Happy New Year. We survived 2020, and 2021, and are now looking down the barrel, so to speak, of 2022. We’re delighted and excited to share more content and stories with you over this next year, but for now, there is a pressing matter at hand.
You may have been following the saga of Bill C-4 over the past few weeks. This is post 1 of 2 (and, let’s be honest, probably several more) detailing the issues at hand and the circumstances leading up to this moment in Canadian politics.
Pastors John MacArthur and Andrew DeBartolo provided some clarity recently on the undebated Bill:
“Bill C-4 passed through the House and the Senate without opposition. Not a single dissenting vote was cast by any member of the Conservative Party. It received Royal Assent on December 8, which means it will come into Law after January 8, 2022. The Bill will amend the Criminal Code in Canada to ban conversion therapy. It will criminalize, among other things, “causing another person to undergo conversion therapy; promoting or advertising conversion therapy.”
In the Preamble of the Bill, it says that the belief that “heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are to be preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions” is a “myth.” According to Canadian law, as of January 8, 2022, the belief in God’s design for marriage and sexuality will now be seen as a myth.
The Bill defines conversion therapy as, “a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual; change a person’s gender identity to cisgender; change a person’s gender expression so that it conforms to the sex assigned to the person at birth; repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behavior; repress a person’s non-cisgender gender identity; or repress or reduce a person’s gender expression that does not conform to the sex assigned to the person at birth.”
The definition is intentionally broad, and it can clearly be used against any preacher or elder who either speaks against homosexuality/transgenderism or who counsels a person to obey Christ and abandon their homosexual/transgender actions and lifestyle. This means as of January 8, 2022, it will be against the law to preach, teach, or counsel regarding God’s design for marriage and sexuality.
“Everyone who knowingly causes another person to undergo conversion therapy – including by providing conversion therapy to that other person – is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.” Similarly, “Everyone who knowingly promotes or advertises conversion therapy is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years.”
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Since this law takes effect on January 8, 2022, faithful Canadian pastors are going to preach on the issue, calling for a biblical understanding of sexual sin, the eternal judgment that falls on the unrepentant and gospel-rejecting sinners, and the grace of God in the gospel which offers forgiveness to those who repent and believe in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Paul clearly articulates why we must speak the truth:”
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
While we recognize that no person is sinless except Christ (1 John 1:8), and anyone with such desires is welcome in attendance at our church and its events, Covenant Presbyterian gladly supports the work of pastors across Canada and the US to draw attention to, confront, and oppose this Bill, as well as any motion passed by Parliament which contradicts or undermines the clear teaching of the Word of God, who benevolently rules over all.
Join us on January 16, 2022 as we link arms with faithful pastors across the country and preach, in a spirit of love and mercy, the unfailing love of God, the unrighteousness of sinners, and the need for a Saviour – Jesus Christ – who bore the wrath of God on our behalf that we might become His redeemed, new-made children.
Chris Cousine
Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church
Covenant Presbyterian Church 