For some Evangelicals: "immigration reform should be a moral and practical priority"

I’m not sure if I agree or not, but it seems to be a second or third-premise argument. It would be interesting to hear their basis for this interpretation.

[Steve Newman] It would be interesting to hear their basis for this interpretation.

this is just one example of the logic, but i think it’s pretty typical.

from ” http://blog.sojo.net/2010/07/19/an-open-letter-to-pastors-our-nation-ne… An Open Letter to Pastors: Our Nation Needs Immigration Reform ” by Matthew Soerens

Christian leaders nearly unanimously have come to the conclusion that our nation needs this sort of comprehensive immigration reform for a few reasons. First and foremost, they believe that it is biblical: Scripture commands us to care for the “alien,” who is repeatedly highlighted along with the orphan and the widow as particularly vulnerable and of special concern to God (Psalm 146:9; Ezekiel 22:7; Deuteronomy 10:18; Zechariah 7:10). Leaders also recognize ecclesiological reasons to support reform: As immigrants are a rapidly growing segment of the church in the United States, pastors see the effects of a broken immigration system on families within their own congregation every day, so their advocacy is simply standing with those God has entrusted to their care. Finally, Christian leaders recognize missiological reasons to support reform: Though many immigrants bring a vibrant faith with them to the U.S., others hear the hope of the gospel for the first time in this country, and their response to the message that churches preach is certainly affected by the church’s posture, whether that is one of welcome and solidarity or one of fear or apathy.

Or as the Apostle Paul put it, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach immigration reform.”