Shameful to leave such a legacy | Opinions | Medicine Hat News

An intriguing op-ed from Medicine Hat. Worth the read ...
Shameful to leave such a legacy | Opinions | Medicine Hat News

And sorry, but the next full post is a bit delayed this week ... getting into the blogging rhythm. :)

Immigration and Theology—Reflecting Back from the Future

In Ephesians 4:17-24 Paul makes an impassioned plea to the believers in Ephesus: if you want to experience church the way God intends it to be—a harbinger of God’s restoration of all things under Christ (1:10); a masterpiece of people who pursue God’s agendas for their lives (2:10); a diverse community that silences the critique of the powers (3:10) —then there is a significant change that we MUST embrace.

We must, as Paul explains, no longer walk as the Gentiles walk (4:17).  We must, rather, be renewed in the spirit of our minds and “clothe ourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (4:24).   

So while we can rehearse the deeds of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 or the invective of Peter against Christians who are having a hard time giving up the practices of the Gentiles, “living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry” (1 Peter 4:3), I wonder how critical we have allowed ourselves to be when it comes to the more subtle values of the “Gentiles.”

Now, by Gentiles I don’t believe Paul is speaking of an individual person, as if each person outside of Christ embodies everything that he is speaking.  In fact, many people outside of Christ embody many of the values of the Kingdom—some of which I suggest are often lacking in the church.  (On that note, if you haven’t read it before, I strongly recommend The Faith of the Outsider by Frank Anthony Spina, a provocative look at the portrayal of individuals outside the covenant community like Esau and Tamar.)  Paul is speaking, rather, of the value system of a society outside of Christ.  And whatever we may think and believe about the founding of Canada or the United States, we are not societies built around the reign of Jesus Christ and, I suggest, we never have been.

The challenge is an insipid notion that the values of the West are the values of God.  This has been reinforced for centuries, from the time of the Crusades to the era of colonialism, to the Cold War when faith in Christ became enmeshed with pursuits of political powers.  I think we know deep down that western values are not equivalent to God’s values, but to what extent have we allowed that thought to penetrate into our evaluation of economics and social policy?

A Starting Point: Begin at the End

N. T. Wright in his book, Surprised by Hope, argues that the Christian vision for living today must be informed by our future hope.  We must grasp the shape of the age to come and seek to embody those values and virtues in our lives today—individual and corporate.  He writes, “The work we do in the present, then, gains its full significance from the eventual design in which it is meant to belong. … we must work in the present for the advance signs of that eventual state of affairs when God is ‘all in all,’ when his kingdom has come and his will is done ‘on earth as in heaven’” (211).

But what is the vision of the future when it comes to migration?  And how ought this vision to impact the way a Christian engages issues of migration?

One starting place may very well be how before God we are equal—equally bankrupt and equally loved.  It matters not to God whether we are rich or poor, from the west or from the global south—although some may point to a possible preference for the poor found throughout the pages of Scripture.  It is at the communion table, at the foot of the cross, where the CEO and the undocumented asylum seeker stand equal before God and break bread together.

During the era of the abolitionist movement, many a landowner and business person was concerned that the end of the slave trade would spell the end of their business fortunes and the dominance of their nations.  Yet Christians pressed forward to take the vital first step of abolishing the Atlantic slave trade—despite the objections of other Christians!  Much work still needs to be done with regard to slavery even today, but the example stands.  Amidst worried cries of the way our economy may falter under the weight of irregular migration, the starting point from a perspective of faith must be on the value of the lives at risk and a sense of compassion expressed by our savior who gave his life up for us all.

Immigrants use of welfare a mixed bag, documents show | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

Immigrants use of welfare a mixed bag, documents show | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
Check this article out ... some stats on the actual impact immigrants and refugees have on the welfare system.

Immigration in Canada - Part One; WHY Immigration?

The next couple of posts will focus on the shape of immigration in Canada. Part One (this post) deals with WHY Canada aggressively pursues immigration. Future posts will look at the WHAT of immigration legislation and HOW legislation (and immigration) is actually experienced (including massive backlogs in the system). In each case, I hope to tease out some theological connections and questions to ponder.

How many people actually migrate to Canada each year?

