Church Sparks Heated Reactions By Putting Jesus, Mary, Joseph In Separate Cages, Separated By The Border Patrol
The holidays are quickly approaching us with the smell of freshly-baked cookies, the malls are full of Christmas tunes, and we all know that it’s the season to spend time in the warm company of your family. However, not all people will have the luxury of spending time with their loved ones. Especially if they’re running for their lives.
Claremont United Methodist Church in California is making the headlines for its very unusual Nativity scene that depicts Jesus, Mary, and Joseph locked up in cages, as a family of asylum seekers separated at the border.
The reactions to the Nativity scene have been very different and society appears to be divided on the issue.
Claremont United Methodist Church divided society after it unveiled its Nativity scene with everyone in cages
Image credits: Karen Clark Ristine
Some believe that it’s the perfect way to grab everyone’s attention about an important societal issue. Others think that it’s wrong to politicize Jesus and his family, and it’s a ‘cheap’ way to get attention and ‘attack’ the current United States government. A third group thinks that the metaphor doesn’t quite work because Jesus and his family were in a different situation than asylum seekers today.
The church’s take on the Nativity scene is a criticism of the way asylum seekers and refugees are dealt with in the US
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Breznican
While the Claremont United Methodist Church’s lead pastor, Reverend Karen Clark Ristine, doesn’t see this is as a political statement—she sees it as a theological one. With such a cacophony of different views and opinions being expressed, it’s no wonder the church is getting so much attention.
“We see this as, in some ways, the Holy Family standing in for the nameless families,” Reverend Karen Clark Ristine told the media. “We’ve heard of their plight; we’ve seen how these asylum seekers have been greeted and treated. We wanted the Holy Family to stand in for those nameless people because they also were refugees.”
“We don’t see it as political; we see it as theological. I’m getting responses from people I don’t know,” said the Reverend, who has been leading the church since July 2019. “I am having people tell me that it moved them to tears. So if the Holy Family and the imagery of the Holy Family and the imagery of a Nativity is something you hold dear, and you see them separated, then that’s going to spark compassion in many people.”
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Breznican
Image credits: Karen Clark Ristine
The Nativity scene is meant to show Jesus after he was born. However, the Claremont United Methodist Church is trying to make a metaphor about asylum seekers by alluding to Joseph and Mary’s flight to Egypt, to escape King Herod’s wrath.
The church does have a second, more traditional, Nativity scene inside the building itself. Claremont United Methodist Church often uses its Nativity scene to draw attention to important issues, such as Southern California’s homelessness crisis.
The lead pastor of the church shared her thoughts in this post:
Image credits: Karen Clark Ristine
Here’s how some people reacted to what the church did, some were very critical
While others loved the idea
Image credits: GarrattJann
Image credits: VJShordee444
Image credits: opiejeanne
Image credits: ArneFelix
Image credits: samdew66
Image credits: soul_brooke
Image credits: maplemouth
Image credits: CatspawDTP
It's strange how everyone's talking about how offensive this might be and how "anti-god", but none of those people seem to get the message, which is more Christian than most of those people as it seems. Usually people pick those parts from the Bible which suits their narrow-minded views, ignoring other parts which are equally important. Like altruism and how to treat god’s creatures. I can only applaud the senior minister for being brave, although she must have known that those people from yesterday will give her a hard time. She's the true Christian here. Sadly, those people will never see that, as they are caged in their world and their beliefs.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
How many illegal immigrants are you taking in ?
How many are you?
I must admit that I'm extremely happy about the fucked up wanna be christians in the comments being pissed.
Ana, in terms of "listing a couple" of ways that people of color are disenfranchised...I don't think I will. I'm a white woman and with that comes great privilege. My knowledge is strictly academic, but there are many people of color speaking from a visceral and real place about their experiences in this country. My job is to listen and try to deconstruct that in anyway I can, like engaging in these conversations. People are voicing their experiences in this country and the history backs it up. Your vehement defense and denial of it is where I'm asking you to level up. You're not disagreeing with me, your denying history and real peoples experiences. You're inadvertently supporting a structure that is harming people with your ignorance. I appreciate the conversation. All the best to you!
Ana, if I felt this was a conversation with someone who had the capability and wisdom to try and learn what they don't understand I would offer you examples as I did in my first reply to you. However, that is not the case. You clearly have deeply entrenched beliefs that mar your ability to think objectively and very visibly are speaking from your feelings due to your personal background, not from a point of education. I'm no longer interested in having conversation with you. If you find yourself genuinely interested I'll leave a few digestible resources for you to enlighten yourself. On Netflix there is a doc called 13th, also the book Orientalism by Edward Said is a good place to start. It is not about pity, as you stated. It's about better understanding where we are and moving forward. Cheers.
