Southbound move
Michael Sachs, former executive director of the Jewish National Fund of Canada Pacific Region, and contributor to the Jewish Independent, recently wrote an article for the National Post titled, “Why I'm moving my family to the United States.” He opens with the following words:
“After 30 years as a proud Canadian citizen, a die-hard Canucks fan and someone who has deeply loved this country, I’ve made the hardest decision of my life: I have moved my family of four to the United States. I want to be clear that this decision wasn’t made lightly and I never imagined leaving our community, our family and our friends. And yet, here we are. The decision comes after years of watching the country I love erode into something unrecognizable.”
As you read through the article, he creates a kind of list of reasons why, in his estimation, Canada has fallen, and therefore why he has decided to move to the U.S. These include:
● High costs – groceries, gas, and taxes
● The infeasibility of home ownership for many
● A crumbling healthcare system
● Cities in crisis and social chaos
● Drug crises – fentanyl, safe injection sites, and open use of drugs in public
● A failed criminal justice system
● The rise of antisemitism
First, I don’t disagree with the reality of any item on that list. Second, I completely understand his thinking. Our family had to decide what we would do during the worst of the COVID lockdowns and mandates as well. Third, I do not plan on leaving Canada, and I don’t believe these reasons necessitate leaving Canada either. Fourth, there is something vital missing in the worldview of the author that explains why he would leave. My goal is not to trash on Michael Sachs, or anyone who has left Canada, for that matter. My goal is to encourage followers of Christ to stay in Canada, and give my justification for that position.
The “Jesus” difference
Michael Sachs is Jewish, which means that he not only rejects that Jesus Christ is the Eternal second person of the Trinity, but he has also rejected God the Father, which means that he has rejected Yahweh (Luke 10:16; John 5:42-43). According to the Word of God, Michael Sachs hates God (Romans 3:10-12; Romans 8:7-8), he is a child and slave of Satan (John 8:34, 43-45), and he is unable to comprehend spiritual reality and truth (Proverbs 9:10; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
I say this because when surveying the situation in Canada and assessing whether he should leave, Mr. Sachs does not comprehend what is going on in the spiritual realm. He is only thinking in earthly and material terms. He does not have the Spirit of God inside of him producing the fruit of obedience (Galatians 5:22-24), giving him boldness instead of fear (Romans 8:15, 26), and directing him to go where the Lord wants him (John 16:13).
This is no small matter. The difference between union with Christ in making decisions and discerning what is best and separation for Christ is an infinite chasm that is unbridgeable with mere human wisdom. The wisest of all human intellect is utter foolishness when compared to the wisdom that comes from Christ dwelling in us by faith (1 Corinthians 1:25; 1 Corinthians 2:6-7). Whatever the thinking and reasons of Mr. Sachs in his article, at best, all he offers is earthly wisdom, which is foolishness, and spiritually undiscerned ideas.
Safety not guaranteed
There is one portion toward the end of his article that I believe warrants deeper examination. He writes this:
“I had always dreamed of raising my children in Canada, giving them the same safe, enriching childhood I was lucky to have. I haven’t stood on the sidelines — I’ve contributed, engaged and fought for our shared Canadian values. I can no longer ask my children to stay in a place where their safety is uncertain, their dignity is disposable and their future is compromised. I know the U.S. is not perfect, but we need to prioritize our own safety, and Canada has failed us” (emphasis mine).
There it is, the god of safety and comfort. It might be one of the most worshipped gods in our country today, and this was exceedingly clear during the COVID era. I have written several articles that, in part, have highlighted that when safety is your top priority, and not the glory of God, you will make foolish decisions, or at least have foolish reasons for them.
In reflecting on Statist-Scientism as one of the main competing new religions in Canada, I noted that the legacy media, “have given us the new revelation that safety is to be pursued above all else.” I noted that, “many who profess allegiance to Christ, Allah, or any other system of religious beliefs, in reality, trust their true god for safety, security, and salvation, and that is the Civil Magistrate.”
In reflecting on why so many people went along with every mandate and restriction, I noted that, “freedom is difficult. Freedom is risky. Freedom comes without creaturely comforts. Freedom is better than slavery. Some people prefer the safety and security of slavery to freedom.”
In reflecting on why people willingly made themselves slaves to the State, I noted that many people’s dispositions were, “do whatever you have to do to keep me and my family safe,” and that, “for others the master is personal safety and security, and everything will be done to win this master’s favour,” and that, “we should not be surprised that pagans have enslaved themselves to safety.”
Like Michael Sachs, those who worship safety worship a false god that will neither satisfy nor provide for them. Instead, they will be perpetually driven by fear and anxiety, and they will never actually find what they are looking for. After all, “the wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).
A God of revival
Interestingly enough, I am writing this article from the kitchen of a cottage in Michigan where my family is enjoying a vacation. Gas is cheaper here, grocery stores have WAY more variety, and people can own firearms without nearly as much hassle as back home. Of course, the grass is greener over the border. But I have not committed to Canada because I am basing my decision on creature comforts or safety, but because I believe in a God that brings about Reformation.
Out of the darkest of nights, God can bring a glorious light. This is why the motto to the reformation was Post Tenebras Lux – Out of darkness, light. This is why many Puritans in England decided to stay amid terrible persecution, even as many more left for North America. If those faithful Christians left England altogether, we would have no Charles Spurgeon, no Martin Lloyd Jones, no J.I. Packer, and no John Stott.
God can bring life out of death, even cultural and societal death. I mean, He rose from the dead. His Church took over the entire Roman Empire through faithful Gospel proclamation and the ministry of local churches. Because of simple men like Jan Huss, John Wycliffe, Peter Waldo, Martin Luther, John Knox, John Calvin, and William Tyndale, a corrupted and spiritually dead Europe experienced the blessings of Reformation.
This is the God we serve, and this is what I hope for and expect in Canada. Probably not in the next 10 years, and maybe not even in my lifetime. But if the Church does what it has always done, and if we hand off a strong faith to our children and grandchildren, then by God’s grace Canada will be Reformed and restored to the Christian nation it was at our founding. We have a rich heritage of Christianity in our nation, and I am not willing to give it up because things are difficult and the circumstances seem dire, and neither should you.
Listen, if you want to go to America, I pray God leads and blesses you. But if you think that the U.S. is a safe-haven where you will be spared the intense judgement of God that is about to fall on Western Civilization, you are sorely mistaken. America rejected Christ a long time ago. Between its leaders and politicians that hate God and promote all manner of vile wickedness, and the bloodguilt of tens of millions of pre-born babies offered as child sacrifice, America will be just as bad as Canada, it just might take a few more years.
At one point in his article, Michael Sachs writes, “it’s now painfully clear to my family and to many of my fellow Canadians that the Canada we once believed in no longer exists.” Correct. That Canada has not existed for generations. But I don’t think the answer is abandoning Canada as irredeemable. I believe the way forward is working to restore Canada to what it was and could be, by God’s grace, for our children and grandchildren. I invite you to stay, join, fight, and build.
Wisdom, timely and much needed brother.
Spot on.