Neighbors & Immigrants

Many would agree that Scripture challenges our perspectives and positions on a host of issues. In fact, some would even say that Scriptures is supposed to challenge our perspectives and positions. Where we tend to disagree is related to which persepctives and positions we hold that should be challenged. Interestingly, we are often able to identify which perspectives and positions in other people should be challenged, but not always as able to identify the same in ourselves.

Personally, I have found Scriptures like these to be challenging regarding the immigration topic:

Exodus 22:21, ““Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

Leviticus 23:22, “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’ ”

Deuteronomy 10:18, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”

Deuteronomy 24:14, “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.”

Deuteronomy 27:19, “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Zechariah 7:9-10,  “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’”

Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (the Greek word for stranger denotes a foreigner, and the whole of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46 are challenging).

There is not a direct equivalent between the biblical context and our modern day context. However, I think it would not be too controversial to say that the heart of the law in scripture has something to do with loving our fellow human being and honoring the dignity of God‘s image bearers. Additionally, I think it is also fair to say that it seems there is a little bit of an emphasis on the poor, the foreigner, the widow, and the fatherless. It seems that we humans, if left to our own devices, are prone to taking advantage of and exploiting the vulnerable. God says we must not do that.

I would also assume that most Christians would say that it is OK to break man’s laws when they conflict with true justice. Perhaps that is too much of an assumption? Is it OK to break the laws of another sovereign nation to smuggle Bibles in, gather for corporate worship, and profess the name of Jesus if they have laws that prohibit such things? Was ok to hide Jews from the Nazis? Or to participate in the unground railroad? Slaves were property. Is that not the equivalent of participating in theft? I assume many would say that these were unjust laws. Which is the point. Christians of all people should know that justice and righteousness is not defined by the black and white laws of a nation. 

I believe it is arguable that revoking pathways that were legal during a different administration—whether you agree or not—is not just. Inviting refugees and asylum seekers, having them go through the vetting process, and then rescinding the funds and the pathway is also not just. The fact that the process takes so long and is so costly is not just. Someone falling out of status because someone else made a clerical error is not just. Denying help we are cable of offering our fellow humans who are fleeing for their lives is not just. 

The demonizing and dehumanizing rhetoric is also simply incongruent with the  Kingdom. Full stop. From cherry-picking stories of heinous crimes to characterize all immigrants as threat to fabricating stories about immigrants eating pets—the dialogue around these human beings is not something Jesus-followers should be participating in. 

Additionally, most of the Christians I see who seem to support the immigration tactics of the current administration do not seem to be coming from a place of self-giving love. Concern about my money, my way of life, and my country are disproportionately focused on the word “mine.” Fear of the other is also rooted in… fear.

While some have accused me of being in favor of open borders and being naive about the immigration issues, what I am really wrestling with is this question: What does a robust, self-giving, loving, and complex approach that embodies the ethics of the Kingdom to immigration look like? I can tell you that you won’t find it on Fox News. 

Instead of granting ICE the amount of funding that most countries devote to defense, what about streamlining the process and creating legal pathways that are sustainable? 

I have little control over how that happens. What I do have control over is whether my heart and hands are closed off to my fellow human beings and my compassion corrupted by partisan propaganda. Love of neighbor is the greatest command. The greatest of these is love. Even if we disagree on some policy measures, there should not be disagreement on whether Scripture calls us to actively love—even at cost to ourselves (see the parable of the Good Samaritan who used his own resources to help his enemy)—the vulnerable, which includes documented and undocumented human beings. 

The law required no work on the Sabbath

But healing is greater.

The law required she not touch anyone, especially a holy man,

But restoration is greater.

The law required the death penalty for adultery,

But mercy is greater.

The law ascribed the label "ceremonially unclean,"

But compassion is greater.

The law requires the deportation of my undocumented neighbor,

But love is greater.  The law would render me guilty, But aren't you thankful Jesus is greater?