A Simple Reminder About F A I T H
Religious Freedom in Canada – IMPORTANT Update
3-hour conference on the subject of religious freedom in Canada and Bill C-6 in particular. The Canadian Religious Freedom Summit was convened and facilitated by the Metropolitan Bible Church, Ottawa, with the gracious help of the Summit’s sponsors. The sponsors alone were impressive: The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (of which we are a member church); Canadian Centre for Christian Charities (of which we are a member church); The Gospel Coalition (Canada), to name a few. Here are four things you can do as a Christian to respond to this crisis of law underway in Ottawa:
Make it your aim to know the important issues that your fellow Canadians are facing. Read broadly and wisely from sources that will equip you with accurate data on current events that matter to you. Avoid the bullet point impulse that leaves us with half-truths and whole-lies. Test what you hear. I’ve included two links from the Gospel Coalition and the National Post to get you started.
There was a moment during the conference that it all became very surreal. Has life in Canada come to the point where the state is actually threatening to criminalize the exercise of my conscience in matters of Biblical conviction? As Pastor Jonathan Griffiths observed in his opening remarks of the conference, one cannot engage the teaching of the Bible without embracing the sexual ethics of the Bible. Eventually the Bible clashes with the culture. When I wrote to my MP, Mr. Gagan Sikand, Mississauga-Streetsville, about my concerns: here is the response I received:
“Conversion therapy is a practice that targets vulnerable LGBTQ2 Canadians in an attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, and can lead to life-long trauma. It is rooted in the belief that sexual orientation or gender identity can and should be changed to fit a narrow idea of what is ‘normal’ or ‘natural’. There is international consensus in the medical community that conversion therapy is harmful and ineffective. Conversion therapy reflects myths and stereotypes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2) persons, in particular that sexual orientations other than heterosexual and gender identities other than cisgender can and should be changed. Accordingly, conversion therapy causes social harm by stigmatizing these persons, harming their dignity and negatively impacting their equality rights. Discussions that explore identity are not considered to be conversion therapy, and are not targeted by this bill. However, there is a difference between exploring someone’s identity and telling them that who they are is wrong and in need of fixing. Conversion therapy is about actively working or providing services designed to change who someone is. That is what our Government is targeting in this legislation.”
Do you see the flaw? “Conversion therapy” is universally linked with all dissenting opinions about human sexuality. Do you see the problem? Arguing anything but a wholesale acceptance of the definition of human personality and sexuality is the same as conversion therapy. It’s a low blow. The Bible is prescriptive in its diagnosis of human behaviour and sexuality. What the Bible calls “natural and normal” the culture deems “narrow.” The Bible details a myriad of ways that we all are in “need of fixing.” Notice how the definition of identity is being seized by legislators while claiming that no one has a right to disagree with their views without being abusive in doing so. (I doubt that I’ve ever heard such conflated double talk).
Again, I need to remind you to “prepare your minds for action” as the apostle Peter urged. We are in a new day that does not allow for our traditional, conventional, historic, universal beliefs as taught in the Bible.
Opinions are divided among Christians about the legitimacy of political action from the Church. I have my own opinions. Suffice it to say that the Bible records numerous situations in which believing Jews and Christians participated in the political process. (They also spent vast amounts of time under duress by the governing authorities of their day). Even Paul refused to “go away quietly” when, as a Roman citizen, his personal rights and freedoms were violated (see Acts 16:37-40). Vote wisely and prayerfully. Contact your MPs and MPPs. Get involved. Their role is to serve the public. You are the public. Own your role.
I’ve not seen such an extensive and united coalition of Christian voices over any single item in my lifetime as a pastor. It’s both encouraging and ominous. Encouraging to see Christians of various stripes and colors speaking with one voice (and doing so in a classy way). Ominous because it suggests something very serious is about to go down in Ottawa.
Pastor Deric
