Letter to Government Officials – hope and humility
The following letter was sent by ARPA Canada to Canada’s federal and provincial government officials, encouraging them to find their hope and direction in our sovereign God. We ask you to join us in praying for a blessing on this letter, and invite you to reach out to them to encourage them and, if the opportunity allows, to lovingly point to their responsibility to govern faithfully, in obedience to the One who gave them their authority. A meeting, including through electronic means, would be an ideal way to communicate this and to listen, showing that we care:
March 31, 2020
Open letter to Canada’s Governing Officials in Response to COVID19:
Dear Honourable leaders,
In the span of a couple weeks, many of our plans have evaporated and there is little confidence about what lies before us. Everyone, regardless of status or political ideology, is being humbled as we come face-to-face with our limitations and mortality.
On behalf of many Christians from across our country, we sincerely thank you for serving our nation and communities as we journey through this crisis. Your task is extremely challenging and we thank you for doing your best to lead diligently and for the good of all Canadians. We pray for you regularly, asking God to give you all you need for this huge task.
You have received your position of authority from God, “for there is no authority except which God has established” (Romans 13:1). He has put you in your role to be a servant for good, to punish wrong, and to promote justice and righteousness (Romans 13:3-4).
He has also revealed, in Scripture and in creation, that He is sovereign over everything. That includes COVID-19. Knowing that He is also perfectly good, His sovereignty can be an immense comfort to all of us. Our ability to understand COVID-19, let alone control it, is limited. Although you have great responsibility to lead well through this crisis, be encouraged that you do not have to try carry this burden on your own. “Cast your cares on the LORD, and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).
God has made many gracious and encouraging promises that we can take to heart, including some towards those who don’t acknowledge Him as God. For example, shortly after the worldwide flood recorded in Genesis, He said “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” When all our plans seem to be in flux, we can be comforted to know that God continues to uphold His creation. He is able and He is faithful.
Although we don’t understand all of His purposes, also with hardship like we are experiencing with COVID-19, we know that His hand presses upon those who disregard Him. Like children, we often need discipline before our hearts are softened and we are willing to admit that we aren’t sovereign ourselves.
Our nation has been disregarding God for some time, and our rebellion against His will continues to grow. For example, although there is great concern for the vulnerable in response to COVID-19, which is admirable, only a few weeks ago Parliament introduced Bill C-7 to expand state-sponsored killing. Canada has already euthanized over 13,000 thousand sick, disabled, and elderly, and we are on track to euthanize over 6,000 people this year alone. To add to this, close to 100,000 preborn children lose their lives to state-sponsored abortion every year in Canada. Some of our leaders celebrate this and go to great lengths to expand the killing of these most vulnerable members of the human family.
We recognize that the fault does not only lie with you, our public office holders. We share in it. Every Canadian has fallen far short of the standards that God calls us to live by, and every one of us deserves the wages of sin, which is death (Genesis 2:17, Romans 6:23). Yet, God did not abandon us. He is patient and gracious. He has sent His son Jesus Christ to make full payment for our sin and calls each and every one of us to turn from our sins and to accept this free gift of grace. If you have not yet, we plead with you to call upon the Lord now while he is near (Isaiah 55:6). And regardless of where your heart is, we also respectfully urge you to govern in a manner faithful to the calling He has given you.
Now is the time for us, as individuals and as a nation, to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge His sovereignty over all things. He will sustain us, also through this trial. Jesus Christ invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).” Honourable leader, we implore you to run to God for help and life. Eternal hope is found in Him alone.
If we can be of assistance to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
With sincere appreciation for your service and dedication for our land,
The ARPA Canada Team
