Christians and Immigration Reform
It seems that lines are being drawn within Christian circles with regards to immigration reform. At least one Catholic Church as well as one Lutheran Church in California are offering sanctuary to illegal immigrants. The story also mentions Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago as making news for sheltering Elvira Arellano and her son Saul Arellano.
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is following a different line of thinking in regards to immigration. The final sentence in a report titled REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO STUDY THE PROPRIETY OF THE RECEPTION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS INTO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP pretty much sums up this denomination’s kid-glove approach to illegal immigrants.
“It seems wise that presbyteries and sessions ought to delay ordination and installation until matters relating to being an illegal alien have been satisfactorily addressed.” Source - http://www.opc.org/GA/aliens.pdf
I found the OPC document by way of La Shawn Barber’s Corner in a post titled Christians and Illegal ‘Immigration’. La Shawn has been very outspoken in favor of dropping the hammer on “lawbreaking illegals”. I don’t see the issue as cut and dry as she does and that leaves us two Christian bloggers on different sides of a very complex issue. La Shawn left a comment on a previous post here on this blog titled Amnesty for Illegals.
“Disagreement isn’t a bad thing…What I’m waiting to hear, although I think I’ll be waiting in vain, are more Christians speaking out against illegal aliens who profess Christ. How does their defying government authority and making DEMANDS on their “host” country square with their profession?”
La Shawn went own to ask a very similar quesiton on her own blog this week.
“I asked those same critics, sometimes in the post itself, sometimes in the comment section, if they’ve ever admonished illegal aliens who say they’re Christians, and if not, what they’d say to them about crossing our borders in violation of our laws and showing little compassion themselves.”
I want to offer a response to La Shawn’s questions. First, there seems to be an assumption by La Shawn as well as a host of other Americans that illegals in this country had prior knowledge of the US immigration law before entering this country. Let’s make a different and probably more accurate assumption by putting ourselves in their shoes prior to entering the US. To do this, take a moment to write down on a piece of paper some notes from your knowledge of the immigration policy of any other country on this planet. The average American will likely not leave a single mark on the paper during this exercise.
Is it the fault of the illegals that our borders were not protected? Is it the fault of the illegals that the system allows for them to drain tax dollars without contributing in all the ways the rest of us contribute? Is it fair that many illegals have taken more than they have contributed. Ask your average native American Indian if they feel like their ancestors were given a fair deal during the forming of this country. Ask them if they think the settlers gave much attention or even had knowledge of tribal laws of immigration during the settling of the Americas. No one wants to talk much about how the settlers busted in on the native American Indians for some reason.
Let’s consider another question. How many Christians complain about aliens families taking their tax money yet wouldn’t think twice about filling the offering plate to help the same families if they were still suffering in their own country?
As Christians, how should we be responding to illegals in this country? The answer is simple. We should be displaying the character of God as seen in his son Christ Jesus. How? By rejecting the prideful, selfish, judgmental, condemning and unforgiving attitudes that are dominating the fight against illegals.
Do my suggestions mean that I believe we should continue to allow illegals to pile into this country? Absolutely not! We have learned in recent years how bad border security really is and we need to fix it. We also need to work on streamlining a process to make legal all those who want to become legal. I have used the word amnesty and that may be a little strong. As Christians trying to operate in a Christ-like manner, we need to exercise forgiveness ahead of admonishment.
I suggest that many illegals immigrants may not understand that the average American tax payer is bearing the burden for the services that they are receiving mostly for free. I say “mostly for free” because even illegals have to pay some taxes (i.e., sales taxes) that do end up funding some of the services they are using. Even if they do understand now that the average American is footing the bill, it is entirely possible that they had no idea how our government was structured and funded prior to their arrival into this country.
The bottom line on this whole issue is that many Americans, Christians included, are making a boat load of assumptions about who knew what and when. What we as Christians can do is demonstrate a face of forgiveness and comfort to these illegals and let God worry about who sinned when and how bad. For those Christians who disregard any notion of forgiveness in this immigration issue and are dead set on punishing these illegal alien lawbreakers, I repeat the words of Jesus in John 8:7 (NLT), “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
August 6th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I have mixed feeling about all of this.
I will say that I worked in a place where I was the only one who was from this country and the only chick. I was fun because they would say stuff I didn’t understand and I would pretend to cry and say I knew that they were talking about me. The men I worked with worked several jobs so that they could support their families. I respect that. They told me they were here because there wasn’t anything there for them. I can understand wanting a better life for my children and doing what I could. Still I think that being here legal is the right way. But I get wanting better. I work in a place where I see lots of Hispanic folks I treat them the same as everyone one with respect. These are hard working men that come in to my work place. I’m trying to learn to speak some Spanish. I can thank them for come in now. I get a few smiles from the guys. Look these aren’t animals they are people like us.
Then again I’m German, English, and Native American. Some of my ancestors weren’t invited to the pow wow.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
As a former immigrant, I feel that your post has a great and true message of hope. As you quoted the bible at the end, proving that as a Christian Love conquers all…and is greater than obedience to the law.
August 8th, 2007 at 7:49 am
“To do this, take a moment to write down on a piece of paper some notes from your knowledge of the immigration policy of any other country on this planet. The average American will likely not leave a single mark on the paper during this exercise.”
While it is true that I could not tell you the immigration policy of any other country, I DO know that I can’t just pick up and move to any country I darn well please without a passport, and without checking with that countries laws. My husband and I have thought of moving to Germany to work, and we KNOW that there are MANY laws and things that we need to research. We know we can’t just pick up and MOVE.
I definitely hear what you’re saying and I understand the spirit in which it’s being said, but I think we have to walk a really fine line with immigration reform. It’s costing this nation millions of dollars that we don’t have. Having grown up in South Texas, I have a pretty strong opinion about illegals being in this country, having children, and then living off of our welfare system and using free medical benefits for their children.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:58 am
You have some valid points. I’m saying it’s hard to look at those faces and think you must live in poverty. I heard the first hand stories of these men.