For those who have followed us for the past couple of decades I would like to bring you up to date. My retirement from National House of Prayer (NHOP) became official July 1st of this year. The mantle of leadership is now in the capable hands of Chris and Marilyn Byberg. This had been a process of two years and culminated in the ‘passing of the baton’ with a group of friends in Ottawa in a very meaningful way.
We attend a wonderful church in Calgary which completely lines up with what we are sensing for Canada. Even before I began the journey of NHOP my heart was for prayer and my vision was revival. I've come in a full circle being in Calgary where I began the Link Canada walk to Ottawa. But, I've also come full circle in my journey with God, seeking to go further with God in prayer and a renewed vision for revival in our nation.
Thanks for being a part of this journey with us!
Transcending the Culture War
In my book, We Have a Voice, I emphasized the importance of understanding that within a democracy, government is predominantly downstream from culture. This truth had been clearly demonstrated to me in 2005 regarding the re-definition of marriage in Canada, Bill C-38. My wife, Fran and I were sitting and praying behind the late David Mainse as he was defending traditional marriage to the Justice Committee. We were all taken aback when the chairperson interrupted to say:
“Why should we listen to you? The largest Protestant denomination in Canada wants same-sex marriage!”
Our elected officials were clearly seen as merely a mirror of what was already a growing influence on our society. (Just to note, it takes a very strong leader to go against the tide of his or her constituents). What was even more concerning, was the apparent influence that a ‘Christian’ denomination, was having on our society. All kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind as we sat there. Didn’t they read their Bibles! How could they come to this conclusion? (It’s true that in 2003, the United Church of Canada, had petitioned our government to change the definition of marriage).
The above event had a great impact on me underlining the importance of the voice of biblical Christianity within culture. Jesus exhorts us to be the influence of salt and light.
Now, we are facing a mountain of other challenges to what was once considered traditional values within Canada.
The Importance of Our Influence
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Matt. 5:13
Jesus was telling his disciples, and therefore us, to be both engaged in society and to care for the souls of individuals. Salt was used to preserve and to counter decay, or corruption. Jesus applied this metaphor to exhort us to live and speak out against anything which could hurt individuals or corrupt a society.
In the ancient near east, to preserve and stop decay, salt needed to be rubbed into the meat. This tells us that we cannot be an effective influencer from a distance, but we must be engaged on both personal / local levels as well as national. His words challenge us that when and if society goes bad, we have no business throwing up our hands in disgust, but rather, we need to own some of the reproach ourselves. You cannot blame unsalted meat for going bad.
The need for being engaged in our culture is vital today as we are witnessing, for example, that our children’s minds are ‘up for grabs’ in an unchecked way. Any reaction of parents to some of the lies being taught are largely ignored. Changing societal values are changing laws. Religious liberty could soon be removed from the public square in Canada. I can't imagine anyone saying that what I have just written is an exaggeration, in fact, it's probably much worse. There are some on the frontline of our nation who are actively engaging as the influence of salt on both national and local levels. They need our support. Also, the need is very great for pulpits across our land to prioritize equipping families and providing a solid biblical foundation to address our changing world.
As I have been praying about this influence of salt, it came to me that for Jesus to say these words, (Mt. 5:13-16) he is wanting us to grasp just how important our influence is. What happens to our world if we surrender to the idea that Christianity is irrelevant and should have no influence in the public square? My conclusion is that our Canadian society would self-destruct. At the end of chapter 1 of Romans, Paul is very clear as to what happens to a society that suppresses truth, (Rom.1:28-32). We are definitely needed.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Balancing Salt with Light
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt. 5:14-16
For many, a Christian's reaction to our world of changing values is labelled as predictably negative and opposed to just about everything. See below for further comments on this, but regardless, Jesus is saying that the light of his revelation is not merely for ourselves but especially for those around us.
Light is to help people see. Jesus identifies this light as our ‘good deeds’ but I would also include our testimony to the truth, as supporting these good deeds. These are works of love, ie. God’s love in us, made manifest. As people witness these demonstrations of love, the light of God in us, they can be drawn to that light. The opposite happens when they hear our preaching, but see nothing backing up these words in our actions. Too often they see angry people!
