Christian worldview under fire
“There are people deliberately trying to reconstruct freedom of religion as freedom from religion.”
OTTAWA, ON—As the 2015 federal election draws near, Vancouver Island MP James Lunney is encouraging Canadian Christians to take a stand for their beliefs. Lunney recently left the Conservative Party to sit as an independent, in order to speak out more effectively against what he calls an attempt by militant atheism to silence the Christian worldview.
“I see a pattern that is going to come into the next election, targeting candidates with a Christian worldview,” says Lunney. “We ought to take it seriously when the Bank of Montreal and other corporations involve themselves in trying to discredit a law school with a Christian worldview. Or when the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons completely pre-empts public consultations on conscience rights and pushes through their agenda. Has a Christian worldview somehow become a threat to Canada?”
Lunney says these actions are part of a broader smear campaign to undermine and discredit those who hold a Christian worldview in politics, law, medicine and academia.
“I got dragged into this when [Ontario MPP] Rick Nicholls stated in the Ontario Legislature that he didn’t believe in evolution. That provoked a strong response. Many of his colleagues withdrew from him and [Ontario Premier] Kathleen Wynne said, ‘I thought all members of the legislature believed in science.’ It’s absolutely wrong for any Christian to feel intimidated that science has somehow disproven our creed.”
Lunney, who studied zoology in university and got his first A in cell biology, felt compelled to defend Nicholls. He points to a recent survey of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, where 33 per cent responded they believe in a personal god and 18 percent believe in some form of higher power—that’s a combined 51 per cent.
“I take full responsibility for what I say in terms of science and faith, because I have a good grasp of both. The atheists are losing in the science world. Even the militant atheist and evolutionist Richard Dawkins believes in a form of intelligent design. Cell biology and molecular biology have stripped any possible retention that life could happen by accident or that the first cell could ever come into form by random events.”
Some Christians say Canadian believers are not being persecuted, because the opposition in Canada no where near mirrors the atrocities being committed against Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere. However, Lunney ardently states that is a false perception.
“It’s one thing to say, ‘no one is being beheaded in Canada, just take a little bit of diminution,’ but that is not freedom of religion. There are people deliberately trying to reconstruct this as freedom from religion. Christians have lost jobs over evolutionism if they dare to suggest there is intelligent design.”
In Lunney’s view, Canada is increasingly requiring Christians to live as second-class citizens, similar to Christian life under Sharia Law. One example he points to is the growing call to remove the charitable status for churches.
“It’s called dhimmitude. You live in dhimmi-status, which means you can survive in society as long as you can be insulted by the dominant culture and they can take from you what they want. You are diminished. That’s what [groups opposed to Christian beliefs] are trying to impose in Canada.”
Lunney says that is why he feels this election year is so important. He believes that reality is very close, not years away, and if Canadian politics become toxic to the Christian worldview the objective of diminishing Christians in all other aspects of society will be much easier.
“Frankly, we have a chance. If we will call upon Almighty God, we have access to the throne of Grace by the blood of Jesus Christ. If we stand up for our nation, I believe Canada can be spared some of the darkness that is coming upon the world and can remain a light in a very troubled world. But we need to take advantage of this opportunity and fight while it’s light.”
Lunney says it’s important for Christians to look for candidates of faith, regardless of party, to vote for them and to get behind them with tangible and vocal support.
“The Christian worldview made Canada what it is today, but if we allow intolerance and militant atheistic bigotry, Canada will not be recognizable. Christians have an obligation to stand up and fight for a Canada with a better future.”
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
About the author