A Christian manifesto

This manifesto is a statement by some Christian leaders in Australia declaring essential Christian beliefs that must be upheld, taught, and practised no matter what laws are made to oppose them. It addresses laws and cultural forces that threaten to silence Christian convictions in Australia by defending free speech, life and biblical values.

We believe that:

Jesus Christ is God, the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is the one and only Saviour of the world. Through his death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven. He is alive and accessible to each one of us personally.

Christians are committed to faithfully obey Jesus, their Saviour and Lord.

Image of God

Fundamental rights to life, religion, and freedom of speech are prior to the existence of the “State.” These rights are based upon the inherent dignity of human beings, created as they are in the image and likeness of God.

God made human beings as male and female. The two sexes are biologically determined.

Marriage is a God ordained relationship between a man and a woman in which children are conceived and born. The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society, entitled to the protection of the law.

Since every human being has the right to life the child in the mother’s womb must enjoy the protection of the law. There is no human right to an abortion because there is no human right to end the life of another innocent human being.

Social consequences

Accordingly, we are compelled to respect the fundamental rights of every member of the human family: the right to life, the rights to freedom of religion, assembly, speech, and association. The State has no authority to unreasonably restrict these rights and freedoms. The State is itself subject to the laws of God which are the laws of humanity and is obligated to protect human rights impartially.

Every person is their neighbor’s keeper because God has entrusted us to each other. So it is that the State’s most fundamental role is to protect its citizens from external and internal threats.

Right to Freedom

Freedom is not license, (being free to do or say whatever you want to, without limitation). We are not free to kill either ourselves (suicide) or another innocent human being even if he or she asks to be killed (euthanasia). Freedom is to be exercised in the service of life and truth.

Persons are free to seek prayer and counselling to enable them to be released from same sex attraction, if they of their own volition choose that. As well, people should be free to receive prayer and counselling in any matter they seek.

No one must be compelled to be involved in the religious practices of sub-groups within the State. Practices like smoking ceremonies are religious ceremonies into which citizens should not be compelled to participate.

It is perverse to describe the Christian Gospel of love and redemption as hate speech. Disagreeing with a religion’s teaching is no justification for the State to depict and punish the promotion of Christian moral teachings as hate speech. The Australian Constitution forbids the restriction of the free exercise of religion – Section 116 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 says,

“Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.”

Posted October 2025

Also see: The Canberra declaration on life, marriage, family and religious liberty