Thank you, Pastor Canales, for this post and for these stories. Thanks for the reminder that so often we think and act (and perhaps believe) through one very small way of experiencing the world. Thanks for the reminder that what may be a "debate" to many of us carries much greater weight and significance to those whose lives are at stake. Finally, thanks for the reminder that despite any particular political climate, the Church is composed of those who were once alienated from God and who are now called to welcome the widow, the orphan, and the alien.

This is a wonderful story that really puts things in perspective. I understand folks fears to an extent, but the Kingdom really does have no borders. So while our government is out there trying to figure out what do, I'd like to think the Church could be out there with God and his mission.

Yes, the end of this story is wonderful, but is the means legitimate civil disobedience? Other churches have used legal methods to sponsor immigrants, why not pursue the legal way? Is it in contradiction to God's law?
God is good
jpu

@john_umland
Why is using a legal means important? Legal by which country's laws? In China, Christians break the law to do God's work on a daily basis - perhaps their means are "illegitimate" also?

American Law = God's Law ?
America = God's country ?

That is the best article on immigration that I've ever read. Thanks so much. I am going to frame some quotes from it for the wall of my office as a daily reminder.

As for whether or not illegal sponsorship is in contradiction to God's Law, all I can say is that I have yet to see a religious institution that does not contradict the Law in a myriad of ways, yet remain oblivious to what they do or to how decisions they make harm others. One way for certain that I can think of contradicting His Law is to ignore the plight of the poor and oppressed for the sake of legalism. Excuse me, but didn't that kind of attitude bother Jesus more than anything else?

Mercy not only trumps the Law, it fulfills it in my book any day.

Okay, I hate to be the hardnose here. But does anyone else think Romans 13 might complicate this picture? Or do we read Romans 13 and obey our rulers and immigration laws only when babies and tortillas aren't involved?

Is it okay to ignore ANY law as long as you're trying to get a better life for your family? Or just immigration laws?

Would moving your family into someone else's garage without their permission be wrong? I would think so. Would moving your family into an apartment building without the landlord's permission be wrong? I would think so.

So why isn't it also wrong to move into a new country without asking permission of the "landlords"?

Does the Royal Law of God mean that we can ignore customs agents and immigration law?
I don't think so.

This beautiful story is a great reminder of the way God uses encounters with "the least of these" to transform our lives, our hearts, and our ministries.

@Jeremy

The last time I checked, the Europeans didn't ask permission of the native "landlords" before taking over their land, from sea to shining sea. America was founded by a bunch of law breakers known as the founding fathers, against English rule. Let He who has no sin...

Americans do not own America, God does. One day he might just take this country away, like He did with countless countries before.

The experience of German Christians in WW2 vividly illustrate the difficulty in applying Rom 13 to any earthly governments. Ultimately, God's Law, if you will, trumps all laws. We are to obey God's law first, that generally means love God, neighbour, enemies, etc. Are American immigration laws a reflection of God's will? The author certainly disagrees.

This is a helpful article in that it reminds is of the human plight involved in this philosophical/political debate.

However, I do think the author needs to balance the picture more. The issue is simply not as one-dimensional as he would make it out to be. I grow tired of people selectively quoting from the Bible. Either address the issue from a holisitic biblical perspective, or leave the Bible out of it. Otherwise you're just using Scripture to prove your pre-existing bias.

What a delight to read from brother Isaac again after more than a decade. These histories of families so closely reflect those of the migrant families I have known in southern California. Praise God for how he works in our lives through all of them to transform us into his likeness. Amen, brother!

A profoundly thought-provoking article. This is an issue where there are no easy answers. One thought: There are many legal immagrants in this country as refugees. They need help.

There is clearly a real problem with illegal immigration, and more heat than light in most discussions. While assisting those who come to help, would the church be more effective in also addressing the root economic issues that bring people here in the first place? If there were decent opportunities in Mexico, for example, Mexicans would have little reason to come here.

