Missions Within Reach
by Brian C. Stiller
In the early 1990s in Canada, there was a popular but erroneous story which circulated among evangelicals. It was that the United Nations had declared that Canada was no longer considered Christian. We checked this out with the United Nations both in Canada and New York and found they had never made such a statement. In our research we learned that it had started by a Canadian evangelist who said it in a message. From there it developed its a life of its own.
But the story presses one to ask why such an myth would receive such play and acceptance? Especially during a time when Canadian social scientists were showing such a surprising high level of faith among Canadians.
For the past few years, the Angus Reid Group has been examining what Canadians believe. In 1993 their studies appeared on MacLean’s magazine with the rather unbelievable heading [unbelievable in that it was on the cover!] "God Is Alive: Canada is a nation of believers."
Here are some results: 78% of Canadians affiliate with a Christian denomination; 67% believe that "Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried but was resurrected to eternal life"; 66% believe that "Christ was the divine son of God"; 62% "believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided a way for their forgiveness"; 49% "believe that God always answers their prayers."
The point here, of course, is that just because people say they believe does not mean they have made the connection between their brain and their heart and have come to a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
But with these figures--and apart from our propensity to spread rumours--why did this rumour strike a chord among Canadian Christians? Because it sounded as if it could be true. Even though Canada by any societal measurement would be seen by a sociologist as being Christian, we know at the heart of our country there is a deep spiritual malaise.
Recent historical scholarship points out the enormous influence of the evangelical Protestant church has had in shaping our country. This influence continued into the mid part of the twentieth century. Within a few decades two realities have become apparent. The radical nature of secularism has pushed faith from having a place in the public life of Canada.
The withdrawal of Bible-believing Christians from leadership in the public square is the second reality. For much of this century we have not been concerned in having a place in helping to format our laws, policies and values.
Now we are at a new moment in which our country is being influenced by new patterns of ethnic and social migration. Within these new patterns we see evidence of hope and possibilities.
My experience has led me to conclude that the secularising of Canada has not been at the hand of post-1960 immigrants but by those out of European extraction who have been here for decades if not longer. The agenda of stripping the public square of its religious faith and values is not coming by way of the more recent immigrants. Rather they are the ones who seem to stand and affirm the need that Canada retain its religious and Christian base. They are ones who tell me that it has been the Christian heritage which has given to this country the freedoms and values which they as recent immigrants find attractive and cherish.
Now we find the energetic pulse of evangelisation coming from intercultural ministries. I praise God for the vitality they bring to us all. Their vision for outreach and conversion is just what a tired Christian community in Canada needs.
But the story presses one to ask why such an myth would receive such play and acceptance? Especially during a time when Canadian social scientists were showing such a surprising high level of faith among Canadians.
For the past few years, the Angus Reid Group has been examining what Canadians believe. In 1993 their studies appeared on MacLean’s magazine with the rather unbelievable heading [unbelievable in that it was on the cover!] "God Is Alive: Canada is a nation of believers."
Here are some results: 78% of Canadians affiliate with a Christian denomination; 67% believe that "Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried but was resurrected to eternal life"; 66% believe that "Christ was the divine son of God"; 62% "believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided a way for their forgiveness"; 49% "believe that God always answers their prayers."
The point here, of course, is that just because people say they believe does not mean they have made the connection between their brain and their heart and have come to a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
But with these figures--and apart from our propensity to spread rumours--why did this rumour strike a chord among Canadian Christians? Because it sounded as if it could be true. Even though Canada by any societal measurement would be seen by a sociologist as being Christian, we know at the heart of our country there is a deep spiritual malaise.
Recent historical scholarship points out the enormous influence of the evangelical Protestant church has had in shaping our country. This influence continued into the mid part of the twentieth century. Within a few decades two realities have become apparent. The radical nature of secularism has pushed faith from having a place in the public life of Canada.
The withdrawal of Bible-believing Christians from leadership in the public square is the second reality. For much of this century we have not been concerned in having a place in helping to format our laws, policies and values.
Now we are at a new moment in which our country is being influenced by new patterns of ethnic and social migration. Within these new patterns we see evidence of hope and possibilities.
My experience has led me to conclude that the secularising of Canada has not been at the hand of post-1960 immigrants but by those out of European extraction who have been here for decades if not longer. The agenda of stripping the public square of its religious faith and values is not coming by way of the more recent immigrants. Rather they are the ones who seem to stand and affirm the need that Canada retain its religious and Christian base. They are ones who tell me that it has been the Christian heritage which has given to this country the freedoms and values which they as recent immigrants find attractive and cherish.
Now we find the energetic pulse of evangelisation coming from intercultural ministries. I praise God for the vitality they bring to us all. Their vision for outreach and conversion is just what a tired Christian community in Canada needs.