ScoMo speaks of ‘God’s plan’ for him, anxiety in Margaret Court church sermon

Scott Morrison has spoken about “God’s plan” during a church sermon, but it was one line about “trust” that really stuck out.

Scott Morrison says God has a plan for him, characterised anxiety as “Satan’s plan” and called for people to put their faith in Christ over governments in a sermon at a church founded by Margaret Court.

The former prime minister returned to Perth at the weekend to mark the 27th birthday of the controversial tennis champ’s Pentecostal Victory Life Centre church.

It’s the first time Mr Morrison has visited Western Australia since his election defeat, partly thanks to a major swing from voters in the west.

But he told the congregation that his loss was all part of God’s plan for him – referencing his now infamous 2019 victory speech.

Scott Morrison says his election loss was part of God’s plan.

“Do you believe that if you lose an election that God still loves you and has a plan for you?” he asked to applause and laughter.

“I do. I still believe in miracles. God has secured your future, all of it. Yeah, even that bit.”

It’s the second time since Mr Morrison lost the election that he has appeared before churchgoers. In his final hours as prime minister, he choked back tears while addressing his Horizon church in south Sydney.

Former WA premier Richard Court, the brother of Mrs Court’s husband, fellow Liberal legend Barry Court and former federal MP Vince Connelly were in attendance for the Sunday sermon.

Mr Morrison said he made the appearance in a private capacity following Ms Court’s invitation.

The tennis great has been a staunch supporter of Mr Morrison and led a prayer for him to remain as prime minister in February.

He spent much of the address discussing anxiety.

Mr Morrison dedicated much of his Sunday sermon to rising rates of mental illness in Australia, an issue he said was a high priority for him as prime minister.

While he noted there were “biological issues” or “brain chemistry” that resulted in clinical disorders, he sought to link the everyday anxieties to a spiritual deficit.

Mr Morrison declared that if people gave into their worries, they were giving into “Satan’s plan”.

“God knows that anxiety is part of the human condition,” he said.

He drew parallels between God’s “engagements” and how counsellors address mental health before declaring if you had faith in God’s plan you didn’t need to worry.

“No matter how (secular people) might seek to deny it, or even dismiss it, the truth of God stands up and shines,” he told the crowd.

He urged people to put their faith in Christ over governments.

But a declaration that people should put their faith in Christ over “fallible” governments drew the ire of social media users, including the dean of Yale’s Episcopal seminary.

“We trust in Him. We don’t trust in governments. We don’t trust in United Nations, thank goodness,” Mr Morrison said.

“We don’t trust in all of these things as fine as they might be and as important as the role that they play. Believe me, I’ve worked in it.

“But as someone who’s been in it, if you are putting your faith in those things, like I put my faith in the Lord, you are making a mistake, they are fallible.”

Professor Andrew McGowan likened Mr Morrison’s comments to a “dog whistle”.

Scott Morrison is once again free to be himself, praise the Lord (with dog-whistle pandering to UN conspiracy theorists in the funds world) via @crikey_newshttps://t.co/3htEBehPdC

— Andrew McGowan (@Praxeas) July 18, 2022

“Scott Morrison is once again free to be himself, praise the Lord (with dog-whistle pandering to UN conspiracy theorists in the funds world),” he wrote on Twitter.

During his address, Mr Morrison also took aim at “safe spaces” that he said had been “taken out of so much context” that they no longer meant a place between someone and God.

“Don’t get me started,” Mr Morrison said.