Canada's current population is a little over 34 million. Each year we grant permanent resident status to approximately 250,000 persons. Here's a breakdown of 2009 numbers (rounded to the nearest hundred):

2009 Permanent Residents (252,200):

• 153,500 - Economic Immigrants
• 65,200 - Family Class
• Temporary Foreign Workers
• 22,800 - Refugees (includes government sponsored, private sponsored AND asylum seekers granted refugee status in 2009)
• 10,600 - Other immigrants (see below under "sources")

2009 Temporary Residents (382,300):

• 178,400 - Temporary Foreign Workers
• 85,100 - Temporary Foreign Students
• 34,200 - Humanitarian Population (primarily people seeking asylum--refugee claimants)
• 84,600 - Other (temporary permit or visitor status granted without the right to work or study)

Stats Canada Data

• Stats Canada expects that by 2017 seniors (65+) will outnumber children (0-14)
• By 2036 seniors will represent a full one-quarter of the Canadian population
• In 1971 the average Canadian was 29 years old
• Now the average age is 39.5
• By 2036 the average age is estimated to rise to between 42 and 45
• Canada's fertility rate is 1.6 (population replacement = 2.1)

Economics or Humanitarianism?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that natural growth rates are insufficient to support the changing Canadian population--to either maintain CPP or to fund health care (to name just two implications). I think, therefore, it is safe to say that the focus of immigration is economic prosperity. It is the only way Canada can hope to maintain economic growth and its standard of living. It has oft been noted that the day will soon come when the sum total of economic growth in Canada will be as a result of immigration. Expect this before 2020.

So despite claims of being motivated by our generosity and compassion, Canada is not in the migration business for humanitarian reasons any more than a given corporation produces its goods and services so that it can provide glasses for children living in poverty. We need immigrants to support the ongoing growth of the Canadian economy--and it must grow to support our way of life. This alone ought to put a different spin on how many people speak of immigration.

My daughter, Jessica, is in the midst of a "mock election" for her high school civics course. One of the issues on which her team must take a position is the safeguarding of the Canadian health care program. Many claim it is unsustainable. I contend that it is only sustainable via immigration. I believe we need to seriously consider revisiting previous government targets of 1% immigration--that is, to bring in approximately 350,000 immigrants per year. But I have quite a different take than the government of Canada in terms of whom we should welcome in (all for another post).

And, as a side note, the economic rationale behind migration is the reason there are dollars allocated by the government for settlement. The smoother we can make the transition to life in Canada for new arrivals, the sooner they can contribute to the economic growth of the country.

If this sounds somewhat crass and utilitarian, well, it is.  But make no mistake: this is WHY Canada actively pursues immigration and why many are deeply concerned about:

• Cuts being made to settlement services ($55 million cut in December)
• Immigration policies that are favouring temporary foreign workers (consider the many struggles in Europe that have resulted from this practice)
• The image of Canada being portrayed to prospective economic migrants who hear from those who go before them that this is, in fact, not the land of opportunity

And there are many others, including me, who raise a voice for the humanitarian obligation of a profoundly rich and comfortable country.  We can do so much more than we are doing.  But more on that later.

Reflecting as a Christian ...

I am struck by the history of the early church, how its members, for instance, would stay behind in plague-infested cities of ancient Rome and--at considerable risk to themselves--care for people who were abandoned by their families. Talk about counter cultural! Should not the Christian response to migration issues be similarly counter-cultural given the grave risk of economic exploitation in our current practices? What place should economic considerations have in a Christian response to immigration? What other factors need to be considered?

And since I have raised the issue, to what extent is Canada guilty of USING migrants, treating people as commodities for which we compete on the international stage? What does luring the richest and brightest from developing countries do to these nations (and I'm not even going to bring up the real human price these countries pay for our way of living in terms of child labour and sweat shops ... oops, I brought it up!).

Jesus, when asked to explain his ministry, chose Isaiah 61. Then he went around healing people, reaching out to those society rejected, opposing the powerful elite, and proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand. "Repent and follow me," he said. "Anyone who wishes to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

What informs your response to questions about immigration? 

Sources

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada Quarterly Administrative Data Release (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/data-release/2010-Q2/index.asp)
• For an explanation of terms (like "other"--too complex to explain!) go to: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2008/glossary.asp
• Stats Canada: Quarterly Demographic Estimates, July to September 2010 (Catalogue no. 91-002-X) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-002-x/91-002-x2010003-eng.htm
• Stats Canada: Canada Year Book 2010 (Catalogue no. 11-402-X) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-402-x/2010000/pdf-eng.htm
• Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History (Princeton University Press, 1996), particularly chapter four, "Epidemics, Networks and Conversion".  Also by Stark: The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....

TheStar: Orphaned Chinese brothers face separation

TheStar Orphaned Chinese brothers face separation

While one must wonder whether there is information not included in this article that would bring perspective to the decisions reached regarding the family in question, it is hard to comprehend how a system can be justified that makes an eight-year-old child a ward of the province on the basis that it has been deemed that his closest relatives are inappropriate for status in Canada.

• On what basis ought our country grant status to people?
• While it is understandable that economic considerations drive the system, where do humanitarian considerations come to play?
• And what constitutes humanitarian need?

My next post will focus on the Canadian migration context (i.e. our immigration policies) for the theological reflection I aim to share on this blog, reviewing, in particular, the various ways in which people are currently able to gain access to Canada.

Some Post-Advent Musings

Some Post-Advent Musings

I, like many other Christians, spent the Christmas season seeking to maintain a focus on the incarnation of Jesus Christ while navigating the media push to consume. Along the way, reading the Biblical narratives, I saw the birth stories in a whole new light—a perspective I’d like to share.

