The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum The End of Religious Liberty in Canada

My understanding of Bill C-250 is that in Church a pastor is free to preach as the Word of God says on the issue.
However, out side the doors of the Church one has to be very careful how they do it.

However, like many people have stated in this matter, the wording of the bill is not completely clear. In the future, it may be interpreted in other ways.

This of course is only based on my limited knowledge of the bill.

Tom

Do they really expect a Pastor to say one thing in a worship service, and not say it outside or just the opposite. Its not separation of church and state but a separation of private vs public views. The movement is not necessarily about private religion, but against a relevant faith.

Agreed.

My pastor told me that it wouldn't change the way he preaches. He does wonder how some whom he calls "radical left wingers" are going to use this bill.

Tom

Sorry, but this bill has the ablity to affect even a pastor, in his own church, preaching or even reading from the Bible. It's only a matter of time before the party's over for Canadian Evangelicals (to which I guess I belong...!), as the criminal code now contains full leverage to ban Bibles completely.

See: http://www.carters.ca/pub/bulletin/church/2004/chchlb02.htm

Or, in PDF (Adobe Acrobat): http://www.carters.ca/pub/bulletin/church/2004/chchlb02.pdf

Sounds like just what Canada might need to get its knickers straight...a little persecution can do wonderful things.

I'm not being as flip as it sounds. Persecution leads to soul-searching, and soul-searching to better definition of what one believes, and better definition of that leads to purer, stronger churches. I do not rejoice at the possibility of pastors in prison, but I do rejoice that perhaps the church there will learn what it means to suffer with those who are in chains, to support their families, and to visit them in prison, and to risk being freinds of those who are persecuted for Christ. Perhaps then the church in Canada will have more respect for those in China, Laos, India, Pakistan Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and a host of other places who have learned this wisdom over many years.

Now if only something similar would happen in the US.

I've also heard the same.

Persecution gets the sheep separated from the goats fairly quickly. You are right. The church in our country needs a wake-up call, a call to be bold in its conviction, "mighty in the Scirptures," and live a life worthy of its calling.

E F Grant, Marie,

That consideration, that possibility, stirs me up. Something inside me says "This is right." I'm just now learning how people hate us for our great Lord. It's encouraging to experience God's work in my heart as I feel calm acceptance according to the irrepressable knowledge in which I am ever being conformed, by God according to His own good pleasure in the sending of His irresistable Spirit who has regenerated me. Haha, sorry for the discourse, just preaching to myself. It's late.

Ben

And you are right to apply it to yourself. When I contemplate the morning without several cups of coffee and a hot shower it stikes horror into my being. What would I be like if medical care were denied to my loved ones while they sat rotting and abused in prison?

Fact is, I personally need a shape-up--and I don't like thinking about that.

Preach the Gospel to yourself every day:

See this article here

Edit: Fixed bad UBBT Code for the link! - Pilgrim <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Same here. As much as it rather scares me to admit it, my faith would flourish.

I've been saying for a couple years now that America and Canada have been wasting their time lobbying for moral and decent laws. All the resources spent battling in courts and against governments is a major waste for the church. We should have spent all this time preparing ourselves for how to live in Canada and America while suffering open persecution.

It's a given America will follow suit. A decade strikes me as optimistic. It could happen much sooner. Oh well, as difficult as it will be at least it will shave off many "so-called" christians from the ranks. We can use a healthy trimming.

Consider this, how long will we be free to voice ourselves on this very board?

You know it's funny, but I almost blame the right wing extremists instead of the left wing ones. They want to silence the opposing view as much as the liberals. In 1990 a poll taken of Americans showed more than 30% didn't believe the KKK or Nazi party should have freedom of speech. Speech is free or it isn't. When we try to block out evil speech, evil will come full swing to block (or try to) good.

Those are some very sobering thoughts, brother. But you are right- I've seen what God can do in the furnace, and although it is hard at the time, I find myself nearer to God and walking more faithfully in His paths of righteousness.

The_Saint said: “You know it's funny, but I almost blame the right wing extremists instead of the left wing ones. They want to silence the opposing view as much as the liberals. In 1990 a poll taken of Americans showed more than 30% didn't believe the KKK or Nazi party should have freedom of speech. Speech is free or it isn't. When we try to block out evil speech, evil will come full swing to block (or try to) good.”

While there is a lot of truth to that line of reasoning, I can’t help but have mixed feelings about it.
For instance, should a person be able to say publicly about a racial minority: “Every person who is not of the white race is not worthy to be called human. My dog is worth more than them and as soon as we all realize this and act on it, whites can take their rightful god given place and rule over inferiors. I call on all whites here and now to start acting the way they truly are.”

I for one believe that statements like that are harmful and shouldn’t be allowed.

In Canada now we have the hate bill called Bill C-250; while I understand part of the reasoning for this is to try to stop people from violence against homosexuals and minorities. The bill goes way too far and makes it sound like the Bible incites hatred towards homosexuals, which of course is far from the case.

Tom

As an Oregonian, when this mentality comes to fruition in the USA, this state will probably be the entrance point. We now have legalized euthanasia,( by popular vote) and there is a rush by the liberal politicos & media to be the second state to recognize sodomitic nuptials. There is a strong movement from what evangelicals we have to stop it, but I'm afraid it is a run away train

Eleanor,

I'm not saying you are doing this, but I too need to hear this same thing. We need to be careful how we approach the issue of suffering and persecution. Are you suggesting (forgive me if I am reading into this) that you pray for persecution? You mentioned you hope the same thing would happen in the U. S., so I thought that's what you meant.