Category Archives: Immigration

“Mr. Trump… tear down that wall!”

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The Super Bowl commercials seemed a bit lackluster this year. No cute animals to make us laugh. Lots of movie trailers that weren’t created with this specific time slot in mind. A few chuckles here and there, but, for the most part, nothing that far out of the ordinary.

One commercial stood out to me, even though Fox censored the original ad and forced the sponsors to submit a “more acceptable version.” It was the one by 84 Lumber, called “The Journey.” If you haven’t seen the full video (as rejected by Fox), you can watch it here:

This ad puts a necessary face on immigration. I’ve stated before that I’m in favor of tighter controls at the southern border, though this necessarily needs to be coupled with a worker program. The border crossing is too dangerous, yet people are willing to risk it because it is the only way for them to come work here in the United States. Controls should be tightened to protect immigrants and to limit the entrance of the small percentage who fit Trump’s characterization of immigrants.

However, when a wall is built based on xenophobia and racism, with an insulting, bullying attitude toward our neighbors, it’s wrong. The proposed wall on the Mexican border is wrong! We cannot overlook the rhetoric behind the actions. Here’s why I oppose this wall:

  • Christians should unite against a campaign that characterizes fellow Christians as people with problems who bring drugs and crime. Many immigrants are brothers in Christ. We need to treat them as such. Even if not, they are fellow human beings. There are criminals who walk across the border as immigrants, though statistics show that the immigrant population has a lower crime rate than the general public. I would guess that more criminals fly into this country than swim the river. Until border security is presented in humane terms that treat immigrants with respect, it is to be opposed.
  • The United States should work with Mexico on immigration, not against Mexico. It is time that we stop being the bully of the Americas. It is time that we stop abusing our power. The United States has a long history of injustice in Latin America; the time for reversing that is long overdue.
  • A wall carries symbolic weight. It is a symbol of oppression. Why did Fox only accept the above video when it showed a fence instead of a wall? Because of the symbolism.
  • Christians must remember that, while the United States may act purely in its own interests, we are called to something much higher. Dan Rodriguez, professor at Pepperdine University, once said, “In 100 years it won’t matter if we were American, English, Honduran, etc., in regards to this issue. But it will matter if we approached this issue as a Christian.” Our loyalty is not to Trump, not to conservatism, not to the Republican party, not to the United States. Our highest loyalty is to God.

I’ve avoided this topic for fear of being seen as speaking in partisan terms. I’m a bit ashamed that a lumber company would speak up before I did, especially given the attacks on people that I love, on brothers and sisters in Christ. You can favor increased immigration controls. You can favor isolationist attitudes. But when they are coupled with pejorative falsehoods hurled against fellow Christians… you cannot support that. And this wall is inextricably linked to that rhetoric.

God-sanctioned borders (?)

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One thing I love about the Bible is that there is always more to explore, more to learn, more to make you think. This is especially true when others are involved in the process. Their unique perspectives force us to see the Bible in a new light.

The other day a friend of mine argued in favor of strong national borders using this verse from the book of Acts:

“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17:26)

It’s a powerful argument, one that deserves to be explored. If God has determined the borders of the different nations, then aren’t his people called to respect those borders?

Of course, there are still lots of questions to be answered. For example, when Iraq “annexed” Kuwait back in the 1990s, was this action ordained by God? Was the old border the divinely sanctioned boundary or did the new boundary immediately enjoy that status?

If the United States feels called to violate another country’s borders in order to defend themselves, does that become a sinful action? What about a bombing run on a country we’re not officially at war with, like when the U.S. bombed Libya in 1986?

These are questions that show how complicated this matter is. As a Texan, let me look at a situation that affects me more directly.

Think about what Mexico looked like in 1835. Its borders included Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, about half of New Mexico, about a quarter of Colorado, and a small section of Wyoming (Correct me if I’m missing any). Let’s discuss the significance of that in light of Acts 17. What are some of the possibilities?