God's grace is amazing that he blesses his people even when they break the law. Part of a ministry to illegal immigrants is helping them to not continue justifications for law breaking. Let us never justify law breaking when we see God's grace poured out.

I have seen this first hand. In our church that includes gatherings in both english and spanish together, one illegal immigrant brother and his wife came to Christ, has grown to be an amazing evangelist amoung his family, his wifes family, and his co-workers. Now God has given him a vision to take the gospel back to his home town in Mexico and start an orphanage. We will send him.

Strategically thinking, latino believers can be the most effective and efficient missionaries in their home towns. The church needs to build them up and send them back, fully funded.

An article that recommends disobeying God is unacceptable. Romans 13 is not up to our discretion. If you don't like the laws, change them. If you want to minister to Mexicans, then go to Mexico, or encourage them to go through the legal process of coming here.

We don't get to pick and choose which laws we obey. And the fact that we don't obey them all is no reason to intentionally disobey any or to aid someone else is disobeying them.

As a pastor, I would not necessarily seek out someone's legal status, but if I knew, I would have to confront them biblically and encourage them to obedience.

I want to know if anyone feels the U.S. government has the biblical authority to restrict who resides within its borders? And how can anyone even suggest that controlling or limiting the immigration of foreign persons is the same as forbidding the religious worship of a nation's own citizens (China)?

I agree that the European explorers have a tainted legacy. I agree that many American Christians embrace an unbiblical (blasphemous) mix of faith and nationalism. But should the sins of 400 years ago negate the nation's prerogative to govern? This seems like a dreadful and ungodly (not to mention irrational) path to take!

We can find moving stories that "show us the other side," but this story is thoroughly irrelevant in terms of governing. If someone got on this site and posted equally dramatic and heart-stirring tales of how abortion saved them from single-parenthood or how preaching against homosexuality devastated them, we'd all agree that these tales' human value would be negated by their disregard for what is right. Utter disregard for laws that do not violate Scripture is sin.

@Larry

I'm praying that we are not interpreting Rom 13 to equate obedience of earthly laws to obedience of God's law. Many comments quoting Rom 13 here seem to suggest that. You'd have to get pretty creative to apply it to Nazi Germany, for example. Let's not automatically equate law-breaking with sin, when that law is itself made by sin-tainted humans.

At issue then, is what can Paul possibly mean there, in light of the rest of Scriptures. The explanation I find most satisfactory is that one must expose all earthly laws to God's scrutiny as much as we can. Ultimately if a human law conflicts with God's law (i.e. helps perpetuate injustice), it is overruled. Yes, in that case we should work to change it, but in the mean time should you still obey it? I humbly, but rigorously, think not.

Right on brother, right on.

As a native American, no one is asking myself or others our opinion on those from south of the border who pretend that they are the indigenous people, despite the fact that their ancestors were from Spain, those who raped, pillaged from, enslaved and commited genocide against the indigenous peoples of what is now called Mexico and South America.

As a Christian, I have to ask how you equate assisting those who seek to exploit the poverty of illegal aliens, to help create the same, if not worse poverty in the US? Would Christ have approved of your willingness to ignore the real suffering of poor American citizens who are being discriminated against on the job, fired because it's cheaper to hire an illegal? Is their and their children's hunger somehow justifiable to you? (if so, then perhaps it's the devil's work you are truly performing)

American citizens, who are black, brown and white are suffering, and they are the ones being asked to subsidize the below standard wages the corporations and individuals who hire illegals, pay. American citizens suffer long term un and underemployment and are till having to pay first world prices.

It's true that wages are lower in Mexico and South America, but so is the cost of living. The so called better life they are seeking to provide, is one where they have more luxury items, like SUVs and big screen tvs, cell phones and other such frivolous items.

At the same time poor American citizens face homelessness every week as more of our jobs are shipped overseas, or are given to illegal aliens. We as a county have been bleeding jobs since the 1980s. The true levels of unemployment are far higher than the 4.5% that it's reported as being. When the 26 weeks of unemployment expire, they are no longer counted.

