ARPA Counterpoint offers you reformed Christian commentary on Australian politics from a biblical perspective.
Hosted by Benjamin, Nathan, and Sean; we explore current issues in government, society and culture with a eye to engaging biblically with our modern world.
Join us monthly for news roundups, deep dives, and inspiration to get involved in the public square for the kingdom of God.
18 Current Events - Machetes in Perth, Men in Women's Sport, Secret Harbour
We are back! In the August 2026 update, the crew look at the following events:
Machetes in Perth - Earlier this year, the rise in crime involving machetes led the Victorian government to ban them. Now a gang of youth have reportedly used machetes in an attack in the Perth suburbs. How have the government and police responded? How should they respond?
Men in Women's Sport - Kirralee Smith has just lost her appeal in the High Court. She has been told to pay $95,000 in reparations for posting publicly available information about men in women's sport. Further, women are being forced to accept playing against men, even if there are legitimate concerns about safety.
Secret Harbour By-election - One Nation now have a Lower House seat in WA after their victory in the Secret Harbour By-election. It was a comprehensive result in what had been a safe Labor seat.
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
27 Jul 2026
17 Family - The "Experts" vs the Family - with Guest Pr. Jim Witteveen
The crew and Pastor Jim continue the discussion on Family, this time focusing on how the "cult of the experts" undermines the biblical understanding of the family. Looking to expose how we are influenced in our everyday life, we consider the following:
What do we understand by the "cult of the experts"? Should we disregard "experts"?
In what ways does deferring to experts, particularly in the family sphere, go contrary to Scripture?
What tasks does God give us in our daily walk of life? How does He equip us to fulfil them wisely?
What is "the preferential option for the amateur"? How is this manifest in the Church?
How important is real life experience, and a proper worldview (understanding of reality) in gaining wisdom? How have the dominant progressive movements in society revealed this?
How is what we see in society a warning, particularly for the way in which we handle Scripture?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
13 Jul 2026
16 Current Events - Monoculturalism, Federal Budget
In the June 2026 monthly update, the crew "briefly" look at two topics which will take multiple episodes to cover properly:
Monoculturalism - Pauline Hanson has said that Australia should be "monocultural", while it seems like the rest of the establishment is promoting the idea of "multiculturalism". Amongst the intentional confusion surrounding the topic, we dip our toes in the water and start to look at what constitutes a culture. How do you navigate this issue? Finally, are those who push for multiculturalism hypocrites?This speech on multiculturalism is worth watching: The Failed Experiment of Multiculturalism | Lennox Kalifungwa | ACCS Repairing the Ruins 2026
Federal Budget 2026 - The federal government is attempting to fix "intergenerational inequality" in this year's federal budget, but is that what they will achieve? Is this a budget that is good for Australia?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
29 Jun 2026
15 Family: The Family Undermined - Marxism, Feminism, and the Sexual Revolution - with Guest Pr. Jim Witteveen
The crew (including honorary member Pastor Jim Witteveen) are back to continue the discussion on Family. This time, the topic is how the "progressive" movements which have become prominent in Western societies have undermined the biblical understanding of the family:
How have Marxism and Feminism, in particular, undermined the family by attacking God's created order?
What is the connection with egalitarianism?
Who, ultimately, is behind it all? (This is not a conspiracy theory)
What is the role of technology? Should we abandon technology?
How did Cultural Marxism progress through the 20th century?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
8 Jun 2026
14 Current Events - Tickle v Giggle, Equal Opportunity, Child Care
The crew are back for the monthly update, covering:
Tickle v Giggle - Although the name of the case may be funny, the implications of the ruling are anything but. This case reveals the Federal Court's interpretation of Australian Law to the questions, "What is a Woman?", and "What is Discrimination?"
Equal Opportunity (WA) - Is Christian schooling in WA under threat? Changes to Equal Opportunity in WA have been threatened for years, but it seems like the State government are now preparing to act. What are the dangers of the proposed changes? How should we act to protect Christian schools?
Child Care - The Prime Minister is continuing his push to make universal access to institutional childcare a reality, with government subsidies now covering the costs of childcare for 3 days per week. Is this best for children, as the PM seems to be claiming? What about the scandals that have recently rocked the childcare industry?- John Anderson's interview with Erica Komisar: How Universal Childcare Could Destroy a Generation | Erica Komisar
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
29 May 2026
13 Family: The Language of Covenant and Households in Scripture - with Guest Pr. Jim Witteveen
How is the language of the household important to properly understanding the Bible? That is the question that the crew and Pastor Jim start with as they continue their discussion on the importance of Family.
