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.
15 comments:
Keep at it Champ Camp. Keep laying it on the line.
only look
Thank you friend. We all may be paying the price in the near future for proclaiming the standard of God's Word on a myriad of issues.
Pray on,
Steve
So, my generation is going to have one exciting time to be a true Christian. Maybe we'll get persecution.
"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Of course, I'd prefer no persecution but maybe we need to see some hard times in order for true Christianity to shine through and to see a revival. God knows all... I can only speculate.
brian
Amen.
Erosion of truth and its foundations usually occurs slowly and subtly. The departure from truth then follows and will follow that which is depraved and insidious overtime. Why? For by nature, we will act egregiously against man and God out of depravity. Apart from God's grace among His people and the Spirit's restraining power of evil in society, mankind would have long ago again gone the way of Noah's time.
What a time to be a Christian indeed! May we be found faithful to the gospel and His truth in spite of ourselves.
2 Tim. 3
Canada isn't in trouble. It has laws that respect people.
Sending hate-filled letters to the newspaper that declare war on a perceived "homosexual agenda" are, quite frankly, in violation of Canadian law. A letter that declares war on any other people group would meet the same fate -- as holocaust denying antisemites have discovered in Canada already. In Canada, freedom of speech has it's limits.
Consider: http://hatemonitor.csusb.edu/other_countries_laws/HateCrime-English.pdf
A good quote to consider (which pretty much sums up Boissoin's view):
"Some forms of hate crime are committed under the belief of having societal permission. For example, offenders who believe
their actions to be condoned and sanctioned by the larger society or community in which they live sometimes commit attacks
directed toward homosexuals (American Psychological Association, 1998:2)."
Any Canadian, who tries to wrap themselves in perceived US version of free speech, is in for a shock. If you speak in a public forum, and you incite hate, you're in violation.
This has nothing to do with Canada in trouble, this has everything to do with a post-Christian nation acting more civil and humane than many Christians in that nation.
krus
If you speak in a public forum, and you incite hate, you're in violation.
What exactly is "inciting hate"? This is where Canada's absurd "laws" are not civil or just. There is a difference between physical injury against another and speech. So if someone says, "the Bible has always taught that homosexuality is a sin..." is a fact, not inciting hate. BUT, if someone were to say, "I disagree with all homosexuals so much so that I have physically harmed them just for being gay" is a crime and clearly wrong in any civilized society.
So I ask you, where does personal speech equal inciting hate? And, isn't it interesting, to the best of my knowledge, that there has never been a case cited from any of the 14 Canadian HRC's that has called the venomous language used against Christians and/or Christianity as "inciting hate." Talk about duplicity; there is clearly an agenda here.
So does the political door only swing one way in Canada governed by special interest fringe groups? Where is the parity in that?
this has everything to do with a post-Christian nation acting more civil and humane than many Christians in that nation.
This is laughable if not down right deceptive. What if I said in response to your drive-by claim that I think your words are filled with hate against Christians and are trying to incite hate by the casual invective of your words on my blog. What legal action can I take against you for your words?
See how ludicrous this is?
Define humane and civil in light of the schizophrenic actions of some within HRC's.
Please explain...
"If you speak in a public forum, and you incite hate, you're in violation."
From all I have heard & read, what this means is essentially this:
Let's say you loathe people that wear green shirts. It is your personal belief that everyone who wears green shirts deserves to be mocked, humiliated and/or suffer physical violence in an effort to get them to stop wearing green shirts, and wear the colored shirts that only YOU approve of.
You speak publicly about your personal conviction about green shirt-wearers, WITH THE INTENTION of riling up the same angry, violent feelings in others, so that you have allegience and support for your hatred of green shirt-wearers.
Sound ridiculous? It should, since this is EXACTLY what Muslim extremists say about Christians and Jews, and exactly what real Christians NEVER do, and yet it's Christians who are being targetted by Canada's hate-crime law.
Now, where's the logic in that one? Anyone with an ounce of common sense (and fairness) can see a mile away that this isn't about hate-speech at all, this is about shutting Christians up because this "post-Christian" society doesn't want to be told that they're living in sin.
Oddly enough, it's become perfectly tolerable to hear the blatant, genuine hate-speech from certain Muslims.
The scales are rigged, and we all know it, some of us just say it.
I meant to include this:
"You speak publicly about your personal conviction about green shirt-wearers, WITH THE INTENTION of riling up the same angry, violent feelings in others, AND CREATING THE POSSIBLE, POTENTIAL SCENARIO THAT YOUR VERY WORDS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF VIOLENCE TOWARD GREEN SHIRT WEARERS so that you have allegience and support for your hatred of green shirt-wearers."
krus
What Steve and Carla said! Amen!
I can't add anything to that except to me it seems that anyone can say anything to and about Christians but we can't say a thing without it being called hate speech, which is basically what y'all said. Thanks for the post and the videos. It was an eye-opener for sure!
Karen
Carla
Great words - thank you. I am not sure where krus went to, but needless to say, it was a hollow argument he was making.
Good clarifying thoughts and post thought.
karen
Thanks for the encouragement. I am not usually a proponent of Christians defending themselves on issues of politics; but this is not political to me - it is a practical moral issue of biblical foundation at stake.
On spiritual issues where 2,000 plus years of redemptive history as support, the orthodox believer should stand true on the Word of God with humility and boldness.
2 Cor. 4:5-7
Steve,
The "freedom" that Canadians experience can only be called cursory. The United Church, an amalgam of 4 mainline protestant churches is all but dead. It's actually borderline apostate. In the interest of not offending anyone, they have given into radical views on abortion and homosexuality. They have endorsed the open ordination of practicing homosexuals.
I grieve for our brothers to the North. I pray that God will give those who are spreading the true Gospel with be filled by His Spirit. I pray that they are able to do what must be done to tell the truth, no matter the cost.
~Dave
David
I grieve for our brothers to the North. I pray that God will give those who are spreading the true Gospel with be filled by His Spirit. I pray that they are able to do what must be done to tell the truth, no matter the cost.
Amen!
The United Church in Canada is liberal and is apostate by all indications. The political drifting and uncertainty is probably the fallout of these mainline denominations departing from biblical Christianity as well.
There is hope for Canada. Genuine revival and reformation. But where are the Luthers' and Calvins' that will lead the way? Where are the Whitefields' and Wilberforces' to confront injustice and inequity with the truth claims of the gospel?
May the Lord raise them up from our Northern neighbors. The fields are white with harvest; but where are the workers?
Thanks again,
Campi
I fear this is the future of our country. Political correctness has become one of the greatest problems that our nation now faces. Our inability to discourse on difficult topics without being decried as racist, homophobic, etc, will ensure that we have no disucssion on any topic that doesn't toe the line.
Persecution isn't too far off in a real sense.
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