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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Note: We wholeheartedly believe that Christians are called to be compassionate and merciful toward immigrants (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34; Matthew 25:35). We also believe that the United Stat...
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Mike Dumais
Christians are commanded to obey the civil authorities. There is a big distinction between immigrants and illegal aliens, those distorting the language or the common interpretation of words with respect to this or any other debate are doing so to spin or deceive. We all know who the "father of deceit" is. Speaking to a group of Jews, Jesus says, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Sadly, and sometimes supported by people of misapplied good intentions, the illegal immigrant trade across our southern border has created a virtual Satan's playground including: Human trafficking, sex slavery, indentured servitude, murder, death, destruction of countless families from countries south of Mexico, created an evil underworld culture across much of our land, black market dealing in guns, drugs, violence, prostitution, kidnaping and etc. It is further corrupting our society and political process. It is one of several synergistic issues ruining the moral fabric of the country along with abortion, homosexuality and a welfare system that destroys families. " In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. " Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips. (Romans 1:27-29) The plain fact that our country is becoming increasingly wicked is evident and Americans' belief in the devil is growing, according to Gallup polls. In 1990, 55 percent of Americans said they believed in the devil. In 2001, that was 68 percent and in 2007, it had increased to 70 percent. You can't fool all the people all the time. Pray for our country.
Seth Freeman
Scripture doesn't speak directly to illegal immigration. But the word "illegal" ought to be a fairly big tell. Unless the government asks us to do something which goes directly against the teachings of Christ, we are to obey the government. Therefore, it is immoral to speed, to run a red light, to download music or movies that you have not purchased, or to illegally enter another country. The word "illegal" should be a pretty easy guide.
Emo Tenorio
In my humble opinion the answer to the current illegal immigration sideshow as put forth by the faculty lounge commandos and their intelligentsia media lapdogs is addressed in the second book of the Bible, that being at Exodus 20. These laws were written by the very finger of God in stone, for man everywhere and for all time, and these laws were placed into the ark for a purpose. Unlike the third book laws of Leviticus which were God inspired, but penned by Moses, a Jew, and meant for the Jew, consider these laws didn't make the cut, thus not included in the ark of the covenant. "ILLEGAL" prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules. Exodus 20:15 "STEAL" take without the owner's consent i.e. illegally receive some benefit not do you at another's expense. Exodus 20:17 "COVET" wish, long, or crave for something, begrudge, envy, drool over that which you want, but is not yours to have outside of His will. Words do in fact have meaning, now a few facts for your consideration on this matter. 1. America is a land of immigrants blah, blah, and starting in 1892 and ending in 1954 only about twelve million LEGAL immigrants entered the USA through Ellis Island. 2. The true purpose of this Ellis (remember it's an Island) was to isolate any foreign diseases and treat them at the Island hospital, thus protecting the mainland population from exposure to who knew what at the time. 3. The immigration and nationality act of 1965 enacted on June 30 1968 fundamentally changed a system that had been working since May 19 1921. Under the new quota system setup with ninety percent of all spots given to third world countries and ten percent to the educated from industrialized nations. Now each year Ted Kennedy's reform brings over one million LEGAL third world immigrants and future Democratic voters in, but still that's not enough. 4.We are a constitutional republic founded on the rule of law where we are all equally subject to its statutes as LEGALLY written and not as IDEOLOGICALLY wanted. I may disagree with the concept of abortion, but I will follow the law as written and continue working to legally change the law. John 7:24 5. Just because a thief breaks into your home and puts on your pajamas, somehow you are now required to make them part of your family, is not logical and the Bible has a bit to say on the future status of thieves and liars. Luke 8:10 now consider for a moment the ideological picture before us in Matthew 25:33-34 the sheep are on HIS RIGHT Matthew 25:41 the goats are on HIS LEFT In the Lord's freedom and let no one deceive you................warrior on
Nick Koogler
