“Only God Can Turn the Tide”: NZ Christian Leader Urges Spiritual Revival Over Politics
Dr. Stuart Lange, National Director of the New Zealand Christian Network (NZCN), is calling on Christians across the country to seek revival through prayer, love, and evangelism not politics as the most effective response to the steady decline in Christian identification among New Zealanders.
In an email to supporters on July 11, Lange emphasised that no government policy, legal reform, or political protest can adequately address what he sees as a deep spiritual crisis in the nation. While such efforts may bring limited benefits, he believes true and lasting transformation must come from a sovereign move of God.
“Only the Spirit of God can bring about the significant turning of the spiritual tide that New Zealand needs,” Lange said. “This must happen across all cultures. The Holy Spirit must stir the hearts of believers, deepen our faith, prayer life, and discipleship, and call hundreds of thousands of unbelievers to Himself. We need more love, more evangelism, and a powerful renewal of the Church.”
Lange acknowledged that most Christians in New Zealand appreciate the country’s freedom of religion and its diverse society. However, he expressed a strong desire to see spiritual renewal across the board.
“Many of us long for a rise in Christian faith among people of all backgrounds, more committed believers, a greater number of flourishing churches, and a stronger, more positive influence of God’s Kingdom throughout the nation,” he said.
Answering the often debated question of whether New Zealand has ever been a “Christian nation,” Lange said the answer is both “yes and no.” Historically, a large proportion of the population both Māori and Pākehā identified as Christian, albeit with varying degrees of understanding and commitment.
In 1966, around 80% of New Zealanders aligned themselves with some form of Christianity. By 2023, that number had plummeted to just 32.3%, with over half of the population (51.6%) reporting “no religion” in the latest census.
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“In the 1960s, people generally acknowledged Christian ethics, had ties to British religious traditions, and attended church at least occasionally,” Lange noted. “Many churches also had strong outreach ministries to children and youth.”
He explained that during this era, many of New Zealand’s laws, customs, and public ceremonies such as school assemblies, Bible in Schools, ANZAC Day services, funerals, weddings, and even the national anthem, “God Defend New Zealand” reflected a broadly Christian cultural influence.
However, he also stressed that New Zealand has never been an exclusively Christian society. “Some people have always been nominally Christian or not Christian at all,” he said.
Today, the challenges facing the Church are stark. Many congregations are shrinking, with fewer young people in attendance. Public discourse and social media often misrepresent or dismiss Christian values, Lange noted.
“It’s often said now that New Zealand is ‘post-Christian’ and ‘secular.’ Many laws and policies increasingly allow or promote practices that contradict biblical values. Christians are understandably concerned about the nation’s spiritual direction,” he added.
Interestingly, New Zealand has never experienced strong church attendance compared to other countries. The highest rate, recorded in 1896, was just 30%. The exception was among Māori communities in the 1840s and 1850s, where Christian influence was especially strong.
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Despite the decline in active participation, Lange pointed out that Christianity has still significantly shaped New Zealand society including its politics, cultural norms, and national identity.
“There are spiritual elements embedded in New Zealand’s governance, especially through British common law traditions, which echo biblical principles like those found in Romans 13:1. Many Māori leaders at the time of the Treaty of Waitangi understood and embraced this. The treaty itself has strong Christian roots, as acknowledged by many Māori,” he said.
Lange emphasised that New Zealand has never officially endorsed Christianity as a state religion. Since its founding in 1840, the country has upheld religious freedom, with no formal state church, despite the Christian majority at the time.
“The 1990 Bill of Rights reaffirmed New Zealanders’ freedoms of religion, thought, and expression values that align with the country’s Christian foundations,” he said.
For Lange and the NZCN, the path forward lies not in political manoeuvring but in heartfelt, Spirit-led revival.
“This can only happen by the hand of God,” he said. “We must respond in faith, love, prayer, and bold evangelism, trusting that the Holy Spirit will renew our churches and call a new generation to Christ.”
Content Credit: Agbetan Bisola
Image Credit: Christian daily.com
