THE CROSS-OVER AT 40 YEARS –PAPUA NEW GUINEA?

by SAM KOIM

The crossing over at 40 is celebrated with mixed feeling. PNG is hit hard by two calamities. One is manmade (economic crises) and another by nature (El Nino).
40 years is a significant numerological event in the Christian Faith.
• Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).
• God made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34).
• God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).
• Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1).
• David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).
• Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).
• We can easily see from Numbers 32:13 and Hebrews 3:8-10 that God calls 40 years a generation.

SO WHAT IS GOD TELLING PNG AT 40?

I am not gifted with a prophetic compass to foresee what God is telling us after we cross-over at 40. I’m wondering who is gifted with one and actually representing the voice of God. I am perplexed and I believe many are, by the many voices we are hearing.

On the one hand, I am scared as “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mathew 12:32). Some messages may be inspired by the Holy Spirit in this regard.

On the other hand, I am reminded of another passage in the bible where it says “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die."You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)

The churches are never in agreement as is reflected by various media reports. 40 years is not the time when the first Christian missionary landed in Papua New Guinea, nor does it mark the day when the first Papua New Guinean got converted into Christianity. Rather, it is a time marking our political history as an independent nation. Whilst the churches argue over the prophetic calendar of God for the next forty years, I am reminded of what the Bible says about our Christian focus and mission.

THE CHURCHES' FOCUS AT 40

The physical illustrations in the Old Covenant are fulfilled in each case by the spiritual realities of the New Covenant. Apostle Paul himself wrote that the surrounding events of the wilderness wandering "were our examples" (I Corinthians 10:6), and that "they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have come" (verse 11).
We study the scriptures diligently not because in them we have eternal life, but because the scriptures lead us to him (Christ) who gives eternal life. (John 5:39).
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20).
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:32).
Christ in us is the hope of Glory. (Colossians 1:27).
Considering all these scriptures, I am led to believe that the focus of our celebration at 40 years is and should be CHRIST. We should pin our hopes on HIM and HIM ALONE.

PNG as a sovereign state is turning 40 years on 16th September. Christians received their independence on Calvary more than 2000 years ago. We are citizens; we are Christians.

THE CHURCHES’ MISSION

The Churches’ paramount mission should not be to change the political landscape of our country. Rather, to fulfil the Great Commission –salvation for all (Mathew 28:16-20). At the turn of 40 years, the true cross over should be salvation of Papua New Guinea. The Churches should be exploring ways to defend and expand the Christian Faith first in Papua New Guinea and then to the rest of the world. Christian leaders should be taking a stock of how many Papua New Guineans are saved and ready to go to Heaven if Christ comes today. We should be asking questions like are we not over-evangelised and under-saved? Are new Christians being converted or are we simply trying to convince the same old Christians from one church to the other? Are Christians living their bible instead of just carrying them around? How are the Christians coping with the flood of modern influences? We should seriously take a stock of how the Christian faith is having an influence on the society.
The missionaries brought the gospel to PNG. It’s our turn to spread it and take it to the other parts of the world.

THE CHURCH - STATE PARTNERSHIP

God loved the world so much that he was unable to keep his only son, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16). Where it concerns the people, churches have a part to play. A number of Christian churches partner with the State to provide social services such as health, education, etc as an extension of their Christian mission to liberate God’s people.

I had a personal experience on a mission trip to one of the Buddhist nations in Asia many years ago, where Christians are restricted from openly practising and spreading their faith. Under those circumstances, many Christian missionaries would set up projects like orphanages, health clinics, water and sanitation projects etc as a means to spread the gospel.

The Constitution of PNG and National Anthem resemble the pre-eminence of our Christian Faith. A Government plan is also in place for Church/Government partnership in the provision of social services.

Where Government and Church partner in social projects like these, it is the Government’s duty to partner in the provision of resources to supplement. There is a clear distinction between this Church-State partnership scenario and the maintenance of normal church activities including the upkeep of the pastoral/clergy team. The pastoral/clergy team feed from their congregation, not from the State (Government). The giving of tithes and offering, being the form of donation to run church operations I’ve found in the bible so far, symbolizes the Christians commitment to their faith and also, God blesses a cheerful giver.

God’s servants have also performed an important role as non-state actors in correcting and directing the Government when it failed to govern properly. That role cannot be performed independently and objectively with the guidance of the Holy Spirit if the servants of God are fed from the Government. There are many biblical accounts bearing witness to that.

Churches do influence how the country is run by producing morally upright leaders who can be agents of change. We reflect Christ in what we do and how we do it. I would be a hypocritical Christian if at my workplace, I am unfaithful and turn a blind eye to corruption yet in my church, I take the front seat and make the loudest noise. The bible encourages us more on being doers of the word.

THE CROSS-OVER PROSPERITY GOSPEL

There is no doubt that PNG is richly endowed with natural resources and with better management, we can see real prosperity in the lives of our people. We have to continue to give hope to our people that “our best times are still ahead of us.”

When the Israelites crossed Jordan River to the other side (the land of milk and honey), a number of things happened. Firstly, there were giants already living in Jericho that needed to be defeated. Secondly, when Israelites possessed the land, the manna (free food) ceased. The people had to work hard to experience the blessing of God.

As we cross-over at 40, firstly, we have to be prepared to defeat the giants that are feeding off from this blessed land and secondly, we must be prepared to stop the brown envelopes for free cash handouts and work the land.

Let’s leave the politicians and bureaucrats to assess our past performances and set the focus for the next forty years as a nation state. The church needs to set its focus on Christ, Soul winning and through the Christian believers extending the Christian influence to workplace for the next forty years till Jesus returns.

To change the next 40 years of this country, PNG needs a generation –a clean generation. That generation I believe the Church can produce.

Happy 40 Years Independence to you All

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