As the riches of Scripture are unpacked, the following are discussed:
The role of God the Father, and how fathers are called to emulate their heavenly Father in their households and the church.
God's law as blessing, forming the boundary for rich covenantal relationships.
How understanding adoption in biblical times unlocks the beauty of the biblical truth of adoption into the household of God.
How does the idea of covenant representatives or heads manifest in Scripture and our families?
Is patriarchy evil?
What is love? How should this define true headship?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
12 May 2026
12 Current Events - NDIS, State Development Act 2025, Fuel Crisis Update
The crew are back for the monthly update, covering:
NDIS - What are the changes that the government is proposing to the NDIS?
State Development Act 2025 (WA) - The WA State government recently passed laws aimed at boosting productivity. Will this law, which gives the government special powers to fast-track approvals, achieve this aim?
Fuel Crisis Update - The current fuel crisis, brought on by the conflict in Iran, has once again exposed Australia's lack of sovereign capability. Also discussed: are Electric Vehicles the answer?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
1 May 2026
11 Family: Biblical Households - with Guest Pr. Jim Witteveen
The crew and Pastor Jim continue their discussion on Family by looking at the biblical understanding of the household.
What is the difference between family and household? How does this play out in the responsibilities that we have towards one another? What have we lost in the societal changes of the last 200 years? Join the crew as they discover some of the blessings that God intends for biblical households.
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
13 Apr 2026
10 Current Events - Coalition Leadership, SA Election, Price of Fuel
Ben, Sean, and Nathan provide an update on three current issues in March 2026:
Coalition Leadership - Who are the new leaders of the Federal Liberal Party and Nationals? What can we expect from them?
SA Election - While Labor returning to government with a significant majority in the Lower House was expected, the main question of the South Australian election was: would the strong polling for One Nation be reflected in votes and seats?
Price of Fuel - Why have we seen the price of fuel skyrocket in the past few weeks, and fuel shortages in regional areas? Should we blame panic buying? Why are we seeing a repeat of the 1979 oil crisis in Australia despite measures designed to prevent this happening again? How does this happen in a country with abundant resources?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
12 Apr 2026
09 Family: Creation Ordinance and Covenant - with Guest Pr. Jim Witteveen
The discussion on Faith, Family, and Future continues with the focus now turning to the family.
For the first time, the crew are joined by a guest: Pastor Jim Witteveen, currently serving as a missionary in Brazil.
Why is the family important? The conversation starts at the Beginning with God's creation ordinances. As the conversation continues, the following questions are also addressed:
What does it mean to live in covenant with one another?
How does covenantal understanding contrast with individualism?
What is the importance of piety? Of self-sacrifice?
What should our attitude be towards family, and our church family?
How does covenant affect the relationship we should have with the State?
When the socialist says that he loves mankind, is he loving anyone?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com.
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
27 Mar 2026
08 Current Events - ISIS Brides, Trans Influence in Construction and Prisons, and Public Order Legislation in WA
Ben, Sean, and Nathan provide a Christian perspective on three current issues in Australia:
ISIS Brides - They left Australia to join ISIS. Should they be allowed back into the country? Should the government stay true to the Prime Minister's statement that they made their bed, and now they should sleep in it?
Trans Influences - We are now seeing the influence of transgender ideology seeping into proposed changes to the National Construction Code. How can events in the UK, where they have tried this already, provide wisdom for the current situation? Further, should a male be incarcerated in a women's prison in WA? Featuring a secret payout by the Victorian government to a victim of sexual assault in prison.
Public Order Amendment Legislation - In the wake of the Bondi attack, the WA government has sought to place further restrictions on protests which may incite hatred against people on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Should we be concerned about this legislation? Could this affect Christian protests such as the Rally for Life? UPDATE: Since this discussion, this Bill has been referred to Committee after everyone except Labor opposed it in the Upper House. It likely will not see the light of day in its current form.
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
19 Feb 2026
07 Faith, Family & Future: Advocating for Faith
In this episode, the crew introduces a simple model for Christian advocacy — Faith, Family, and Future — and focus on the first of those three: faith.
The conversation covers the government's duty to acknowledge religious freedom rather than grant it, the importance of Sabbath laws as a case study in honoring the created order, and why the state should restrict evil rather than coerce worship. They also address growing threats to free speech and religious liberty in Australia and beyond, arguing that Christians are called to advocate for the truth in the public sphere and to hold elected officials accountable to God's standard of good and evil.