Displacement

A few things caught my eye in Luke 2:

1. While Canadians debate the government aba ndoning the mandatory long-form census, in Judea, an issue that infuriated the oppressed Jewish society was what we could call the “long-trip census.” Luke may sound casual, but for the people of the land the census meant complete social upheaval—and in Acts. 5:37 Luke records that a similar census led to armed revolt.
2. The edict applied to EVERYONE in Judea, not just Joseph and Mary. This was not a quiet or romantic stroll from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary riding a Donkey. (A donkey isn’t even mentioned in the text!) What we have is a mass migration of subjugated people. ALL were forced to go to the home of their ancestors. No family members would be left behind to protect homes and businesses. Joseph and Mary could not wait for the pregnancy to come to term, and like everyone else, could take only that which they could carry.
   
3. Bethlehem is 90 miles from Nazareth. On le vel ground the average person can walk three miles and hour. This was not level ground. And remember, Mary was pregnant. We’re looking at a good five to seven days—and nights—of travel with thousands of others migrating in different directions.

I was struck by the parallels with what today are identified as internally displaced people (IDP). There are 27.1 million IDPs in similar situations today—forced to flee from their homes out of obligation or due to armed conflict, violations of human rights, or natural disasters. They are among the most vulnerable people in the world. In many cases the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) isnot able to provide protection or assistance due to hostile local governments.

Then I turned to Matthew 2. Here we have Joseph waking his wife and son, who is now a toddler (he could be up to two years old). He tells Mary about the danger from Herod and they immediately sneak out of town, avoiding detection by Jewish and Roman authorities, and escaping to Egypt.

When displaced persons cross an international border in today’s world they become known as refugees. In 1951 the UNHCR developed a convention on refugees that, as of October, 2008, 147 countries have signed onto. Not all have (e.g. Thailand). The convention provides certain protections to this deeply vulnerable community. But life is far from ideal. We can estimate that Joseph, Mary and Jesus spent up to ten years as refugees in Egypt before repatriationto Judea (and actually returning to Nazareth). In short, Jesus’ childhood (up through his pre-teen years) was that of a refugee.

Migration Rhetoric

Now I recognize there are significant complexities around migration issues. I believe, for instance, that it is vitally important to distinguish between economic migrants and asylum seekers—people whose lives are at risk were they to stay in—or be returned to—their country of origin. (Notwithstanding, I have some serious issues with the current system of economic migration in Canada … but I’ll save that for another post). The plight of the estimated 43.3 million displaced persons in the world demands the careful attention of all. Unfortunately, for those who are legitimately in fear for their lives, the rhetoric of the media and our current government has created a very awkward and at times untenable situation.

So what if Joseph and Mary had decided to flee to Canada?

1. If they had they traveled by foot and crossed an international land border with the USA they would have been turned away. This is because of the "Safe Third Country" legislation that came into effect in December, 2004. Though the refugee determination systems are considerably different, both countries are considered safe for refugees and, as both are signatories to the 1951 refugee convention, it is alleged that the plight of the person(s) will be duly considered and the asylum seeker will be safe. So had Joseph and Mary really felt that they needed to get to Canada, they likely would have tried to sneak across the border (as has recently been happening in Quebec as migrants cross at unsecured border crossings with Vermont).
2. Had Joseph and Mary come by sea—especially with others seeking asylum—recent precedence indicates that the government would publically claim that the boat was full of terrorists. Joseph, Mary and Jesus would have been detained while the government pursued every possible lead to confirm whether they were terrorists. (Recent track records indicate that either the government is not very good at surfacing these alleged threats or the vast majority of those coming are indeed genuine asylum seekers.) To make matters worse, the present government in Canada has submitted a bill that would result in even lengthier detentions and, were Joseph to come alone first and be deemed a genuine refugee, still result in a five-year moratorium before being able to sponsor Mary and Jesus into the country! By that time Herod would surely have found the mother and child.
3. Another option for the asylum seeker is to come by plane on a visitor’s visa. Once arriving, they would claim refugee status (and may as a result experience a short period of detention), they would enter the Canadian refugee determination system. It was a spike in claims from the Czech Republic and Mexico under this system that led the Canadian government to place visa requirements on both countries. But that subject merits another post. (I’d better be careful. That’s the second post suggestion I’ve made in this initial post!)

Some would argue that new rules and proposed laws are needed due to the perceived abuse to the Canadian systems. It’s easy to manipulate we are told. I suggest, rather, that the refugee determination system in Canada is indeed the best in the world, and when properly staffed and funded, is very effective assessing and determining genuine situations that require protection.

But to the point at hand:

How does the idea that Jesus was born in displacement and raised in a refugee situation impact your view of advent, your worship of Jesus, and your response to the issues surrounding refugees today?