This post is part of the Christianity In Australia synchroblog which a number of Australian Christians are participating in to celebrate Australia Day. For more on Christianity in Australia see:
- Matt Stone at Journeys In Between
- Andrew Hamilton at Backyard Missionary
- Ben Thurley at Ben’s Blog
- Rodney Olsen at RodneyOlsen.net
- Geoff Pengilly at The Healing Project
- Andy Porteous at Not Yet Finished
- Paul Robotham at A Christian’s Blog
- Chris Summerfield at A Churchless Faith
- Christina Aitken at Sojourn
- Heather at A Deconstructed Christian
- Geoff Matheson at Amateur Theology
- Deborah Taggart at The Bright Side
- Rob Hanks at Pump House
As I come to the task set before me I am realise that taking part in something of this nature is new to me. It’s not something that I have done before, as although I have been blogging for a few years, I would certainly say I am not an expert.
It’s interesting to think about the things of God, His wonders, His love, His mission and His heart for all people and yet wonder which we in Australia see Him differently than others around the globe. Kraft refers to this as a ‘worldview’. Is our worldview of all this God different from others?
I think the answer is both yes and no.
Yes in the sense that Australia is not, despite what some might say, a Christian country. We are just a pagan a country as many others. And whilst there may have been good intentions from the beginning of this nation things change. Yes… there are a few believers in this great nation but we are far from the majority. Whilst those with eyes to see can find God in the everyday, most do not find Him at all… let alone even look for him. All this to say that the idea of spiritual things are far from our culture, unlike that of countries such found in Asian regions. Here we find things of religion and the spiritual realm a close knit with their culture. Mind you…. I am not making a connection here with the genuine nature of people in their acts. Like many of us, there are just going through the motions. Which brings me to…
No! We are just the same. Despite our worldview do we live by that view or are we just going through the motions? I heard a sermon on the radio recently from a pastor in America who was preaching on this very thing – America is no longer the country who trusts in God… it’s just some thing that is printed on their currency.
Since this a site on healing, I naturally turn my thoughts to reflecting on the why we see little of God’s supernatural healing in our country as opposed to that of those in other countries, such as those in Asian regions.
Why do you think that is?
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now that’s a big question for a public holiday!!
A few thoughts:
1. maybe we’re not as desperate….we have a good health system doctors etc who can help before we even think of praying
2. our worldview is still quite influenced by the west and modernisation (although postmodern and eastern views are gaining ground) in the sense that health is a science, science has ‘rational’ explanations that save us from the indignities of having to reach out for a healing saviour
3. even Christians who are looking to God for healing will combine their prayers with medical assistance – thus it’s less clear who gets the credit than when an Asian believer is healed and the only help offered was from God!
ya reckon??
I don’t believe God does the ’supernatural’. In miracles God is being God, the great I AM. He does not respect the human mental construct of ‘natural laws’. He breaks them as He sees fit. God heals in many ways. We see much more of God’s healing through advanced medicine in Australia than in most Asian countries. This medicine is a product of human striving to heal the sick, a noble, Christ-like purpose. It is as Christ would want, it is God-inspired. This is just as ’supernatural’ as any other miracle you could name.
I may have used the word supernatural inappropriately. I guess I was attempting to differentiate between the works of natural medicines and the unexplained – like that of the man from a previous church we were apart of who’s arm went from gangrenous black to health pink over night due to the power of prayer. Doctors could not explain it.
For my part, where I am in my current journey with all this, i hold to a holistic approach to healing. I belief longs to bring healing to his people. Firstly the healing of the broken relationship that exists between us and Himself. Secondly the healing of the broken relationships between ourselves and thirdly the healing of the body. Since each of these are biblical, I’ll be pursuing all of them.