|
|
Christian Indie Radio
GetChristianMusic
Solid Walnut Music
|
|
|
|
|
|
Devotionals
|
|
Cartoons
Culture
Family
Games
Health
Homeschooling
Humor
Inspiration
Kids
Men
Ministry
Parenting
Poetry
Teens
Women
|
|
Statement of Faith
Contact Us
|
|
|
|
Culture Watch:Immigration: What's a Christian to Think?
by Lee Warren (Lee's bio)
Send this page to a friend
As you watched the video of 200+ refugees from Haiti pour onto a beach in Miami recently, what ran through your mind?
First, I sympathized with the refugees for wanting out of Haiti. It's a poor country with few opportunities to make a decent living. Then I wondered how they got all the way to one of our beaches without being stopped—especially in light of heightened security after 911. Finally, the situation triggered a question in my mind. One I've been thinking about for the last several years: What should we as Christians think about immigration? That's the question I want to explore.
Do you remember when the immigration issue was raised at one of the Republican presidential debates during the 2000 election cycle where then-candidate George W. Bush said we don't need to put walls around our country to keep people out because only a fearful people did such a thing? I do. And in light of 911, it angers me now as much as it did then.
When we lock our doors at night, are we motivated by fear? Truthfully, that's probably part of the answer. But it's more of a precaution against any unwelcome “guests” who may try to enter our home without our consent and either try to harm or rob us. When we lock our car doors when we pull into a shopping mall parking lot, are we being fearful or just stopping a potential criminal from stealing our car or its contents? How about when we activate the security alarm in our place of employment after we close up shop? Are we motivated by fear or sense of duty to protect our company?
When President Bush opposed a “wall around our country,” I think he was just trying to portray America as a strong, free nation that isn't afraid to have an open border. Of course, post 911, he's changed his mind and Canadian officials are beginning to voice concerns that it is too difficult to cross the border into America now. As President Bush has tightened security on our borders, I don't think he cares whether we are seen by bin Laden, his thugs or any other enemy as fearful or just protecting ourselves—but rather he is just doing what is wise.
Under President Clinton, our immigration policy changed almost weekly. Under President Bush it changed after 911. In both cases, they changed our immigration policy based on circumstances rather than on the absolute standard of God's Word. Let's look at a few verses showing God's view on the subject:
Deuteronomy 10:19 says, “Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Leviticus 19:33-34 says, “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
Think about those verses in light of Exodus 12:48-49: “And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”
Numbers 15:15 says much the same thing: “One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.”
If America (or any other country) is to have a biblical immigration policy, it must welcome foreigners who are intent on living under “one law.” God didn't give foreigners in Israel the option to create their own culture or their own laws, but rather He commanded them to become Israelites—to assimilate into the Jewish culture.
And of course, in the New Testament, Paul brought the gospel to the Gentile world, showing how God feels about them. But when the Gentile becomes a believer, they aren't free to live according to their old customs, but rather, they are to assimilate into a Christian culture—the church.
According to the scriptures, America's immigration policy is unjust. Currently, the policy deports all Haitian refugees who make it to our shores while at the same time it makes provision to allow Cuban refugees asylum if they make it to our shores. Neither situation allows us to examine refugees to see if they are willing to become Americans rather than just wanting to come to America to set up smaller versions of their own culture—or worse yet, to see if they have any ill-intent towards our country.
I don't pretend to know everything the scripture says about a proper immigration policy, or how we should go about examining refugees to make sure they intend to assimilate into our culture. But, if our country ever hopes to get a handle on our immigration problem and how we should man our borders, shouldn't we be trying to determine what the scripture says and then seeking to implement that policy rather than just flying by the seat of our pants and making up policy as we go?
Copyright 2002, Lee Warren. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
|
About Lee Warren: Lee Warren is a freelance writer from Omaha, Nebraska. He has written for various publications and is currently working on a novel. If you are interested in reading more of his work or in receiving his column via e-mail, please go to his website: www.leewarren.net or drop him an e-mail: LeeWJunior@cox.net.
|
Send this page to a friend: