I have written generally about this topic before, but it is on my heart again.  

Once again, immigration and immigration enforcement are big topics of conversation in the US. Our political climate keeps proving that yes, it can get worse. Five or six years ago, there was plenty of vitriol, but the questions seemed more closely associated with the issues at hand: Is it bad to build a wall? Is it cruel to remove certain immigrants? Now, the questions cut even more deeply into the fabric of our society. Should state and local officials follow federal laws? What is the difference between peaceful protest and illegal activity? When are officers allowed to use deadly force? What is an insurrection?  

These questions about current events come on top of long-standing tensions over morality, gender, political violence, election integrity, the role of government, and so many other difficult issues. And while grappling with these issues, we choose the news outlets that frame issues according to our existing viewpoint. We follow social media outlets, where an algorithm determines which viewpoints we are most likely to enjoy. We are increasingly dividing into tribes within our own communities.  

But the divide is not strictly between believers and unbelievers. There are deep divides even among believers. Pastors and parishioners alike try to figure out how to wade through this mess and represent Christ well. Most believe that politics do not belong in the church, but when political issues impact moral issues, it becomes more difficult to determine what type of response is appropriate. When a political issue goes beyond the efficient administration of government to interfering with morality, the church should teach its members to speak, act, and vote in a way that represents Christ.  

Outside of the church, I see many believers sharing their opinions in the public square, such as through social media posts. Engaging those around us with Biblical truth is vitally important. After all, making disciples of the nations is our commission. However, I am concerned that so many of those Christians sharing their opinion have simplified the Word of God to the point where they cannot seem to grasp the scope of the situation about which they are commenting.  

Put another way, many of today’s believers seem to be “one verse wonders.” They pick one verse out of context and state that the situation is simple when it is, in fact, complex. Or they cherry pick only the verses that support their specific point of view. Following are a couple of examples which pertain to immigration.  

“All immigrants should be welcome in our country. Deportation is wrong, because the Bible says to love the stranger who lives among you (Lev. 19:34).”  

That sounds reasonable, but the issue is far more complicated than that. God also said that the stranger who lived among his people must follow the same laws and customs, upon penalty of death (Lev. 24:16-23). The Bible affirms the concept of borders (Acts 17:26, Deut. 32:8, Hos. 5:10, etc.), and we are instructed to follow the laws of the government (Rom. 13:1-2, 1 Pet. 2:13-17, etc.).  

So yes, the people of Israel were commanded to love the stranger who lived among them, but only if that stranger followed God’s law. Nations should have borders, and governments enact laws to protect those borders. We are instructed to follow the law AND we are instructed to love people. So, the answer is not as simple as one verse would have us believe.  

“Jesus said ‘love your neighbor’ (Matt. 22:39) and ‘turn the other cheek,’ (Matt. 5:39). It is simply not Christlike to round up criminals or to use weapons to enforce the law.”  

This seems easy enough, if you ignore a few other verses.  
For instance, Romans 13:4 states that government authorities bear the sword in order to punish those who break the law. Without that possibility, laws are virtually unenforceable. And there are many passages of Scripture that apply to individual believers, not to governments. Again, the situation becomes more complex than some would lead us to believe.  

​God’s Word cannot fit on a bumper sticker or be used as a pithy rallying cry. One must examine all of Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal how its meaning unfolds in day-to-day life.  
I believe that one of the greatest threats to the Church today is Biblical illiteracy. It is far too easy to find a verse that matches your opinion or your mood without digging into the historical and grammatical context. But without proper context and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we will rarely understand the text. ​

I am always moved by the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Originating in Latin from the 12th century, and based on plainchant music from the 8th century, this song is among the oldest we still sing today. If the tune evokes images of the music coming from a monastery in the medieval period, that’s because our carol was derived from exactly that type of song, with the English words we now use being added later – two verses in 1861 and two in 1916. 

I am drawn to the haunting melody and emotion of the song, but a couple of things about the words really stand out to me: When you sing this carol, you are reflecting on names or characteristics of Christ. He is Emmanuel - God with us (Matthew 1:23). He is Wisdom from on high (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the Desire of nations (Haggai 2:7), and He is the Dayspring (Luke 1:78). 

I think one intended effect of this song is that we stop and ponder Christ from the perspective of the Jewish people who had been waiting so long for the arrival of their Messiah. It is hard to properly imagine the mindset of the typical Jew at that time, but it helps to understand their history. 

The zenith of Israel’s national pride and success occurred during King Solomon’s reign with the completion of the first temple. But soon after, Solomon died and the nation was divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The Assyrians conquered and scattered Israel. The Babylonians conquered and scattered Judah. Jerusalem was razed and the first temple was destroyed. 

When the Persians conquered Babylon, a remnant of Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild, and the second temple was finished relatively quickly. About 330 years later, the temple was desecrated by the king of Syria, leading to a revolt and subsequent restoration of Jewish practices. A level of autonomy had been regained, but by 63BC, the land of Israel had been conquered and annexed by the Roman empire. 

Israel had indeed experienced “lonely exile” at the hands of various foreign powers. They had undoubtedly experienced “envy, strife, and quarrels.” They desperately needed a savior, and the melody and words of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” capture this sense of longing and desperation. 

But what does this carol mean to us today? As I said, it is difficult to imagine exactly what the ancient Jews were thinking or feeling, but I know how I feel. It feels like our society reached a zenith some time ago. Our nations that once promoted Christian values seem to be chasing everything that is perverse and evil. Our nations that were once united in purpose now feel like they have been divided into multiple (political or social) kingdoms. False religions are growing in popularity at an alarming rate. Sinful practices evoke celebration rather than concern. 

In many ways, Christians in North America are becoming exiles in a foreign land. Our values, once used to establish our society, are now mocked and vilified. Our voices, once seen as important to public discourse, are now often disregarded or even silenced. Truth is often seen as “hate speech.” 

Come, o come, Jesus, and ransom your church, that mourns in lonely exile here until You again appear. 
​
The good news is that this carol also has a chorus. It calls on us to rejoice, because Jesus, the Light of the World, has come – God with us. 

I don’t reflect on the sadness of this song or the history of the nation of Israel so that we can mourn together, but that we can grasp the fullness of His deliverance together. Jesus Christ came to save mankind. While we recognize our lonely status amid the “envy, strife and quarrels” of this world, we also know that Jesus Christ came as a baby to free us from all of that and even from death! 
We know that Jesus came just as God’s Word said He would, so we know that He will return, just as He said He would. We look forward to that day with great anticipation, and we hold fast to His Word and to His promises as we wait. 

I am so glad that we have a Fellowship of like-minded believers with whom we can wait for the blessed return of Jesus. As we reflect on the glorious gift of salvation and the hope it brings, let us encourage one another and pray for one another as we wait together. 
​
Merry Christmas! ​

Church Leaders - let’s be intentional about developing and recruiting volunteers.

There is so much to report that I am not sure we can fit it all into this issue! We recently met together at Connect23, and there are many things that will look different as we move forward. I need to decide where to start.
First, Connect23: We had an amazing time together. Our hosts in Grunthal, MB, were well-prepared and very gracious, and our keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Nyquist, challenged us. The outings, meals, breakout sessions, and so much more were thoroughly enjoyable and deeply meaningful. We connected.
But I entered the event with a mixture of excitement and sadness. To make a long story as short as I can, our financial plan that began in 2019 has suffered setbacks recently due to several factors, including COVID and the recent economic downturn. Our funds have been depleted more quickly than anticipated.