Tim Malone.id.au

When in front of a Christian audience at the Make it Count night in August, Rudd said of his faith “Mine is a very garden variety personal faith for which I have made no apology these last 30 years or so that I’ve had it.” (Media Monitors transcript)

However put him in front of a news camera where the audience wouldn’t be too keen on a Christian, and it goes a little like this:

“Mr Rudd, do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?”
“Well, I’m a, um, I’m a, a person who attends church regularly.”

- ‘Rudd’s warning’, SBS World News Australia, Friday 28th September 2007 (webstream)

Now as Christians we don’t demand a leader that has a personal relationship with Jesus, but we (and the rest of Australia) expect honesty. This is just another example of Rudd’s people pleasing campaign to office. As conservative columnist Andrew Bolt says: “This ‘Kevin Rudd’ will say just what you want, but may in fact be nothing like the real Rudd, who’s now playing him and will take over after the election. … Who knows what the real Rudd behind this finely spun mask will really do once he’s won power and steps out from behind?” - Who is the real “Kevin Rudd”, Herald Sun opinion, Friday 5th October 2007

It’s all spin to get him into office. But, as Peter Stokes from Salt Shakers succinctly puts it: “unlike politics, in Christianity the answer should come from the heart”. - Catch the Fire Ministries blog, Thursday 4th October 2007

Many Christians were going to vote Rudd simply because he has been portrayed as more “Christian” than John Howard. But I think we can safely assume one of two things. Rudd either isn’t a Christian, or he’s ashamed of it. For any Christian voting for Rudd because of his faith, this should now take that out of the equation. Which leaves the rest of his conflicting, people pleasing statements to mull over.

Fellow Christians, don’t be fooled by Rudd’s façade.