THE CROSS HAS THE FINAL WORD
In my previous blog post, "What Is Happening In Canberra," I sought to sound the alarm concerning the forced takeover of the Catholic-run Calvary Public Hospital by the Labor/Greens government of the Australian Capital Territory to become a totally secular institution. The Clare Holland Hospice, also a Catholic faith-based end-of-life care institution associated with the hospital was also in the government's crosshairs, and it too has been forcibly acquired by this totalitarian-style government. These actions have seen widespread alarm, and condemnation by, not only Christians, but many tens of thousands of citizens across the nation who have signed online petitions and who have written to politicians to voice their shock and disapproval of this unprecedented action in Australia.
The above graphic photo shows the removal of the iconic blue cross from the front of Calvary Public Hospital in Canberra last Sunday, a day before the official start date for the government's control of these health services. Last week, even before the official takeover date, crosses were being systematically removed from inside the hospital and hospice displays.
From the Daily Mail Australia article headed: "How this single photo of a crucifix being removed from a hospital by a crane has sparked outrage among Christians," Veteran Christian activist and National Director of the Family First Party, Lyle Shelton likened what he saw to the actions of Communist China.
"The forced removal of the cross of Christ from a Christian-owned hospital compulsorily acquired by a hostile secularist government," he tweeted on Sunday.
"These are the actions of a totalitarian regime, the likes of which exist in Beijing, not normally associated with Canberra. Time to wake up!"
Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese Archbishop Christopher Prowse also described the removal of the hospital's main cross as the actions of a totalitarian authority.
"The very first thing a totalitarian government does, when it seizes Christian assets, the very first thing they all do...... they take down the crucifix," he said.
"And right now today, over at the public hospital - today is Sunday, of all days they picked is the Christian gathering time - they're taking the very big blue cross from outside the public hospital today.
"There was a collective wrenching going on, but there was a sense of hope because they realised you can take down our physical crucifixes (crosses) but you'll never take away the cross, Jesus's cross, inside my heart."
At the heart of this action by a Godless, evil overreaching secular government in Canberra, there is an ideological clash that sees the Catholic Church's caring, life-affirming Christian ethos as "problematic," with particular disregard for the hospital's refusal to carry out abortions on healthy babies in utero, and up to full term, and to consider the possibility of euthanasia, when this becomes a legal reality in the A.C.T., as is expected to be the case later this year.
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, a Catholic, at least in name, has smirked his way through a press conference, when asked about the takeover of the Calvary Hospital, saying he does not see this as being a precedent for similar actions in other jurisdictions. Does he have the power to overrule the actions of the A.C.T. Labor/Greens government led by Andrew Barr? Probably, but he is obviously happy to sit back and just let this evil action take place without even a hint of displeasure.
As each day passes in Australia, and in other western nations, it seems that the evil tide of oppression and repression of Christians and all that Bible-believing Christians stand for, is being eroded and spiritual darkness is increasing exponentially.
Is there hope that the light of the Gospel will shine through the darkness, and the evil tide be turned back from our nation, and other nations that seem to be succumbing to evil legislated by Godless leaders and their governments?
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
Prophetically, Isaiah proclaimed some seven hundred years before Christ:
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him" Isaiah 59:19
The reality is, that crosses have been removed from many churches also, with the erroneous logic that non-Christians will be more attracted to these churches if the crosses, that they may see as offensive are removed.
The cross of Christ is the central reality, though of God's loving provision for humanity - the means of reconciling sinful man to an all-loving merciful Father God, who longs for individuals and nations to find salvation and hope fulfilled in a world that offers nothing but hopelessness and promises unfulfilled.
The cross of Christ indeed has the final word for humanity.
Contemporary Christian music group, Newsboys recorded a song several years ago, written by Cody Carnes, called "The Cross Has The Final Word."
Some of the lyrics are:
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up its strongest fight
But the cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The saviour has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word
There's nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater that the Name of Jesus
All the honour, all the power
All the glory to the Name of Jesus
A Senate Inquiry into the forced takeover of Calvary Public Hospital in Canberra is being held later this month. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this parliamentary inquiry, but whatever the outcome, it is clear that this is not a time for Christians to be silent in the face of opposition, but to
:Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you
And His glory will be seen upon you.
AUSTRALIA! GET READY! REVIVAL IS COMING!
