Thread: Killing the DREAM Act: Still No Room in the Inn

Ryan J. Bell

Senior Pastor, Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist Church
Posted: December 20, 2010 12:40 PM
Killing the DREAM Act: Still No Room in the Inn


Today we witnessed another skirmish in the real "War on Christmas". As Christians all over the world celebrate the final weekend of Advent and prepare for Christmas in just one week, the U.S. Senate once more dashed the hopes of almost 2 million children and young adults, many of whom have lived in the United States all their lives. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act failed to pass a procedural vote today in the Senate. First introduced in Aug. 2001, the DREAM Act would allow the children of undocumented immigrants a path to legal residency by either going to college or enlisting in the military.

As the media prattles on about the so-called "War on Christmas" -- an ideological battle over terminology, at best -- people's lives hang in the balance. Actions speak louder than words. One way Christians can protect the place of Christmas in our society -- indeed, the credibility of Christianity more generally -- is by acting in harmony with its core principles: grace, welcome and hospitality.

But today there was no hospitality, no grace. I have no interest in the universal observance of Christmas in our religiously plural society, but for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, (and I assume some of our dissenting Senators are among them) Christmas took another blow. Those most concerned about preserving Christmas in our culture may want to take notice. Five Democratic Senators joined all but three Republicans in denying children brought to this country by their parents the chance to become legal residents by continuing their education or serving their new country in the military. This is as American as apple pie.

It is more than a little ironic that Jesus, within days of his birth, found himself immigrating to Egypt with his family to escape the tyranny of King Herod the Great who ordered the execution of all male children in Judea. Had he grown up in similar circumstances in our country, Jesus would have been the perfect candidate for the DREAM Act. Many of the children who come to this country without proper documentation, come for the same reason people have always come to the United States and for the same reasons Jesus fled to Egypt -- to escape poverty or physical danger (or both) and to seek better opportunities for themselves and their children. But it seems this Congress would sooner deport children in the name of securing our borders than give them a chance to contribute more effectively to the U.S. economy and a chance at the American Dream.

So this next week, as at least some of the 41 Senators who voted against the DREAM Act sing songs celebrating the birth of Jesus and shower one another with gifts they might bear in mind that Jesus lived and died for precisely the people who would most benefit from legislation like the DREAM Act. In fact, Jesus was one of those immigrant kids himself. Perhaps in the Christmas celebrations this week some might stumble across these words, recorded by Luke, on the lips of the Virgin Mary while pregnant with Jesus,

He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:52-53).

Meanwhile we will have to admit that in the United States of America there is still no room in the inn for folks like Jesus.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-j-be ... 98721.html



I'm at a loss for words except to say that I'm feeling insulted over these statements. So now what? Jesus is now the poster child for the Dreamers?

How lame. Now this nut is claiming that Jesus has taken a side on the political issue of illegal immigration. Hey, how 'bout this bum preacher makes room for all these illegals in HIS house. And make sure to feed and clothe all of them, too.

Illegal is illegal. Do you understand the word illegal Senior Pastor? I am sure you do.

This a lie they like to tell. The jews were never in Egypt illegally. They were invited in. There is no REAL comparison but you know how people like to twist the Bible to suit there needs.

My favorite article to quote when "dreamers" mention the Egypt quotes as why we should be nice to them.


http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=44777

Leviticus 19:33-34: And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Exodus 22:21: Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9: Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:19: Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Some churches have stopped right there after reading that verse and decided they know all they need to know about their duty as Christians to illegal aliens.

"We're supposed to treat them just like one born among us, according to the Bible," they proclaim. "That means amnesty. It means all the benefits of citizenship."

But hold on there, partner. Not so fast. You can develop some really bad theology – not to mention politics – by reading the Bible out of context, by not fully understanding what is being said to whom and about whom.

Strangers that sojourn with you or live with you does not equate with illegal aliens. In fact, the corollary here, in each and every case, is that the children of Israel were "strangers" in Egypt. That's why they were to treat their own "strangers" well, because they knew what it is like to be "strangers" in a foreign land.

Clearly, then, what it means to be a "stranger" is to be a foreigner. In the case of the children of Israel in Egypt, they were invited and, at first anyway, were honored guests. Later, they would be oppressed by a generation who "knew not Joseph." But they were certainly not trespassers. They were certainly not in Egypt illegally. They were certainly not breaking the laws of the land by being in Egypt. In fact, they were commanded not to offend their hosts in any way (Genesis 46:28-34).

So, we must conclude that "stranger" does not equal "illegal alien." Even when the term "alien" is used in the Bible, it seems to have the exact same meaning as "stranger."

God loves the stranger, we're told. You should, too. They should be treated with respect and dignity. They should not be mistreated. These foreigners should be given food and clothing when they are in need. That's the clear message of the Bible – treat law-abiding foreigners and aliens with love and compassion.

The aliens and strangers of the Bible were expected to obey the Hebrew laws, though they were exempt from some. They were also treated differently than the children of Israel in that they could not own property; they could be bought as slaves and charged interest on loans.

Only if these aliens and strangers were fully converted as Jews – and that included circumcision – could they be landowners, partake of the Passover and be fully integrated into the nation of Israel.

In other words, even though the aliens and strangers of the Bible were not illegal aliens, they were still expected to fully assimilate into the Hebrew religion and culture before they could receive all the blessings and all the responsibility of full citizenship.

Further, keep in mind these godly instructions were meant not just for the governing authorities in Israel – the judges and kings – but, more importantly, for the people. These were personal instructions. And they are clearly good instructions for us all today.

If we want to be compassionate to the strangers and aliens of our world today, those law-abiding foreigners who desperately want to come to America and are patiently awaiting their turn, we need to be certain they don't get squeezed out unfairly by those who broke the law and pushed ahead of them in line.

We shouldn't be mean to those lawbreakers either. We shouldn't mistreat them. We should even forgive them. But they have to leave.

They haven't been invited. They are not our guests. They are not just strangers; they are trespassers. They need to go back home and get in line like everyone else waiting to enter our country lawfully.

If the barn was good enough for baby Jesus (and the visiting three Kings/Magi) why isn't it good enough for illegal aliens? Just more of their arrogant entitlement attitude.

You would have a hard time finding ONE of the ten commandments that a lot of illegals don't break.

what this war On christmas . this is American apple pie this Is our time Our Lord . you don't Like it get the hell Out it been In our Country for years & it going to be stay that way . if you Mexico or any other country don't Like it . the way we do thing we get out this is Our Lord . we all Have only one god . look It up ( he has the hold word in his hand )

There is plenty of room in their countries of origin.

I keep hearing how great these people are, what a wonderful addition they are to our country. I just don't think its fair of us to deprive their own countries of their wonderful presence. In fact, I'd even be willing to pay to ship them back, so long as its a one-way ticket.

Originally Posted by Acebackwords

I keep hearing how great these people are, what a wonderful addition they are to our country. I just don't think its fair of us to deprive their own countries of their wonderful presence. In fact, I'd even be willing to pay to ship them back, so long as its a one-way ticket.

I have to remember that one!