Imagine thinking institutionalized racism doesn't exist in the US. That is some head in the sand refusing objective reality type stuff right there.
I'm interested now in this show you mentioned on Netflix, "13," and the book "Orientalism." I am not sure what this 'institutionalized racism' is that you are Ana are arguing about....but now I'm interested to find out.
This is something in my field of study. I pride myself on looking at both sides and understanding that every person's reality is different. I respect that you have a different background than I do, and your viewpoints are shaped by that. I'm simply asking that you push back on what is easily accessible to you and genuinely delve into the possibility of the "opposing" side. Why don't you look at statistical imprisonment rates, the "diversity" of people who run our country who have been put there through nepotism that uphold said structures. You sound intelligent and it's difficult to have such a convo over the internet. I know I keep logging off, but whether you acknowledge it or not these things exist and the world can become so much better if we just humanize ourselves to others experience.
Ana's definitely going to Hell.
Ana, you took everything I said and pushed it back onto me. You're funny. I know what Orientalism is about--I read it. You googled it. I cited it as a way for you to understand how your perception is just that, something constructed.
Also, to address your argument that racism doesn't exist because of professional athletes, I have an article I'd be happy to link.
Ana, how many black quarterbacks are there?
You have no mental process except hatred.
Thank you Patrick for being so much better than your fellow man. Without holy men like yourself we would have no one to look up to. Jesus has your gifts so hang on until then. Let's all thank God that Obama can no longer cage children like he used to.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
✅ Are you se︆︆x giant? ❤❤ i wait you here!! ✅✅Write me!! >> ︆︆v︆︆.︆︆︆︆ht/4jmx
SelenaGame lol
SelenaGame what
Wow, some comments in the article and here in the comments section that indicate great ignorance around what Jesus did and stood for. You can't separate social justice from true Christianity and Jesus made everything political. If you say otherwise you need to read more.
I really have to question if these people actually read the article. I doubt it. They just saw the headline, then raced down to the comment section to start spewing venom. The article clearly explains the parallels between Jesus Mary and Joseph, and modern day refugees. It's pretty apt.
@KT Pinto: So... you're telling me that Jesus, Mary and Joseph WEREN'T fleeing from their homeland from King Herod, fearing the murder of Jesus as part of a mass infanticide? Because that's the literal definition of a refugee. 'Refugee: Someone who has been forced to flee their country in order to escape war, PERSECUTION, or natural disaster'. Also, given what region of the world Mary, Joseph and Jesus hail from... they weren't white. There could hardly be a more apt comparison. What about; don't wear clothing woven from two kinds of material Lev. 19:19, or not to eat any aquatic creatures without scales? Lev. 9:10, or women, and everything they touch being considered 'unclean' when menstruating? Lev. 19-20. And of course, that anyone with two or more shirts should share with someone who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same, Luke 3:11 NIV .... or are you just picking the parts of the bible that suit you?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
No it's not. Joseph was bringing his LEGAL family to be counted in a government census where they were citizens. How is that in any way similar to a refugee? Those are polar opposite of each other.
All I know is, Jesus was a real person, who taught pretty much all of the same lessons the Buddha taught, who lived and spread his knowledge of enlightenment about 250 years before Jesus. Buddha came first, Jesus followed. And many many people followed both, and for that I am happy. They were both real men, and good men. Now, who will be next??
You know it?
Yeah, Jesus wept.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Christianity is NOT social justice. Not in any way. Just because there are a few basic elements that vaguely overlap does not mean they are similar. Houses and jails both have doors, windows, and modern plumbing....but the similarities stop there.
It's strange how everyone's talking about how offensive this might be and how "anti-god", but none of those people seem to get the message, which is more Christian than most of those people as it seems. Usually people pick those parts from the Bible which suits their narrow-minded views, ignoring other parts which are equally important. Like altruism and how to treat god’s creatures. I can only applaud the senior minister for being brave, although she must have known that those people from yesterday will give her a hard time. She's the true Christian here. Sadly, those people will never see that, as they are caged in their world and their beliefs.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
How many illegal immigrants are you taking in ?
How many are you?
I must admit that I'm extremely happy about the fucked up wanna be christians in the comments being pissed.
