If you needed an example of why politics and religion don’t mix, this past week is a prime example. It started with Parks Canada pulling the permit for a concert for an American Christian worship leader aligned with Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, and snowballed into multiple permit revocations in different Canadian cities.

I should point out that I am not convinced this is a free speech or a freedom of religion issue, though many said it was. The shows have gone on, just not in the original space due to security and other concerns.

Apparently protestors were expected and the those responsible for permits for these outdoor venues in various parks didn’t want the hassle. I get that; It’s probably a no-win situation for them. Easier to cancel the permit.

I have never listened to Sean Feucht’s music. He never sent his stuff to me when I was programming Christian radio. (In my professional opinion most worship music is boring unless it is part of a group experience, so I probably wouldn’t have aired it anyway.)

Even with the publicity I haven’t bothered to check out the music, but all the media noise probably brought more people out to the churches where replacement events were scheduled. I was going to ignore the kerfuffle, but now more concerts in western Canada are having permits pulled.

The reason I don’t see this as a freedom of religion issue is that the shows themselves can still go on. Just not in rented public spaces. And it struck me at first that opposition to Feucht is more because he is a failed Republican candidate affiliated with the American MAGA movement than because he is a Christian. At least that was my first thought – I will touch more on the other side of the argument tomorrow.

In Canada there is no love for the moment at anything or anyone affiliated with Donald Trump. As far as we are concerned, MAGA stands for Make America Go Away. The sooner the better.

I can understand therefore that the custodians of public spaces would be reluctant to allow someone to espouse American right wing politics in our parks. While the shows were billed as revival meetings, there was a fear Feucht would inject politics into his religious rally.

I have known many worship leaders in my lifetime. Most of them vote in elections. None of them would dream about making their political preferences known on a church platform.

That’s because they want to lead God’s people into worship and relationship. They understand that the gospel crosses cultural, racial and political divides and don’t want to do things that would widen the gaps. Running for public office, putting a partisan label on yourself, can’t help but do that.

So Sean Feucht comes to Canada to tour the country and the attention is on his politics not his music. What should be a night of worship becomes a political statement, even if he does and says nothing political. By aligning with a political party his has tainted the gospel message.

Do you think God is smiling at that?