Opinion- Dr Stuart Lange New Zealand Christian Network.
This week, around New Zealand, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the rights or wrongs of Destiny Church protestors disrupting Gay Pride marches and children’s Drag Queen story times in public libraries. Some people reported they felt intimidated.
As always, these matters are more complex and nuanced than much public commentary would suggest.
Christians in New Zealand have a wide range of viewpoints on all sorts of matters.
In this country, we have freedom of belief and expression, including lawful protest. In a free and very diverse society, all sorts of lifestyles and viewpoints are allowed, even though some others may find them objectionable. That liberty must be protected, for the good of all.
The majority of Christians, without any hostility towards all those who believe and live otherwise, continue to hold to a traditional biblical understanding of humanity created male and female, and the God-given sanctity of marriage between a man and woman. In doing so, they fully recognise the personal rights and freedoms of those who have different views and lifestyles. They do not hate anyone, and try to relate well to everyone.
Most Christians – and many secular people, or people of other faiths – are concerned about the continuous advocacy of rainbow ideologies, in all parts of society. Very reasonably, they also feel that having Drag Queens tell stories to children in public libraries is about indirectly fostering gender fluidity, and cannot see that as appropriate for children’s wellbeing. They also disagree with these events being publicly funded. Much discourse in public and social media completely overlooks such ethical and conscience issues.
Many Christians do not agree with everything about the practices and actions of the Destiny Church, but nevertheless recognise that the Destiny movement has helped change many people’s lives (especially Māori), that the church has a heart for righteousness, and that it is often vilified. We also acknowledge Destiny’s willingness to engage in some public issues, on which many other Christians remain silent.
Freedom to protest remains a legal right in this country. At the same time, those Christians who take up protesting should ensure that they do so peacefully and respectfully, and without any hint of force or aggression. If not, it can be counterproductive, and misused by some to distort public perceptions of Christianity.
As Jesus said to his followers: we must be ‘as wise as serpents, and as innocent as doves’.
Too many people in our society appear to want the freedoms and rights of those they disagree with to be curtailed, and their voices silenced. But, for the sake of all, everyone must remain free to believe and express their views, from whatever quarter, providing they do so peaceably.
