Much is in the news lately about the issue of immigration in America. This is a very controversial topic, and I thought I'd share some thoughts from a great book on the subject called Christians at the Border by M. Daniel Carroll R. It is by far the best book I have ever read on the subject of how Christians should respond to immigration issues. The following are just a few quotes...
"For the Christian, Hispanic immigration can no longer be conceived as an anonymous mass of people or reduced to arguments over statistics. Many immigrants are brothers and sisters in Christ, with all the respect and attention this fact should engender in those of the majority culture who claim to love and follow Jesus. (60)"
"To turn away or to treat badly one made in the image of God ultimately is a violation against God. As a consequence, the topic of immigration at some level needs to be considered from a human rights perspective and not be defined solely in terms of national security, cultural identity, or economic impact... Immigrants are made in the image of God. (68)"
"To cling to a chosen lifestyle and schedule, define the permitted parameters of a neighborhood, and monopolize time just for oneself and one's family to the exclusion of the stranger - any stranger - might be rebellion against God and an ignoring of something dear to him. The biblical challenge to be hospitable to the stranger is set before the individual Christian and Christian communities, whether large or small. (94)"
"An appropriate response to the complicated situation in society will not come from detached, objective analysis, cost-benefit calculations, efficiency quotients, and cultural arguments. The decisions that are made and courses of action that are recommended should be commensurate with the life of Jesus - his actions, his teaching, his cross. Anaylisis and calculations are necessary, but they must be informed by more transcendent beliefs and other overriding life commitments. (139)"
"Christians, both of the majority culture and Hispanic, are not to exclude the 'other,' whether Christian or non-Christian. We are called to embrace the 'other.' We can embrace those who are different - and even those who have offended or wronged us - because we have embraced Jesus, who calls us to a self-sacrificing life for others. We embrace him, because he first embraced us. We take up that cross of forgiveness and hospitality because he took up his. (139)"
14 comments:
Bryan, I completely see where the author is coming from and I am torn. I struggle with this b/c I see Amerinca losing jobs and many crimes being committed by immigrants. We both have lived in areas full of this population. Yes, they are children of God and we must respect them as such. But, as a child of God myself, if I break the laws then I am subject to man's consequences and God's as well. They are breaking the law so are to just turn our backs? Just some food for thought, or maybe another healthy debate!
Jason, thanks for sharing your thoughts and engaging on this topic. I understand where you're coming from, which is probably the position that is currently being taken by most conservative evangelical Christians in America. You know I'm a little wierd, so I'll try to express a different point of view.
For me, the basic starting point for all Christians on this issue should be love. Unfortunately, the starting point for many majority culture Christians in America is hate and resentment. Until we change our hearts and embrace the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purest form, then we will be ineffective at addressing the issues.
The debates about the law (which I think are often unjust and confusing in many cases), and reform cannot be done apart from Jesus' countercultural plea. His message was to not just love our families and the neighbors we happen to get along with, but to love illegal immigrants and even our enemies.
Just one thought on the "many crimes being committed by immigrants." Many crimes are committed every day by people who are not immigrants, even affluent American white people. The majority of immigrants I know are doing nothing but working hard and contributing positively as much as they can while they try to create a better life their families and themselves.
On a final note... I think Jesus can relate to the pain currently being experienced by refugees and immigrants all around the globe who are trying to make a better life for themselves. He was himself a refugee whose family fled their country illegally. His family broke the law in order to protect their son and make a better life for themselves. Jesus was known by the ultraconservative law upholders of his day as friend of sinners. I wonder, if Jesus was here in America today would he say such a thing as "Yeah, but THEY are breaking the LAW! No, I'm thinking that he would be causing quite a stir amongst conservative Christian law upholders by spending time with sinners. I think he would be ministering to illegal immigrants in their context because of his shared experience of having been a refugee himself.
Bryan
Well, partner, I agree with Jason on this one.
I agree with you, Bryan, that Scripture tells us to welcome the stranger, that love should always be our primary motivation, etc. You are correct on these things, no question.
But, the Bible also tells us that we need to obey and operate within the rule of law. Look, if a person is here illegally, then they are a criminal BY DEFINITION. That doesn't mean they are otherwise involved in criminal activity, but if they are here illegally, then they are criminals and need to be prosecuted, the same as any other criminal.
