Many have watched the footage of Derek Reimer protesting a Drag Queen Story Hour at Seton Library. Derek was removed from the room during the event but stayed in the library to speak about the evils of what was happening inside, warning everyone about God’s judgment, and calling them to repentance in Jesus. Derek was later arrested and was held in the Calgary Remand Center until late Monday evening (March 6). Derek runs a street ministry in Calgary with many similarities to Artur Pawlowski.
I wanted to offer some reflections on this event (and others like it) as an outsider, not knowing these men personally. I find myself sympathetic in some respects, yet with serious disagreement in others.
1. Calling Good Evil and Evil Good
The LGBTQ+ movement is a movement bent on destruction. It is apparent that it does not seek equality, or even acceptance nor approval, but the total destruction of God’s design for marriage, manhood, and womanhood. It is anti-Christian, anti-God, anti-nature, and corrupts the foundations of home and society.[1]
It is clear that Derek and other men like him are vocal about the evils of this kind of sexual perversion. I’m sure we’d find agreement with what the Scriptures say about sexual sin and how any and all sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage (a faithful union between one man and one woman) is sinful. We’d likely agree that sexual sin is especially egregious and acts like a corrupting poison affecting children, young people, and all of society.
We also should remember that Drag Queen Story Hour is just one manifestation of sexual perversion. Pornography, television, movies, literature, advertisements, fashion trends, schools, corporations and governments continue to push a worldview which calls good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20). It reminds us to focus on the root rather than obsess over its rotten fruit.
2. Cracking Down on Hate Crimes
Of growing concern for many is that we live in a world with hate crimes that impugn a large minority of the population as holding hateful and dangerous views. For instance, I would be considered hateful because I believe transgenderism is wrong, an affront to God, and causes harm to my neighbors whom I’m called to love. But don’t allow opponents of truth to take the moral high ground. Remember that God hates as well. He hates what is evil because he loves what is good. Today, when evil is good and good is evil, laws will be used to punish political opponents guilty of thought crimes and defying the “narrative” of the day. Do not be alarmed and resolve now to stand for truth and love how God defines it.
Calgary Mayor, Jyoti Gondek, tweeted this Sunday, “I’ll be unpacking all the ‘reasons’ why enforcement teams & the Crown feel the street harassment bylaw & other existing bylaws/legislation are not strong enough to charge demonstrators who spread vile lies & hatred in public. And then I’ll be pushing for more. No more excuses… I hold the greatest responsibility for this city to be a place of inclusion. More to come.”
It is clear that progressives are intolerant of tolerance and will use the full power of the law against citizens they deem out of touch with their progressive views—the trucker convoy, and COVID-defiant churches serve as examples. As much as they say inclusion and diversity, they actually mean exclusion and uniformity.
3. Advancing the Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God is predicated on the ideas of salvation and redemption. The kingdom of God seeks to restore the created order. It restores manhood, womanhood, marriage, and all society to God’s good order and design. The kingdom of God advances through Christ’s gospel and regeneration.
Central to the kingdom of God are right beliefs about the gospel, justification by faith, and the nature of the church. While I haven’t spoken to Derek (or others like him) about these things, it is clear from watching some of his speeches that our beliefs would be quite different in these important areas. Our fellowship as Christians depends on having the same mind on these issues. We are gospel heralds and advance the kingdom of God. We’re not political activists or freedom fighters.[2] We are called to be people of deep conviction yet must always remember what is at the center.
Also, the kingdom of God does not come about like the kingdoms of this world with weapons of warfare or political plotting (John 18:36). Therefore, it is out of place for us to use the enemies’ tactics of force or destruction. Rather, with sword and trowel, we are those that defend and build (Neh 4:18). We advance truth, love, and goodness as we seek to be creators and builders first, defenders and warriors second.
The New Testament places a primary focus on the sanctification of the believer in all aspects of life. That is, rather than begin with the evils of the world, we must conquer the evils of our own heart. In other words, judgment begins in the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). Even as we seek to destroy those lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5), there is the prerequisite of obeying Christ that cannot be neglected (2 Cor 10:5–6).
I consider such verses to be a reminder that Christians must prioritize their own family, marriages, roles as men or women, vocations, and how we ought to live with a kingdom vision under the rule of Christ that leads to flourishing and joy. The church ought to be a model for the world of true manhood, womanhood, propriety, modesty, honor, respect, marriage, family, and all aspects of life in which sin corrupts and destroys. We don’t ignore sin in the world, but we ought to speak from a place of integrity, bearing witness to the beauty of the kingdom of God in our lives.
A holy man, a holy family, a holy church is a mighty tool in the hand of the master. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21).
4. Understanding Persecution
Persecution involves suffering for righteousness’ sake (1 Pet 3:14). We should not look for persecution, nor shrink back when it comes. Not all suffering or opposition is persecution. We can suffer when we sin, and such suffering is not persecution nor pleasing to God (1 Pet 2:20). We’re commanded, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable” (1 Pet 2:12); and “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless” (1 Pet 3:9). Second Timothy 2:25 calls upon us to correct “opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
I’m convinced that disrupting an organized event—even an abomination like Drag Queen Story Hour—is not honorable. There is a time to speak out and stand for truth but wisdom, grace, charity, and respect is required. We need to be reminded sometimes to put down the sword and pick up the pen.
Having said that, our witness in the world is not “retreatist” where we avoid society and live like the Amish. When laws threaten to censor the church (e.g., conversion therapy laws) or impede our duties to serve God, we must speak and will speak.[3] We will proclaim Christ—both his law and gospel—and not be ashamed of his truth. Our church regularly engages in street ministry where we speak against sexual perversion, abortion, and other prevalent and serious sins today. However, disrupting events, protesting outside homes, or being purposefully provocative does not communicate the message of Christ, but provides a pretext for the narrative that Christians who take the Bible literally are bigoted, hateful, and dangerous.
Christians need to have a long-term, positive vision of change and influence rather than a reactionary, activist mentality. This is a truth war that won’t be won by the person with the biggest megaphone or by tactics of political activism and disruption.
5. Praying for Justice and Truth to Prevail
Along with our sword and trowel as we seek to advance the kingdom of God, we must pray. We should pray for Derek and his coming court battles. We may have serious disagreements, but we desire God’s justice and for the darkness to be overcome by the light. Pray for the unity of the church and her witness. Confess your own sin to the Lord. Pray that the Lord keep you from temptation. Pray for your own role and place in life that you might be faithful in what God has commanded of you. Pray for the advance of Christ’s kingdom through the gospel. Pray for souls to be saved. Pray for opportunities to speak truth and boldness not to hold back. Pray for God to visit this nation—in salvation and judgment—to vindicate the holiness of his name that is profaned in this place. Pray for justice and truth to prevail.
Let’s pray and walk faithfully as servants of the King who is over every king. Let’s do this for his glory for he is worthy.
—Tim Stephens
[1] I’ve preached a sermon on this subject here: http://www.fairviewbaptistchurch.ca/sermons/sins-destruction-the-root-and-fruit-of-lgbtq/
[2] Jacob Reaume has a helpful article on this subject here: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/we-are-kingdom-fighters-before-freedom-fighters/
[3] I’ve address this subject many times publicly: http://www.fairviewbaptistchurch.ca/topics/homosexuality/