Exodus 22:21-24 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. Numbers 15:26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 10:17-20 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus at the Temple 21:12- 16 pp — Mk 11:15- 18; Lk 19:45- 47 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers. ’” Jesus turned tables for two reasons: His house was being defiled and His people were being mistreated. No where in scripture does it say they were breaking governmental law but Jesus thought it necessary to make a big deal over it. I beg you to ask this question is Jesus more concerned with the place or His people. Let's not through away very distinct biblical principle to fit our own political agenda. Jesus was very critical of those who follow His law to the letter but not in principle. Let us not make that mistake. What does the Bible say about illegal immigration? The very scripture mentioned to requires us to obey governance starts by calling us all aliens, foreigners, and/or strangers. Which we are or at least were both culturally and biblically. Unless you are native to America your ancestors were once aliens. When did we decide to make everyone else "illegal"? If we want to follow the law we should make them legal not prevent them from coming or kick them out. (Sorry, that last part was me.) Back to what the Bible says. 1 Peter 2:11-17 Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover- up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Aurel Gheorghe
Leviticus 19:34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." America is a land of immigrants with a special history. Most of us, or our ancestors, arrived here one way or another, and all of us are strangers in a strange land. People of Israel spent a good part of the NT going from one land to another in search of the Promised Land. On many occasions the land was acquired by force with God's blessing and guidance. There are many US laws on the books that make no sense, are antiquated or arbitrarily set by misguided legislators. To simply say that if something was deemed as legal or illegal by US Congress must be God's will is just silly. I could come up with a bunch of laws that the Federal or local legislators passed and most Christians will have moral issues with (i.e, abortion, marijuana or alcohol use, etc.) Taking in consideration that at present time the only ways to acquire legal status in US is via marriage with an US citizen or having lots of money or special skills, is not surprising that many people are risking their lives trying to enter this country. Many are trying to escape poverty, political or religious persecution or civil injustice. As Christians we are told by God to show mercy and sympathy to these people rather than looking for legal reason to shame them or imprison them. One day all of us we will be called to answer for our actions on this earth and the words written in Matthew 25:31-45 will be in our ears.
Danny Hickman
Supporter
To my knowledge the bible doesn't specifically address illegal immigration, but the term illegal makes me believe that it wouldn't be in agreement with it. That said, allow me to say more. Questions like this one asked of the Christian community seem very similar to questions asked by "RELIGIOUS LEADERS" of Jesus to "trap Him into saying something they could use against Him" Luke 11:54. There is no CORRECT answer to how we believers, followers of Christ, christians, or however we wished to be described, should feel about illegal immigrants flooding into the USA. The bible tells us how God views our actions here, judging them by the intents of our heart. David asked The Lord to "Search me, O God, and know my heart;" Psalm 139:23 Illegal immigration is just that; Illegal.Calling it A SIN adds nothing to the offense. But let's see how Jesus feels about breaking laws... When He and His disciples walked through some grain fields on a Sabbath His disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees said " why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath? "(Luke 6:4, Mark 2:26, Matt 12:4) It was against the law of their land, their government, if you will. Jesus reminds them of how David, when he and his men were hungry, went into the house of God and "broke the law" by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.He also gave some to his men. Jesus explains that the Sabbath (LAW) was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the REQUIREMENTS of the Sabbath (LAW). He didn't accuse David for what he did. David actually acted within the confines of the duty of a priest by caring for his men in spite of the law. God is a God of PRINCIPLE. I don't have the answer to the immigration issue, but I don't feel like I'm sinning against God if I help them find a comfortable place to live, or employment or anything else needed to survive.
Tim Maas
As the husband of a legal immigrant (now a U.S. citizen), whose entry into the United States and subsequent naturalization involved considerable time, expense, and effort (by both of us), I bear no personal ill will toward those who enter the country illegally, particularly those who do so as the result of persecution or war, or in consideration of the risks that they are taking just from the journey itself. However, there are laws and established procedures that have been duly enacted in our country by democratically-elected representatives who did so with knowledge of the plight of such people; of the conditions that lead to their illegal entry; and of threats facing our country, and (as has been already pointed out, with supporting biblical references) I believe that the duty of all (and especially of Christians) is to respect and obey those requirements (just as my wife and I did), rather than attempting to subvert or evade them. If there are aspects of those laws that are found to be systematically unfair and/or inadequate in their implementation (such as the number of individuals authorized entry into the United States over specific time periods or from specific countries, or the conditions under which immigrants are allowed legal entry), they should be properly changed. But, until then, there should be enforced consequences for disobedience.
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