I think what Christ would say to you is to cast away your own hatred, bigotry and greed, and that if you want to help poor Mexicans and South Americans, work for change in their own countries. Stand with them against their own home countries governments, as American citizens historically did when their own didn't serve their needs. To do as you do now,is to serve to enslave human beings, and to pretend that you're doing them and others a favor. It's called hypocrisy.

About Christians in China breaking the law. Yes they do, and are willing to accept the punishment. Is that the same with those who break the law here? And talk about hypocrisy! Mexicans want to come to the US illegally but don't allow any Hondurans or Guatemalans to enter Mexico illegally.

Coolhand says,
"Let's not automatically equate law-breaking with sin, when that law is itself made by sin-tainted humans."

All earthly laws are made by and interpreted by 'sin-tainted humans'. Jesus told us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. Our immigration laws exist for the protection of the people who are legal citizens of the U.S. just as Mexico's immigration laws protect their citizens. There is nothing un-biblical about those laws. Our immigration laws do not hurt anyone. Our government has made provisions to accommodate millions of people each year through the proper channels. Coolhand claims that "Americans do not own America, God does", but if I read my Bible correctly, it says that God raises up one nation and takes another one down. God is the one who created nations by confusing languages at the Tower of Babel. But that's for another post.

I live in Nebraska. I am from San Antonio, TX. My father was a missionary in Mexico. I went to school in Mexico and I speak spanish. Guess what I found in Nebraska? A very large community of South Americans!! Most of the hispanics are not from Mexico, but Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica,Chile. And how did they find Nebraska. It is not like someone living in proverty on the edge of a rain forest wakes up one day and says, let's sell everything we have and pay someone to take us to NEBRASKA! The packing plants here need workers, so they put advertisments on the radio for jobs in Nebraska, in Guatemala, etc. How are these people to come for these jobs? There is no legal way, the goverments are corrupt and require huge bribes. The only way to come is to sell everything and pay a coyote. When people say no one asked them here, or that they could just come legally-it is ridiculous. As the government has closed the borders down, and they have, whether the news believes it or not. I am not saying the thieves and the crooks cannot still get through, I am sure they can. But the risk is too high and the cost too much for ordinary people looking to work. The packing plants still need workers, so they are purchasing plane tickets for Muslims from the Sudan and Nigeria to come and work in the packing plants. I am sure that is what the politicians were thinking, close the borders for Catholic South Americans and import African Muslims instead!!!! We NEED a guest worker program and HUMANE immigration reform. The Church of Jesus Christ needs to stand up for the immigrants who sold everything they had at home and risked thier lives to comee here to work.
I wish I had more space to till you the stories I have collected as these poor people are squeezed and tormented by our system. But the thieves and murders prosper.

The Biblical Bias is in favor of the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the cause of the marginalized. It doesn't say nearly as much about America. I am glad that there are believers reaching out to every people group, Jew or Gentile, documented or undocumented, rich or poor. This is a great article. America is a great nation because it is an alien nation. Christians should be at the forefront of changing the immigration laws so that they are just, enforcable, and help the poor, instead of hurting the poor.

@Melody

I think we actually agree on the fact that God owns all nations. He creates them, raises them, and casts them aside, for His great purposes, Amen? He does the same for America - so let's not pretend that God blesses America all the time, and that American laws are to be obeyed because we falsely believe that Rom 13 said so.

We are essentially focusing on two sides of the same coin - I agree that American immigration law has done tremendous good. God has used it greatly to make America great (to raise her up, if you will). However, these same laws are nowhere near perfect. Simply ask any immigrant to another "Alien nation" like Canada for example, and you will find that these laws can use much improvement, and cause many people pain and injustice everyday. Your statement "There is nothing unbiblical about those laws" is sadly sadly mistaken.

This is a great post. It is easy for the debate regarding illegal immigration to become a philisophical one, and for us to maintain just enought detachment to forget that this is about real people. Thanks for sharing a story about real people with real lives.

