Oh Canada....
By: Scott Tolhurst
I am Canadian and carry a patriotism which is strong but subtle. That’s the Canadian way. We are known for an understated manner, our politeness, appreciation for diversity and being different from our southern neighbours. In fact, our distinction from the US helps form our identity. We boast of our universal health care, multi-cultural perspective and common sense regulation of guns. We are secretly proud of our safe streets, reduced homicide rate and history of peace. We look in the mirror and see a national identity distinct from what we see across the border - and we breathe a sigh of relief. But we are deluded.
Recent events stain our sense of Canadian morality. As we are still coming to terms with our racist history of Residential Schools, an ugly tragedy of violent hatred occurs in a southern Ontario city. A man pointed his truck towards the sidewalk and ran over a family of five, who were simply going for a Sunday walk. He killed four of them. Why? They were Muslim. It’s beyond any rational understanding. Sin is the only explanation - dark, devastating, depraved sin. I do not impute the man’s bent thinking upon every Canadian. Most are in shock and mourn over this. I do receive the reminder - we are no better than anyone else. Our national reputation and self image are stripped to reveal a broken humanity.
When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he opened his argument with, “Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Rom. 2:1) Paul destroys our facade of comparative goodness. When we can’t profess righteousness, we look around and proclaim, “At least we aren’t as bad as them!” We settle for “better than” rather than goodness. But, morality is not a competition. God does not see your family by the reflection of your neighbour’s family. Countries do not contend for the gold, silver or bronze of purity. Souls are not graded on the curve. The measure of goodness is perfection. The standard from which we all have fallen is the glory of God. While God is the standard for humanity, He is also the hope for the broken.
No one is better than Jesus. He is the righteousness of God in the flesh. He is the fulfillment of everything God expects and the satisfaction of every holy demand. He is the gift which God extends to all. While we cannot be perfect, we can receive perfection through faith. God does not grade. He graces. And in that grace, we are changed. Men. Women. Homes. Communities. Nations.
If the shock of recent events has shaken Canada, perhaps we can drop our pride and hollow professions. We can turn from a crafted image to the truth. We are guilty. On our own, we can’t be what we want to be. But no sin is so terrible, no community so large, nor any country so complicated, that Jesus cannot save.