Sunday, January 15, 2023, will mark one year since churches across the nation and the United States of America came together in solidarity to preach on the subject of Biblical sexual ethics[1]. The reasoning behind the initiative was to directly defy the Government of Canada's newly passed legislation Bill C-4.
There is much concern over the language of the Bill, which has been addressed here. However, the purpose of this article is to dig deep into some of the language found in the preamble of the Bill to show why pastors must stand their ground. The below-pasted statement is directly from the government's website - with added bold section to which this article will address.
Whereas conversion therapy causes harm to the persons who are subjected to it;
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;
And whereas in light of those harms, it is important to discourage and denounce the provision of conversion therapy in order to protect the human dignity and equality of all Canadians;
Let's look at the first. The definition of conversion therapy is a practice in any form to attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, or expression. Under conversion therapy, there are several methods that the Government has deemed harmful. Such as,
Counselling
Visualization
Social Skills Training
Spiritual Interventions.
Here is the most significant and overlooked problem with Bill C-4: the apparent and problematic attack on Canadians. Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 2 states –
2 Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.[2]
The section is significant. Under the sister legislation of the Canadian Bill of Rights, section one, subsection c, states that all Canadians have the freedom of religion. To establish that the fundamental right exists, one needs to turn their attention to section fifteen.
15 (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.[3]
Everyone, meaning all Canadians and those within Canada's borders. As part of this protection of rights, religion is included. Furthermore, the clear right that no other rights will be infringed on the exercise of these rights, so one cannot take priority.
26 The guarantee in this Charter of certain rights and freedoms shall not be construed as denying the existence of any other rights or freedoms that exist in Canada.[4]
So let's go back to the four items in the list that are deemed harmful in attempting to convert someone's sexual identity as protected by the Charter and compare it to the religion, more specifically Christianity. Remember, the Charter equally protects religion. So here, one needs to ask, "why is it not illegal to perform certain actions in their attempt to convert Christians to their secular, atheistic worldview?"
Counselling.
Lafawn David – authored an article with the Globe and Mail on October 12, 2022, regarding making it easier for LGBTQ individuals in the workplace. As part of the article, it was suggested as ways to aid LGBTQ individuals to "come out" in the workplace, organizations could educate others regarding respect and dignity. It was recommended that specific ways to do this is to have "seminars and workshops, which can be held concurrently with annual sexual harassment training."[5]
Now, this sounds like counselling and social training. Those who may hold to religious convictions are being required to take part in such sessions as means of employment. Included with much of the sexual harassment policies and workplace safety, Christians are being forced to suppress religious conviction, more specifically, the freedom of conscience of religion, by being forced to sit through these seminars and workshops.
Visualization
In Canada, it is rare, and there are exceptions, but you will rarely see a billboard, sign, or commercial on television promotion Christian beliefs regarding marriage. However, every day, regardless it is an ad for life insurance or a dating service, people will saturate in homosexual, same-sex relational media. Make no mistake; this is not an argument for allowing Christian advertisement – it is to show the blatant hypocrisy of the political agencies to force visualizations upon a segment of the Canadian population to accept certain lifestyles. This, like the council, is another attempt to "convert" what the Government has deemed an individual who holds to mythological views.
Social Skills
As already connected to the council, there are many stories of individuals, such as psychiatrist Dr. Jordan Peterson, having his credentials challenged over statements he made outside the context of his professional vocation on the Twitter platform. As a result, Peterson must go through re-education to maintain standing Ontario College of Psychologists [Read more here].
Spiritual Interventions.
Spiritual Interventions may seem more cut and dry regarding the Christian sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing how there is a created order with God regarding gender and function. However, no one has looked at the flip side. Federal and provincial governments forcefully introduced LGBTQ material in elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions. They are forcing such training and seminars within the labour market. They are passing laws making freedom of religion of consciousness illegal over these patterns – the governing agencies have done the same thing to Christians – they promoted their "faith" as the correct way of thinking and spiritually intervened.
The second concern is the aspect of including the myth of heterosexuality and assigned gender. First and foremost, as Christians, the strongest conviction is that God has a right to define who He is, what He decrees and the order in what He has created. For the Federal government to include the terminology that heterosexuality is mythical is an attack not just on Christian positions it is a clear sign of such opposition. Government leaders who are elected to represent the constituents are claiming Christians follow a myth – it is a direct insult to the largest religious population in Canada. In other words, they are not part of the "all Canadians" in the legislation.
Genesis one explicitly states that God created man, or Adam – mankind in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26a Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.
Not only did God create man, but he also made them male and female – both words distinct with assigned gender. They were created for the purpose of union and procreation
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; (Genesis 1:27-28)[6]
Therefore, since the Christians and their strongest conviction on anthropology that the origins of humanity begin with a clear gender and function order – for the government to claim this is a myth, again, to directly insult and demean a large portion of the population. Bill C-4 could have been written in several ways so as to not attack or target specific faith groups, but it was designed to attack the Christian worldview. After all, Pierre E Trudeau, when creating the Charter with his peers, ensured to include a section that would end Canada’s founding fathers’ dreams upon the county – to which it reads –
27 This Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.[7]
This means the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded were no longer valid or relevant to the government, and moving forward, those who share opposing views will be favoured. It may seem like a hyperbole; however, it is easy to see the rapid erosion of freedoms facing Christians in this nation. So much so to the degree, it has triggered concern in the United States of America, and other countries worldwide, have publicly rebuked Justin Trudeau.
The governments in power, more specifically the Liberal party of Canada, led by Justin Trudeau, have, in their self-righteous virtue, arrogantly and ignorantly attacked with biased religious freedom in this country. They have no desire to "protect the human dignity and equality of all Canadians;" if those Canadians do not line up to the liberal, woke, socialist propaganda they are peddling. The irony is that on a French Canadian television broadcast, Trudeau used language as misogynistic, bigot and extremist to identify with individuals who disagreed with him. He single handily announced those with deep religious convictions should not be permitted to be on a plane or train with other Canadians. He alone dressed in such a manner that was racist and culturally appropriated to those of the Sikh community. Justin Trudeau, who has had multiple ethics violations against his office and has been accused of allegedly groping a woman[8], is guilty of attacking the religion.
This is why pastors and church leaders must remain steadfast and faithful. It is not enough to preach just one year on the matter, but every year, every month, on the issues facing the church. Christians need to be aware they do not have fundamental freedoms, and Christianity will cost them. They need to understand the state will attempt to pollute and convert them from proper doctrinal positions with their agendas. The church is at war, and I encourage all pastors to prepare a sermon this Sunday, January 15, 2023 and speak on sexual ethics.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB)
In His Grace,
Pastor Steve
_________________________________________
John MacArthur, https://www.gracechurch.org/news/posts/2307
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Accessed January 11, 2023, https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-12.html
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Davis LaFawn, Making it easier for LGBTQ+ Workers to Come Out, Globe and Mail, October 12, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2023, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/adv/article-making-it-easier-for-lgbtq-workers-to-come-out/
The Holy Bible, New American Standard Version (La Habra CA, Lockman Foundation 1995).
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Accessed January 11, 2023, https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-12.html
Janet DiGiacomo, Woman who accused Justin Trudeau of groping breaks her silence. CNN, July 6, 2018. Accessed, January 11 2023 https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/06/americas/justin-trudeau-groping-allegations/index.html
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