We Will Not Bow
Daniel and the Lion's Den in Canada
As of my writing this is the beginning of “sodomy month” in Canada, and Bill C-9, which is a horrifying miscarriage of justice in multiple ways, is still on the Senate floor waiting for its turn. For those who do not know, Bill C‑9 is a set of amendments to the Criminal Code that would repeal the existing religious‑expression defense in Canada’s hate‑propaganda laws (most specifically around homosexuality and gender-identity), and the Senate committee has also added a new amendment that would criminalize certain forms of residential‑school denialism. While these changes have been approved by the House of Commons, they are not law yet, as the bill still requires full Senate approval. I believe it is highly likely that C-9 will get full approval from the Senate and that it will become law in our nation. I could be surprised, and I hope to be, the Lord can move the hearts of the Senate to prevent this Bill from passing, and I pray He will. But if He does not, and the Bill does become law, I want to preemptively encourage my fellow believers who will be placed in danger from our government because of this law.
Many of God’s people have had to live under the threat of rulers who do not honor God. We don’t live in the “worst time in human history” or any of that nonsense. We live in a hard time, and the times could get harder, but we can endure it all. We had fathers in the faith in Scotland who lived in a time that they called, “The Killing Time.” This was during the reign of Charles II and James VII of England and the believers endured great persecution at the hands of wicked magistrates. Meeting these fellows in heaven might make us a little sheepish to talk of our persecutions.
Then there was Blandina of Lyon. She was a Roman slave girl in Gaul (what is modern day France) and she was a Christian. She was described as weak and frail, and yet she endured such persecutions as we could never even imagine. The Romans were amazed at the cruelty she could endure: scourged repeatedly, made to sit in a red-hot iron chair, hung on a stake in an arena, thrown to wild beasts, and finally she was gored by a bull. She was martyred alongside many children and it is recorded that she encouraged them and spoke to them of Christ as they died. Her confession was pure and simple right to the end, “I am a Christian, and nothing wicked is done among us.”
These are just a couple of examples of the hard times that our brothers and sisters in the faith have had to endure throughout the ages. Even today, in Nigeria, Christians are enduring trials that are hard to imagine. Whole families being killed for their allegiance to Christ. We, in Canada, have not been counted worthy to suffer for the cross in this way yet, and by God’s grace we may never be called upon to do so. But it seem highly likely that we will endure at least some persecution as a result of Bill C-9. How quickly we forget that only six years ago, pastors were taken to prison for the crime of gathering for worship with the saints. This is not something to speak about as though it were a thing far off that was coming down the road to meet us, this is here. The time has come. How many of our own people, those who bear the name of Christ, looked upon the pastors who were jailed and sided with their captors rather than with their own brothers in the faith?
Soon it is likely that some of us will be imprisoned for simply reading our Bibles out loud. If Bill C-9 passes through the Senate, it will happen. You will see Christians blaming those who are being jailed for being “unloving.” There will be many “conservative” politicians who will not lift a finger to help while they champion conservative values.
But we must not lose heart.
God’s word is instructive for us, and you need to be ready. God had given a story for you so that you can know what He would have you do in this time of doubt. The Prophet Daniel was living in Persia under the reign of King Darius in Daniel 6. It pleased the king, under the influence of his advisors, to create a law which would make it illegal to pray to any god besides himself for a thirty day period. This was done because these advisors to the king hated Daniel and his God, and it was their desire to trap him.
I want you to notice the method they used to attack Daniel. They needed a way to get rid of him, and there was one thing they could count on: his faithfulness to God. They knew that this was an unchanging characteristic of Daniel. He was a righteous man, and they knew that they could use that against him, so they did. It says in Daniel 6:10,
“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
The first thing he did upon hearing this was to break the law. Not even for one moment did Daniel consider obedience to the wicked rulers of his day. He went to his house, and he opened his windows in full view of all, and he prayed to God as he had always done. It took no time at all for his adversaries to use this against him. Daniel 6:11, “Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.” They were ready, and they used Daniel’s righteousness against him.
The rest of the story is well-known. Daniel was vindicated before God and men, and was spared from the fate that was to befall him. Darius gave glory to God, and all was well for Daniel. Swift judgement fell on those who had sought his ruin, and the Lord blessed Daniel in all his work.
My fellow believers: they are going to use your righteousness against you.
Let them.
Do not hide for even one moment. Pastors, continue posting your sermons. Writers, keep writing. If you’re on social media, keep posting. Do not change even one thing. The wicked hate God and they hate what God has said. They hate you because they hate Him. They are making this law so that they can trap you, just like the Satraps did to Daniel. This is a game of Chicken, don’t flinch. Do not bow to them. When the edict goes forth, go to your house, open your windows and pray. Pray in the sight of everyone. Pastors, preach so that everyone can hear you. Don’t bow.
Many of us have a lot to lose, but remember the words of the Lord: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”- Mark 8:34-36.
They may take much from you. They may take you away from your family and church, they may do all kinds of wickedness to you. But let us not lose heart. Do not fear. Do not bow. Let our cry forever be:
“I am a Christian, and nothing wicked is done among us.”