As for the call for Pasor Canales to make this story more balanced, I say, why should he? He is telling his story, not yours. He lives at the intersection of all these things that we talk about. A more "balanced" telling of the story might make others more comfortable, but would not be true to the reality that he knows. May we allow the story that we have heard here to penetrate our assumptions and orderly catagories and challenge us to see people, not politics or positions.

I believe in a theology of welcome, of blessing the outcast and marginalized. Keep showing the love and grace of God.

But--is America the "land of promise?" That's a personal opinion, but not supported by Scripture, and pretty arrogant to boot, if you ask me. The land of promise is the Kingdom of God, brought toward fulfilment WHEREVER Christ redeems the world. Let's not set our hopes (or the hopes of any immigrant) on America, when He would have us look to His coming New Earth.

I have to wonder if Cherry Hanz is an owner or manager at those packing plants she mentions. Those jobs were held by American citizens in the past, and they paid living wages, just as the meat packing plants throughout the midwest and south did. Wages they paid American citizens provided them with the ability to keep a roof over their heads, even buy a home, feed their families, and some measure of security. Those American citizen workers were black, brown and white.

Now in the interest of squeezing ever more profit, those corporations seek to import replacement workers, to replace American citizen workers. Then American citizen taxpayers are told they have to subsidize those same illegal alien workers, to make up for the low wages they are paid by the corporations. American citizens who speak out against this attack against their ability to work and support their families are called racist. The facts are that the corproate interests and even the religious groups who do this, are the racists. They don't mind enslaving and exploiting one group of poor people to help enslave and exploit another. The American citizens who speak out against illegal aliens, amnesty and all of this are anti-corporatist.

Were Christ to appear in the US today, he would accuse any such religous leaders who are crying crocodile tears about illegal aliens, of being the same as the money changers in the temple. Of seeking to hijack relgious belief for profit, and he would be right. They of course would pillory him, just as the religious leaders of his time did. He would be crucified by the slurs of "racism", and other such unjust abuse, perhaps instead of nails and the crown of thorns.

What needs to be changed is the discussion, what is needed is for there to be a demand that those foreign governments who seek to export their poor, raise wage standards and quality of life in their own countries, whether we're talking about Mexico, South America or even Ireland. Perhaps those religious leaders need to stop taking money from the US Chamber of Commerce, and stop thinking about potential donations to their coffers or filling the seats in their churches and start following Christ's teachings. It was Christ who advised us against puttng priests up on pedastels, as they are human like the rest of us, and just as given to sin and corruption.

Jenny, No I have no affliation with the packing plants. My only experience with the packing plants is the ministry I have done with the Hispanic community here in NE. I am in no way supporting the packing plants. I am just stating the facts as they are. The plants solicited the workers, there is no legal way for them to come because of the way our immigration laws work in South America. Enormous bribes have to be paid to the governments. These people sold everything they had and risked thier lives to come here. Estimates are 10% to 15% do die on thier way here. They come here to work. Now the packing plants are importing Muslims from Africa, rather than subsidizing the coyotes. My point is we need a guest worker program and we need a humane immigration policy for people who are here. The policies we are implementing at present punish the poor and do not limit the terriorists/murderers/thieves. Anyone who wishes can come to NE and work in the packing plants. I believe most of them are hiring. It pays $11.00 something an hour. It is filthy, exhausting work. Most Americans last 2 weeks, I am told.

For you who are not aware of this, we had no limitations on immigrants to this country for much of our history., the first "quota law" was not passed until 1921. Prior to that the only limitation to immigration was illness, prostitution or if you had expressed desires to overthrow our government. This is how we became the "melting pot".

I agree, Doug, that we have made this a philisophical discussion. That is easy to do when you do not speak the language, have no knowledge of the culture. Most Americans are very sheltered and live priviledged lives. We have never lived in a country where a government offical can send the police to our house and conficate our property, even imprison us, because he can, on a whim.

