Canadian Politics
If you’re friends with me on Facebook or any other social media, you wouldn’t have seen a single post from me about politics in this whole election. Its not that I’m not interested in it, I am. Its not that I don’t think its important, it is. Its not that I’m ashamed of my views, I’m not. Its partly that I don’t think a two sentence post is going to change anyone’s mind anyways. But its mostly that I hate the level to which most of the talk concerning politics stoops to. But here I get to be a little more open with what I think and I also have more than a couple of sentences. And I have a lot of thoughts about this last Canadian Federal Election.
First of all, let me say that I thought Steven Harper was a great Prime Minister and I voted for him again. I firmly believe that the reason our country is in such great shape financially when the US is struggling so badly is that God is blessing our country for Prime Minister Harper’s defence of Israel. That may sound hokey to some of you, but I truly believe that. But he is no longer going to be our Prime Minister.
I’m not surprised. I heard from so many people that they were surprised or didn’t think they would see the day or other such phrases. Really? Have you looked around Canada lately? Land of gay marriage and no abortion laws? Every time I’ve gone to Toronto this year I’ve seen people smoking pot on the street. In plain sight. In fact, last year I walked through an entire crowd smoking pot on their break from the pot convention. Ontario has a Liberal government and who knew this would ever happen, but Alberta has an NDP government! Frankly, I would’ve been shocked if Harper was re-elected. The fact that Trudeau was elected was not shocking, but just an indication that we live in a liberal country.
I’m not surprised and I’m glad that I live in a country where someone who I didn’t vote for can be elected. I’m glad I live in a country where I get to vote at all. Do you know how many people around the world would put their lives on the line to get a chance to vote? There are refugees dying every day trying to get to a democratic country. Also I’m a woman and its not even a thought on whether I will get to vote or my vote will be counted. Not only that, but my country makes it as easy as possible for me to vote. I got a card in the mail, I only had to drive five minutes away, and there was no persecution. I’m sure its not a perfect system, and I’m sure some people could complain about something, but I guarantee you that Canada is one of the best places in the world.
I wasn’t surprised, but this election did make me angry. Not the attack adds, not the fact that I figured Mr. Haper was out, but it was other Christians. I have friends on Facebook who were totally anti-Haper and they never once made me angry. But over and over again I saw other Christians berate their fellow Canadians, calling them Idiots, Stupid, and all sorts of names. Really? Is that what we are called to do as Christians? How is that showing the love of Christ? As soon as someone has a different opinion we resort to name calling? There are people that I love and respect that voted Liberal. I don’t think these people are stupid. I don’t agree with them, but I don’t think they’re stupid.
The average Canadian voted Liberal. What does that mean for Christians? Almost nothing. Our job doesn’t change. Where we have our security doesn’t change. Who holds our future doesn’t change. How we pray for our government shouldn’t change. The government doesn’t guarantee our financial security, our comfort, our stability. We’re supposed to be dependent on God for those things, not worried about how Justin Trudeau’s policies will affect our bottom line. What if every time we heard Canadians talking about Trudeau and abortion, or any other issue that we don’t agree on, we allowed it to break our hearts instead. Instead of thinking that they are stupid and going to ruin our country, we use those words to help us realize that our country is already ruined because most of them are going to hell. That’s the real issue here. Not that we disagree on tax policies. That is such a minor drop in the bucket. Canadians believe these things because they don’t believe in God. And that breaks my heart. The fact that Justin Trudeau got elected didn’t break my heart, the fact that he is a lost sinner does. Canada needs the Gospel, needs Jesus, no matter what colour the federal government is.
So in a few weeks, Justin Trudeau will be the Prime Minister. That means that he will have my respect. He is a man that is sacrificing to serve his county. He will make mistakes, as did Harper. He will do many things that I disagree with. But I will use those opportunities to remind myself to pray for his soul. Because that’s what’s really important in the end.