The Evangelical Immigration Table "is trying to take evangelicals and their congressmen for a ride"

My take - the immigration issue is very complex and the local church should be politically neutral on the issue. Further observations:

• I am a non-native American. My forefathers came without green cards, visas, or any immigration approvals. They just came!
• I am a proponent of legal immigration
• Complexities:
  • Children of undocumented (illegal) immigrants who were born here. Per the constitution they are citizens by birth.
  • Children of undocumented (illegal) immigrants who were brought here and really know no other country
• Observations: It’s unlikely that we could ‘round up’ all the illegals and ship them out.

Unless we institute a police state with internal passports in the style of Russia, the Former Soviet Union and other authoritarian regimes.

[Jim]

My take - the immigration issue is very complex and the local church should be politically neutral on the issue. Further observations:

SNIP

• Complexities:
• SNIP
• Observations: It’s unlikely that we could ‘round up’ all the illegals and ship them out.

I don’t think the church needs to be politically neutral about obeying the law. And enforcement would actually fairly simply if we really wanted to. Start by enforcing the 14th amendment the way it was originally meant to be enforced. No more citizenship for babies born to people here illegally. Then start requiring proof of citizenship for basic services - utilities, school enrollment, medical (other than emergency). Take away one of the primary incentives for coming and the ease of staying and the immigration problem is largely solved.

[Jim]

• Observations: It’s unlikely that we could ‘round up’ all the illegals and ship them out.

A few years ago, a nice, pleasant, quiet, hard-working young couple moved in next door to me. They were of indeterminate ethnic origin, as far as I could tell. I came home from work one day, and they were gone. They left behind a townhouse full of furniture and other belongings. It turns out that they were illegals, and the INS was apparently getting too close on their trail, so the couple abruptly took off.

The townhouse went into foreclosure. The next couple who eventually moved in were nothing like the previous residents. Drunk *all* of the time, out-of-work *a lot* of the time, loud parties, etc. (Apparently U.S. citizens though…) They just moved out three weeks ago, after (who woulda thunk it?) losing the place.

If the choice was mine, I’d take the illegals again!

But Larry, the choice isn’t yours. As a Christian, you are obligated to follow the laws of the land, unless they somehow require you to violate God’s law.

[Chip Van Emmerik]

But Larry, the choice isn’t yours. As a Christian, you are obligated to follow the laws of the land, unless they somehow require you to violate God’s law.

Ease up, Chip: can’t you recognize a little tongue-in-cheek jest when you see it? I’m not advocating flouting the law. I’m just saying the illegals were easier to live next door to…….

Sorry Larry. I didn’t see anything in your post to indicate a tongue-in-cheek approach. It seemed like you were making a pragmatic assessment that this seemingly insignificant violation of the law should be ignored to make life more pleasant and perhaps that it wasn’t fair the the poor illegals lost everything because they had to flee from the harsh pursuit of the law.

I know the man … and he is dangerous! :)

I thought so. He’s looking a little pale too.

[Chip Van Emmerik]

I thought so. He’s looking a little pale too.

It’s because of our long, very cold winter & our rainy spring here in Minnesota. It’s hard to keep a suntan when it’s -20°!

I remember. I was born in St. Paul and lived in Stillwater intil I was 9.

I think Christians are all about showing the love of Christ until it comes to immigration. I understand the arguments for “obeying the laws of the land.” But I also know that Jesus didn’t pick up a stone to legally execute a woman caught in adultery. It is a difficult proposition to find the balance between justice and mercy. But I definitely don’t think Christians should be leading the charge for deportation.

Todd,

I don’t think your proposition holds water. Your accusation that deportation is a failure to show love is analogous to saying God fails in loving because He still sends some people into eternal damnation. Biblically, justice and mercy do not function in opposition but in tandem. God’s justice isn’t brushed aside when He shows mercy. His justice is still satisfied, it is just satisfied in Himself instead of by the one who incurred the debt. As for the woman caught in adultery, Jesus couldn’t legally stone her. The law called for two witnesses before a stoning could take place, but the witnesses all left. There was no one left to accuse her, so Jesus was obligated by the law not to execute punishment.

I love it.

But I think there’s an easier solution. Sometimes a straight line is the best way to travel.

Proclaiming Gods love while deporting people sounds a lot like “go and be filled” to me.

Todd,

I had to step back for a time to avoid the snarky response I initially started to post. Let me just say I have never heard anyone declare theology to be a dodge. You agree that God is love. God is not just loving, but the very epitome of love. God, in His holy perfection, is also absolutely just. God does not temper His justice to fulfill His love, not does He subdue His love to fulfill justice. There is no tension between the two, no supposed balance where too much of one will diminish the other.

Just as God is not failing in His love toward creation when He justly condemns a sinner, the Christian is not failing in his love toward his neighbor because he is also maintaining the law of the land. The primary failure in your argument is that you assume love demands we open the border and stop patrolling to keep anyone out. On a personal level, it would be the same as saying you are personally unloving and way too consumed with justice because you call the cops when the homeless guy breaks into your home and crashes on your couch. He’s just trying to enjoy the same comforts God had has blessed you with, right? You, however, lack the love of Christ in your heart and simply hide behind the justice of private property rights while he suffers every day.