Gospel, Church And Culture

Title: Gospel, Church and Culture

(July 21, 2019)

1 Peter 4 (NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1. Believers are “done with sin”

2. Do not live for “evil human desires”

3. The past life was one of sinfulness

4. People don’t understand when we don’t join them in sinful living

5. They heap abuse on you/us.

6. There is a day of judgement coming.

Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

What does this look like in 21st century Canada ?

…This week being among other things… “Pride Week” …// I want to address the matter of a very complicated relationship – I speak of the relationship between … “Gospel, Church and Culture.”

Romans 12: 2 says it well “do not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

• July 14-21 -- Pride week in St. John’s

o Pride Parade ( I attended the Toronto Parade many years ago…)

o Multi-faith service (“Out in Faith”) held on Thursday (which I attended)

o During pride week…Workshops are being offered on pole dancing and sexual “fetish’s”

• Also this week… a Movie came to town…”Unplanned”

• It didn’t have the same acceptance and popularity of pride week.

• It's a movie that tells the story of the director of an abortion clinic making the journey from “pro=BOTION TO PRO-LIFE”

• The controversy around the movie – “Unplanned”

o (1) attempted censure – to keep the movie out of theaters and even out of Canada.

o (2) Canadian govt. attempted to label the movie as propaganda.

o (3) there was even protest signage outside the theatre

o (4) President of Cineplex wrote an open letter to defend his limited showing of the film in his theatres.

• USA, State of Georgia recently passed an anti-abortion law and movie makers threaten to pull out of the state.

• Also This week… the Anglican Church of Canada in their national synod (conference) narrowly voted down a change to the Canon Law on Marriage – to allow gay marriage in the Anglican church

in 3 levels of voting …

(1) laity (passed the motion)

(2) clergy (passed)

(3) Bishops (narrowly failed)…

• comments on social media largely expressed sadness and contempt for the decision.

• Since the national vote …

o (1) local dioceses have permission to rule locally and

o (2) everyone says it's just a matter of time until it becomes Canon law – the next national Synod is in 3 years

• The Province of Quebec recently enacted legislation (BILL 21) to remove religious symbols from govt employees.

o EFC considers this legislation an assault on religious freedom.

o I recommend subscribing to the email updates)***

• Last summer Govt of Canada changed the summer jobs application to include a “Values test” … including attestation for reproductive rights/abortion(?) – later overturned!

o Many Xian groups had no summer student last year

o

o core mandate respects individual human rights in Canada, including the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights. These include reproductive rights and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

• Very recently Govt of Ontario …went to court …

• court case on doctors “duty to refer” on matters of abortion and euthanasia

Joint Statement from Christian Legal Fellowship, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario –

May 15, 2019

TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS) v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The court unanimously upheld the CPSO’s policies on medical assistance in dying and human rights obligations. The policies require doctors who conscientiously object to ethically controversial procedures (such as euthanasia/assisted suicide and abortion) to take “positive action” to facilitate them, such as by providing an “effective referral” to a willing and available physician.