A Response to Bill C-38

You don't need to be a rocket-scientist to see that Canada is in political turmoil. First, talk of mild political scandal caught our attention. Strangely enough, our Prime Minister resigned shortly after. Then, news of an election dominated the landscape. That led to our country's first minority government in a while. Follow that with an eruption of major league political misdealings that left the nations governing party with some serious egg on their collective face. Lost in all the drama that has become Canadian life was the confidence vote in Parlaiment over the proposed budget, which eventually passed by the skin of its proverbial teeth. Throw in the NHL lockout and things really get ugly.

As a country, we've been hurled down this path of political trash-talking, party defection, lies, deception, stealing, and uncertainty among our national leadership longer than we expected or ever wanted. For years, maybe even decades, we've relied on our neighbours to the south to provide us with the humour often associated with political scandal. Now we're finding out that sometimes it hurts when you look in the mirror. It's been a tough and embarrassing road for Canadians to travel. And just when you think the bends in the road will straighten or all of the bumps will quietly disappear, you hit a doozy of a pothole that leaves you reeling for the rest of your trip. Canada's most recent pothole is Bill C-38 which very purposefully legalizes same-sex marriage throughout our land.

It's disappointing, to say the least, but certainly not surprising. When you think about it, same-sex couples have come a long way in 40 years. As recent as 1965, homosexual couples were thrown in prison and often automatically deemed dangerous sexual offenders because of their 'sexual orientation.' In Canada. From University professors losing their job to MP's 'coming out' to Catholic high school kids being banned from their proms, gay and lesbian rights have progressed immensely in a short time. Now, we rarely segragate those who live and endorse a homosexual lifestyle, nor do we demonize those who fight for it under the umbrella of human rights. Instead, we celebrate them. Parades are thrown in their honour. Every small step forward they take is applauded. They even get their own colour. I've always wanted my own colour. What's a guy have to do to get his own colour?

Though many other issues that dot the religious, social, and political landscape because of Bill C-38 are more important, I have some questions. How has the church progressed in the last 40 years? What have we done to move forward since the mid-60's when it comes to dealing with hot-button issues like this? Granted, this is a debate in which many Canadian Christians and Christian leaders let their voice be known, probably in record numbers, even if they did land on opposite sides of the fence. Yet still, Christians are often left with the debilitating reputation of brutally criticizing and harshly condemning those who think differently than they. Sometimes the reputation is deserved, sometimes it isn't.

The Bible makes clear that our call is not to criticize, nor is it to condemn. At the same time, it's not a call to be silent. Our voice must continue to be heard in ways that compassionately deal with the issue. It is a call to be wise and discerning, a call to be loving, a call to stand for Biblical values in an age that feels the freedom to redefine a God-ordained institution, a call to proclaim freedom from condemnation (cf. Romans 8:1-4).

Equally so, it's an opportunity. How much time have we spent praying that the laws of our land would reflect a Biblical perspective? Probably more than we can remember. How often have we prayed to avoid persecution? And why are we praying for that? Is the idea of such persecution so foriegn to us that we run for shelter at the slightest mention of it? Could it not be that this might do the spiritual landscape of Canada some good (cf. Genesis 50:20)?

From where I sit, this is not an issue about the laws - or in this case, a bill - that govern our land. The issue has always been the same since God created the heavens and the earth. The issue is people. People who have been created in the image of God. People who hold as much value and dignity as you and I do. We are called to love people like Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). This needs to be reflected in our attitude, our speech, and in our actions. I hope it is in mine. We must be praying that people will recognize both their sin and their need for a Saviour. We have an opportunity to pray that God would bring the hearts of the people back to Him so eventually, a bill like C-38 - and all the supposed ammendments and freedoms it both guards and provides - would no longer apply to our country.

I suppose this whole debate has reminded me of something else I need to be doing. I need to be praying far more frequently for our political leaders. Though I couldn't disagree any more with the decision they have made, I will treat them with honour because God has placed them in the position they currently hold. Their decisions carry huge implications not just for me, my friends, and my family, but for future generations. It may play enormously into my daughter's life in the years to come, and I'll be honest, that scares me more than a little bit. In addition, the evangelical church in Canada is about to face challenges we've never seen before. Many pastors will be pressed into unexpected duty to wage a battle that is completely unfamiliar yet unbelieveably explosive. But even as lawmakers pass this bill, I am confident that God knows both their motives and the future.

One news article I read yesterday suggested that now that the debate is over and the votes have been counted, this issue has finally come to an end. I respectfully disagree. It's just getting started.