Поляризація імміграції, Poliaryzatsiia immihratsii, Polarization of Immigration
Week 2 – Поляризація імміграції, Poliaryzatsiia immihratsii, Polarization of Immigration
- Introduction – what the author says
- What others are saying: Thumbs down and Thumbs up
- Bland ending? Concluding points.
- Epilogue: Polarization of Immigration
- Introduction
Political theology is not a term I have used very much in my academic journey. I feel that I have missed the boat. But gladly, I have purchased my ticket to get on board. Jesus and the Powers: Christian political witness in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies, by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird, is a nice introductory ride.
This 2024 book comes at a timely moment. The U.S. presidential election, as usual, has divided the nation into two major camps – Democrat or Republican with Independents serving as a protest space that unfortunately has lost its presidential candidate. Churches are not immune to political debates, and they have joined the polarization of the parties on a variety of topics.
Choosing one, I pick immigration. More on that later.
Letting the author speak for himself, I found that NT Wright has produced an intro trailer for his book on YouTube. N.T. Wright & Michael F. Bird — Jesus and the Powers — NEW BOOK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf_ZXyAs1fY
- What others are saying:
Thumbs Down
Church Times, 28 March 2024, Book review: Jesus and the Powers: Christian political witness in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies, by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird. The reviewer presents a negative review of the book…
The Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby is an Honorary Visiting Professor in Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College, London. He is a former Bishop of Worcester, Bishop to HM Prisons, and President of the National Council for Independent Monitoring Boards is the author.
He writes, “There is no doubt about the need for theological material to inspire a new generation of Christians in general, and Evangelical Christians in particular, in facing the political challenges of this time; but this book, sadly, fails to offer that. Informative and engaging as it is, its content needs to breathe more slowly and, like much contemporary political theology, provide more detailed resources for facing the complex politics of our world with wisdom and courage.”[1]
Thumbs up:
As a counterpoint, there is an excellent review of the book, “Jesus and the Powers (NT Wright and Michael Bird) Review” by Joel Wentz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndDQDWLNuoo
While Wentz also agrees that there are portions that rush along. He is quick to remind readers that the book is the tip of the iceberg to deeper and longer writings of the authors. He strongly suggests that for those who want more background and discussion to go to the author’s previous works (which are liberally referenced).
While giving the book a thumbs down, Selby does give a nice synopsis of the book via the headings of the seven chapters,
- “The Kingdom of Jesus in the shadow of empire”, “The Church between Jesus and Caesar”,
- “Power and the powers in early Christianity: John, Paul and the paradox of biblical politics”,
- “The Kingdom of God as vision and vocation”, “The Church between submission and subversion”,
- “The Church resisting the powers of today”, and “Liberalism and love in a time of fear and fragmentation” — are signals, together with the assertive subheadings, of the book’s somewhat scatter-gun approach to its theme: various theological, historical, and political topics are briefly produced and sometimes reappear later on.
- Bland Ending?
In their conclusion, Wright and Bird use the Lee Camp’s quote: The faith of the Christian is the last great hope of earth. [2] I find this quote as a clarion’s call for Christians to respond to our responsibility to engage in the political process. If not us, who?
In their conclusion, the authors bring up eight points. They write,
First, we have recognized that the world we live in now is at a moment of social and economic turmoil, with new imperial powers rising and democratic nations tearing themselves apart.[3]
Second, we’ve observed that God’s people have always had to deal with empires…[4]
Third Christianity has always had a public witness, and our conception of the kingdom shapes how we relate to the political and social challenges of the day.[5]
Fourth, we laid out that governing authority is a God-given institution that, in part, carries forward the divine design for humans to be custodians of creation.[6]
Fifth, we have argued too that the Church, meaning all practicing Christians in reality, has a duty to bear public witness. [7]
Sixth, we have explored how Christians should relate to governing authorities. We discovered in the New Testament that there is an oscillating perspective of submission to state authorities and at other times subversively resisting them. [8]
Seventh, there are many varieties of tyranny or unjust government that Christians may find the need to resist. [9]
Eighth, and finally, we have examined the very nature of state authority itself. We concluded that, while government is good, the authority of the state needs to be limited. No state apparatus should aspire to be all-powerful. ‘
Selby would call this a bland ending, but I find it useful as a reminder of Christian Responsibility.
Epilogue: Polarization of Immigration
U.S. Immigration is one of those hot button topics that politicians use to their own advantage. In a recent survey entitled, “2024 Evangelical Views on Immigration Study,”[10]
80% would support bipartisan immigration reform that strengthens border security, established a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, and provides enough farmworkers (Lifeway Research)
To help us understand the issue, the definition of a refugee and an asylum seeker can be understood using this graphic. The bottom line – the refugee process takes up to 17 years for immigration to occur. The asylum seeker process is overburdened legal process that is constantly in the news. Asylum seekers present their cases at the border and are let in without the kind of vetting that refugees receive.