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
4 Feb 2026
06 WA Surrogacy, Australian CBDC pilot, and Hate Crime Bill Current Events
Nathan and Ben provide a Christian perspective on three major policy developments in Australia:
WA Surrogacy Bill - New WA laws allow anyone to access surrogacy, removing previous safeguards. Are their biblical concerns about commodifying children and surrogate mothers?
Central Bank Digital Currency Pilot - RBA's Project Acacia has been testing wholesale digital currency between banks. Can Christian's get on board the centralisation train?
Federal Hate Crimes Bill - Rushed legislation passed after Bondi Beach attack. Is this government overreach? How can government laws can address sin in human hearts?
Bonus: The Liberal-National coalition breakup following the hate crimes vote.
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
16 Jan 2026
05 SPECIAL: Bondi Beach Terrorist Attack
On December 14th, 2025, a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration. The 30-minute shooting rampage has forced Australia to confront difficult questions.
Nathan and Sean examine four critical issues this tragedy raises:
Where were the police? Why did the shooting continue for 30 minutes with a police station minutes away?
Gun control or armed citizens? Would stricter gun laws help, or would armed civilians have stopped this faster?
High trust to low trust society - How has multiculturalism and progressive ideology eroded the social cohesion that made Australia thrive?
What should the government do? Are inquiries, hate speech laws, and stricter gun control the right response, or do we need a Royal Commission and different solutions?
A sobering but necessary conversation about the state of our nation.
Reach out: arpa.counterpoint@gmail.com
12 Dec 2025
04 Faith in Action - Balancing the Personal and Political
Who is God? - The Father of Jesus Christ.
Who is Jesus Christ? - The King.
Who are you? - A servant of the king.
In this episode Nathan, Sean and Ben discuss what we believe and the implications of Christian faith in the political sphere.
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
28 Nov 2025
03 Monthly Review - Housing Prices, Castle Law and Charlie Kirk
Housing crisis hitting young Australians | Castle Doctrine push in Queensland | Remembering Charlie Kirk’s legacy and call to biblical manhood.
Nathan, Ben & Sean discuss it all from a Christian worldview.
Feedback or suggestions? arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
7 Nov 2025
02 Standing Firm: A Christian Perspective on Political Engagement
In this episode of Counterpoint we delve into the historical and biblical foundations for Christian political engagement. The conversation begins with the story of the Magdeburg Confession of 1550 and its foundational doctrine of the lesser magistrate. We'll discuss the modern-day challenges Christians face in engaging politically, emphasizing the importance of balancing family responsibilities with broader societal involvement.
Political action is a biblical mandate that arises from the gospel calling, and we need to view ourselves as part of a covenant community rather than isolated individuals. We'll examine historical lessons from the Reformation and broader Christian history, underscoring the long-term impact of persistent, principled resistance against tyranny. The episode concludes with practical advice on maintaining a disciplined approach to political involvement while staying grounded in Christian faith and responsibilities.
00:00 Introduction: The Magdeburg Confession
02:47 Welcome to Counterpoint
03:01 The Importance of Political Engagement
03:20 Challenges in Political Action
06:14 Biblical Mandate for Political Action
20:00 Historical Perspectives on Christian Political Action
23:41 Balancing Family and Political Responsibilities
26:46 Covenantal Relationships and Political Engagement
34:52 Conclusion and Call to Action
Subscribe to the Counterpoint Newsletter: www.arpa.com.au
Reach out: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
The Magdeburg Confession:
https://gereformeerd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Magdeburg-Confession-1550.pdf
A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants by Junius Brutus
https://www.yorku.ca/comninel/courses/3020pdf/vindiciae.pdf
God's Smuggler:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/god-s-smuggler-elizabeth-sherrill/book/9780340964927.html
1 Nov 2025
01 - Intro: Meet the crew
Welcome to the first episode of ARPA Counterpoint, where Benjamin, Nathan, and Sean offer reformed Christian commentary on Australian politics.
We’ll discuss how Scripture applies to current issues, with monthly roundups of Australian news and mid-month deep dives into topics like biblical governance and Christian cultural impact.
Join us for thoughtful insights and clear direction on how we can be a salt & light in our communities despite busy lives.
We’d love to hear from you! arpacounterpoint@gmail.com
Sign up for ARPA Australia’s bi-weekly newsletter: www.arpa.com.au
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