I agree also with Nate, that we need to point people to Jesus, as the promise, and not America. Of course, this is much easier to do from our safe, sheltered and privledged positions as American citizens. I have lived in Africa and Mexico. Even the poorest person here in America lives like a wealthy person in MOST other countries.

To Doug who wrote:

"As for the call for Pasor Canales to make this story more balanced, I say, why should he? He is telling his story, not yours."

Please read carefully, the call to be "balanced" was in reference to the biblical argument. If someone is going to bring the Bible into the discussion then they have an obligation to try and deal with it holistically.

Far too ofen we go to the Bible- after the fact, seeking to support what we already believe or have "come to know". But this is not Biblical studies. This is convenient prooftexting - nothing more.

Pastor Isaac: Mercy Wins! Stay the course...your church is a slice of heaven! d

@Coolhand,

I did not say "God blesses America all the time"; and can you explain the meaning of Romans 13 since I 'falsely' believe what it says? Additionally, I am thoroughly confused by your statement about Canada; could you clarify? How have our immigration laws caused people "pain and injustice everyday"? Finally, can you be specific about what is unbiblical about immigration law?

Thanks.

The 2 posts by Jenny Perry are so sadly mistaken, I don't know where to begin.

Jenny Perry wrote:
"The so called better life they are seeking to provide, is one where they have more luxury items, like SUVs and big screen tvs, cell phones and other such frivolous items."

Just by this statement alone, Jenny has shown she's not an immigrant, and is clueless about the immigrant experience. What a slur against all migrants when one denigrate their motives and equate it with SUVs and big screen TVs. What a slur against the wonderful, and biblical American heritage of providing security and a better life (try opportunities for their children?) for countless migrants. How sad, for Jenny Perry.

While I agree there is poverty in America, due in part to corporate greed (perpetuated by native American owners perhaps?), it is clear that Jenny have not travelled to some of the poorer places of the earth. Otherwise she would know how this whining sounds like to a poor person from Bangladesh or many parts of Africa. Ridiculous is what it is. The poor people of America are collectively far richer than the poor of many of these places. When the really poor overcome mountains of obstacles to seek to better their lives by coming to America, do you think they dreamt of taking another job away from an American worker?

Let's not blame America's poverty problem on migrants, legal or not. The poverty problem has enough other primary root causes and is intractable enough as it is.

@Melody

Thanks for your questions.

You said:
"I did not say "God blesses America all the time""

Touche. ;) I inferred that from several other posts, but you are right that you did not say that and do not mean it at all.

You said:
"and can you explain the meaning of Romans 13 since I 'falsely' believe what it says?"

Again, I inferred that from several other posters, so you may not believe that at all - my bad. I am not a Bible scholar so I won't offer a complete exegesis of the passage. However, I am fairly certain about what it does not mean - that since Paul exhorts Roman Christians to submit themselves to governing authorities in ~AD 55, American Christians and Mexican illegal migrants should unquestioningly submit to American immigration law in AD 2007 (or else they sin). As several other posters already pointed out, the context of the passage and the overall sweep of Scripture needs to be considered in the interpretation. And practically, if we apply the above logic to the German situation (one example among many) it gets very tricky.

You said,
"Additionally, I am thoroughly confused by your statement about Canada; could you clarify?"

Pardon my sloppiness. I am an immigrant to Canada, so have an somewhat different perspective to the debate. Without getting into specifics, a comparison between the 2 sets of immigration laws yield significant differences, some of which makes the US ones look unjust. There are many immigrants in Canada who could have chosen the US instead, but were turned off by the immigration laws. (As there may be ones in the US turned off by the Canadian ones)

continued

Lots of good comments both pro and con have been posted, and I appreciate the discussion.

