Church & State

When do we submit to the state and when do we subvert its idolatries? What happens when our right for religious freedom clashes with the rights of another group? What does Australia need to do for religious freedom?

Secularism is a good thing, so that the government ought to not have the power to tell you how to do your religion. Australia is a multicultural country with a secular government, not a secular country, which is one where every cultural group can live at peace with one another. The ultimate goal of religious freedom is that of pluralistic liberal democracy, not theocracy, where we have the right to express our religion, and everyone has the legal right to be other. And, no one ought to demonstrate token acts of obedience to demonstrate their loyalty to a cause.

14 Aug 2022

Luke Nelson

Luke is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Melbourne West. He joined City on a Hill in its early days, serving as the Community Pastor in Melbourne, before being asked to lead a new church plant. Having grown up in Melbourne’s western suburbs, he has a deep knowledge of and passion for the area, and a great desire to see the gospel bring transformation. A gifted communicator, he loves the work of pastoring a church, opening God’s word each week and seeing the Spirit work. Luke graduated with a BA (Hons) from Melbourne University, has a Grad Dip in Divinity and a Masters of Ministry from Ridley College. He is an ordained Anglican minister in the Diocese of Melbourne.