Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Canada just celebrated its 150th anniversary, and it’s a moment well worth celebrating. This was the triple jubilee of a nation whose coat of arms prophesies the messianic words from Psalm 72:8, that Christ will have dominion “from sea to sea” and from the river to the ends of the Earth.

This is also a season where many Christians are deeply troubled by our society’s direction and some laws being passed. There are serious and legitimate reasons to be concerned, from legal setbacks affecting religious freedom, to the increasing polarization and the hate crimes directed at Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike.

In the face of these challenges, Don Hutchinson—author of the recently published Under Siege: Religious Freedom and the Church in Canada at 150 (1867-2017)—said something well worth remembering:

“Most Canadian Christians…have forgotten or simply never considered that the New Testament was written to a persecuted Church.”

Believers in this nation have been sheltered from many of the struggles of our brethren around the world. Yet, the Church was promised trials, in part as a way to shape and strengthen our walk with God. It is important to remember that. It is also important that we walk confidently toward the next jubilee, knowing that God is at work.

And He is at work.

As crowds packed Parliament Hill on Saturday, hundreds of believers braved the rains, gathering at historic Fort Henry, in Kingston. They came together for a 12-hour non-stop prayer and worship time to thank God for how He has worked in Canada and cry out for revival. Watchmen for the Nations held a similar event in Montreal, with a couple thousand people in a convention centre.

You can see more evidence of God at work in the explosion of youth taking up the pro-life cause. More encouraging, still, Canada has a new, but growing prayer movement. Ottawa even has two ecumenical houses of prayer that are open daily.

Anecdotally, I have seen substantial efforts among leaders and lay-Christians to reach outside their own creeds to fellowship with the broader Body. Ottawa, especially, is developing a name as a place where the Church stands united. That is as much a sign of God at work as there ever was.

Perhaps the most encouraging evidence is a secular study earlier this year that found the common factor in growing churches is their commitment to orthodox theology and prayer.

So what do we make of all of this?

All of this is part of the age-old struggle of light and darkness. Christ secured the victory on the cross; and Canada is experiencing the birth pangs of a world longing for the children of God to be revealed.

As we celebrate the blessings and advancements of the last 150 years, we can also boldly seek to preserve those blessings for coming generations.

Trials and challenges are not new to the Church. God has redeemed nations from the brink of catastrophe—of which Canada, today, is not. (Think of Nineveh and Jonah’s prophecy of destruction within 40 days.)

So, if the state of Canada at 150 discourages you, see it as an opportunity. Let it spur you to prayer, exercising your faith muscles to believe God for a national revival.