Illegal Love
- 09.08.10
- America, Culture, Love, Illegal Immigration
- 5 Comments
Illegal immigration is a big issue here in New Mexico as we are a state that shares a border with Mexico. I recently attended the 2010 New Mexico Worldview Conference where – among others – Chuck Colson spoke. After the conference, I attended a pastor’s luncheon where Colson and the other speakers fielded questions. One of the questions that was asked of the panel was their opinion of the illegal immigration issue. Colson referred to an article on his web site entitled Strangers and Sojourners by T.M. Moore. I’m still processing the article, but I was struck by a portion that I thought I’d share. The issue of illegal immigration is complex and polarizing, but one thing is certain: Christians are called upon to love at all times regardless of nationality or legality.
The Bible cannot be any clearer: They who know the Lord are called to love the stranger who sojourns in our midst. Yes, they may be here illegally. Yes, they may be selfishly drawing down the public treasury by taking advantage of medical and educational facilities. And yes, they may be guilty of crimes and repeated incursions across our borders. None of these disqualifies them as objects of the love of the Christian community.
Whatever approach we might recommend to resolving the immigration crisis in America, therefore, must be seen to be motivated by and infused with love for those who sojourn in our midst, as well as for all parties in the debate. Rancor, blanket condemnations, stereotyping, or self-righteousness are completely out of the question. So also is taking the law into our own hands. The Christian community must not conclude, for example, that the “law of love” entitles us to disregard the laws of the land and make our churches or homes sanctuaries for those who are in this country in a manner contrary to those laws. Sometimes the loving thing to do is to work for change in the laws regulating immigration. While such change is possible through peaceable and legal means, this must be the Christian’s course.
From that standpoint, I think the best thing we can do is to enlarge our capacity for legal immigration. Illegal immigrants should then be rounded up and dropped off at immigration stations located in Mexico. That way everyone knows that they are welcome under the one simple condition that they follow US law. Would this be ridiculously expensive? It sure would be.
Oh…what a kettle of worms/fish/ugh you opened up Pastor Mike! I opened this page and started to read this with great skepticism. I have no problem with legal immigration whatsoever – I am the product of that. But, I do have a big problem with *illegal immigration* for a myriad of reasons. But, this post served as a reminder to me to have compassion for those – but while still not excusing their illegal activity. The redeeming part of the article for me was this section: “Sometimes the loving thing to do is to work for change in the laws regulating immigration. While such change is possible through peaceable and legal means, this must be the Christian’s course.”
However, I’ve seen first hand what a slippery slope this can can be too. What one thinks is showing them love – hiring a day laborer for example – is that really love by aiding and abetting the overall problem in the first place? Just a thought.
Hi. What a radical perspective. You’re right, Mike. We are called to love everyone at all times. Love God, Love others. Two greatest commands. I never thought about that in this issue. I think loving others and helping them break the law are two different issues Darcy. Mike’s post was addressing (to me anyway) the absolute hatred a lot of us ( myself included) have for illegal immigrants. I don’t think it’s right for them to be here illegally. I also think it’s very wrong to go around with this indignation and hatred toward them.
I saw this ABC ‘What Would You Do’ special and they had obvious immigrants go into a breakfast place. It was showing the comments and hate from everyone because even these legal immigrants were percieved as illegal. People hated them even though they had NO idea if they were legal or not.
I think there’s a lot of hate and I agree we need some love in this issue.
I’m all for standing up for what I believe in, but not when it eclipses our ability as Christ followers to be the hope of the world.
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
I believe that if we are remembering these words and acting upon them in all our endeavors, He will faithfully continue to tell us what is good and make known to us what is required of us in specific ways concerning those in need. I believe that justice can be mercifully applied. Governments have their mandates and believers have the word of the Lord.