The Church and Immigration

Where is the church, at large, with immigration? I'm not claiming to speak for the church at large. Additionally, it's not like we (those who are of European, African, etc. decent) can say, "It's our country get out." I'm sure if the early Native Americans knew what was going to happen, they would have forced Columbus or whoever to get back in the boat and sail back across the pond! Nonetheless, here we stand at a cross roads. Immigration and the American church at large. 

First, let's make clear an assumption to be used in this blog, when one calls themselves a "Christian" it is assumed they follow and believe the teachings of Jesus. Let's look at immigration not from an economical, social, political, or some other view point but from a Biblical one. As Christians we are to fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Christ (Matthew 28:19). The essence of the Great Commission is to help people accept Jesus as their Savior. This means telling others about Jesus and helping them with their personal faith journey. Our jobs as Christians is not to say, "Get out of here this is my country" or "You're hear illegally go back!" Really? You can say that stuff as a Christian and have a clear conscience? By saying, "This is my country?" are you not then pledging your allegiance to a particular man made government rather than Christ's Kingdom? Don't you know this is why the early Christians were persecuted by Rome and today's Christians in China, N. Korea, etc. are being persecuted; not because they are Christians but because they pledge their allegiance to a greater Kingdom, a heavenly kingdom. 

As a Christian our job is to care for immigrants, legal or illegal, as human beings. We should see past the social, cultural, and language differences and look at the heart. We seem to be able to do this with single parent families, the poor, those from broken homes. 

We might say, "Well if they're here legally it's OK but those here illegally have broken the law." As a Christian do you love the murder and the thief? Your probably thinking well "yes" as a Christian I'm to love even them but I don't have to condone their behavior. BINGO!! Then why not love the illegal immigrant who has broken the law? Our concern is not the political wranglings of the left, right, or some other wing. Or whether they're legal or illegal. Our concern is they have a relationship with Jesus. To care for the whole person helping them get their hearts cleared before God. Have we forgot that in James 2:1-14 we are not to show favoritism, Galatians 3:26-29 we are all of worthy of His love.  Romans 3:23 we all are guilty in need of a savior. Deuteronomy 24:14 makes it very clear we are not to oppress or take advantage of an alien. Should I go further and point out that Deuteronomy 28:43 says the immigrant, "shall rise higher and higher" referring to their status? Nah I'll leave that for you to ponder.

 Moving on. . . If you say to an alien, illegal or legal, "Get out you don't belong here." Perhaps you've lost focus of who you really are as a Christian. The Bible is very clear that we, Christians, are aliens ourselves. Once we accept Christ our citizenship is no longer of this world but of God's kingdom (1 Peter 2:11). I believe the golden rule applies here. If you are a Christian then you too are an alien (legal or illegal) living in a world that is not your own. So do unto the other immigrant, legal or illegal, as you would want done to you as a citizen of heaven living in a secular world.

The other side of this coin is Romans 13:1-5 where we, Christians, are instructed to obey and submit to our governing authorities. We should encourage illegal immigrants to become legal through the proper process. We should support law and order and structure. To do so would be to encourage insubordination to our government on laws and structure that are not related to our salvation. In fact, by doing so, encouraging the illegal to become legal, are we not helping them?

So our mission should be two fold. Assist them spiritually and legally. We have a calling and a purpose and we can fulfill both and still be in line with our beliefs.