I would suggest that people not get too focused on Romans 13.1-6. Those verses need to be considered along with others relating to government. Paul also wrote Col 1.16 that supports government, as did the author of Ecc 8.2-5. And There are 1 Tim 2.2 and Titus 3.1 which are neutral. But there are also Eph 6.12, 1 Jn 5.19, Psalms 94.20-22, 1 Cor 2.6, 1 Sam 8.7,9, and Ecc 5.8-11 that are distrustful of government.

If we choose to spiritualize those latter verses, treating "rulers [and] authorities" as something other than, well, rulers and authorities, we are deceiving ourselves and ignoring scripture.

Please recall that when the Israelites wanted a king to rule them, God warned them against instituting a civil governor. History showed He was correct. Wouldn't we agree He still is?

While government is authorized by God, no governor is as good as God. No governor is a perfect reflection of God. No governor is God.

@Melody

You said: "How have our immigration laws caused people "pain and injustice everyday"? Finally, can you be specific about what is unbiblical about immigration law?"

Several issues off the top of my head - they are controversial, but no doubt caused or causes pain and injustice to many, and as such, may contravene the portions of Scripture that teaches hospitality to aliens, among others.
- 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
- Failure to accept refugees from Nazi Germany
- as the immigration laws favour skilled individuals, unskilled and often poorer candidates are often shut out, while many unskilled positions goes unfilled because no Americans want to do the work. Many of these poorer candidates become illegal migrants to fill those positions. The laws exacerbate the migrants suffering in this case by discriminating based on their lack of skill. This is a problem inherent in America's meritocracy, and not limited to immigration laws.
- The law's preference for skilled migrants to enrich America impoverishes other countries, exacerbating the global rich/poor gap. America's laws put America first - make sense you might say, but Scripture teaches love for others before love for self. In other words, it is nationally self-centered. (I might include myself - I'm inherently personally selfish, but by the Grace of God.)

Funny thing, but I would think that the onus is on you to prove that American immigration law is Biblical, not the other way around. To me, anything thought up by man is assumed sin-tainted, unless shown otherwise. Most things end up being both sin-tainted and greatly used by God nonetheless. Doesn't make the whole thing "Biblical" though.

Anyway, enough philosophizing, no? As many have mentioned already, Time to go out and show Christ's mercy to a migrant, legit or not...

Thank you Issac for the stories.

I have labored in an immigrant church. I was the only English speaking American born adult in the whole church.

A nation has its right to protect its borders -- that is one issue.

As Christians, we must treat the alien in our midst as one of our own (Lev 19:33-34).

How we treat the immigrant while they are here is a different issue, though clearly intertwined with the first.

The church, I think, is to seek justice for the immigrant and their families, regardless of their immigrant status.

To speak up for them for fair treatment while our nation figures out how to handle its borders.

To speak up for them while our nation figures out a way to legalize those making contributions towards our American good.

The church must speak out against the racism and the vile hatred against the immigrant that I see in some talk shows and in some radio shows.

Pastor Chris
www.evangelismcoach.org

Hey, thanks to all who've posted such thoughtful comments. We've selected a number of the above to be published in the Fall issue of Leadership which mails in mid-October.

Please continue the conversation, but just wanted to say thanks, and we'll see you in print.

Just a point to add to the debate:

We have to be careful when we apply instances from the OT and NT because, in many cases, huge cultural gaps have formed between then and now.

For instance, in the OT, the term "alien" referred more to the cultural, ethnic “other”, rather than to someone coming from beyond formal, national borders. Obviously, nation states did not exist then like they do now.

Watch out for anachronistic tendencies. The same term can appear in two contexts, but mean vastly different things in those two contexts. Again, all of this needs to be considered when we try and prayerfully interpret how Scripture does (and doesn't) apply in various situations.

Some claim it is selfish but the matter of American infrastructure must be taken into account on this issue. Is it wise to accept any and all comers, regardless of need when we do not have the resources to meet all those needs? This is not a philosophical question but one of practical wisdom.

