In a talk I recorded for Long Beach Friends Church on June 22, 2025, I mentioned that there were some really good resources to understand migration issues. This sort article is written to provide links to those resources. I used these resources in preparing that message.
For a long-term historical survey of migration contextualizing present-day migration, far and away the best research is included in a book by one of the world’s leading scholars of migration, Hein de Hass. It is entitled How Migration Really Works: The Facts About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics. I highly, highly recommend it. It is well-written and covers a great deal of ground. I found some of the things I believed about immigration were simply not true. This is not a partisan book. (I don’t get anything if you use that link above to purchase from Amazon. Purchase where you will.)
Evangelical Immigration Table is a Christian organization that connects followers of Jesus with the world of American immigration in a way that strives to honor Jesus’ teaching.
In the 1992 American edition of his book Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power(first published in German in 1974), Josef Pieper commented that advertising in modern societies damages language. Words are “perverted and debased to become a catalyst, a drug, as it were, and . . . as such administered. Instrument of power may still seem a somewhat strong term for this; still, it does not seem so farfetched any longer.”
Of course, in these days, this thought strikes me as deeply relevant. What is evidently false is claimed to be true – outright lies! Spoken by those in positions of great responsibility and power. And what is true is denied and suppressed. All in the name of influencing and controlling other humans for some presumed “good” end. Not all words are like this – yet? – but so many seem to believe what is simply false and damaging. And so it continues. Straight talk is hard to find.
Pieper, in this book, insists those who care for truth must stand solidly against such twisted and twisting use of words. Quoting Pieper…
This implies also opposition to anything that could destroy or distort the nature of the word as communication and its unbiased openness to reality. In this respect we are well able to pronounce the general principle and at the same time to be very specific: opposition is required, for instance, against every partisan simplification, every ideological agitation, every blind emotionality; against seduction through well-turned yet empty slogans, against autocratic terminology with no room for dialogue, against personal insult as an element of style (all the more despicable the more sophisticated it is), against the language of evasive appeasement and false assurance… and not least against the jargon of the revolution, against categorical conformism, and categorical nonconformism…
Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power by Josef Pieper
How to oppose such words spoken for purpose without regard for truth? I mean, how to oppose such with integrity for Jesus’ teaching and love for even those who behave as enemies? It often seems difficult. Muddy. And yet, scripture has true words that speak profound wisdom to those who will listen….
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5.37, New International Version of the Bible
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
Ephesians 4.25, New International Version of the Bible
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10.19, New International Version of the Bible
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 8.16-17, New International Version of the Bible
In a very recent policy change, the new presidential administration withdrew guidance that said that ICE shouldn’t conduct an immigration raid during a church service except for when there is a public safety threat.
Note well… if a terrorist (or similar) were to run into a church there was already a way for ICE to have the authority to go into that church. What changed was the administration rescinded its limitations on immigration enforcement in “protected areas” like churches and hospitals and shelters.
We (generally speaking) all want law enforcement to protect public safety. However, churches that serve the immigrant community (like Long Beach Friends) don’t want ICE showing up and standing outside the church building on Sunday morning – or even worse, raiding the church! One of our services is in Spanish and we have many immigrant members from a diverse background. We know that people are afraid. We desire that our neighbors – all of them – should be able to attend worship services without fear.
In reaction, five Quaker organizations have sued to disallow ICE raids on houses of worship. I don’t know much directly about the suit, so please allow me to refer you to a Reuters news article about this lawsuit. My immediate reaction is: Good on these Quakers! I’m thankful for their actions.
I read the Christianity Today article by Tish Harrison Warren of this title some time ago, and reread it this morning after hearing her speak near the close of the Esau McCauley podcast. In being away from my normal place and thinking of the new year and beyond, this thought strikes within me a lingering chord as a word for today… for the particular time in which we find ourselves. It is speaking in part as reaction to the approach of our times that purports to represent the silicon valley, er… mode? ethos? You’ve heard it, “go fast and break things.”
Check the short article out for yourself. Hopefully you won’t hit the paywall obstruction: Go slow and repair things. Perhaps you will find it helpful as a starting thought moving into a new time, as I am.
