“Christians in Spain hold up a mirror to us”

The Importance of Engaged Churches

"I think it is incredibly important for the church to make the Christian faith visible in society," says Marten. "That we take action in a world that is becoming increasingly hardened. But because we live in a secular context in the Netherlands, we often don’t know how to do that. Of course, things do happen, such as the church asylum in Kampen. But by looking at how others approach it, you begin to see new possibilities. It can inspire us to become more visible as well."

He had already learned that churches can be highly visible during his time in Colombia, where he conducted research in 2018 as part of his training as a cultural anthropologist. There, he saw how deeply involved Colombian Pentecostal churches were in dealing with the aftermath of the country’s years-long civil war, for which a tentative ceasefire had been declared just two years before his arrival. The churches were also highly engaged in politics.

Faith Behind Closed Doors

Marten was fascinated by the way these Pentecostal churches applied their theology in society. "In the Netherlands, faith is something very personal. It may shape your views on society and politics, but you generally keep it behind closed doors. That is very characteristic of the Netherlands." However, this is not the case in the rest of the world—nor within Pentecostalism, which is the fastest-growing Christian movement globally.

In 2020, Marten initially planned to return to Colombia for further research, but due to the pandemic, he had to redirect his focus to Spain. At first, he was disappointed, but in hindsight, he sees it as a stroke of luck. "Many people migrating from Latin America to Spain are highly politically engaged. How does that engaged mindset change when they arrive in secular Europe?"

Striking Differences

The answer: it doesn’t change much. In Spain, Marten lived for a year among Latin American migrants who were part of a local Pentecostal church. He formed deep friendships and gained great respect for the way this community contributes to society. "These are vulnerable migrants with limited incomes, often still supporting family back in Latin America, yet they still find ways to serve their communities in Spain. I find that incredibly inspiring."

At the same time, he does not wish to gloss over the sometimes stark differences in views. "Spanish Pentecostal churches are strongly influenced by what happens in Latin America and the United States. Many migrants view Trump very positively, and as a result, they also support right-wing and far-right parties in Spain. Even when these parties take a stance against immigration, they say: 'That’s about Muslims, not about us.'" Marten finds this striking, although he can understand it: "In Spain, there isn’t a major divide between churches with and without migrants. Latin American migrants already speak the same language—Spanish—and often resemble the local population in appearance. This makes it much easier for them to maintain a religious presence in society."

Identity in Society

Something can be inspiring even if you don’t fully agree with it, Marten believes. "Spanish Pentecostal churches are strongly focused on preserving traditional family values, and their exclusion of LGBT+ people is problematic. We can be critical of that… but not of the way they set up food banks, for example. Despite the complexities within these churches, there are also admirable aspects. They hold up a mirror to us, even if we don’t share all their views. I hope my research inspires churches in the Netherlands to embrace their own identity in society. I think Dutch Christians could show a bit more courage in this regard. It’s not just about taking political action; it’s about clearly connecting it to the Christian faith."

A follow-up study is not yet in the pipeline—first, Marten wants to put his findings into practice through his work at Kerk in Actie. "But I wouldn’t rule out returning to academia. What we should do with the conclusions of my research is a fascinating question for the future."