  • The United States violated God’s law in taking land from Mexico. This sin was part of God’s plan, however, and the current borders are now sacrosanct.
  • Those who immigrated to Mexico illegally committed sin, but only they are responsible for that. Countries cannot be held accountable for sin.
  • The violation of God-established borders was sinful and until repentance (and restitution) is made, the sin persists.
  • The shifting of a border from one country to another is always part of God’s determining where people should live; such shifts always have God’s approval. This includes both the actions of governments and individuals.

There are more possibilities. And I’m obviously ignoring the fact that the land which belonged to Mexico had previously belonged to others. But I would point out this: if you feel that this shift in sovereignty was in any way sanctioned by God, can one not argue that the current immigration enjoys the same sanction? If you feel that it was sinful, then are we not hypocritical to criticize others for committing the very same sin we enjoy the benefits of?

If we’re going to use Acts 17 to condemn others, let’s be aware that we are also pointing an accusing finger at our nation and our forefathers. It’s all too convenient to say, “That was then; this is now.” In biblical times, God never hesitated to punish a nation centuries after a sinful act. Use Acts 17 to condemn the immigrant, as long as you are willing to return any land you and your family own to its rightful owners.

Remembering what this country once valued

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new-colossusIt’s engraved on the Statue of Liberty:

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“

Returning America to its former values means making this a country that once again welcomes the oppressed peoples of other lands.

Don’t give in to xenophobia

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xenophobiaXenophobia is literally the fear of foreigners. The term also includes irrational dislike of those from other countries, prejudice against those who aren’t our countrymen. It’s a condition that has existed since the dawn of time.

In today’s America, xenophobia is in full bloom. We’re scared of foreign terrorists. We’re worried about illegal immigrants. We’re afraid of refugees.

As Christians, we can’t give in. If we do, we end up hating ourselves, for Christians are foreigners wherever we live in this world. We of all people must be compassionate and understanding toward those not like ourselves.

  • We can protect ourselves against terrorism without hating entire nations of people or harassing those who don’t practice our religion. (And there’s been no evidence of terrorists entering the U.S. via our southern border. There’s been no known cases of terrorists among the refugees that have come to this country. Don’t believe the lies you hear in political ads and speeches)
  • We can address a broken immigration system without forgetting that immigrants are people, people like us, most of whom come seeking a better life for their families. Some are murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. So are many citizens of the United States. Go ahead and hate the problem; don’t hate the people that are a part of it.
  • We can show caution in accepting refugees even while showing Christlike compassion. Hospitality is a Christian virtue; it’s interesting that the word in Greek is philonexia, quite literally “a friend of foreigners.”

Don’t give into xenophobia. It’s the very opposite of everything we stand for as Christians.

Stop blaming the immigrants!

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1930_Jewish_immigrants_to_PalestineDonald Trump didn’t start it, but I’ve been sorely disappointed that more Christians haven’t denounced his rhetoric. Describing immigrants as criminals and rapists, then offering as a defense statistics on how many of them have been raped… that’s the sort of outrageous slander that Christians should never tolerate.

Others talk about “terrorists flowing across our southern border,” while there’s no credible evidence that even a slight percentage of terrorists have entered the U.S. that way.

As I’ve said before, I’m all for doing what can be done to close our southern border. My motives are different from political demagogues, however. I think the route is far too dangerous for those coming that way. Let’s close the border and establish a viable system for allowing needed workers to enter the U.S. legally.

That said, I’m tired of politicians picking on the powerless. It’s too easy to blame “them.” They’re different from us. They don’t even speak our language. Let’s blame everything on them.

Remember, the Bible strongly denounces those that take advantage of the weakest members of society. And it mentions those that abuse foreigners specifically. We are to stand up for those people, no matter our political leanings, no matter our personal preferences, no matter how it might affect our personal economy.

Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of foreigners. It’s opposite, in Greek, is the word philoxenia, the love of foreigners. It’s typically translated “hospitality,” and it’s praised in the Bible as a Christian virtue.

“I was a stranger (foreigner, in the Greek), and you ______” (Matthew 25:35, 43)

If you want to support one of the candidates who maligns immigrants, please make clear to the world one of two things: (1) you support them in spite of their stance against foreigners; or (2) you support them despite the fact you are a Christian.