Widespread gambling is never healthy for any society. When the famine in Ethiopia hit the news a few years ago, it was commented that it is serious for any economy when the number of beggars is more than 10%. In our society it isn't begging as such, but rather unemployment and - yes, gambling, as people seek to gain from the system without adding something by way of return.
If the odds aren't good, people will want to " have a bob each way" - a phrase that has come over into non-gambling usage.
Now, there's an old concept with Biblical antecedents! Remember Elijah and the gathering of people on Carmel? Put in Aussie terms, Elijah challenged the people, "How long are you going to have a bob each way? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him" (see 1 Kings 18.21).
It seems to me that even Christians and the Christian Church may face the lure to adopt a kind of bob-each-way Christianity.
Repent? That was John the Baptist's message! That's Old Testament stuff! But what was the starting-point of Jesus' ministry? "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Mt. 4.17). What was the call of Peter at the end of the first Christian sermon at Pentecost? "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2.38).
The old hymn-books had whole sections on "penitence" and "repentance". Our new hymn-books have tended to omit such a section and the theme is very thin on the ground in the selected hymns. But the theme is also very thin in the Scripture choruses. It seems as if the Church - whether liberal or charismatic - has endeavoured to move people towards an understanding and experience of God and of the Holy Spirit without facing the reality of sin and guilt, and the call to holiness.
A Sunday School teacher once asked a class what was meant by the word "repentance." A little boy put up his hand and said, "It is being sorry for your sins." A little girl also raised her hand and said, "It is being sorry enough to quit."
That's often easier said than done. Repentance is turning away from sin. It is the renunciation of all other allegiances so that we can truly belong to the Kingdom of God. And there is good news to receive, to accept for ourselves, to depend on - so we can be forgiven for our sins, so we can receive the enabling work of the Holy Spirit.
Yesterday was Australia Day. Around our country there were civic ceremonies where immigrants to our land could become "Australian". They didn't have to deny their origins or give up their ethnicity - the older generation in particular will carry marks of that throughout their lives. There will continue to be an interest in the affairs of their country of origin. But they are now Australian and their allegiance and loyalty are with this country. They took a pledge/oath, "From this time forward, (under God,) I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey."
There are some countries that allow citizens to retain their original citizenship, but the issue of dual citizenship is always problematic. Isn't that "having a bob each way"? And, in our relationship with God, we have been "rescued… from the dominion of darkness and brought… into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1.13-14).
Everything necessary for this change of citizenship has been done. In our terms, all the "paperwork" is complete from God's side - though redemption is far more than "paperwork" - it has involved an enormous sacrifice. All we have to do is "repent."
Peter and Andrew, James and John were fishermen. Some of them at least had made a start in hearing the message of Jesus.
Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist - John who had called people to repent of their sins because the Kingdom of God was near. Andrew had heard John call Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." He shared the news with his brother Simon and they came together to Jesus. Jesus called Simon "Cephas" or "Peter" - meaning "rock". Philip, whom Jesus also called to follow him about that time, came from Bethsaida - the same village as Peter, Andrew, James and John. So the call of John the Baptist to repent of their sins had already met with some response from them (Jn 1.35-44).
Now Jesus was making the same call in the region near Capernaum. Bethsaida wasn't far from Capernaum - maybe eight or ten kilometres.
One day Peter and Andrew were fishing. James and John were preparing their nets. Jesus called them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4.19).
The redemptive work of Jesus is unique - no one else can do it. The redemptive work of Jesus is complete - Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished" (Jn 19.30 - the Greek expression has been found on papyrus receipts for taxes in the sense "paid in full"). But the good news can only reach the ends of the earth through people whom Jesus calls to "follow" him.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? The term has been used so lightly. It doesn't mean to "tag along behind" or to try to imitate him - we wouldn't do well at either of those! His work for us is quite unique. We need to receive his work for us so that he can, by his Spirit, do his work in us and then continue his work in the world through us.
So we repent of our sins and begin to follow Jesus as we receive by faith his redemption, his forgiveness of our sins - all that he completed for us on the cross.
We are "born again", "born of the Spirit" - and the Holy Spirit is at work in us to translate the once-for-all redemption into the daily realities of our life. We will learn of him and grow in grace as we read the Scriptures, pray, share in worship and fellowship.
But following Jesus will lead us into action. His work for us and in us is for the purpose of making us available for him to work through us. Jesus didn't say, "Follow me and we will have a jolly good time", but "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." He is calling us to witness and service, so that the good news of his redemptive grace can reach the world.
Dr Robin Lorimer Sharwood, fourth Warden of Trinity College in the University of Melbourne, has written an alternative set of verses to Advance Australia Fair. This is now the official version for use within St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. We sing it this morning as an affirmation that we are firstly citizens of the Kingdom of God. As such we gladly take our place as citizens of Australia.
Your star-bright Cross aslant our skies
gives promise sure and true
that we may know this land of ours
a nation blessed by you.
May all who come within its bounds
its peace and plenty share,
and grant that we may prayerfully
advance Australia fair.
With thankful hearts then let us sing,
"Advance, Australia, fair!"
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