Ana, in terms of "listing a couple" of ways that people of color are disenfranchised...I don't think I will. I'm a white woman and with that comes great privilege. My knowledge is strictly academic, but there are many people of color speaking from a visceral and real place about their experiences in this country. My job is to listen and try to deconstruct that in anyway I can, like engaging in these conversations. People are voicing their experiences in this country and the history backs it up. Your vehement defense and denial of it is where I'm asking you to level up. You're not disagreeing with me, your denying history and real peoples experiences. You're inadvertently supporting a structure that is harming people with your ignorance. I appreciate the conversation. All the best to you!
Ana, if I felt this was a conversation with someone who had the capability and wisdom to try and learn what they don't understand I would offer you examples as I did in my first reply to you. However, that is not the case. You clearly have deeply entrenched beliefs that mar your ability to think objectively and very visibly are speaking from your feelings due to your personal background, not from a point of education. I'm no longer interested in having conversation with you. If you find yourself genuinely interested I'll leave a few digestible resources for you to enlighten yourself. On Netflix there is a doc called 13th, also the book Orientalism by Edward Said is a good place to start. It is not about pity, as you stated. It's about better understanding where we are and moving forward. Cheers.
Imagine thinking institutionalized racism doesn't exist in the US. That is some head in the sand refusing objective reality type stuff right there.
I'm interested now in this show you mentioned on Netflix, "13," and the book "Orientalism." I am not sure what this 'institutionalized racism' is that you are Ana are arguing about....but now I'm interested to find out.
This is something in my field of study. I pride myself on looking at both sides and understanding that every person's reality is different. I respect that you have a different background than I do, and your viewpoints are shaped by that. I'm simply asking that you push back on what is easily accessible to you and genuinely delve into the possibility of the "opposing" side. Why don't you look at statistical imprisonment rates, the "diversity" of people who run our country who have been put there through nepotism that uphold said structures. You sound intelligent and it's difficult to have such a convo over the internet. I know I keep logging off, but whether you acknowledge it or not these things exist and the world can become so much better if we just humanize ourselves to others experience.
Ana's definitely going to Hell.
Ana, you took everything I said and pushed it back onto me. You're funny. I know what Orientalism is about--I read it. You googled it. I cited it as a way for you to understand how your perception is just that, something constructed.
Also, to address your argument that racism doesn't exist because of professional athletes, I have an article I'd be happy to link.
Ana, how many black quarterbacks are there?
You have no mental process except hatred.
Thank you Patrick for being so much better than your fellow man. Without holy men like yourself we would have no one to look up to. Jesus has your gifts so hang on until then. Let's all thank God that Obama can no longer cage children like he used to.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
✅ Are you se︆︆x giant? ❤❤ i wait you here!! ✅✅Write me!! >> ︆︆v︆︆.︆︆︆︆ht/4jmx
SelenaGame lol
SelenaGame what
Wow, some comments in the article and here in the comments section that indicate great ignorance around what Jesus did and stood for. You can't separate social justice from true Christianity and Jesus made everything political. If you say otherwise you need to read more.
I really have to question if these people actually read the article. I doubt it. They just saw the headline, then raced down to the comment section to start spewing venom. The article clearly explains the parallels between Jesus Mary and Joseph, and modern day refugees. It's pretty apt.
@KT Pinto: So... you're telling me that Jesus, Mary and Joseph WEREN'T fleeing from their homeland from King Herod, fearing the murder of Jesus as part of a mass infanticide? Because that's the literal definition of a refugee. 'Refugee: Someone who has been forced to flee their country in order to escape war, PERSECUTION, or natural disaster'. Also, given what region of the world Mary, Joseph and Jesus hail from... they weren't white. There could hardly be a more apt comparison. What about; don't wear clothing woven from two kinds of material Lev. 19:19, or not to eat any aquatic creatures without scales? Lev. 9:10, or women, and everything they touch being considered 'unclean' when menstruating? Lev. 19-20. And of course, that anyone with two or more shirts should share with someone who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same, Luke 3:11 NIV .... or are you just picking the parts of the bible that suit you?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
No it's not. Joseph was bringing his LEGAL family to be counted in a government census where they were citizens. How is that in any way similar to a refugee? Those are polar opposite of each other.
All I know is, Jesus was a real person, who taught pretty much all of the same lessons the Buddha taught, who lived and spread his knowledge of enlightenment about 250 years before Jesus. Buddha came first, Jesus followed. And many many people followed both, and for that I am happy. They were both real men, and good men. Now, who will be next??
You know it?
Yeah, Jesus wept.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Christianity is NOT social justice. Not in any way. Just because there are a few basic elements that vaguely overlap does not mean they are similar. Houses and jails both have doors, windows, and modern plumbing....but the similarities stop there.