But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,
if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received
from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
-Acts 20:24
Are you as shocked by this as I am? I truly hope so. Over the years, I have toured through every major city and several smaller towns in Canada. I like Canada. I appreciate greatly the Canadian people and have always found them respectful, honest and hungry for the gospel. But Canada is in serious trouble ladies and gentlemen. It is going through a profound political meltdown concerning basic human rights, freedoms, and dignities; and in specific, how it is treating people of the Christian faith and their convictions on cultural values. We are witnessing before our very eyes something I thought we would never see take place in Canada and that my friend Alan Kurschner has coined: "the criminalizing of Christianity." The low ebb is the turn of the tide; and Canada desperately needs spiritual revival, renewal and reformation. The question remains, is the church in Canada prepared and ready to plow up the fallow ground and have the courage and biblical tenacity to seek the Lord for a great awakening? May we all pray to that end...Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are becoming extinct in Canada these days. The current "rule of law" in Canada comes down to simply this: the right not to be offended by someone else's words now trumps the right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Did you hear that? Someone's individual right of "being offended" by someone else's words, now trumps the very freedom of speech and freedom of religion that gives us the right to be potentially "offended." And this intensifies dramatically if it is so in fact through the channels of faith the offense comes. Take for example Pastor Stephen Boissoin who was recently fined $7,000 by a Human Rights Commission in Canada because he publicly stated (very charitably mind you) the Scriptures disapproval of homosexuality (Rom. 1:18ff).
This is touching our shores here as well with the recent conversation of resurrecting The Fairness Doctrine. Liberalism is on the march throughout North America; and never mind you that when they speak out very vial things against say, Christianity and its faithful voices, it is not considered "hate speech" at all. But let Christians speak passionately, biblically, compassionately and kindly about the sin of homosexuality while showing respect to homosexuals in that conversation (1 Peter 3:15-16) - they cry foul. Truth is always the best defense against libel, slander, defamation of character, etc.. But, simply "being offended" is now the higher law that governs even the truth the speech itself when that speech is deemed offensive by the sandy logic of political correctness. And don't be fooled beloved, this could be the state of things here in the US too.
Quoting from The Declaration of Independence:
How should Christians deal with this issue?
This is touching our shores here as well with the recent conversation of resurrecting The Fairness Doctrine. Liberalism is on the march throughout North America; and never mind you that when they speak out very vial things against say, Christianity and its faithful voices, it is not considered "hate speech" at all. But let Christians speak passionately, biblically, compassionately and kindly about the sin of homosexuality while showing respect to homosexuals in that conversation (1 Peter 3:15-16) - they cry foul. Truth is always the best defense against libel, slander, defamation of character, etc.. But, simply "being offended" is now the higher law that governs even the truth the speech itself when that speech is deemed offensive by the sandy logic of political correctness. And don't be fooled beloved, this could be the state of things here in the US too.
Quoting from The Declaration of Independence:
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."Those who have the ability to engender change, have the responsibility to engender change. IOW, we cannot turn a blind eye and deaf ear to this situation. We must act; and do so biblically for God's glory and for the good of our neighbor.
How should Christians deal with this issue?
Biblically: we always should obey God rather than man if government is commanding us to do something God prohibits; or is prohibiting us from doing something God commands (Acts 4; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Cor. 9:16; Eph. 6:19-21). Should pastors be muzzled from preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) even if portions of it step on the politically correct toes of others? No! Should Christians cower under the pressure of incarceration or severe fines from honoring the Lord and His Word concerning issues of culture measured by what the Word of God clearly defines as reprobate? No! We should always speak the truth in love beloved; but speak the truth we must (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Eph. 4:13-16). The gospel cannot be compromised for political expediency or to pacify personal timidity (2 Tim. 1:6-18).
Please watch the following six videos (I know, but they are brief) in a very helpful and riveting interview by Canadian talk show host Michael Coren; and publisher, journalist, lawyer Ezra Levant about this situation. Pray for boldness for the believers in Canada to speak with courage, love, and biblically to this situation. Pray for Pastor Boissoin for continued strength and provision for him and his family to fight the good fight of the faith. Pray for the members of the Canadian government and in specific the 14 HRC's scattered throughout its nation, for justice and rightness to return in their rulings, and if any of them do not know the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation, that the God in His sovereign electing love would draw them to Jesus, give them the faith and grace to believe, through the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7). Pray also for Christians in media, like blogger Tim Challies, to stand up against the injustices of these Human Rights Commissions when the Christian faith is being compromised head on, with no thought of self or station in life.
A few closing words of encouragement:
Steve
2 Cor. 4:5-7
Please watch the following six videos (I know, but they are brief) in a very helpful and riveting interview by Canadian talk show host Michael Coren; and publisher, journalist, lawyer Ezra Levant about this situation. Pray for boldness for the believers in Canada to speak with courage, love, and biblically to this situation. Pray for Pastor Boissoin for continued strength and provision for him and his family to fight the good fight of the faith. Pray for the members of the Canadian government and in specific the 14 HRC's scattered throughout its nation, for justice and rightness to return in their rulings, and if any of them do not know the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation, that the God in His sovereign electing love would draw them to Jesus, give them the faith and grace to believe, through the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7). Pray also for Christians in media, like blogger Tim Challies, to stand up against the injustices of these Human Rights Commissions when the Christian faith is being compromised head on, with no thought of self or station in life.
A few closing words of encouragement:
"So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” -Acts 4:18-20The Cross Waves Higher Than the Flag,
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. -Acts 5:27-33
Steve
2 Cor. 4:5-7
PS - Blogger Carla Rolfe has written a brief, yet excellent, post on this as well today. Make sure to check it out.
