Key Takeaways
- A Nativity scene in Charlotte, North Carolina, has sparked controversy by depicting ICE agents approaching the Holy Family with handcuffs.
- The scene is a commentary on the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement crackdown in the city, which saw hundreds of people arrested.
- Some faith leaders are using their Nativity scenes to draw parallels between the birth of Christ and modern-day issues, such as immigration and refugees.
- Others have criticized these displays as sacrilegious and divisive.
- The controversy highlights the tension between politics and piety during the holiday season.
Introduction to the Controversy
In the week since a Nativity scene was installed outside of the Missiongathering Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Pastor Andrew Shipley said he’s often found himself doing a double take. Not to reflect on the kneeling statues of Mary and Joseph as they gaze upon baby Jesus, but instead, it’s the figures looming over the Holy Family that give him pause. The figures, dressed in flak jackets emblazoned with the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are depicted approaching the Holy Family and the Wise Men with handcuffs, as if preparing to make an arrest. This scene is an overt reference to the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement crackdown in the city, which saw hundreds of people arrested in recent weeks.
The Message Behind the Nativity Scene
The pastor of the church, Andrew Shipley, conceded that the Nativity scene would likely make some uncomfortable, but that was the point. "It’s supposed to be disturbing because what’s happening in our city is disturbing – what’s happening in cities all over the country is disturbing," he said. Shipley views the story of the Nativity as the story of God coming into the world through humble folks, with state violence visited upon them, and they had to flee as refugees to Egypt. The allusion to the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts is not that far-fetched when viewed through this lens. The pastor arrived at the church soon after a man drove away in his truck, having forcefully knocked over the effigies of ICE agents. Missiongathering had partnered with a local art collective to create the Nativity scene, and the artists were able to reassemble the display.
Faith Leaders Grappling with Politics and Piety
The dismantling of the Missiongathering Church Nativity underscores why some faith leaders are grappling with whether they can – or even should – marry politics and piety this holiday season. Where some faith leaders see this political moment as an opportunity to draw parallels between the birth of Christ and modern-day issues, others find such Nativity displays to be sacrilegious affronts. The Archdiocese of Boston formally requested that St. Susanna’s Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, remove its Nativity scene, which replaced the figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph with a sign that proclaims "ICE WAS HERE." Father Steve Josoma, pastor of the parish, has so far refused to remove the Nativity, arguing that the commentary is in keeping with the Bible.
Biblical Parallels to Modern-Day Issues
Andrew McGowan, president and dean of Yale’s Berkeley Divinity School, said that the Gospel of Matthew recounts how King Herod issued an edict for all male children in the city to be executed, and Mary and Joseph were forced to flee with their newborn son to Egypt, where "they become asylum seekers, in effect." McGowan said that the parallel being made here is not just that ICE shows up to anybody’s home, but specifically the idea of the Holy Family themselves being refugees. Modern interpretations of the Nativity story tend to overlook the violence driving the narrative "because we want it to be about comfort and joy." McGowan believes that being honest about what people are struggling with, as well as being honest about the aspect of struggle and suffering in the ancient story, makes the Nativity more powerful and helps us to know why we need to hear the story again.
The Tension Between Government and Gospel
Not everyone believes politics has a place at the pulpit. The Rev. Dr. Scott Suskovic, senior pastor of Christ Lutheran Church of Charlotte, has long refrained from preaching about politics. However, this year, as immigration officers descended on his city, Suskovic felt compelled to speak to his congregation about balancing the inherent tension between the laws of man and the Gospel. "The law is the one that tells us how to act and behave and perform; and the Gospel comes with love and forgiveness," Suskovic said. He rejected the idea that there are only two choices in the immigration debate: completely open borders or military-style patrols and racial profiling. Instead, Suskovic encouraged his congregation to both encourage law enforcement in their efforts to target criminals and to have compassion for immigrants by uplifting and supporting their local communities.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the Nativity scenes highlights the tension between politics and piety during the holiday season. While some faith leaders see this as an opportunity to draw parallels between the birth of Christ and modern-day issues, others criticize these displays as sacrilegious and divisive. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the story of the Nativity remains a powerful and enduring symbol of hope, love, and redemption, and its message continues to resonate with people of faith around the world.