On January 7th, a new and unprecedented piece of legislation will affect our neighbors to the north. Canada’s Bill C-4, which passed unanimously in Parliament, effectively makes a Christian worldview regarding human sexuality illegal and shows all the more how antagonistic Canada is to Christ and His Church.
Take the preamble of the Bill as an example.
“Whereas conversion therapy causes harm to society because, among other things, it is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, including the myth that heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity, and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are to be preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions;.”
The definition of “conversion therapy “is broadly explained within the Bill as any practice or service designed to change or repress a person’s sexual orientation or gender. So, if a pastor counsels a young individual and calls them to a Biblical view of sexuality, and urges them to repent of their sins and call upon Christ, according to Bill C-4, he is breaking the law and could spend up to 5 years in jail.
God has defined gender and sexuality clearly in texts like Genesis 1-2, Leviticus 18, 20, and several other places within the Scriptures. Furthermore, any deviation, redefinition, or twisting from what God has ordained and considers “good” calls for immediate repentance back to the Biblical standard. So again, Bill C-4 says what God has called “good” evil, and the prophet Isaiah’s words ring true of Canada, “Woe to those that call evil good and good evil…” (Isa. 5:20).
Now some may say, “But this is in Canada, and it has nothing to do with us?”
Wrong.
All of us should pay attention to any threat to religious liberty and any law that persecutes Christians. Besides, America is not that far from Canada, and Canada provides a decent insight into where we are headed as a nation. If Canada is jailing Christians for holding to a Biblical worldview, do not think it is outside the realm of possibility for us in the States. Remember that we have the Equality Act on the horizon, similar to Bill C-4.
As Christians, especially pastors in America, we must stand with our northern brothers and sisters. The Scripture says that we are members of the body of Christ and “when one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27). Moreover, this assault on Christians in Canada should spur us here to be bold in the face of the oncoming adversity. Now is not the time to be silent, cower to tyrants, or make excuses. Instead, we should have our Bibles open, believe with our whole heart that Christ is Lord, and follow the examples of the Apostles where “We obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). And, of course, all of this is bathed in prayer and with love for God and neighbor.
Come January 7th, Canada will continue its rapid suicide spiral to destruction as a nation. Although we are in the same nosedive (although at a slower pace), God can still turn things around for both Canada and the United States. As stated earlier, what is needed is a courageous approach to Christianity and a faithful one. A Christianity with Christians who believe the Bible is true and are willing to speak that truth in love no matter the cost.
Is following Jesus worth a 5-year jail sentence, or maybe worse? That is something that I cannot answer for you.
I know my answer to that question, but do you know yours?