The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Rev. Mark Ramshaw Pastor of Amisk Lake Church Proverbs 14:34 states that "Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." As Canadians are in the midst of an election campaign we would do well to reflect on this important truth. As I have done so, I have made a few observations which I think will be helpful to those of us who choose to vote in this election. First of all, no government made up of fallen human beings will ever usher in God's righteousness. The responsibility of being the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" rests primarily with Christian people and not politicians. Christians are "the righteous ones" and are called so in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:14) and are contrasted with those who are not following Jesus. Christians should not be surprised if many of the mainline parties are running pell-mell to sanctify same sex marriage. Should we expect any less from the unconverted? Christians must cease from transferring the responsibility of being the standard bearers of righteousness to the secular powers. Same sex marriage has only become an issue because Christians have been sleeping in their beds instead of praying on their knees. This does not mean that the issue is not an important one for Christians. We should indeed check the voting record of our MP and their parties on this and other family related issues. (See www.familyaction.org and click on Find your MP to see how they have voted on same sex marriage and other family issues.) As Christians we are accountable to God to vote for MPs and governments which best exalt righteousness, but let us, as Christians, not be under any illusions. It is the Christian community which is called to pray that Christ's kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. It is also the church that will be judged as to whether or not we have done this. Will the church of today exalt our nation or be a reproach to it? May we choose the former and not the latter.11/6/04
