Note: Dave Bylsma is the National Deputy Leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada.

From time to time, one comes across a book or an article that brings an extraordinary clarity to circumstances that—on the surface—do not seem to make sense. Recently, I read Aaron Renn’s book, Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture; his broad insight and summation of the state of affairs in the American context can easily be extended to the Great White North. He articulates a current reality that Christians now exist in our culture as exiles and strangers in the very society that blossomed and grew along with its very Judaeo/Christian heritage. This paradigm should be quite evident to everyone engaged in the various facets of society. He calls the current malaise “the negative world”, essentially defining Christian thought and action as functional liabilities when engaged in table discussions in the public square.

The cancel culture in which we operate was fully exposed by the hostile opposition and the series of venue cancellations that Christian singer, Sean Feucht, received during his recent Canadian tour. Not only were venues cancelled by civil authorities across our nation, but Canadian police were used to intimidate and disrupt events. His event in Montreal was relocated to the Ministerios Restauración Church and carried on in spite of smoke bombs and a police presence. Mr. Renn, in his book, maintains that we are in defence mode, but makes several recommendations to churches and families, encouraging a resilient strategy that can maintain a vibrant influence in the face of opposition.

One such strategy proposed is to build parallel institutions as alternatives to existing mainline options. Theoretically, this would include political alternatives. While he did not address the existence of any political alternative in the American two-party system, it would be fair to infer from his writings a philosophical support for the value of our own beloved CHP in the Canadian context. He states that our purpose, as Christians, should not be to retreat . . . but to regroup. While the CHP is approaching the 40th anniversary of our existence, as a registered federal political party, we may need to consider whether in our founding stages, we were simply ahead of our time. Although we have not yet experienced the electoral success for which we have been striving for so many years, God—in His providential wisdom—has used the CHP to provide His children with a principled place to exercise their biblically-motivated and morally-consistent politics. We have been carried forward—in spite of disappointments and opposition—for such a time as this.

I do not want to put words into the mouth of Mr. Renn, however, he does posit a basic acknowledgment that the very institutions of our nation (health, academics, finance and government) were built upon Christian thought and often founded by faithful churchmen like Ryerson. Many of the institutions that were formed in and informed by that Christian world view have now—sadly—completely abandoned their roots. Today, as left-leaning entities nearly devoid of Christian influence, their collapse need not hinder the faithful whom they have increasingly rejected. Those who trust in God can—and must—carry on without faltering and without allowing their faith to be shaken by the strident voices of unbelief.

While small in size (and often deemed irrelevant by mainstream political figures), the Christian Heritage Party may be just coming into its season of greatest influence. As former CHP Leader, Ron Gray used to quip, we may be “winning the race, despite what it looks like to the crowd.”

I recommend Aaron Renn’s book as a straightforward solid read, and perhaps the source of some wise thought in multiple jurisdictions of experience. It echoes much of what we in the CHP have been saying for a very long time.