I have problems with the way some of us as Christians talk about "illegals" as they are so lovingly called. I think we need to remember that even "illegals" are human beings whom God loves, and as Christians our first duty is to make disciples of every nation, not think up ways to make sure they are sent back where they came from.
Are illegal aliens breaking the law? Yes. But we, too, were once slaves to sin. I came across this in my reading today in Deuteronomy 24:
14 Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. 15 Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin...
17 Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.
19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
I have heard Christians suggest that we make sure illegal aliens can't work, find shelter, and receive education or medical care.
I have even heard some go as far to suggest we turn the sick away from hospitals or do the minimum to keep them alive and drive them back across the border even while they lay on a stretcher.
But Jesus held up a different model in Luke 10:
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
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4 comments:
You are right that we need to treat all human beings with respect. I agree.
I will say though that I believe we need to take real efforts to have a more secure border simply because that's what any nation who intends to protect its citizens and sovreignty should do. A little common sense goes a long way to dispel the hostility and resentment that this issue has caused.
Amen, amen, and amen!
There is a difference in how we as individuals should respond to illegals and how the government should respond. The government should prosecute anyone breaking our laws (by coming over the border illegally, etc) and make our borders as secure as possible. Now i wouldn't mind an expansion of the quotas to allow more people in. but allowing illegals to stay is a slap in the face to those who come here legally.
now, as individuals, we should treat them as neighbors, loving them as ourselves. They need Jesus as much as we do and we should go out of our way to care for them.
Jazzy-
As usual, I am in total agreement with you!
I just *despise* the hateful talk I hear from Christians about illegals.
It's easy to sit on your high horse and spout off about illegals but you know- I bet you might have a different take on things if it were YOU (the general "you") living in a dirt floor hut and if it were YOUR precious babies with rags for clothing, very little food and no opportunities for a good education.
You'd do whatever you needed to do to provide them with a better life.
I do agree that there IS a difference between the government's treatment of illegal citizens and the individual Christians' response. I'd like to see the border fence built and stronger border patrols. But, then, I think they should increase the amount of Mexicans allowed to immigrate and do away with the requirement that they must have x amount of dollars/land in order to immigrate. If you're really poor and want to immigrate here for a better life, you probably don't have x amount of dollars/land. duh. It effectively makes it impossible for poor Mexicans to immigrate here, leaving them with little choice but to jump the border.
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