they could receive our voluntarily donated monies! There was a great hue and cry, and the people voiced the opinion that the government ought to “butt-out” when it comes to our donations! Don’t governments just spoil things when they overstep their mandate?

I love Australia as it is – a nation greatly influenced by Christian teaching. Don’t change it except to influence it more with the Bible! So, best let sleeping dingoes lie…