Recognizing that we, in and of ourselves, are not the source of this light is imperative. Out of dependence, a Christian prays for the right words to say, or asks for a spirit of wisdom and revelation, (Eph. 1:17). God may bring a revelation which the individual Christian could never have thought of on his, or her own. It becomes a light, or an idea, not only to the Christian, but to all those in relationship to the Christian. It is one thing to voice a concern on a given subject, (which can be labelled negatively), but quite another to offer God's insightful alternative. This can bring direction and life.
Before we move further with this, let me just say that in both the metaphors of salt and light, Jesus uses the emphatic ‘you’, which means you and you alone, are the earth’s salt and the world’s light. Secondly, Jesus' uses the plural 'you' in his address emphasizing that the witness of light is not is not meant to be always in isolation from one-another. Corporately, salt and light can bring a real strength to one-another as well as a needed accountability of how we seek to witness to others.
Now, let’s take the subject of our influence even further.
More Than the Here & Now
For the here and now, salt and light are very important, but how much more important is this in the light of eternity? When a person becomes saved, they are rescued from darkness to light, (Ac. 26:18) and from death to life, (Jn. 5:24). This should emphasize all the more that our conduct should demonstrate genuine humility and kindness, even towards those we disagree with.
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
(1Pet.2:15)
...always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(1Pet. 3:15b)
Even in the context of a growing persecution, the early church was genuinely motivated by a great desire to see people saved.
What if we turned society's moral clock back 100 years,
would the lost be not as lost?
Let's consider, what if we did succeed in re-establishing a strong moral and ethical code in Canada? What if we turned the clock back nearly 100 years to a time when Christian ethics was the assumed belief of our culture? We could almost have a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ world, (for those who can remember). But here is another question: Would the lost be not as lost? A moral reformation, or a “win back Canada for the Lord” would fall desperately short of the kingdom that Jesus announced. As Leonard Ravenhill once said –
“The church is not merely seeking moral reform; you
could have a nation full of Nicodemus’ and still have
a nation headed to hell.”
Leonard Ravenhill’s words should challenge us, that while we seek to impede the moral corruption from our world, let’s not neglect to share the complete truth of the gospel. It's very easy to treat a person with good morals as 'one of us', forgetting in the moment that without salvation, even a good moral person will go to hell because a person’s works will not save them, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast, (Eph. 2:8,9).
Rather than engage in a cultural struggle, the Apostle Paul ran in such a way as to clearly see the spiritual condition of both Jew and Gentile as needing salvation. His God assignment transcended the cultural divide of his day, and his focus was eternal, and Christ-centred.
And so, it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
1Cor. 2:1-5 (NIV)
It Begins with Us
Transcending the cultural war means, regardless of a person's moral condition, we choose to love them as God does. We become more motivated with the light of eternity, and the reality of heaven and hell. Our prayers become filled with desire to see our neighbours saved and set free from any bondages. We no longer see our world in separate groups of ‘them and us’, and we begin to do away with judgements such as, “you made your bed, now sleep in it!” because we begin to recognize that we’re all in the same bed!
Praying that God would address the corrupt moral issues of our nation are absolutely needed. Therefore, as God addresses these issues, first in us and the church, let's not be surprised and let's begin to ready ourselves, “it is time for judgement to begin at the house of God...” (1Pet.4:17). When even a remnant of God’s people experience His conviction for right living coupled with the prayer for souls, God begins to move. The authority of our prayers begin to increase profoundly, because any possible obstacles have been dealt with. His bride is getting prepared to 'make herself ready'. (Rev. 19:7b). In partnership with us, God can ‘birth’ revival which then awakens the people of God and society responds.
Yes, this kind of awakening and revival will touch the moral conditions of our nation, but it will be done through his power and his forgiveness, along with his praying people, who are surrendered to his Lordship.
Rob Parker