By Steve Long

As Canadians, we find ourselves in a very different nation than we were before Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns, vaccine mandates, etc.

Our governments, across this nation, have been similar in relying on science to guide their policy decisions. The application of their summaries has varied. Policies are based mainly on the political party that is leading the province. My perception is that provinces led by right-leaning premiers are less restrictive than left-leaning premiers. I believe that each Mayor, Premier, and Prime Minister have sought to lead based on their personal values and perception of their public mandates.

Historically, Canadians don’t complain; we don’t protest. We are known for being peacekeepers. The United Nations has a long history of calling on Canada to stand in the gap between feuding nations. In 1957, Lester B. Pearson won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Suez Canal dispute. He later became our Prime Minister. Peacekeepers work quietly behind the scenes. They don’t speak out publicly, for the most part, though they take a stand.

Canada has sent peacekeeping troops to places like Congo (1960), West (Papua) New Guinea (1962), Yemen (1963), Cyprus (1964), and on and on. Perhaps the most famous mission was in 1994 when the genocide took place in Rwanda, and only Canada was there to intervene. Dozens of movies were made about this tragic incident, including Hotel Rwanda. Today, Canadians are stationed in Mali, DR Congo, Cyprus, and Haiti. To date, 130 Canadians have died taking a stand for peace.

We expect our political leaders to take a stand and speak to the issues. When we have elections, we want to know if the parties/candidates are pro-business or not. Are they for the environment or not? Followers of Jesus often want to know if the party/candidate is pro-abortion or pro-life; pro-traditional marriage or not, more government or less government, etc.

When there is a crisis, we want our leaders to make decisions. Even more, we want them to make decisions that we agree with. That doesn’t always happen. While a crisis is ongoing, our emotions often get the best of us. We don’t always have clarity about what the short and long-term decisions will result in. At best, we get to look back afterward to evaluate.

The first national challenge that I remember was the FLQ crisis in Quebec in 1970. I was 13. Canada was under Marshall Law because a small group, wanting an independent Quebec, killed and kidnapped political leaders. I remember then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, when questioned by the media and other parliamentarians about what they saw as an extreme overstep, responding with, “Just watch me!” He clearly stood up and spoke out!

His son, Justin, recently issued such a challenge when the Freedom Convey converged on Ottawa. He called the truckers and their allies “fringe” and “extreme,” among other words. He stood up and spoke out. Was he right?

That is the current big question that our nation is trying to decide. His words about the participants in the Freedom Rally have created a more significant challenge for the city and citizens of Ottawa. “Fringe” has become a rallying cry for many people, not just truck drivers who were devalued from being “essential workers,” giving them immunity from having to be vaccinated when crossing the US border.

Those who value what the truckers stand for and their version of the issues would see them as heroes. But that is a minority. The polls suggest that a large majority feel that our prime minister spoke accurately and correctly. They believe he took an acceptable stand. As a result, his popularity rating has increased.

There is another group of people, other than politicians, expected to stand up and speak out. That is us, followers of Jesus. Spiritual leaders such as myself are often the voices for those who don’t feel like they have a platform.

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There is another group of people, other than politicians, expected to stand up and speak out. That is us, followers of Jesus.
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History is full of followers of Jesus who have led the charge for change. Florence Nightingale was a champion of reform, caring for the wounded, especially from battles. She pioneered modern medicine, not as a doctor but as a social reformer who happened to be a nurse. Another example was Wilber Wilberforce, who ended slavery in British nations in 1833. Eight hundred thousand people were freed. He championed this freedom 12 years before the emancipation in America. He was a follower of Jesus who refused to stand down and shut up.

Almost every day, I get an email, Facebook post, messenger text, etc., from people who want to know my stance on the day's topic. Many people, most of whom I don’t know, go a step further. They assume that I haven’t spoken to their issue their way, and why aren’t I standing for righteousness? What they mean is, will I speak on their topic for them? Will I agree with their position from my platform?

Here’s an example of what someone wrote on my Facebook page as a comment.

I’ve never seen Canadians as receptive to love, truth, and freedom as I have these past two weeks (referring to the Freedom Rally in Ottawa). And I’m very surprised to see the passivity, complacency, and silence of those claiming to be leaders of faith.

What this person meant to say and perhaps didn’t have the courage to say was this. Why didn’t Steve Long speak on my issue my way? Why isn’t Catch The Fire Church focused on standing up for and speaking out on topics that I feel are important?

I personally wrote to this man. I looked at his social media as I didn’t know him. He had nothing on his page on this topic but wanted me to be the one speaking up. Because this person doesn’t attend our church and doesn’t live in the GTA, I asked if he had seen any of the statements we have made over the past two years regarding lockdown-related topics? Had he read any of my blogs talking about the lockdown, vaccinations, etc.? This gentleman is not alone. Over my 40 years of being a spiritual leader, the question is always the same. Will my pastor speak out and take a stand on the topics that stir me? I disappoint many with my response.

My two responses are consistently this. First, you have a voice. You speak out and stand up for what you believe and for what you feel God has placed on your heart. I can’t pretend to have the passion you have for this topic. Second, Catch The Fire is, first and foremost, a church, not a political organization, not a lobby group, not a spokesperson for the many social issues of the day. We focus on Kingdom topics and Kingdom agendas.

Over the years, Catch The Fire has stood up for things we feel are clearly spoken about from the Bible.

