Almost Anything Goes
We live in a world where almost anything goes. As a nation individuals have totally different attitudes about the Bible, truth and morals, faith practices, family and the value of life, God, creation and history, human character and nature, lifestyle, behaviour and relationships, purpose and calling as well as sin, salvation, and a God relationship. These come from many sources including the media and internet and we can easily become obsessed by some of them. It is a relief to know that “God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor 14: 33) We are aware that the autonomy of Christian institutions in Queensland are being stripped of their right to hire staff who are aligned with their beliefs by a new draft anti-discrimination bill. Fundamental freedoms and the dignity of life are being undermined by changing euthanasia laws. Democracy is often undermined, and public trust eroded by dissenting voices being excluded from inquiry processes so legitimate debate is being suppressed.
There is the need for transparency, inclusivity, and fairness to be included to ensure that all voices are heard in any inquiry process, and the rights of all Australians are protected. We have become so self-focused, and our beliefs are so self-serving that no government can reasonably be expected to restore the common purpose and shared vision of our nation without a serious reshaping of our worldviews. We see the care for the terminally ill being jeopardized while palliative care is being restricted impacting the most vulnerable members of our community while allocating $100 million for assisted suicide. We need to understand and identify the true cause of suicide in people diagnosed with gender dysphoria and stop threatening parents with the ‘let your kid transition or else’. A recent groundbreaking study has revealed that physical gender transition does not correlate with a reduction in suicide rates among gender dysphoric young individuals.
As our society continues to deviate from the ancient and historical moral codes of ‘thou shalt not kill,’ we are setting our nation on a slippery slope towards increasingly dangerous laws. Government committees often turn a deaf ear to submissions that don’t align with their social agenda. As Australians we do not come to have an agreement on- our basis of truth, who deserves to be respected, the importance of God as an authority source and guide for life, our belief about the value of human life, our acceptance of the existence of absolute moral truths and the existence of Satan. But some of us know Satan was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (Jn 8:44)
Let’s pray:
* For a period of spiritual renewal in Australia that restores a widespread understanding and basis of truth, individual purpose, and personal responsibility within our nation.
* For more Christians in 2024 to step out in faith and encourage those who create and administer the laws of the nation to show more compassion for the healthcare of children with gender dysphoria, and for those who are terminally ill.
* For a serious reshaping of our own and our Nation’s worldviews and a greater desire for us to meet in a spirit of goodwill and a commitment to truth, justice and healing.
Praying into the Youth Crime Wave Impacting Our Nation
The youth crime epidemic affecting many parts of our nation shows no sign of easing with Governments not appearing to have answers that will address the situation. Part of the reason for that is that it appears authorities are unwilling to take any action against minority groups within our society that may result in them being accused of racism. They do not appear to understand that applying the law evenly in all situations is not racist. Even Indigenous leaders are pleading with authorities to apply the law against this lawlessness which is resulting in regular criminal behaviour going unpunished.
Please pray:
* that Governments and law enforcement authorities will take whatever action is necessary to address this epidemic directly and with purpose to ensure the safety of the general public in their own homes and on the streets of our communities.
* that Indigenous leaders will be given whatever support they ask for so that they too can assist in bringing the current situation under control.
* that the needs of the indigenous youth, who are in large part committing the acts of violence being witnessed on our streets, will be better understood and that strategies to deal with those needs implemented.
Psychiatry Body’s Radical Challenge to Transgender Care
Australia’s peak psychiatry college, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZP) has become the first medical body in the country to acknowledge shifting international evidence on transgender healthcare and puberty blockers. In a major position statement challenging the approach of children’s hospitals, the college declined to endorse gender-affirming care as the key intervention for children who believe they may be transgender. This highlights an increasingly cautious approach in some European counties amid a lack of evidence for the medical pathway. It acknowledged the plight of the de-transitioners who had reported being harmed by medical transitions. The college’s statement also unambiguously defined sex as a biological characteristic that define humans as female or male. This directly opposes the notion put forward by trans activists that sex is a concept related to identity rather than a binary state.
Andrew Amos, an academic psychiatrist at the James Cook University, has stated, “In my opinion, it’s unconscionable that gender-affirming medical-based care has grown rapidly across Australia in the last decade despite the reality that we simply don’t know how many kids change their minds. This is particularly damaging because medical/surgical transitions require life-long care, with potentially catastrophic effects of de-transitioning in later life.”
Please pray:
“This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God. He created both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race.” Genesis 5:1-2 MSG
* Pray for the doctors and medical staff in Australia, who continue to practice risky and unproven surgical and medical gender-changing procedures on vulnerable children and young people. Ask the Lord to change their hearts and minds and forgive them.
* Pray that the statement from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is very effective in winding back and stopping the rapid growth of gender-affirming medical/surgical based treatment of children.
* Ask for boldness and love to speak out against these ungodly practices which go directly against the Lord’s word and plan.
Praying for Issues in the News
* The issuing of the wrong type of visas to criminal detainees released from detention at the direction of the High Court recently has further complicated the response of our Federal Government to the situation. Breaches of the wrongly issued visas cannot now be punished, with new visas now requiring to be released and for the process to start again. Please pray that no further crimes nor visa breaches will be committed by the released criminals whilst this error is being rectified.
* Hoteliers have warned a planned overhaul of Queensland prostitution laws will strip business owners of their right to deny rooms to sex workers and allow pop-up brothels in the state’s hotels and motels. Reforms to decriminalise the state’s sex work industry are aimed at reducing violence and exploitation of workers, but critics have warned of unintended consequences including the banning of local councils from regulating where businesses can be set up. Please pray that the proposed laws will not be implemented, and that hotel/motel owners and local councils will be released from having to allow things on their premises against their wishes. Pray too that women will not be forced into prostitution against their will.
Praying for our Nation
This week let us pray against the pride which led to colonialism, the Tall Poppy Syndrome, racism and division within our nation.
Source: Australian Prayer Network
As this Prayer Watch bulletin is private the standard printing option is not available. If a printed copy is required, you will need to copy the body of the email and paste it into a blank document and print from that document.
Comments are closed