And I'm sorry, but I don't buy the 'I'm only a poor guy looking for a job to support my family' line. If that's truly the intent, then go through the process and do it legally. If they do, we should welcome them with open arms and help them in any way we can. If they don't, then it's only proper to prosecute and boot them out.
All that said, our government has done a terrible, disgraceful job of not only executing the law but also of interpreting the law. The idea that someone that is born within our borders is automatically granted citizenship, and thus granted access to all the benefits that come with citizenship, was never the original intent; the assumption was that your parents (at least your mother) were in the country legally to start with. The current interpretation is relatively new - and totally wrong. If just that one issue was corrected, the flow of immigrants over the border would be stemmed dramatically.
I also bristle (sorry, I'm getting fired up here) when people point at Christians who expect that the law be followed and accuse them of being unloving, intolerant, etc. That's fundamentally unfair - and untrue.
Lastly, and I've mentioned this before in previous posts, we as believers are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, extend hospitality to the stranger (i.e. one who is passing through - legally), address fundamental injustices, etc. But... in the end it's not our job to mitigate all suffering - it's our job to point people to Jesus IN their suffering.
In summary, in my view the whole immigration issue and how Christians are to respond has been completely muddied by extremists on both sides. And it ahsn't been healthy or helpful to either the Church or to immigrants.
Rant over.
John V
John, I think the blog readers will be pleased to know that you disagree with me since we agree on so many topics!
I appreciate the comments and I can see where you're coming from. We'll have to kick this one around over coffee. I guess my intent in this post was not necessarily to discuss policy or enforcement issues, but to bring attention to how our hearts should be set as we enter into the debate and try to go about working toward solutions.
Many Christians engage this issue out of an attitude of love, but there are also many Christians who engage this issue out of an attitude of hatred. I am not labeling all majority culture Christians in America as intolerant or unloving, but there are some who have got things all twisted around because of their hatred of "the other." That attitude is not biblical.
Bryan
Yep, methinks Dunkin' Donuts is going to make some money on us while we discuss this one. :)
I do agree with you, completely, on the attitude part. That said, I'll willing to bet a coffee that of those on the 'hatred' side, it's not really hatred, it's fear - fear of what all the illegal immigration means politically, financially, etc. - and that fear expresses itself as anger, which comes across as hatred.
I think you'll agree that there is a certain human dynamic whereby 'birds of a feather flock together'. Be it financial, social, enthnicity, whatever, we tend to want to be with 'people like us'. When 'people not like us' move in next door, we feel threatened. I'm not saying that's right or that we should feel threatened, but we do. Plus, most of us really don't like change. We work hard to 'build our nest' and resent when someone messes that up. So there's a lot going on here, beyond just WWJD.
I can smell the coffee already. LOL
John V
Ohhh, I smell coffee. Can we do starbucks here in Charleston, SC so I can join in? This is a passionate subject especially now in America. I agree with John that I too think it's less of hatred and more of fear. I see every day the fear of people losing their job for cheaper labor. Yes, it's the oldest argument but in this economy very true. I am not going to touch the Arizona law right now. Also, please do not ever categorize me as a conservative evangelical person again...it's an insult to who I am as an individual person to be grouped into a category that I disagree with. In my opinion, this is a tangent for a moment, "evangelicals" focus too much on churchy stuff and looking good that on others, which is where our focus should be. This is one reason I have so much respect for you b/c you practice what you preach (even if I don't always agree with it) you are a living testament to your words. That's huge.
I'll go back to the immigration thing. I agree that Jesus wants us to embrace other's suffering and to heal the sick and provide drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry. I think Jesus would say "Yes, they are breaking the law" just as he did in the temple. I accept this population as children of God and absolutely believe they are owed respect and aide, but they are to obtain it through correct means. I am friends of many cultures, races, sexual orientations, and beliefs. I don't judge them but also do not agree with all they do. One day we will all be head accountable and I do think we should strive to provide them with Jesus through actions and words but I do not think they should be allowed to enter our borders illegally and take advantage of our systems here.
I won't classify you again, Jason. You definitely are your own man, that's for sure!
This debate seems over now and you've probably already had your coffee... but here's some thoughts as a post script:
I'm currently studying the Civil War. This debate calls to mind northerners who helped smuggle fugitive slaves north and safely into Canada. What they were doing was illegal, as was the fugitive slave in the first place. Obviously, we can agree that slavery was wrong and contrary to God's kingdom on earth. So, were these northerners wrong in their "criminal" complicity? Perhaps it's a somewhat unfair comparison... but I imagine many immigrants feel they are fleeing an unjust social system for what they hope will be freedom. What if the northerners in the mid-19th century simply said to the fugitive slaves: "Sorry, we must obey the law of the land as an act of worship. Back to bondage you go." ? Obviously some did do this, sadly as an extension of their interpretation of faith. Thankfully, some chose to obey the higher law of Christ that trumps the laws of the land.
