The words startled me…
“Canadian life and culture was once profoundly shaped by the Gospel. It can and must happen again!” 
Had I heard that right? The speaker, Dr. Michael Haykin, was addressing the Gospel Coalition Conference, held this spring in southern Ontario. In a compelling presentation, he was describing the core evangelical convictions that shaped Canadian life and culture in the 19th and early 20th century.
As Dr. Haykin’s words painted the picture of a Canada I’ve never known, I was fascinated by the parallels between a people’s commitment to the Gospel and a society guided by godly principles. One fact in particular arrested my attention: 100 years ago, such a high percentage of Canadians were committed to gospel values—over 60% in Ontario alone at one point—that faith and hope in Christ shaped the standards of an entire culture. Christian values largely influenced morality and ethics, from the corridors of power to the business centres.
Do we truly believe that Canadian life and culture can once again be profoundly shaped by the Gospel? Can it really happen again? Yes, it can—but it must begin with us and with our determination to speak fearlessly, to pray relentlessly and to believe endlessly.
Speak Fearlessly. The word Gospel means, literally, good news. It is a message. It is not a feeling or a philosophy but a radical, transformational message—a message of eternal life and hope through Jesus Christ. To communicate this message we must use words! The message must be told. We must not allow ourselves to think that actions are equal to words and that it’s enough for people to see the Gospel in us. Two millennia ago, Paul the Apostle wrote, How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14) Imagine a television producer saying to the anchor, “Please deliver the news but use words only if you have to.” Obviously the news anchor would have to use words! And obviously we must use words to tell everyone we can that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And we must do so without fear of rejection, reprisal or ridicule. God has appointed us ambassadors of his kingdom and stewards of his message, and we must speak fearlessly in his name. Our mission is vital.
Pray Relentlessly. First Thessalonians 5:17 is a short but powerful verse. No matter which translation you choose, it is potent and convicting! In the King James Bible it reads: Pray without ceasing. The NIV says simply, Pray continually. The New Living Translation states: Never stop praying. The point is clear: We must be relentless in prayer—and this is especially true in praying for people to hear and believe the Gospel. The predominant worldviews in our culture are deceptively but effectively pushing people away from the Light of the Gospel. Paul explained to the Corinthians that this is due to strongholds and arguments exalted against the knowledge of God. It is vital that our communication of the Gospel be accompanied by persistent prayer because in the end only the Lord can open the eyes of the spiritually blind to see the glory of Christ in the Gospel.
Believe Endlessly. As followers of Jesus we are believers. We have put our faith in him alone and we live in his life—now and forever. But this is not just a once-for-all proposition. We must never stop believing. Colossians 2:6 counsels us, …Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him… How do we receive Christ? By faith. How shall we live in him? By faith. Fervently and endlessly we must believe, living in the reality that Jesus alone gives hope. We have found the hope; our priority now is to help others find that same hope.
I encourage you to take three very practical steps…
1) At the next opportunity that God gives you, share the Good News of Jesus.
2) During the month of July, pray for our nation using the Prayer Map of Canada as your guide.
3) Order a supply of Finding the Hope booklets and have them ready to pass along to others who need to know the message that makes all the difference.
A Canada that is profoundly shaped by the Gospel? Yes, it really can happen again!
By Jacqueline Dugas