Poll: Freedom Convoy and Related Protests

[silentreader]

I doubt very much that you are going to get an unbiased report from the CBC, possibly not even a trustworthy one. It used to be different, times have changed....Just sayin...

You are closer to Ottawa than me, so I would be glad if you would visit Shepherds of Good Hope and do your own interview. Plain News would be glad to publish it. Probably...

I have no intention of going to Ottawa and I have no idea of the veracity of the CBC's article but in the last 10 years they have changed considerably in their "reporting", IMO.

[JimFoxvog]

Let's think of some respectful, appeals that could be put on the sides of trucks, billboards, or hand-held signs.

e.g.
Mr. Trudeau, we appreciate the good that you do for our country. (US, We appreciate the good that you do for our brothers and sisters in Canada.)
Would you also please do us a favor by rescinding the vaccine mandate?
...

I like the spirit of this, but a majority support vaccine mandates, so for the minority to win out, something more forceful might be needed. The majority may also make such polite appeals the other way.

[Ernie]

I like the spirit of this, but a majority support vaccine mandates, so for the minority to win out, something more forceful might be needed. The majority may also make such polite appeals the other way.

Yes, unfortunately. The goal in politics and in the kingdoms of this world is to force the minority to submit to the majority. The weaker to submit to the stronger.

My worldly but impractical solution would be to create two universes where there is minimal impact on each other. I wish we could put vaccinated people and those using self-restraint in one world, (those avoiding or cancelling indoor gatherings whenever there are peak infections) and all the rest in another world. Then both could enjoy (or not enjoy) the consequences of their own decisions without greatly impacting the other.

[Sudsy]

I don't think a nonresistant Christian can in any way, shape or form be involved or actively supporting the protests and maintain their nonresistant status.

My wife and I were both recently summoned for jury duty. Both of us were quickly assured we do not need to show up after sending personalized emails explaining our dedication to the Heavenly Kingdom, and that we would be unable to serve as part of an earthly governing system.
There is no way to reconcile in my mind how I could claim to be nonresistant if there was a shred of evidence anywhere that I support an uprising against earthly government.

And sadly, evidence abounds at every turn on social media of friends and family and coworkers who are proudly travelling to where the action is, to be a part of this incredible "drawing together and unifying of the country". Exclamations of being "moved to tears at the oneness of the protests" are common.

I feel sad for anyone that has never experienced peace and unity with the Holy Spirit and Christ's Church, so that unity at a protest to rise up against government moves them to tears.

I understand the frustrations of the mandates. I don't like it and I don't even think most of the stuff really helps stop Covid. But if it's all a ruse to turn Canada into a communist country quicker, who are we to fight that change? We are passing through this life, and as a Christian in a foreign land, we have no rights to demand. Only privileges. Many privileges, the likes of which Christians in China or North Korea could only dream about.

This may well be my only Covid related post. I do not engage in all the pointless conspiracy talk at the office and I won't here. Just need to get this off my chest. How attached to the privileges we have enjoyed up to now, have we become?

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9

I see todate you have 7 likes in your post. That is encouraging to know. I especially liked your statements to remind us that we are Christians in a foreign land and just 'passing through this life'. My respond to your question regarding being 'attached to the privileges we have enjoyed up to now' is I think too often we act pretty spoiled, like children who don't get their own way in everything.

The scripture you ended your post with includes 'quarrels about the law' and although I believe this likely refers to the law of Moses in this context, I do believe the 'unprofitable and useless' applies also to any 'arguments and quarrels' of any laws and various subjects.

Spurgeon once said in regard to this Titius 3:9 text -

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to “avoid foolish questions.”

[Bootstrap]

I like the spirit of this, but a majority support vaccine mandates, so for the minority to win out, something more forceful might be needed. The majority may also make such polite appeals the other way.

Yes, unfortunately. The goal in politics and in the kingdoms of this world is to force the minority to submit to the majority. The weaker to submit to the stronger.

My worldly but impractical solution would be to create two universes where there is minimal impact on each other. I wish we could put vaccinated people and those using self-restraint in one world, (those avoiding or cancelling indoor gatherings whenever there are peak infections) and all the rest in another world. Then both could enjoy (or not enjoy) the consequences of their own decisions without greatly impacting the other.

We may not be able to solve this for the world.

But I like the idea of being a remnant people, the "quiet in the land" who are not identified by taking sides in political controversies. We should not be fanning the flames of these controversies, we should be building the Kingdom of God. I don't think we do that by joining the "freedom convoy".