Because of legislative INACTION for 20 plus years, the Executive Branch has responded with Executive Orders. These in turn can be challenged in court. A case in point is the recent executive order for Parole in Place (those who are undocumented but married to U.S. citizens can apply for naturalization remaining in the states rather than returning to their nations of origin). This has been challenged in court by 16 states and a federal judge put the whole program on hold. The tension between the Executive and Judicial branches of U.S. government can only be eased with the Legislative branch weighing in with bipartisan reforms.
No one is holding their breaths on this one.
However, returning to the political theology espoused by Wright and Bird, Christians can respond to this situation following the biblical mandates such as Deuteronomy 10: 18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”
Our actions of compassion to the refugees AND the desire for secure borders are not in opposite camps. Both can be achieved simultaneously.
[1] https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/28-march/books-arts/book-reviews/book-review-jesus-and-the-powers-christian-political-witness-in-an-age-of-totalitarian-terror-and-dysfunctional-democracies-by-tom-wright-and-michael-f-bird
[2] Lee C. Camp, Scandalous Witness: A little political manifesto for Christians (Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans, 2020), p. 1.
[3] N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Reflective, 2024).Burton, p. 174
[4] Burton, Ibid., p. 174.
[5] Burdon, ibid., p. 175.
[6] Burton, ibid., p. 176.
[7] Burton, Ibid., p. 176.
[8] Burton, Ibid., p. 177.
[9] Burton, Ibid., p. 177.
[10] The online survey of 1,010 Americans was conducted January 15-22, 2024, using a national pre-recruited panel The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error does not exceed +3.1% This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting
https://research.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-Evangelical-Views-on-Immigration-Report.pdf
About the Author
Russell Chun
interlinkt.org is now ready for your Refugee Resettlement needs. 15 tasks, languages ESL plans coming9 responses to “Поляризація імміграції, Poliaryzatsiia immihratsii, Polarization of Immigration”
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Hi Russell,
Thanks for highlighting the eight final points. I didn’t find the ending bland. It was a useful summary. I would have liked a more in depth study of point #2 in regards to how God’s people have engaged empire. The authors touched on several, unpacking one would have been inspiring. Do you have an example of when you have noticed empire being addressed well and Christian’s acting responsibly?
Hi,
I hate to be Ukrainian centered, but I was asked to speak to President’s Zelensky’s consultant on Youth and Sports policy (Volodomir). Surprised I asked how are we able to get such a meeting? In short, there was period when Insulin was not available in country. The Calvary Chapel network (Europe/US) responded with appeals for Insulin and money. Pastor George Markey made the plea in Colorado Churches and added, that they also needed an Insulin Pump. A man stood up and said “I just bought a new model so you can have my old one.” Armed with insulin, the churches delivered the insulin and George gave the insulin pump to Volodomir who we discovered later was the person who needed the pump.
Now if I need to get a message to the President of Ukraine it could happen! (probably only once though).
The church came through for Ukraine and Volodomir (who by the way looks all of 28) is an open door for our church network.
Hi Russell,
That is an amazing story and wonderful example of building for the kingdom, divine appointments, and service. thank you for sharing it!
This will be less of an interaction with the post, and more of a shout out to you Russell…
1. You have a stunning mind.
2. You have massive passion for people (especially the marginalized and underprivileged).
I just wanted to encourage you today. God has given you what you need to do what you do. Keep at it. You’ve got this! – John
Thank you.
I really appreciate your heart for immigrants and immigration issues. What a mess the US is in over all of this. I’m not as well informed as you, but I do know that one of the major issues in our church is people trying to be legal in immigration status and the hoops they have to jump through that make no sense.
To many people this is a wicked problem to solve, for me it’s a people to love.
Yes, I have decided to err on the side of love.
Shalom.
Hey my brother. I love reading your educational posts. You wrote, “Our actions of compassion to the refugees AND the desire for secure borders are not in opposite camps. Both can be achieved simultaneously.”
Can you give me one example how they can be achieved simultaneously?
Hi Todd,
I am now using my magic wand.
The refugee process while onerous (10-17 years) is mapped out and resourced.
The asylum seeker process, however striving for humane goals, has created a historic porous southern border for both drugs, human trafficking and guns. Both Republican and Democrats have allowed 20 years of legislative inaction to perpetuate this border issuse.
In short, we do need to shut down the border to economic refugees (like the rest of the world) and demand legislators create laws that balances the complex demands of states economies, national responsibilities for security, and provide for humanitarian relief.
Examples?
Hawaii allowed immigration from the far east to provide laborers in the sugar cane and pineapple fields. (My great grandfathers, one from China, one from the Philippines).
Change/Integration is always tough and riddled with racism, but there was a severe filtering on the ships that came to Hawaii. When “filled to the brim” access to Hawaii was limited.
The US implemented some unjust laws focused on race (Chinese exclusion act), however, conceptually the idea of a legislative FILTER that balances immigration with national security and financial concerns can be implemented.
Not sure if this clarifies.
Shalom..