Disciples of all Nations: Why the EU can be good for the Church

Immigration. Open borders. The EU. With the rise of Eurosceptic parties across, these issues may well shape the election. And yet, despite the way these issues dominate the headlines, I haven’t seen a lot written from a Christian perspective.  Sure, the Bible isn’t a manifesto. Though it unrelentingly condemns those who mistreat the immigrant, it is unsurprisingly silent on the subject of border control. Personally, I  see strong social justice arguments for a more liberal attitude to immigration. But there is no one “biblical” perspective on it.  That doesn’t mean that immigration doesn’t affect the Church. Of course it does. It always has done. Should it worry us? Not if history is anything to go by.

I picked up a leaflet recently that told one view of immigration that is sadly not uncomon. Apparently, immigration threatens ‘our traditional British society, based upon our Christian heritage’. Of course, Britain has been influenced by Christianity. But British society is not a byword for a Christian society. Not so long ago, ‘traditional British society’ involved banning the Bible in English and burning those who dared read it. Go back longer and the argument is ridiculous. Immigration, a threat to our Christian heritage?! Just where do they think our Christian heritage comes from? Yes, you’ve guessed it: immigration. Without the Romans, we’d still be dancing around stone circles and praying Celtic gods.

And we can go back further. Just imagine if Paul had been denied entry to Cyprus, Turkey and Greece. What if the Ethiopian Eunuch had been turned away at Jerusalem’s gates? What if Peter had never reached Rome? And it wasn’t just missionaries. Even after the apostles had died, persecution and trade drove many ordinary Christians from their homeland. As they moved around the empire, they took their faith with them. By the end of the second century, the Gospel was found as far north as modern-day Belgium and as far south as Egypt. There were Christians from Spain to Syria. It’s hard to see that happening without immigration.

Of course, the EU is not the Roman Empire. I doubt even Farage would go that far. Immigration is a complex issue and there is no one ‘biblical’ response. Nevertheless, the spread of early Christianity highlights the massive opportunity that immigration offers for Christians. So, how does the free movement of people help the spread of the Gospel?

Despite the apocalyptic warnings that Christians seem to revel in, the Church in the UK is privileged within Europe. According to Operation World, almost 9% of British people are Evangelical Christians. For Europe, that figure is just 2.5%. So it’s no surprise that we are taking advantage of that mission field. Operation World, UFM, Crosslinks are just some of the organisations supporting long-term Christian missionaries across the continent. Of course, not all European countries are in the EU, and so missionaries working there will need visas. However, missionaries working in the EU are not subject to visa restrictions. They don’t need to be sponsored by an employer. They can’t be turned away at the border. No one will deport without reason. If Britain left the EU, no doubt some missionaries would be able carry on their work. But their future would be far from certain. With opposition to immigration spreading across the continent, getting a visa is not going to get any easier. As it stands, EU citizenship gives British missionaries a legally-protected right to live and work in 28 different countries. Many missionaries benefit from that right. And so I’m convinced that the free movement of people can only be a good thing for the work of missionaries in Europe.

But the benefits of the free movement of people don’t stop there. Wherever we are, at home or abroad, whether we are a missionary or not, as Christians, we are all ambassadors for Christ. As I’ve said, Evangelical Christians are far more commonplace in the UK than they are across the rest of the continent. When they move to other countries, they will most likely end up somewhere where the Gospel is far less widely known.  And with the opportunities offered by EU membership, far more of us live abroad. Last year, there were 1.8 million UK citizens living in the EU. Without a doubt, that figure includes hundreds, probably thousands of people committed to spreading the gospel in their day-to-day lives.  The overwhelming majority won’t be employed by Churches but by businesses, charities and governments. Their presence in European offices, hospitals and universities will allow the gospel to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise meet a committed Christian. This is particularly true of universities. Last year, the European Union’s Erasmus scheme saw 14,000 British students sent on exchange programs in across the EU. That will number include people committed to spreading the gospel. The overwhelming majority of universities in the UK have some form of Christian Union. In many EU countries, CUs are small and may not even be allowed to meet on campusPeople are less likely to meet come across the gospel in European universities as a whole than in the UK. So the presence of one ambassador for Christ really makes a difference. Of course, exchange programmes would still take place if Britain left the EU. But they are now far more common as a result of EU support, and so leaving the EU would most likely mean fewer committed Christians studying in Europe.

The number of Evangelicals is growing in Europe. I don’t think leaving the EU would stop that. History tells us God will build his Church whatever the circumstances. Neither am I saying it’s unchristian to be Eurosceptic.  Of course not. The EU is full of problems. But the EU gives us so many opportunities to spread the Gospel. Perhaps we should reflect on that when we hear the debates and read the scare-stories.