Last Tuesday morning, I had breakfast with the Prime Minister . . . well, I breakfasted in the same room, but we never exchanged glances or business cards. We were both in attendance at the Canadian National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa; Mr. Trudeau was seated with other dignitaries on a raised platform at the front, and I was seated at one of the many tables with hundreds of other paying (and taxpaying) guests. Mr. Trudeau, of course, was completely unaware of my presence. Had we been seated at the same table we might have found we had little in common to chat about and the serious topics would have been . . . uncomfortable.

Not so with the many wonderful attendees. At my table were missionaries, business people and entrepreneurs; scattered about the room were a number of MPs and Senators, heads of serious organizations, town councillors, mayors and former politicians . . . the vast majority in the room were committed Christians gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate Canada’s historical Christian foundations and to pray for our future as we recover from the covid madness of the past several years and brace ourselves for the outrages and challenges that may lie ahead.

The event—as always—was a great event. I saw many people I have met over the years and also met some new friends. The officiating host was New Brunswick MP, Richard Bragdon, whom I met for the first time. I appreciated that he and others boldly and clearly expressed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This was refreshing in the city where so much effort is expended on passing legislation undermining Christian faith and principles.

I experienced mixed feelings, however, when the Prime Minister read to us from the Word of God. As part of the event, he and other political representatives—including Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party and Elizabeth May, co-leader of the Green Party—were each invited to read from the Bible and they did so. While I certainly approve of public reading of the Word, I wondered how those three party leaders who have promoted or tolerated the killing of nearly four million pre-born Canadian babies could take God’s Word in their mouths without experiencing deep conviction and repentance for their part in the shedding of innocent blood.

When Bill C-4 was passed without objection last year—the bill that would make criminals of parents and pastors who uphold biblical standards for sexual conduct—every party leader and every MP either participated in its passing or cooperated by remaining silent. That includes the best of the best—those MPs whom we actually hold in high esteem for their courage on other issues.

Among those invited to speak at this year’s prayer breakfast, the Prime Minister stands out as one who has actively promoted abortion, euthanasia, sexual perversion and drug use. He has also violated other biblical standards by dramatically increasing Canada’s national debt, imposing unreasonable restrictions on the movement and speech of Canadian citizens and misusing his office for personal gain. So, to hear him read God’s Word at an event like this was a bit confusing.

On the Canadian PM Twitter account (@CanadianPM) it says that “ . . . Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the National Prayer Breakfast, where he joined men and women from different backgrounds to honour the Christian faith and values.”

Is that really why he was there? If he were truly “honouring Christian faith and values”—it seems to me—he would be reversing his policies on abortion, euthanasia and gender confusion.

God’s Word is powerful and those who quote it become responsible to live accordingly.

In Psalm 50:16, God says, “What right do you have to recite my decrees, pretending to obey my covenant? For you have refused my discipline and dishonoured my words . . . “

It is a serious thing to speak God’s Word. Those who do so ought to manifest a solemn commitment to producing the fruit of righteousness.

As I observed the PM and others at the head table reading the precious Word, I also thought about the good effect that may result from their hearing of the Word . . . if they meditate upon it and open their hearts to consider the claims of Christ. I appreciate God’s declaration in Isaiah 55: 10-11: “For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and does not return to it but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud, producing seed for the sower and bread for the eater . . . so shall my word be that goes out of my mouth; it will not return unto me void but it shall do that which I please and will accomplish that for which I send it.”

Let us pray for Prime Minister Trudeau and for all those who hold high office in our land, that the words he has presumed to read will produce—by the grace of God—repentance, and that what he has spoken with his mouth will become guiding principles for him in the days ahead. If not, he has simply devalued the scriptures.

Our nation is under judgment for the shedding of innocent blood and the dishonouring of God’s creation of humankind—male and female, all made in His Image. We are in desperate need of national revival and a turning back to God. May we see that in our days.

The Christian Heritage Party stands on the solid ground of God’s Word. We know that the future of our country depends on the faithfulness and mercy of God and on our willingness to serve Him . . . not with lip service only but in word and deed. We recognize that the National Prayer Breakfast is intended to be a place where partisanship is subdued and where Christian values and principles can be shared across party lines. If those values are not actually shared by all, it behooves us to hold fast to them ourselves and not allow them to be watered down to produce the appearance of peace and unity.