Should We Get Rid Of Australia Day?
Australia Day is increasingly controversial. While current polling suggests around half of Australians want to see it continue, there’s a growing number (including a large number of Indigenous people) that want to see the date changed or abolished altogether.
Author Richard Flanagan writes:
A national day’s only purpose is to unite its people. On that measure – the only measure for a national day – Australia Day is an abject failure. A national day the biggest public gatherings of which are in opposition to its existence is not deserving of the name.
Like many cultural and political issues, Christians are found on both sides of the divide. While this debate is likely to continue for some time, how might Christians approach this issue, especially as we discuss it within our churches?
Here are some brief reflections:
1) Australia Day is a ‘Jagged Line’ Issue
It’s a ‘disputable matter’, over which Christians are free to disagree.
While there’s growing heated disagreement around Australia Day, Christians should remember the Bible is silent about it. It’s a ‘jagged line’ issue, meaning there is no authoritative ‘straight-line’ from the Biblical text to a particular view of Australia Day. Thus, it’s a disputable matter (c.f. Rom 14): faithful Christians are free to disagree over it. Which means we mustn’t condemn fellow believers (or others) for holding to a particular view, but rather give each other space to believe according to our conscience.
2) Christians Should Hold To National Traditions and Celebrations Lightly
While we are political citizens of our nation, we are first and foremost citizens of God’s Kingdom (Phil 3:21). This means we shouldn’t hold onto our (earthly) nation’s traditions and celebrations as if they were sacred and mandated by God (they’re not). Our earthly citizenship and cultural heritage may be a legitimate part of our identity (c.f. Rev 7:9), but they are not our ultimate identity (Col 3:1-4).
And so, we shouldn’t feel threatened by proposed changes to our national identity (including proposed changes to Australia Day). We should come to this conversation not with fear and trepidation, as if our identity is under attack, but with an openness to think through what is best for our neighbour, our nation.
3) Australia Is Worth Celebrating
Even as we mourn Our Failings As a Nation.
There is so much we can thank God for in this nation of Australia. Few nations in history have provided such freedom, wealth and security to its citizens – including to its many non-Anglo migrants and refugees – as Australia.
Yes, our nation has its share of moral failings, especially in its treatment of its Indigenous peoples. The thread of sin is found woven throughout our nation’s history. And we should recognise and mourn those failings, not least because all sin is ultimately falling short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23).[1]
But as we mourn and remember, we should also thank God for the many good things which He (in His common grace) has provided to our nation. A failure to do so is in part a failure to praise and glorify Him for His good gifts to us.
4) Is January 26th the Best Date For Australia Day?
While it seems fitting to celebrate Australia (even as we mourn its failings), I do wonder if January 26th is the appropriate date for such a national celebration.
It seems uncaring to celebrate our nation on a day that is a cause for mourning to our Indigenous peoples – the very peoples whose land was taken to form Australia. Why hold onto a date that provokes and upsets this important segment of our population?
Shouldn’t love of neighbour – our Indigenous neighbour – weigh heavily on the decision on which day to celebrate Australia Day?
After all, January 26th is a recent date for Australia Day, and there are many other dates that could fit our nation’s founding (e.g. May 9, the sitting of the first national Parliament in 1901.)
I don’t presume to have solved this issue of Australia Day. But I do think Christians can contribute to the conversation, in ways that honour God, and our neighbour – be they Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
For further reading on this issue, I recently interviewed Aboriginal Pastor Jum Naden about Australia Day and Aboriginal Christianity, for The Gospel Coalition Australia Website.