Over the past several weeks I have noted that many young adults, including some Christians, are intending to vote for the Greens. I have also noticed that many of them believe that Julia Gillard’s atheism is a matter of little or no concern.

In one posting on Facebook, a minister from a conservative Protestant denomination attacked a Christian-based three minute video clip¹ that expressed concern about Julia Gillard’s atheism, claiming that the clip was “offensive” because “It implies that atheists as a class of people are less morally trustworthy than (presumably) Christians.”

Concerning the same clip, one young man wrote, “The makers of this dishonest, ignorant and fearmongering (sic) ad have just sealed my my (sic) senate vote for the Greens.” This was followed by statements from a couple of other young people, claiming among others things that it was “trash” and the “work of the devil”.

Is the minister who is quoted above right when he argues that it is offensive to believe that atheists are less morally trustworthy than Christians? Are people who hold this view filled with “prejudice”, as he charges?

From his statement it is clear that he believes, as do apparently many others in Australia, that atheists are as morally trustworthy as Christians.

But this belief has nothing in common with the teaching of Scripture or the facts of history. Regarding the moral and spiritual sensibility of those who deny the existence of God, the Scripture plainly states, “Only a fool would say, ‘There is no God!’” (Psalm 53:1, CEV). There is no suggestion of moral equivalence here between the moral trustworthiness of non-believers and believers. The Psalm continues, drawing the connection between inward belief and outward behaviour, “People like this are worthless! They are heartless and cruel and never do right.”

The Westminster Confession of faith beautifully conveys the remarkable change that takes place in the life of believers after conversion: “They who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened, in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

There is a marked difference between Christians and non-Christians (atheists included with non-Christians). This traces back to their most deeply held convictions. For example, atheists believe that there is no God. Atheists believe that human beings are nothing more than complex animals. Atheists believe that humans determine right from wrong for themselves. Atheists believe in human autonomy—that self, or the collective—must be the first consideration. Indeed, atheists of the socialist persuasion believe that truth is whatever will serve their understanding of the collective good. This is exactly the opposite of what Christians believe. We believe that there is a God. We believe that we are not merely complex animals, but that we have been made in the Creator’s image and likeness. We believe that God has spoken to us and given us a moral framework to live by, for our temporal and eternal benefit. We believe that rather than being primarily interested in self, we should serve others. And our beliefs, like theirs, profoundly impact our behaviour.

The Apostle Paul argues in many of the epistles that sound belief produces visible change. What we believe effects the language we use, our tempers, our inclinations, the way we treat our husbands/wives, our children, of friends, our neighbours, our enemies, and so forth. These are all areas that are improved by God working in our lives, and these are all areas that are to some degree lacking in the lives of non-Christians.

Do we see the truth of Scriptures’ teaching in history? Yes, we do. Consider the 20th century — which was supposed to be a time of enlightenment — but which was the bloodiest century in the history of humanity. Consider the countries that were controlled by atheists – like Lenin and Stalin who presided over the slaughtering upwards or 30 million Russians – like Mao who slaughtered perhaps 50 million Chinese –like Pol Pot who slaughtered of upwards of a million Cambodians. Atheism was the major contributor to the bloodiest century in humanity. Contrast that with Western societies which as a whole were by far the most stable and free societies in the world. This is because these societies were based upon the Judeo/Christian ethic as given by God in the Ten Commandments for humanity’s happiness, stability and welfare.

Abandoning a belief in the existence of God in favour of a belief that views humans as merely complex animals (and not as beings made in the image of God and answerable to God) has had other profoundly detrimental effects.Consider the devaluing of human life over the past 40 years, which has resulted in an estimated 50 million unborn babies being aborted world-wide every year, or the acceptance of lethal human embryo experimentation and human cloning, or the relentless push for euthanasia. When the Psalmist claims that people who abandon belief in God are “heartless and cruel”, there is more than a little truth to the observation.

So, do Christians have genuine reason to be deeply concerned about Julia Gillard who aspires to be the next elected Prime Minister of Australia?

Yes, for several reasons.

Julia Gillard rejects God. When attending Mitchum Baptist Church in her childhood, Julia received awards for her memorisation of Bible verses. However, at some point in time, probably when she became deeply involved in radical feminism at university, she abandoned her belief in God. On June 29th of this year, radio host Jon Faine on ABC Melbourne Radio asked her, “Do you believe in God?” to which she responded, “No, I don’t John.”

