In prayers, songs, sermons and conversations many Christians in Australia like to draw comfort and inspiration from the suggestion that we are ‘The Great South land of the Holy Spirit.’
Here’s the story: In 1606 Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, a Catholic Portuguese seaman and explorer, was on a journey discover the ‘mythical’ Great South Land and to claim it for Phillip III of Spain. These were the days of expanding empires that demanded new territory and new peoples to conquer and subdue for economic gain. De Quiros had sought and received the support of Pope Clement III and funding from King Phillip III.
He landed in what we now call Vanuatu, thinking that he had actually discovered that mythical great southern land that he sought. Believing that he was standing on what we now call Australia, he claimed all of the land from there to the South Pole, in the name of Spain and Jesus, whether the indigenous people liked it or not. And he named it The Great South Land Of The Holy Spirit, perhaps to increase his credit with the Pope.
Australian or Austrian?
So De Quiros didn’t ever stand on Terra Australis. And if you look at a map you will see all of the lands that he named and claimed—everything between Vanuatu and the South Pole. Indeed, were we to be really serious about it, we would recognise that Vanuatu, not Australia, was the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.
Interestingly, in his memoirs, ‘Eighth Memorial’ he wrote the name as ‘La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo’, which means the Austrian land of the Holy Spirit—Phillip was of Austrian descent! Here was an attempt to ingratiate himself further with Phillip. De Quiros, as an explorer-adventurer, always needed more funds.
‘Avoid godless myths’
Saying something doesn’t make it true. Singing something, even with eyes closed, doesn’t make it true. It’s like suggesting that the city of Christchurch was named prophetically by God to become one huge church of Jesus Christ. Or that Sao Paulo (translated ‘Saint Paul’) in Brazil was prophetically named to become a massive fortress of the doctrines of grace, as taught by the Apostle Paul.
What do we know of de Quiros as a prophet? On what basis have we declared him to be the voice of God making declarations over our nation? Do we know of other prophecies of his and did they come to be? What makes his claim greater than any other claim over any other land? That a geographically challenged Portuguese explorer, thinking Vanuatu was Australia, said so four hundred years ago cannot overturn the fact that the Kingdom of God is not geographical.
The Kingdom draws people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. No group of people has geographical privilege! To suggest that the Holy Spirit has laid claim to one island continent—our island continent, naturally—has all the hallmarks of a silly myth. And does as much damage inside as outside the Body of Christ.
It is possible that, with the greatest of emotional sincerity, we mock God and present the Christian faith as silly mythology. Living in a world of spiritual clichés and mythology will not add to our wellbeing. Nor turn a lost generation to Christ. God is not inclined to bless foolishness or ignorance no matter how earnestly we express it. Our faith is based on the certainties of Scripture. What will serve the Kingdom in our nation is not mythology but, as Paul said to Timothy, ‘Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.’ 1 Timothy 4:7
