Last week was “Pride Week” for many cities in North America. While many people, Christians included, have positive associations with pride (taking pride in our work, etc.) pride is actually a sin. Think about Proverbs, which warns us that pride goes before a fall. C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, argued that pride was the original sin that caused Satan to be kicked out from God’s presence. Pride in ourselves is really a violation of the first commandment; it is putting ourselves in the place of God. The other sins that will be spoken about in this Communiqué should now be put into perspective. No one can claim innocence.

The participants of “Pride Week” are not primarily participating in an event aimed at being less humble or more proud; it is rather a celebration of deviant sexual practices. In Toronto, there is an annual parade in which public nudity is not uncommon. The celebrities who came to the parade this year included a “feminist punk-rock band” from Russia with a lewd name; this band has previously vandalized a Russian Orthodox church in 2012. The inclusion of the rainbow flag also shows a desire to re-define meanings; what they present as a symbol of sexual diversity, God gave after the flood as a promise of His grace and mercy after judgement.

Re-definition, including marriage, has been happening for many years in Canada, but this year our neighbour to the south followed Canada’s example. Timing the United States’ Supreme Court ruling in favour of homosexual “marriage” during this annual event was, no doubt, purposeful. It made this year extra special for the LGBTQ2S community. While marriage itself is becoming less meaningful because of the prevalence of divorce, there is still an appetite for the state to sanction and recognize relationships that were previously considered immoral.

It is quite surprising that in the same week there was a court decision in British Columbia that upheld the prohibition of polygamy; Marriage is still limited to two people in Canada, but this victory should not make us complacent.

Pride events have happened for quite a few years with various politicians participating. Some mayors, like Toronto’s John Tory, march proudly in the parade. (Toronto’s previous mayor, Rob Ford, refused.) Leftist politicians like Thomas Mulcair, Justin Trudeau, and Kathleen Wynne are always eager to show up and participate, but this year the new leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, Patrick Brown, was also present. This is a disappointment to social conservatives in Ontario.

This week, let us humble ourselves before God. Let us thank God for the country in which He has placed us, and repent in humility for the times when we have been proud. Let us recall God’s promise that, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Canada needs healing and this must begin with an acknowledgement that there is a problem; that we need God and the healing and restoration that only He can give. On this day, the eve of Canada Day, let us pray for our country. Pray that citizens everywhere would come to see that the problems that we have are rooted in moral failure. Pray for the churches in this country; some of them have led the way into our present moral decline. Pray for our governing officials: those who are standing against the tide of unrighteousness — they need strength and wisdom; those who are trying to be neutral — they need awakening; and those who are pushing an agenda that is contrary to God’s will — they need to repent.

Pray for CHP candidates as well, the environment in which they will be running is hostile. They will need courage, wisdom, and strength to speak the truth in love.

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