Dear General Superintendents,
Why are you meddling in political issues that DIVIDE the Church of the Nazarene?
You recently released a statement on immigration that stated your displeasure at how children are being separated from their parents as a result of the laws being enforced in this country at the border with Mexico. It seems that you have made a terrible mistake in judgment again, seeing that you have apparently ignored ALL the facts about what is going on, and certainly have ignored a very important point about the law. Instead, you have placed yourself in a position as leaders who are encouraging and condoning law breaking! Instead of advocating law breaking, how about if you advocate for every person, Christian or otherwise, to OBEY the law! Are you planning to insert your political views into the next revision of the Nazarene Church Manual?
You have also put out this statement as if it is the indisputable view of a majority of Nazarenes. Nothing could be further from the truth! This is not a clear cut biblical issue, such as abortion. Now that is an issue that is indisputably addressed in God’s word. But illegal immigration- sorry, way too many Nazarenes disagree with you, and in fact, many Nazarenes disagree very strongly with your liberal statements over the past ten years.
And so, here are some questions for your serious consideration, because this is not the first time you have done harm, however unintentionally, to the unity of the Nazarene denomination with your divisive opinions, which ought to be kept to yourselves- or at least, not stated as an official directive or view of the church. The letter written by the Immigration Table is so ignorant of the many other issues related to the immigration problem, that it presents a severely one-sided liberal view. Are you all liberals as well? Even if you are, can you try to go back to what you ought to be doing- promoting and preaching holiness, instead of making political statements?
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Where were your voices during the Obama administration? Consider this from a friend of mine, pastor Duane Glass:
“I see a very troubling trend in the Church of the Nazarene. As David the Psalmist said “my soul is perplexed”. I see a very dangerous slide in the BGS wading into incendiary territory. We have three General Superintendents who have no political voice nor voting rights – condemning our laws!
Where were you from 2009-2016 on abuses in the government?
Where were you when the IRS was weaponized against American citizens?
Where were you when little Elian Gonzales was ripped cowboy style from his relative’s arms by federal agents and sent back to Communist Cuba?
Where were you when over a hundred men women and children were burned to death in a religious compound in Waco?
Where were you when Ferguson, Baltimore and other places burned because a race baiting, America hating President chose to divide right from the get go with the Professor Gates fiasco?
Where were you when society cheered as the White House was illuminated like a whore house on the night of the SCOTUS ruling on same sex marriage? (We know, you capitulated to it at the last General Assembly perhaps?)
Where were you when the push to get men in women’s and little girl’s bathrooms was going on?
The Church has slid to the Left. Shame on you. Is it any wonder that so many of our Nazarene institutions have produced so many social justice warriors disguised as Pastors, Elders and Leaders? This smacks way too much of NeverTrump and AntiTrump…your silence in the past is much too demeaning.
Is it time to write Ichabod on the door post in Kansas City…the glory of the Lord has departed?”
(Duane Glass)
Conclusion
And where were you on the same issue of illegal immigration, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both had the same view of immigration that President Trump now has, except that now he is enforcing the law? You as leaders of a holiness denomination have a lot to answer to, because of your silence on issues that are clearly addressed in scripture. For example, you have not said a meaningful word either way regarding the LBGT movement which is gaining momentum in the Church of the Nazarene. Yet, you take the time to make an uninformed statement alluding to supposedly cruel policies of President Trump. Why are you not coming out- either for or against- the Love Wins LGBT movement that is watering down the Gospel and promoting acceptance of homosexuality? Is it too hot a potato for you to bring clarity as to where you all stand?
Finally, with your public statement on immigration, you insult a vast number of Nazarenes and other Christians who differ from your opinion, and imply that unless we believe as you believe regarding illegal immigration, that perhaps we are not as caring as you are? I would strongly suggest that you stop this division you are causing in the church, and get back to preaching and emphasizing holiness. If you do wish to address serious matters, start calling out the Love Wins homosexuality movement which will surely destroy the Nazarene denomination as we once knew it- if it is not stopped. Unless that is exactly what you want to happen.
Manny Silva
P.S. For those who wish to express their thoughts to the Generals on this, they have posted also on their FaceBook page. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/NazareneOfficial/posts/1933893246663453?hc_location=ufi
Related Links:
Statement by BGS on Immigration: http://www.nazarene.org/article/evangelical-leaders-urge-against-family-separation-usa-mexico-border
Full statement of the Immigration Evangelical Table: http://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/cms/assets/uploads/2018/06/EIT-Family-Separation-Letter-6.1.2018.pdf
Former Nazarene 