. . .this theme of church Unity across ethnic boundary lines was absolutely vital in the New Testament and not a sort of odd add-on thing and see I’m I’m deeply suspicious in my own country as well as in America of this idea that oh well homo homogeneous churches grow faster undoubtedly that may be may have some truth to it but what you’re growing is not actually the church because according to Paul very very clearly… Galatians, Ephesians, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians… it’s the community of all believers and in Revelation chapter 7 it’s a great community of every nation and language and tribe and tongue and that’s not for some future date.
N.T. Wright
I was listening to the Holy Post Podcast today. Skye Jethani was interviewing N.T. Wright. And N.T. Wright said something that made me sit up straight. It was quite encouraging to me, coming from someone I respect so deeply!
Over the years, I was hammered with the “homogeneous unit principle” so many times… And my response was that it wasn’t Jesus’ teaching or New Testament teaching, and that I couldn’t, in good conscience, embrace it. It seemed to me that the Spirit amplified to me quite the opposite approach. And it was more difficult. And so worth it. Frankly speaking, it remains more difficult today!
That comes across as self-serving, I suppose. It is not, I hope. It wasn’t my insight or wisdom. It is God’s purpose in the church, of which I am only a follower. It is good news for all humans everywhere – for the nations.
On the Wednesday after the 2024 election, a number of Long Beach pastors and church leaders gathered electronically to record a time of prayer. The Long Beach Ministers Alliance led by Gregory Sanders organized the time. You can view the recording online.
I’ve been thinking about this prophetic song and passionate rendition quite a lot lately. I deeply appreciate the Ethnos Project music. This particular song resonates with me here in 2024.
The video was recorded in 2021 in Los Angeles by the songwriters Michele Leong and Julia Carbajal with friends from the Ethnos Project Collective.
The lyrics and more details of the artists and recording are available in the description of the video on YouTube.
Protect Democracy is an organization whose purpose is to protect free and fair elections, defend the rule of law, and safeguard the public square. They have a nice set of slides explaining how long it could take to project a winner of the election on November 5. Bottom line: the election is expected to be very close so don’t expect to know who won on the night of the election. Patience is going to be required.
Tracking the Election Results
Given the likelihood that tons of bad and misleading information that will flood social media, where can we get accurate updates and explanations of what is happening?
I want to recommend that we get the latest updates and explanations regarding the election from the National Task Force on Election Crises. This excellent non partisan resource will help us avoid the inaccurate information that will be flooding social media. The task force will maintain and update a toolkit with accurate information regarding what is happening with vote counting and other important election developments as the votes are counted and results become available.
The Big Picture
Remember, the kingdom of heaven does not depend on the election result. We know already: Jesus has been put in charge! We follow him.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Brian Zahnd wrote a “voter guide” for Christians some 12 years ago. (I’m writing in 2024 so that would be 2012.) It was a breath of fresh air – an encouragement to Jesus people! What he entitled BZ’s Ten Point Christian Voter Guide 12 years ago is quoted below.
1. The political process, while necessary, has little to do with how God is saving the world.
2. The fate of the kingdom of God does not depend upon political contests.
3. Don’t be naïve, political parties are more interested in Christian votes than they are in Christian values.
4. The bottom line for political parties is power. The bottom line for a Christian is love. And therein lies the rub.
5. While in pursuit of the Ring of Power, you are not permitted to abandon the Sermon on the Mount.
6. If your political passion makes it hard for you to love your neighbor as yourself, you need to turn it down a notch.
7. Your task is to bring the salt of Christian civility to an ugly and acrimonious political process.
8. To dismember the body of Christ over politics is a grievous sin.
9. Exercise your liberty to vote your conscience and conviction, while accepting that other Christians will do the same and vote differently than you.
10. It’s more important that your soul be filled with love than it is for your political team to win the game.
A few days ago in his online blog, BZ published his guide once more, and included some, shall we say, supporting texts. It’s quite a good meditation for us who say we intend to follow Jesus. It is called Election Season and Your Soul. I highly recommend it.
