Thread: Is it truly ‘Christian’ to fawn over illegal immigrants?

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Is it truly ‘Christian’ to fawn over illegal immigrants?
by Jim Heid
published November 16, 2006 12:15 am

It’s a dilemma. What’s an earnest Christian supposed to think about illegal immigration? Many Christian leaders trumpet the “rights” of illegal immigrants. They testify before Congress, and even threaten civil disobedience. Other fair-minded citizens recoil in fear that this invasion from the south endangers the very fabric of American life. People opposed to illegal immigration risk being labeled racist, xenophobic, or at the very least un-Christian. Society expects Christian leaders to uphold the laws of our land. Instead some are openly encouraging others to break them.

A Chicago Methodist Church provides asylum to an immigrant woman facing deportation. The Catholic Bishops of the United States and Mexico issued a joint paper, “Strangers No Longer,’’ urging Americans “to protect the human rights of all migrants.” The Bishops state that “migration between our two nations is necessary and beneficial.”

Note that the Bishops reduce this issue to a problem of “migration” — sort of like the swallows returning to Capistrano.

Mexico is a land of great poverty and great wealth. Instead of “migrating” their poor to the United States, Mexican Bishops might better pressure their corrupt government to “migrate” some of the country’s natural wealth (oil and natural resources) to their masses living in abject poverty.

“But we are a nation of immigrants,” advocates remind us over and over — as if this had any relevance to the issue. We are certainly not a nation of illegal immigrants.

Church support for aliens who jump our borders heaps scorn and mockery on those who play by the rules and take the long legal road to citizenship.

Corporate corruption and business greed are twin scourges of our democracy today.

How incredibly inappropriate then for Christian leaders to ally themselves with these very enterprises that callously exploit illegal workers for their own selfish profit. Of course taxpayers pick up all the hidden costs of this cheap labor — health care, social services, education, police protection, court costs, etc. In effect, poor and middle class taxpayers subsidize corporate profits — and those endorsing illegal immigration are complicit in this injustice.

Christian leaders rightly defend human rights.

But their concern appears directed only toward non-citizens. Who protects the human rights of our poorest, most vulnerable citizens as their jobs get undercut or eliminated by competition from lowly-paid immigrants? Who defends the human rights of citizens denied adequate medical care because hospitals and health care facilities are overwhelmed (some forced to close) by non-paying illegal immigrants? Who protects the human rights of children doomed to a third-rate education because schools are flooded with immigrant children, many unable to speak English? Who protects the human rights of victims of drug traffickers and Latino criminals who slip across our porous borders? Who defends the human rights of victims of vicious Latino youth gangs such as MS-13? Is there fairness or Christian justice in any of this?

Most undocumented workers are Latino Christians. But Church leaders vigorously deny that their advocacy represents any effort to put more seats in their pews. Would their support for human rights be as loud and outspoken if our estimated 11 million illegal aliens were mostly Muslims, Hindus or Jews? History suggests otherwise. The record for Christians aiding non-Christians fleeing genocide, war and disaster is hardly notable. Perhaps we Christians have only recently discovered human rights.

Illegal immigrants are mostly good people, hard working, seeking only a better life. Too bad their in-your-face style of street marches fills our TV screens with a shrill defiance that seems to shout: “We’re here. We want our rights. Get out of our way.” Such arrogance boiled to a head in the angering image of the Mexican flag hoisted above the inverted American flag.

In August 2006, the Heritage Foundation predicted that future taxpayer costs from illegal immigration will reach half a trillion dollars ($500 billion). Is it un-Christian to feel that this princely sum could be better used to relieve poverty and to address the crying needs of our own struggling citizens — before we tackle the problems of illegal foreigners?

It’s mostly three groups fueling our illegal immigration mess: Certain politicians trying to garner the Latino vote; corporations and businesses looking to continued exploitation and a steady flow of cheap labor; and some church leaders seeking to increase their membership and enhance their power base. The ugly sin here is that all three groups mask their true motives behind the hypocritical guise of extending Christian charity and defending human rights. Now there is something that is truly un-Christian.

Jim Heid is a retired family physician now living in Black Mountain. He practiced 31 years in rural Minnesota and six years with the V.A.

For all of those embracing illegal aliens and making demands on their behalf should read the Bible, the word of God. For those claiming it is un-Christian to cast out the illegal aliens, are not properly conveying the word of God. The Bible does not say to allow illegal aliens to come into you country and you do not have to aid, harbor and embrace them or allow them to stay.

These individuals making these claims or repeating them, need to read God's words regarding the preservation of the Land of Israel and the directions He gave the Israelites concerning people living amongst them. God's directions were very clear.

Illegal alien supporters that allege otherwise are deceitful and not accurately conveying the word of God. I advise caution to anyone using the Bible as evidence for their position. One verse taken out of context is not evidence you are righteous in your actions. For those that want to re-write the verses of the Bible should read the warnings in the last verses in the book of Revelations.

I believe God will deal sternly, with those who use His words to deceive.

Dixie

I think the Christian churches would be best served to attend to the business of their permanent flocks with papers and leave the migratory JayBirds to the Government.

I think the Christian churches have their hands full dealing with their own; working on their own behavior; dealing with the ministry of their suffering members; the ministry of Americans who need food, jobs, clothing, spiritual guidance, the ministry to gangs of lost helpless teenagers where crime found them before one of God's messengers did, the ministry to helpless women caught in marriages and relationships that subject them to brutality in all its forms, the ministry to those committing crimes who have lost their way or never found it.

My God ... of all our true American Population ... there are millions of people living in poverty, hopelessness, despair, illiteracy, crime, abuse, loneliness, sickness .... around 80,000,000 low income Americans need a special helping hand .... along with all the rest of US who need as all humans need ... spiritual guidance.

I think until their flocks are without sadness, despair, hopelessness, poverty, illness, abuse, crimes .... the Churches have their hands full with plenty to do. So the next time the US Congress calls or the President calls or some fool bunch of people who can't decide whether to secure our borders and enforce US Immigration Law calls ... I would say ... "Look, Sir/Maam, you're paid to do the people's work, I'm paid to do God's work and I'm booked for the several years." Wish them Good Luck. Tell them you'll pray for them in their hour of indecision concerning their job duties and bid them .. Good Day".

Very Simple in a nation that since its foundation has recognized the Separation of Church and State for good purpose, good cause, good reason and good result.

It is no more Christian to fawn over illegals than it was godly for Ahab to fawn over Jezebel. Many if not most of these people do not represent our values and do not want to be Americans; they just want what we have.