Within the Information
American faith scholar (and in addition my pal) Rebecca Barrett-Fox, has not too long ago identified that each ICE and Turning Level USA have been utilizing Isaiah 6:8 of their propaganda.
Within the case of ICE, this verse is utilized in a recruitment video: “Right here’s a Bible verse that I take into consideration generally, many instances. It goes: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I ship and who will go for us.’ I mentioned, ‘Right here am I. Ship me.’”
After the assasination of Charlie Kirk, Turning Level USA is promoting t-shirts with a sketch of Kirk elevating his hand and the phrases “Right here I’m; ship me.”
(I’m selecting to not hyperlink to both of those merchandise, however I count on they’re simple sufficient to search out with an web search.)
Within the Phrase
The usage of this verse in an ICE recruiting video is a textbook instance of idolatry. This video equates the decision of the federal government with the decision of God, thus inserting a sophisticated energy within the place that solely God ought to occupy. It’s blasphemous to make use of the phrases of a biblical prophet within the service of idolatry, notably when the prophets spend a lot time instantly preaching towards idolatry. (For one instance, see Isaiah 57:12-13.)
It’s blasphemous to make use of these phrases of Isaiah within the service of violence in any respect, and particularly violence towards immigrants. The guide of Isaiah, consistent with different prophetic books, insists that foreigners are a part of God’s folks: “Don’t let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will certainly separate me from his folks.’(56:3).
The usage of Isaiah 6:8 on Charlie Kirk t-shirts follows the everyday evangelical Christian sample of appropriating this Jewish textual content to make it about “spreading the Gospel.” Clearly God was not sending Isaiah to evangelise about Jesus–who wouldn’t be born for about 800 years.
In actual fact, God is sending Isaiah out to evangelise quite a lot of issues which can be instantly against the messages Kirk unfold by means of his talking and writing. Isaiah speaks God’s phrases about justice for the poor (3:14; 5:8) and turning swords to plowshares (2:4); phrases in regards to the corruption of these in energy (1:23, 5:23). (My instance texts solely undergo Isaiah 5 as a result of I don’t have time to undergo all the guide, however that is likely to be a enjoyable challenge for you!)
Basically, I feel the “Right here I’m!” textual content is solely a catchy tag line that will get pulled out of context as a result of it performs nicely in a video; it seems to be good on a t-shirt. However there’s an underlying message right here that, just like the biblical prophets, these folks responding to “the decision” are struggling–and generally dying–for a righteous function. The usage of Isaiah partly comes out of a martyr complicated. However the factor is, true martyrs are persecuted and killed by the forces in energy. ICE brokers are enabling corrupt forces of energy. Kirk was killed by a person indoctrinated into violence–not by authorities authority. Flags usually are not flown at half mast for true prophets or martyrs.
This doesn’t imply that Kirk deserved to die. He didn’t. Jesus, who I attempt to comply with, says to like my enemies; so whilst I imagine Kirk did quite a lot of hurt on this world, I don’t rejoice in his loss of life.
This doesn’t imply that every one ICE brokers are deliberately going towards the desire of God and committing idolatry. The governmental propaganda machine is robust and is aided and abetted by an entire lot of spiritual educating.
If we imagine the prophets, plainly God calls to account these in energy whereas having compassion for these caught inside the unjust programs the highly effective create. Any group or particular person concentrating on susceptible teams of individuals–as ICE does, as Kirk did–is just not faithfully residing out a prophetic name from God.
