The issue of immigration has been one of the
most difficult for Christians to fully come to terms with, seeing that it is
not as cut-and-dry as are some other issues. There are plenty of
doctrinal and ethical issues that are quite clear from Scripture such as the
doctrines of justification, the substitutionary atonement, the sinfulness of
homosexuality, adultery, and drunkenness. However, the multiplicity of
issues related to the ongoing immigration debate in our nation are often
treacherous waters to navigate.
This is one of the few issues that, at least in part, defies the left and
right. There are some on the right that side with the left on this one
and some on the left that side with the right. Like all issues, it really
should rise above politics and be decided by Scripture and conscience.
We are a nation of immigrants. The words engraved on the pedestal of the
Statue of Liberty read “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming
shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me, I lift
my lamp beside the golden door!” Between the years 1820 and 2010, the U.
S. saw 80 million souls immigrate to America. Fourteen million immigrated
during the decade from 2001 to 2010. But, as we know, immigration also
has a dark side. Buried within the statistics are millions of
undocumented immigrants. The latest estimates put those at around 11-12
million.
The United States has proudly welcomed outsiders, but today there are a number
of factors which have changed the thinking of a great many people.
Primarily, it is deeply held concern that the proper channels of lawful
immigration have been set aside and there is little oversight to the whole
process. More and more illegal immigration is affecting the lives of
average Americans in negative ways. A combined study of U. S.
governmental departments revealed that illegal immigrants were responsible for
an extremely high number of crimes. The study was based on a sampling of
more than 55,000 illegal immigrants. It was shown that there were almost
460 thousand arrests among this sample pool (an average of about 8 arrests per
person) for drugs, immigration offenses, etc. Fifteen percent of this
sampling were arrested in connection with violent crimes including murder,
robbery, assault, and sex-related offences.
Now the advent of “Sanctuary Cities” is making it more difficult to enforce
laws. These cities have become havens for drug trafficking, murder, armed
robbery, rape, etc. Several defiant politicians, such as State Governors
and City Mayors have proudly announced their defiance to comply with laws
already on the books.
David Jeremiah, in his book Is This the End? Signs of God’s Providence
in a Disturbing New World cites many statistics about the overall
immigration problem. In speaking about the financial, and other burdens,
placed on our system by illegal immigration he writes “Dallas’ Parkland
Hospital offers the second-largest maternity service in the United
States. In one recent year, sixteen thousand babies were born at
Parkland, and 70 percent of them were to illegal immigrants at a cost of $70.7
million. Because few of these patients speak English, the hospital now
offers premium pay to medical employees who speak Spanish. This need has
forced the University of Texas and Southwestern Medical School to add a Spanish
language requirement to its curriculum.” This is just one tiny way
illegal immigration is causing problems/issues in our culture. Health
care costs rise to cover the expenses of those who cannot pay. Further,
they rise to cover language training and enhanced pay for those who speak
Spanish. It is true across the entire spectrum of health care, and all
social services.
Believers are to be compassionate to immigrants. After all, it is almost
certain that either we, or our ancestors immigrated to this land we call
America. Immigrants are human beings with the same basic needs and dreams
as we ourselves. The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:26-27 “He has made
from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and
has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him
and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Both the Old
Testament and New Testament address the issue at many points, but there are
some common threads which run throughout the texts that deal with
immigration. Most importantly, the people of God were to “assimilate” the
stranger. If a stranger/immigrant wanted to live among them God’s Word
says they were to keep His statutes (Lev. 18:26, 24:16, Ex. 20:10, Num. 15:30)
David Jeremiah writes “The message of the Bible concerning strangers in the
land is clear; if they accept the national culture and work as participants in
the national economy, they are welcomed and allowed full participation in the
life of the nation. If they refuse to assimilate and cling to their old
laws, beliefs, and customs, their activities must be restricted for the good of
the nation.” (David Jeremiah; Is This The End?; 50)
God has always had laws that mankind were to respect and follow. They
should never be seen as merely restrictions for the sake of being restrictive
but rather for our own protection and to help us see and appreciate the
holiness of God. Knowing the law teaches us the difference between right
and wrong. This is true of God’s laws and man’s laws. Immigration
is a good thing if it is done lawfully. Millions have already gone
through the process and are law-abiding American citizens which enrich our
country in incalculable ways; however the millions of illegal aliens that have
no intent of going through a process, nor have any intention of assimilating to
our culture have no business being here and should go back to their country of
origin or be deported. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about
all things. God’s way is always the best and He gave a clear path in His
Word for those who desired to be a part of His people. God is a God of
order and all things are to be done decently and in order. Our laws in
America also show a clear path to follow if anyone desires to be a citizen of
our great nation. As believers, our duty is to have compassion and point
others toward that which is right.
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
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