This past week a Facebook friend of mine passed along a link to an interesting article in the Toronto Star. The piece was written by Gerry Nicholls (former vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition) under the heading, “Stephen Harper: Not the conservative he once was.” Mr. Nicholls outlines how Stephen Harper “has transformed himself from a conservative ideologue into a pragmatic, partisan politician, with pragmatic, partisan objectives,” and whose objective “isn’t to make government smaller, it’s to establish the Conservative party as the new ‘Natural Governing Party of Canada.’” As my astute Facebook friend stated, “Even the left wingers in Canada recognize that Harper is hardly a conservative.” Now, for the real conservatives in Canada this certainly isn’t a startling revelation, but reading the column in the Star did cause me to think back to another article I had read, one that made extensive reference to Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli believed that politics was a sphere of pure power, and politicians could use any means available to achieve that power. It is obvious that Canada’s mainstream politicians and political parties are still influenced a great deal by Machiavelli; thus we witness the ever so pragmatic Mr. Harper abandoning his conservative ambitions in exchange for a stranglehold on power. This should come as no surprise as this is what happens to principled men and women when they operate in a political party guided by signposts that are constantly moving. What is disturbing is the number of Christians who adopt this Machiavellian outlook on politics. We know we are to be a positive example in this world, and yet, in the political sphere, we try to demonstrate this only when it seems most expedient to us. Described in this way—it’s utter nonsense! The man who wrote about Niccolo Machiavelli has gone to be with the Lord, but his family has carried on his legacy by publishing his writings on the internet. I end with a lengthy quote from the above-mentioned article.

Power tends to corrupt. John Calvin feared the abuse of power. That's why he opposed social as well as political concentration in the hands of a few. The Christian faith is antithetical to the grasping of earthly power. Christians are followers of Christ the King, who became a servant, even washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:14, 15). The values of the Kingdom of God are upside down values; low is high, weak is strong.

Christian politics can never be Machiavellian. It is the politics of powerlessness, reflected in a profound example in the person and ministry of Jesus, who could say, "All power is given unto Me." He never manipulated nor coerced. He became the least for the sake of His people. He reluctantly accepted the role of suffering servant. He was tempted by Satan to grasp earthly power, but rejected it.

Christian politics is not the politics of power, but of sacrifice, discipleship and service.

The Christian Heritage Party has enshrined in our Constitution the assurance that our 5 Principles cannot be changed. This is your protection that the values we declare today will be the same as the values we declare tomorrow. Politics is not a Machiavellian game of power; it is a ministry of service to the Lord and our fellow citizens.