MDM4M - Modern Disciple Magazine For Men - The Watchman: Standing on Guard for Canada

Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

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THE WATCHMAN:
Standing On Guard For Canada
(Jer 6:17a)

I suggest Christians need to put moral questions ahead of anything else, that is, issues that have a decidedly moral tenor and profoundly and sweepingly affect our culture at large. The definition of marriage, abortion, and euthanasia are issues that neatly fit into this category.

Undoubtedly the economy is also important. Our tax levels are of concern. Having a job and money left over to bring home allows us - rather than elected government - to exercise control over the direction we take our families; how much we have to contribute as offerings in our churches; and whether we can undertake home education on a single income. I doubt whether most Christians, though, are considering anything beyond the temporal when it comes to jobs, taxes, and the economy.

Ipsos Reid recently conducted a study of religion in Canada. Most interesting was the group of believers identified as 'Customized Christians'. Customized Christians view faith as a marketplace from which to choose what they like and leave out that which they do not like. In other words, they enjoy the 'free ticket' to Heaven but don't like the cost of denying the self that comes after salvation.

In historical context, evangelical denominations in Canada are likely to blame for where we find ourselves today. Pre-eminently concerned with personal salvation, they de-linked the personal from the corporate and its institutions. Such was left to older main line churches like the Anglican or Presbyterian to mind. With the demise in influence on elected governments by old main line churches - both by internal liberalizing of doctrine and the external secularizing of society - evangelical denominations have struggled to (inadequately) fill the void.

So we shouldn't be surprised, in light of these trends, that we have elected governments (either by active vote or by failing to vote) which allow the legality of child pornography, gay 'marriage', abortion on demand, and massive corruption. But we don't have to stay here.

About 12.8 million votes were cast in the last federal election. A strict addition of Catholic and evangelical votes, plus those of other religious minorities in Canada, and one can see that religious values have the possibility of playing a decisive role in shaping Canadian electoral politics and public policy. They will only if we shed the schizophrenic faith we have, in our pride, clung to.

It's time to grow. And growth hurts. Let's re-order our electoral priorities to reflect the vibrant and holy relationship we have with Christ.

Let's start by determining that we will vote in the upcoming federal election. If you don't like the quality of candidates then inquire about the nomination process that each party is undertaking to select their candidates in your local area.

"If we continue to vote with the values of the world instead of the values of the Word we won't have to worry about jobs anymore - there won't be any."

Granted, by the time you read this, most nominations will have been decided. However, some won't be. Get involved or if possible run yourself. That's one way to improve the quality of candidates.

So what kind of Christian values can we bring to the ballot box?

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