I know some of you hate analogies but I'll use one anyway: Does God expect you to take any and all needy persons into your home and provide for them to the point where your own family cannot be properly fed, clothed, and housed anymore? Likewise, should America be expected to provide medical care and education for an infinite number of people who sneak across our borders? Of course not. We provide these things now because we are compassionate. But we will reach the practical limits of that compassion to the detriment of our current citizens.

@John

You raise a good point about practically accommodating a large number of migrants when American infrastructure is stretched as it is. I would like to frame it in its wider context, which is the global resource inequality. A 2006 UN study by Davies et al. shows that North America has only 6% of world population yet owns 34% of the wealth. You would think that letting others to come and share in the blessings would be the least it can do to help right this injustice. When it comes a point where America consumes the same share of resources as its share of the global population, then she can start complaining about the lack of resources to accommodate others. As things stand now, the problem lies not with the migrants (legal or not), but with America getting used to having more than her share, and when justice demands that she give some of it away by sharing with others, she whines about her "suffering".

And, no, there are not an infinite number of people coming across the border. There are only 6 billion of us on this earth, and as good as America is, not everyone would like to come - a surprising majority are happy where they are.

Part of the problem I think stems from the fact that many of us think of ourselves as
Christian first, Amercan second, and may be somewhere around 10th, Citizen of the world.

I propose a revision to that - we need to see ourselves as citizens of the Kingdom first, then citizens of the World second, and then, may be, of America somewhere down the list. While our Christian bond needs to come first, our human bond needs to be far stronger than what binds us as America.

A 2006 UN study by Davies et al. shows that North America has only 6% of world population yet owns 34% of the wealth. You would think that letting others to come and share in the blessings would be the least it can do to help right this injustice.

Since when is having wealth injustice? Should the american peopole apologize because we have more wealth? should we give it all away? What about all rich people give away all their wealth? Who decides what is rich? Isn't it biblical to enjoy the fruits of ones labor? It seems like you're advocating, however unintentionally, communism. And while I agree that in a perfect world communism is the best answer, this is hardly a perfect world. We know that it doesn't work.

As for the injustice part, it would be injustice if we had stolen our wealth from Mexico and other nations, but we have not. America is, I believe, blessed by God, and even if you don't believe that you can hardly say that we got our wealth through unjust means. When America began we were hardly worth even noticing. America started as a farming nation, and slowly built ourselves up into what we are today. What really helped make us a world power and brought us out of the Great Depression was our involvement in WWII, hardly unjust. Having wealth isn't wrong. The Bible only says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. Many godly people in the bible were wealthy, Job, Joseph, Many of the kings of Israel like David and Solomon, and many more. What is biblical is using wealth to help others, something which america isn't perfect in, but hardly lacking in either. Perhaps some of our laws should be changed, but does that mean that we should go ahead and break them? Because we feel that they are unjust? That is certainly not Biblical. In this article the focus was on all the godly, Christian Mexicans sneaking into America, and while I don't doubt that some are, what about all the drug dealers? What about if some terrorist decides that he wants to blow up our capital or something? Mexico looks like a pretty good weak spot to exploit. The bible calls us to be hospitable to the stranger, not the one who is breaking the law. The bible is quite strict about punishing those who break laws. Instead of encouraging them to break our laws perhaps you could encourage them to help make Mexico better. Or developing a better immigration policy and working to getting it passed. You have a voice, you're allowed to use it.

A piercing reminder that the place for the church is where they can extend the love of Jesus. It is so easy to get caught up in the polical environment of our nation and place ourselves in a position that keeps us from fulfilling the Great Commandment. Your words in this aritcle once again reminded us that the disciple of Jesus should be more concenred with the immigrant, a vulnerable person needing love, than with a position on immigration.

While it is much easier for us to join in the chorus of people who want to take a stand for or against immigration, it is not the place that Christ has called us to. We must take the much more difficult platform to offer a caring hand of help rather than a political voice. Sometimes I fear that we choose the easy path because it demands less of us and we are able to ease our guilt for doing nothing. Love demands my time, resources, and energy. I appreciate your appeal through your own example. It has made me a better person and pastor.