The Presbyterian Church in America is one of the most influential Evangelical denominations. It is also in a contentious struggle against liberalism, much of it stemming from the influence of Tim Keller. The PCA has had major wins in recent years, but entrenched liberalism has reared its ugly head on numerous occasions in 2025. Most notably, the Mission to North America got exposed for a staffer participating in a Blacks-only church event and the same organization got caught promoting illegal immigration. Mission To North America provides resources and training curriculum to the PCA, so it is a critical institution in Presbyterianism.
Now the MNA has been exposed for emailing open borders talking points so that liberals can struggle session their family members during holiday get-togethers.
2. Keep Imago Dei (Image of God) front and center.
It can be helpful to frame any interaction with a conversation about other human beings in the doctrine of Imago Dei. Immigrants are created in God’s image, and people on the opposite side of the political spectrum are made in his image as well.
Considering this truth, make a decision to never dehumanize anyone with your thoughts or language, but instead lead by example—communicating in ways that honors the dignity of each and every human.
Look for natural opportunities to share any interesting experiences you’ve recently had with someone from another nation who the Lord has brought near to you. Firsthand stories are very powerful.
Note: On several occasions, the Bible uses dehumanizing language towards people. This is Imago DEI.
3. If with fellow Christians, reorient the conversation to our Christian calling.
In Christian families gathered around Thanksgiving or Christmas tables this holiday season, whatever our varied opinions may be regarding legislation on immigration, our calling to love our neighbor remains the same. And we can agree that the fact that many of our neighbors come from unreached people groups whom it would be difficult or impossible to reach by sending a missionary to their home country is an incredible opportunity for the American church to take. Additionally, it can be helpful to emphasize God’s heart for the “stranger” throughout Scripture, in passages such as Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Psalm 146:9, Zechariah 7:9-10, Matthew 25:35, Hebrews 13:1-3 (for more Scripture references on this topic, check out the resources linked below!).
Calling people who’ve invaded the United States “strangers (or sojourners) as Scripture uses those terms is communist gobbledygook. The Hebrews were invited to Egypt. They did not invade. But if we want to reduce “love your neighbor” to a platitude, H1B visas are hurting your proximate neighbors.
4. Acknowledge the tensions.
Openly acknowledge the challenge facing any government to open its doors to those who need refuge while also protecting its own stability and its own citizens. This is not an easy balance to strike, and thus it’s natural that different politicians and different private citizens will come to different conclusions regarding the details of how to legislate and manage immigration. We can expect a variety of perspectives and instead of shutting down, we can….
5. Ask genuine questions to get at the heart of the matter and maintain a Biblical focus.
- Pause to pray silently before you speak.
- Ask genuine, respectful (not leading or “gotcha” style) questions that allow for deeper conversations (example: “Can you help me understand why you feel that way?”). People’s opinions generally have some kind of internal coherence, that is, they make sense based on their experiences. Their reasons for holding their opinions are often much more emotional and heart-related than they seem at first glance.
- Listen well. What fears might you hear that are prompting their rhetoric
- When you ask a question, “try to listen longer than feels comfortable before offering a response,” suggests a guide by We Choose Welcome (linked below). Questions to ask to deepen the ongoing conversation include:
- “What factors do you think most influence your perspective on immigration?”
- “Has something happened to make you feel that way?”
- “Tell me more about that…”
- “Where do you see God at work in all this?”
- “Have you thought about His perspective?”
The tactic here is to psychoanalyse normal people as though their opposition to immigration is a trauma-induced defect.
6. Prayerfully plant seeds.
If you get the opportunity to share your own perspective on an immigration related issue, keep your relationship with the person front and center in your mind while sharing your thoughts. Remember that your attitude will be remembered by those with whom you’re speaking – and those observing – long after they’ve forgotten your exact words. Try to model the humility and love of Christ toward those with whom you are engaging.
A few possible seeds for planting:
- Offer a biblical perspective on God’s purpose in allowing the migratory movement of people all around the world, which Paul explained so well in Acts 17:26-27 “..so that they might seek Him and perhaps find Him…”).
- Direct attention to Christ’s teaching that someday He will ask each of us “I was a stranger, did you welcome me?” and we will discover the truth of His words that whatever we have done or left undone in our interactions with the stranger, the hungry, the prisoner, will have revealed our true attitude toward Christ Himself, for all eternity.
- Note that we have more in common with immigrants than we have differences: created in the image of God, wanting to be safe and secure, wanting what’s best for our families. Again, share your personal stories.
- Emphasize the fact that we share a common faith with many immigrants and so they are brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Talk about the mission field brought near. The idea that those who don’t share our faith are now here in proximity to Christians who are free to share about Jesus, which is not the case in many of the countries that immigrants came from.
The last bit is written by people who do not have real jobs using talking points about international missions coming to us. It peddles the lie that Mexican Catholics are devout Christians, ignoring how they’ve syncretized their religion with Aztec paganism and how illegal immigrants are acting immorally by violating this America’s laws, denoting no real sanctification.
The eisegesis of “least of these” being applied to immigrants when the passage clearly refers to brothers and sisters in Christ also stands out.
Angela Pacey is the contact who is promoted in the email, making her the likely culprit in the PCA’s latest liberal humiliation.
One Response
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.