1. Editorial: Hidden Agendas - Duncan McGregor

Search - Apr 2003

Almost invariably, when one nation makes war upon another, there is talk of the 'hidden agenda' behind the declared reason for aggression. In the world of politics no situation ever seems to be straightforward and plain, it is always liberally punctuated with grey areas. Thus it is often very difficult for 'the man in the street' to come to an informed opinion on matters of state. Judgements are formed without access to all the facts and we continually have difficulty in trusting the representatives we have elected to make the big decisions in national and international affairs.

In contrast, consider the facts about the longest war mankind has ever witnessed. There was no hint of a hidden agenda at the outset, no negotiations were attempted before the conflict was declared, zero tolerance was applied and a singlemindedness of purpose was revealed and followed through to the most significant showdown in history. I am referring, of course, to God's war against sin and Satan. No doubt the 'security council' of heaven foresaw the conflict that would arise and made the necessary plans to combat it, but the Garden Declaration could hardly have been more stark and laden with focussed intent, along with assurance of victory. Thus there was no hidden agenda, no ambiguity of reason or purpose, and ultimately no hiding place for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, by whose almighty arm alone salvation was wrought and victory assured. He understood, right from the outset of His earthly life, what lay before Him and, praise God, He never wavered in the least from His appointed path and was preserved from cradle to cross from all the 'fiery darts of the wicked' to enable Him to complete His mission.

It is just this openness of God's purpose and the complete absence of grey areas in His intent that enables us with absolute confidence to trust Him. Judgements we don't have to make—God is the Righteous Judge—and our opinions are superfluous.

Surely this is the case in all the vital aspects of our faith. God would not be seen as 'fair' if He were to have deliberately 'muddied the waters' where the essentials of our salvation are concerned. Christendom has been split over many side-issues (and perhaps that should be the definition of a 'side-issue' - one that has caused Christians to cease to have fellowship with one another). We can debate and yes, agree to differ about peripheral theological points but keeping the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" should be our aim in all our dealings with one another. These dealings are keenly observed by the Godless around us, and especially when we celebrate our Lord's death and resurrection. So let us praise God for His black and white declaration of war upon our sin, the unequivocal execution of His strategy to defeat Satan and the glorious terms of peace offered to us all in Christ Jesus.