Jun 12
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Stop calling the central government a federal government
ChristianGovernance eletter – June 9, 2012
We need a campaign to stop calling the national or central government a FEDERAL government – in both Canada and the United State. Looking at earlier writings, people called Canada’s government a central government, not a federal government.
This is not an irrelevant point or simply a quaint observation. Calling the national or central government a federal government is a Humanist deception. Do you know why?
The most helpful explanation I have seen of this point was from theologian and pastor Rev. Doug Wilson, in his book, “Federal Husband.” Of course I can’t find the book when I want it, so I can’t quote from it.
People don’t use the word federal because they DON’T like it. Federal is a positive word; that’s why it’s used to refer to the national government. “Central” government does not convey a positive message to most people today.
The term “federal government” is in fact an absurdity. It’s a nonsense term. Federal refers to a relationship between governments. There can be a federal relationship between a central government and provincial or state governments. But there is no such thing as a “federal government.” This is more evidence that it’s a deceptive Humanist construct rather than the product of rational Christian thought.
The term “federal” conveyed a democratic, accountable approach to civil government that best accommodated liberty and equity. It reflected the idea of a balance of powers. It’s a model that recognizes and respects the Christian truths of the sovereignty of God and the depravity of man. It is a model that is antithetical to political centralization as found in Humanist societies like Canada and America today, like the international socialism of the former USSR and China, like the national socialism of Mussolini and Hitler.
It is a very serious linguistic revolution – and a victory for Humanism – to have the modern centralizing national government in many countries re-labeled in the public consciousness as a “federal” government. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If Christians surrender that term, what terminology will we use to articulate a Christian model for civil governance in Canada?