[Josh]

I don't think any of us would support high school students blocking the door of a classroom, forcing the other students and teachers to exit the room through a window, simply because some students didn't like that the school district requires vaccinations in order to board the school bus. We would call this petty and childish. (If they have a beef with the school district's decision, there are good and legal ways to address this.)

Yet somehow it is ok and even good for adults to act like children, and throw a temper tantrum to get their point across.

The same goes for looting businesses and burning property to get one's point across.

I would strongly support students protesting against vaccine mandates, particularly ones that require using vaccines made from aborted babies.

What concerns me is that “civility” is more important than mass slaughter of innocents.

[Josh]

Let's think of some respectful, appeals that could be put on the sides of trucks, billboards, or hand-held signs.

e.g.
Mr. Trudeau, we appreciate the good that you do for our country. (US, We appreciate the good that you do for our brothers and sisters in Canada.)
Would you also please do us a favor by rescinding the vaccine mandate?

Can you imagine what would happen if a simple appeal like this was made by hundreds of millions of people using multiple methods, mail, fax, email, hand-held signs, truck signs, bumper stickers, and billboards? If nothing else, Signtist would get a lot of business.

I think most relational ills in the world could be solved by some very simple, creative strategies. But this can only be attempted by people who can think redemptively, rather than those who act out of vengeance, anger, or pride.

Ernie,

With respect, I’ve been a lot more involved in politics than you have been, and your approach would accomplish absolutely nothing.

The current government is not interested in hearing appeals from people who don’t want mandates. It is not a matter of a need to be more “respectful”. It is much more analogous to Anabaptists attempting to petition Swiss government; they were met with execution.

[Josh]

I like the spirit of this, but a majority support vaccine mandates, so for the minority to win out, something more forceful might be needed. The majority may also make such polite appeals the other way.

Yes, unfortunately. The goal in politics and in the kingdoms of this world is to force the minority to submit to the majority. The weaker to submit to the stronger.

My worldly but impractical solution would be to create two universes where there is minimal impact on each other. I wish we could put vaccinated people and those using self-restraint in one world, (those avoiding or cancelling indoor gatherings whenever there are peak infections) and all the rest in another world. Then both could enjoy (or not enjoy) the consequences of their own decisions without greatly impacting the other.

We may not be able to solve this for the world.

But I like the idea of being a remnant people, the "quiet in the land" who are not identified by taking sides in political controversies. We should not be fanning the flames of these controversies, we should be building the Kingdom of God. I don't think we do that by joining the "freedom convoy".

Do you do that by joining and supporting movements like BLM, or being anti-freedom convoy?

The challenge here, Boot, is that it means withdrawing from all political engagements - not just ones you’re opposed to.

[Bootstrap]

We may not be able to solve this for the world.

But I like the idea of being a remnant people, the "quiet in the land" who are not identified by taking sides in political controversies. We should not be fanning the flames of these controversies, we should be building the Kingdom of God. I don't think we do that by joining the "freedom convoy".

Do you do that by joining and supporting movements like BLM, or being anti-freedom convoy?

The challenge here, Boot, is that it means withdrawing from all political engagements - not just ones you’re opposed to.

In my life, MN is the place where political engagements are most vivid. I have not joined BLM or participated in any of their activities, I would not do that for the freedom convoy either. I do not support political violence, and I really don't support political rancor.

Do you agree with what I said in the quote above, Josh? If so, please stop trying to push people into partisan politlcal camps. Perhaps we can focus on what we agree on and think about how to live out our values instead?

[Josh]

In my life, MN is the place where political engagements are most vivid. I have not joined BLM or participated in any of their activities, I would not do that for the freedom convoy either. I do not support political violence, and I really don't support political rancor.

Do you agree with what I said in the quote above, Josh? If so, please stop trying to push people into partisan politlcal camps. Perhaps we can focus on what we agree on and think about how to live out our values instead?

I'm not interested in politics, but politics is interested in me. When the liberals decide to try to use violent force to force people like me to participate in abortion, want to take our kids away, etc. we become stuck being enmired in politics - even when we try to keep it as minimal as possible. And that's simply the direction society is going.

The left and liberals want to see my kids brainwashed into thinking that being gay is a good thing, that being trans is a good thing, and want to take children away from conservative Christian homes. I'm very open to hearing how we can live at peace with such people. At the present time, the best way is to live in a red state or a red county.

What approach do you think we should take?