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We focus on Kingdom topics and Kingdom agendas.
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We’ve taken a stand for the nation of Israel. The Bible says to bless this nation, even if its leaders do things we disagree with. We’ve hosted a monthly prayer gathering for the peace of Jerusalem for over 20 years. (Numbers 6:22-27)

We’ve taken a stand against persecution and the forced conversion of people. We’ve stood with Uyghur’s from China, Yazidis from Syria and Iraq, Jews and Christians who are persecuted because they want to choose a different faith than the majority of the people in the land they live in. We do this because we believe that God has given each person the right to choose Jesus or not choose Jesus. Forced conversions, including what “Christians” did in the Crusades, are wrong.

We’ve stood with new and marginalized Canadians. A few years ago, we helped 300 Syrian refugee families, we’ve sponsored families from Pakistan, inner-city ministries such as Followers Mission and Scott Ministry. Why? The Bible is very clear that followers of Jesus should stand with the poor and aliens (Bible word for refugees). (Galatians 2:10)

We haven’t taken stands nor spoken up on what we consider political topics. These topics, such as climate change, immigration quotas, balanced budgets, $ 10-day care, etc., are significant, but I would argue they are not the primary focus of the Bible. Political parties are divided on these topics as are we as citizens. That is what makes these topics political. As a church, we stay out of that arena.

Morality topics such as abortion, the definition of marriage, genders, euthanasia, etc., are discussed in the Scriptures. We’ve taken positions on those topics that align with what our Scriptures declare. We understand that often public opinion is against us, but our allegiance is with what God says.

We have talked about current topics such as vaccines but have not taken a stand. We’ve said repeatedly that this is a personal decision that each person needs to hear from Father God about. Because I’ve been vaccinated, many non-vaccinated people feel that I am against them or that I advocate for vaccines. Not at all. I have never encouraged anyone to take the vaccine or not take the vaccine. God says he is the Healer, so let’s have Him speak to us.

On the topic of vaccine passports, we have talked about this very publicly and taken a stand. We’ve repeatedly said that we will not require anyone to be vaccinated to attend our public gatherings. For several months, we have had the option to have 100% capacity with no social distancing, but the caveat has been that everyone attending needs to show their vaccination passport. We’ve declined to do that, and we’ve chosen to remain at 25% capacity even though we are allowed to be at 50% in this grouping.

On the topic of closing our doors and limiting our numbers to 10 during the most severe lockdown, we did take a stand and spoke up. Our leadership team and our board of directors have felt that governments have the right in situations we have been going through to govern and make uncomfortable temporary laws. We have complied with wearing masks for those who attend. We have limited our attendance to 10 during those seasons.

We did this based on what we see as the teaching of the Bible. Not once did Jesus tell us to rebel against Herod, the king of Israel, nor the Romans who ruled the nation. Jesus did tell us when forced to carry the bag of a soldier to carry it for double what was asked. Paul, the apostle, told us to pay taxes, pray for governments, submit and obey leaders. Even if their name was Nero and they were persecuting and killing followers of Jesus. (Matthew 5:41, Romans 13:1-7)

The only example I can find of rebellion was when Peter and John were told not to preach about Jesus. They said that that demand crossed God’s command. We haven’t had any interference during the lockdown on what we say or how we say it. It turns out that the restriction to limit those in our venue has helped us to serve our growing online church family far better. Our reach as a church has expanded because of lockdown! Who knew?

That position to comply has not gone down well with some who feel that this is an overreach of the various levels of government. Some have told us they wouldn’t attend as long as we require a mask. Some have said that we aren’t standing for freedom and righteousness. We disagree. Only heaven knows if we called this one right.

Leaders often get caught in circumstances and timing that others don’t see or comprehend. For example, the Sunday after George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis was Pentecost. We felt that the plans we had from the Lord to celebrate the Holy Spirit were more critical than devoting that special day to talking about police brutality and the murder of an innocent man. We waited a week and took lots of flack as it appeared to some that we were avoiding such an important issue.

So what do we do when issues come up that provoke us? As followers of Jesus, what do we say and do about the topics of the day? What’s my action plan? Here is what I suggest.

First, you have a voice!

Use your social media, attend rallies, join a political party, speak your mind. In a recent social media post, I congratulated those heading to Ottawa to stand for what they believed. I encouraged them to go if they heard the Lord asking them to go. I have a very high value on acting on revelation, which is my definition of faith.

But, understand that your topic may not be the topic of your neighbour or your church family as a whole. If you have the right to speak on your topic, others also have the right to speak against your view. The question is this; will you love your neighbour as you’d like them to love you?

Second, watch how you pray.

Because others may disagree with your point of view, that means that you may not have the full heartbeat of God on your side. Be careful that your prayers are not soulish. A soulish prayer is you speaking what your will is and telling God what to do.

For example, praying for righteousness to be exalted in our nation is a good prayer and aligns with the Bible. Praying that the (name your political party) would win the next election, in my view, is soulish. That is your will, and if it isn’t God’s will, you are entering dangerous ground, which the Bible warns us against.

Third, don’t expect others, including your pastors, to have the same passion and views as you do.

Don’t judge others who see things differently. We need to honour each other in agreeing to disagree while keeping our relationships in tact.

For example, our congregation and pastors at Catch The Fire have each asked the Lord whether to be vaccinated or not. Some heard yes, and some heard no. Are some right and others wrong? Or does Father God know what is best for us? Does Father God have each person on unique journeys through life? Does God feel that what is okay for some isn’t for others? Apparently yes.

I want to challenge you in the following ways:

What can I do after reading this? Do I need to forgive people?
Have I judged people and hence walking in sin? What should I pray for?
Should I open a kind and civil dialogue with someone I know is taking a stand that I disagree with? To ask questions? "Help me understand why...."

What would Jesus say to us on this topic of standing up and speaking out?
I think he summed it up well in one of his sermons.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:7-10