How legal need they be?

Immigration marchI’ve worked in churches in two different cities that were reaching out to Hispanics, and I’ve come to see some of the same issues in both places. A significant segment of the Hispanic population is here illegally. As we reach out to these people, what obligation do we have to lead them to legalize their situation? Some say that if they become Christians, they must return to their home countries. Others disagree.

Something else I’ve come to see. Many of these people seek to avoid all things that will bring them under government scrutiny. This includes marriage. A growing number of them are living together because they don’t want to file paperwork with the government. As these people become Christians, what do we do with them? I’ve heard some say that we can offer them a “spiritual” ceremony without the marriage license. Others say that churches must follow the law, as must individual Christians. If these people want to become Christians, they must marry and face the legal consequences.

How would you deal with these sticky issues?

15 thoughts on “How legal need they be?

  1. laymond

    Tim, I guess we as Christians need to decide where our loyalties lie, with God first or country? I seem to have seen where someone wrote, all Christians are alien to this world. I don’t seem to recall where it is written, “what this piece of paper has joined together, let no man put asunder”

  2. K. Rex Butts

    This would be a good case study for an evangelism class. I am not sure what I would do with the whole marriage thing. I have no problem evangelizing and ministering to someone who is in the country illegally. While I would encourage them to pursue citizenship, I also know that could take some time so there lack of legal citizenship would not change the way I treat the person. I also know that while obeying the law of the land is a good and right thing to do, it cannot be an absolute for there could come a time when the law says we have no legal right to worship and then what would we do. It seems that obeying the laws of society should only go as far as that law does not prevent us from being authentic witness of the gospel who embody the kingdom of God in our lives. Sometimes understanding this distinction is a difficult thing.

    Grace and peace,

    Rex

  3. Scott

    Hmmm – I don’t see how we are being a good witness for Christ if we are not trying to follow righteousness (which includes doing what is right – even when it does not suit us, or maybe especially when it does not suit us).
    I have just been reading in Leviticus (yes, I know that we are not Israel) where God is teaching that He is holy, different. For that reason we are to be different. This includes treating the foreigner as someone who was born as one of us. It also includes NOT giving the poor skewed treatment under the law (and not allowing the rich to get special treatment either). God is just and wants us to be the same – because HE is the Lord, our God.
    I find it quite difficult to accept that I or anyone would want to bend the law for my needs, but keep it in others. If I believe God can help me (and if that is what I am teaching), then God can help me anywhere and in all circumstances – even if I have to return back home.
    Should this all sound quite black and white – it is, and we have dealt with this as well (even in our own choices). Ignoring God because I want to have something will not make my life better. And remember what God has been able to do with those who listened and went wherever they were taken (Joseph, for example).

  4. Tim Archer Post author

    Laymond: Thanks for the comment. Even as aliens, aren’t we obligated to follow the law where possible?

    Rex: I agree about following the law not being an “all places, all times” thing. Yet, this isn’t a case of people not being able to serve God by following this law, so I’m wondering to what point that reasoning applies.

    Scott: Interesting that you mentioned both righteousness and justice, considering yesterday’s post. :-) You touch on something that I’ve wrestled with, which is how much we bow to materialism by not encouraging people to return home. And how materialistic I am as I realize how hard the choice would be for me.

    Thanks for the comments! Let’s keep wrestling with this…

  5. K. Rex Butts

    I guess I am just thinking that if we teach and baptize an illegal allien and then turn around and call the INS on that person, we are probably not going to bear witness the way the gospel intends us to do. Of course, just because we do not call INS does not mean we must not encourage a return to homeland or the pursuit of legal citizenship. Of course, perhaps they might have the seed of the gospel planted and cultivated in them in such a way that they would return to their home to share the gospel with their family and friends.

    Just some thoughts…

    Rex

  6. Tim Archer Post author

    Rex,
    I definitely agree with that. It’s one thing to encourage others to do what we consider to be right; it’s quite another to cause their expulsion from this country. That’s kind of like saying that you want to have a ministry to prostitutes, then calling the vice squad every time one comes to you for help.
    Grace and peace,
    Tim

  7. Don

    I think the “cure” is the answer.
    If one were illegal and then come to Christ…. would they not on their own understand Jesus’ command to “render unto Caesar”?

    Illegal or prostitute… my job is to evangelize.
    Illegal or prostitute who comes to Christ… their job is to obey the law.

  8. Don

    Question Tim:
    Would you call the cops on someone breaking into your house or study God’s word with him and go back to bed? ;)

  9. laymond

    Don, are we looking for what we would do, or what we should do, I seem to remember something similar to this “if he steals your pants, give him your undies as well” you wouldn’t want him to get a chaffed bottom would you :)

  10. Tim Archer Post author

    Don,
    If he’d go for the second choice, I’d definitely study with him.
    Not sure if I’d be brave enough to make the offer, though.
    Grace and peace,
    Tim

  11. Tim Archer Post author

    Now Laymond… you aren’t going to start quoting Jesus on us, are you? We’re talking about real world stuff. Jesus has nothing to do with that.

  12. nick gill

    Anyone recommending that their brother or sister in Christ sacrifice material comfort to obey the law had better take a long, hard look at the book of James and then look at themselves in the mirror.

    We speak so flippantly about what THEY should do, and what we should SAY. We are so arrogant.

    “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed [on your trip back to Mexico],’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

  13. Tim Archer Post author

    Nick,
    I agree that we shouldn’t ask them to wrestle with a monster that we ourselves refuse to face. Our focus on material things is one of the greatest weaknesses we have as Christians here in the West.
    The answer, though, isn’t to ask less of them; it’s about asking more of ourselves. That is, it’s about us focusing on the log in our eye and hoping that they can work on the speck in their own.
    Grace and peace,
    Tim

  14. Tim Archer Post author

    One man that is active in the church in my wife’s hometown was converted after being arrested as an illegal alien. He was sent back to Argentina.

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