Julia Gillard rejects marriage. In 1983, under Julia Gillard’s leadership of the Australian Union of Students, the AUS declared that marriage is a form of prostitution — “sex in return for love, security and house-keeping” (The Australian, 6 April 1984). Over two decades later Julia remains unmarried, but has had several de facto relationships, including one with a Labor frontbencher who was at the time, and still remains married with children.

Julia’s ongoing disregard for the importance of marriage can be seen in her choice to live with her partner, Tim Mathieson, outside of marriage. She will be the first Prime Minister of Australia, if elected, to live in fornication (to coin a biblical phrase) with a “partner” in Kirabilli. At a time when marriage and family are fracturing in Australia, to the detriment of couples, their children and society, this sets a very poor example to the young people of this nation.

Julia is on record saying that Labor will not move in the direction of gay marriage for the time being—she will wait until there is public consensus to do so, but even here it is clear that she is not driven by absolute conviction, but by the polls and by a shifting moral perspective.

Julia Gillard rejects children. Moira Gillard quotes Julia, at the age of 18 saying, “I don’t want children Mum, I never want children” (ABC Television’s Australian Story, 6/3/2006).

More alarming, Julia Gillard was a founding member, along with Premier Joan Kirner, of Emily’s List, a feminist group that helps pro-abortion Labor women to gain preselection to winnable seats. Julia supports abortion on demand (a view that mothers should have the lawful right to kill their unborn children in their wombs for any reason). This is perhaps a logical view if a person believes that children are merely complex animals without souls, and that he/she will never have to answer to God. And she has ratified her view by voting for human embryo experimentation which involves the destruction of human embryos, and for human cloning legislation.

Julia Gillard is sometimes loose with the truth. She vowed loyalty to Kevin Rudd, almost to the very end, claiming that it was more likely that she would play AFL football or fly to Mars than challenge Kevin Rudd for party leadership. But within days of her unqualified claims to loyalty, backed by union and factional leaders, she did what she claimed she would never do.

Since then, Julia Gillard has done a secret deal with the Greens, led by Bob Brown. Julia appears to be comfortable with this deal, perhaps because she holds much in common with Bob and the Greens. Yet she also appears to know that the Australian public would not be comfortable with it. No doubt this why she has refused to tell Australian voters what this agreement involves. What has she promised the Greens in return for their preferences?

The danger that a possible Gillard/Labor, Brown/Green future government poses* should be of great concern to Christians and all family-minded people.

There is a legitimate alternative for Christians and non-Christians who are deeply concerned about the future direction of Australia. That alternative is the Christian Democratic Party.

With the support of Christian people and the blessing of God, it is possible that the Christian Democratic Party could wrest the sixth Senate seat in WA from either the Greens or Labor.

The Christian Democratic Party will fight for traditional Christian values (in place of ever shifting values) which have kept Western societies strong and free.

The Christian Democratic Party will fight for the preservation of marriage and the traditional family as the building block of stable society, and for the happiness and couples and their children.

The Christian Democratic Party will fight for the protection of the unborn from abortion, and the elderly and frail from euthanasia.

CDP’s Senate candidate, Mr Trevor Young, is a committed Christian, a faithful husband, and a passionate and articulate man who will stand faithfully for all the values that Christian and family minded people cherish.

This is a critical election in the history of Australia. Your vote is vitally important. Please make your vote count by voting for the Christian Democratic Party.

CDP preferences will on this occasion flow to the Coalition. For we note the extreme contrast between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott. Unlike Julia, Tony Abbott believes in God and is pro-marriage and pro-children, and is himself married with children. He is also pro-life, having a consistent record of opposing abortion, destructive human embryonic stem cell research, cloning and euthanasia.

1. You can look at the video clip and judge for yourself at: http://onevote.com.au

P.S. Remember, Vote 1 above the line in the Senate for the Trevor Young and the Christian Democratic Party.

* The Greens are not just an environmentally conscious political party, but an atheistic party that has already attempted to remove prayers from Parliament. The Greens policy of forcing Christian schools to employ people who hold to opposite moral views are radical and would do great harm to the education of Christian children if implemented.

In 1996, Bob Brown co-authored a book entitled, The Greens, with Peter Singer, a well known philosopher who supports abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, as well as rejecting the unique status of human beings. The Greens have a long history of promoting abortion and euthanasia, placing the unborn and the elderly in peril.

The Greens’ support for gay marriage undermines marriage, the family and society, as does their push for all adults, “regardless of sexuality and gender identity”, to have access to adoption, fostering, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation.

The Greens’ support for the legalisation of prostitution contributes to the entrapment, degradation and harm of young women. It also contributes to the destruction of marriage and family.