Were they right or wrong? I guess I don't know... Well, I guess I think I do know, but I admit it's a messy conviction that I hold, with unanswered questions...
However, I think the blanket statement that an illegal immigrant is criminal "by definition" is not only a harsh simplification of the problem, but it sidesteps our social responsibility. It feels like, since they are criminal by definition, we are no longer responsible for their sufferings. Extend that, and because they are criminals by definition, we are no longer obligated to be hospitable.
I'm sorry, but to label anyone as "by definition" a criminal is scary language to me since it seems to open the door to a kind of permission to not only categorize a person negatively, but somehow free us of any obligation to enter into their life and graciously redefine them. The feeling is, "First go get yourself legal, then I'll validate and try to help your situation." That kind of black-and-white language is the seedbed of intolerance. As a language, it may have a certain "legal" truth to it, but I believe we are called to speak a different language, aren't we? (Ok, sorry, now I'm the one ranting... )
I think it is upon us to closely critique the social systems we are complicit in and advocate for a broader "cultural hospitality." If our "law of the land" puts us in a position where we struggle to fulfill the "law of love," there is a problem. And I don't believe that problem is solved by saying, "Well, the law of the land trumps the law of love." In an ideal world, the two go hand-in-hand. But, we don't live in that world (yet).
Part of our calling is to be actively seeking ways to bring those two contrasts into Kingdom alignment - whether through personal hospitality in our homes or social/political hospitality through reform.
Other points:
Crime? Is it possible that we are more sensitive to immigrant crime rates because immigrants tend to enter the American system at the bottom of the social and economic barrel... and therefore experience much more desperate situations than we do? Not that this justifies criminal activity, but it should clarify some of the reason why it seems more prevalent among immigrants. It may be less of an immigrant issue and more of a poverty issue, which also happens to be where many immigrants find themselves... Perhaps fighting crime has less to do with border control and more to do with immigrant social development, better equipping newcomers to achieve a less-desperate way of life.
Lastly, I never seem to be able to be in a conversation like this without making the beleaguered point that: WE are all uninvited immigrants. If only those Native Americans would have had a more sophisticated screening process at the borders when we first arrived...
Bryan,
I came across your blog through a link on my brother-in-law (Kent Chevalier's) website. I find your discussion on immigration very interesting. My husband and I do urban ministry in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador. The people here face daily the threats of gang violence, high crime, buses getting burned in the streets, and children shooting each other. When I look in their eyes I often see nothing but fear, sadness, and desperation. Many Salvadorans have fled (legally and illegally) to the U.S. Many of them fear their children will be killed if they stay here as El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Right now several Salvadorans have petitioned the Supreme Court to allow them asylum in the U.S. because the gang problem is so horrible in the cities here. I honestly can't say that if I was in their place I would do anything less than try to flee to a place where I have hope of a better life for my family.
Moving from the U.S. to El Salvador I have also been in the "immigrant" position and it is overwhelming. Everything is foreign and different from the cultural context I come from and the paperwork, medical visits, lawayers, translators, etc. can be costly and frustrating. I also have heard many people in the States say, "Learn English before you come." From personal experience I can tell you that learning a whole new language and culture isn't as easy as it sounds! Again costly, time-consuming, and overwhelming.
I just felt compelled to add to your immigration debate offering a glimpse into what it's like to be the one immigrating. I hope that the Church in the U.S. will stop looking at the "legal-illegal" side of things and start looking into the eyes of those who are desperate, overwhelmed, and hopeless.
My one last comment is that when looking at Scripture you will see that God Himself calls His people to love and care for the fatherless, the widowed, and the "alien." (Deut. 10:17-18. 14:28-29, 24:19-21).
I have enjoyed reading many of your blog posts and I will become a frequent visitor...keep up the good work!
Danielle
Danielle... thank you so much for your post. I hope this blog encourages you in your urban ministry adventures. Please feel free to add comments on anything I write. I appreciate your unique perspective on the immigration issue. I'm hoping to do some more writing on the subject in the future.
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