As public opinion hardens and political rhetoric intensifies, many Christians are absorbing the same political narratives about immigration as everyone else. But the Evangelical Alliance’s Israel Olofinjana believes scripture presents a different story – one in which migration is not merely a crisis to manage, but a means through which God fulfils his purposes
Migration continues to be a dominant discourse in the UK and around the world. On the other side of the Atlantic, the unlimited power and operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has horrified many.
Here in the UK, the direction of travel of public opinion seems clear. Whether it’s Reform UK’s policy to “stop the boats by immediately leaving the ECHR” or the Labour party’s change of tone and posture on migration (it is now in favour of reducing net migration) it does seem that from a political perspective, migration has come to be seen as bad news and a burden for the country.
What is the prophetic role of the church in speaking into this critical issue?
As I travel around the country speaking about migration and related subjects, I am increasing aware that many in our churches have formed their views on immigration solely through the politics of migration and therefore have embraced the idea that migration is a problem. A new survey by the Evangelical Alliance has shown that views on migration inside our churches are not much different from public opinion. Many polled strongly agree that people whose claim to asylum have been rejected should be immediately removed without the right of appeal.
While I understand the complexities of the subject and know that the UK cannot have an open border policy, for us as Christians, scripture has to be our guide. Is migration as a problem the only narrative available to us or is there a counter-narrative that is significant?
Migration in God’s story
Migration in the light of Christian thinking is understanding how God uses migration to fulfil his divine purposes. The theology of migration therefore looks at the intersection of migration with God’s mission. From this perspective, the Bible becomes a sacred text book on God’s mission and migration because from Genesis to Revelation we can see God’s redemptive history unfold through the hermeneutic of migrating witnesses.
Abraham’s story sheds light on God’s salvation revelation through Abraham’s story as a migrating witness.
Joseph’s story becomes that of a migrating witness in Egypt through forced displacement and trafficking. The story of Joseph actually exemplifies someone who journeyed from migration trauma towards intergenerational legacy because he went from been a victim of forced migration to becoming a preserver of community for generations to come (Genesis 50:20 encapsulates Joseph’s understanding of migratory journey).
The story of Ruth can be read in the light of a refugee witness who was faithful to Yahweh despite adversity and lastly, Christians in the New Testament can be understood as migrating witnesses who are on a pilgrimage seeking for a heavenly citizenship rather than only settling for an earthly national identity.
Three responses
I believe there are three ways the Church can be prophetic through this theology of migration instead of the politics of migration:
Theological Colleges and Theology of Migration: One of the challenges our churches face in this season of continued debates on nationalistic politics is that several church leaders are not sure or confident enough on how to address some of these issues from the pulpit. I have had several conversations with church pastors who are not sure where to start. There is a deficit in our ministerial formation which has not taught and addressed migration theologies properly therefore leaving many pastors not confident enough to preach on the subject. Our theological colleges as a matter of urgency therefore need short courses and modules on migration theology. In colleges and institutions where this already exist, the key question is, is this a core module or elective? In the current climate I want to suggest it becomes compulsory as part of theological and ministerial formation.
Discipleship and Theology of Migration: If pastors are left wanting in regards to teaching on migration in churches, you can begin to imagine where people in our churches are getting their information on migration from. Could The Daily Mail, social media and political manifestos be discipling people in our churches on migration? Our churches desperately need Bible study resources on migration that can enable honest and frank conversation on the subject. The subject of migration needs to be preached from the pulpit but it also requires group discussions in small groups or house groups. There are some resources out there already on the subject and examples are, the One People Commission (OPC) Visions of Justice and Hope. Another is the Baptist Union Bible study resource Moving Stories: The Bible and Migration.
Reverse Missionaries and Theology of Migration: Do we need the help of missionaries from the Majority World to help expand our understanding of mission and migration? Reverse missionaries, that is, those from previous mission fields now doing mission in Europe have a crucial role to play in helping our churches understand the role of Majority World missionaries in global mission. Several of our multicultural and intercultural churches have these missionaries within therefore what can we learn from their stories regarding the positive and prophetic role of migration? It is fair to say that the British Church has grown multiculturally partly due to migration. In essence, our churches have been enriched by these cultural and ethnic diversity therefore we can make the case that migration has been a gift to the UK Church. The UK Church in all its diversity needs to tell this story to counter the often-negative story on the politics of migration.
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