for the record

I just wanted to go on record (speaking into the microphone for anyone who wants to hear) by saying:

I do not think the church has any other obligation than to protect those who come to us for assistance--whatever that may mean. I am in ministry with all kinds of people throughout any given week--and because they love God with all of their being and because they live into loving their neighbors as they would be loved themselves, I don’t ask for immigration papers or documentation of legal status or anything like that.

I recently responded to a discussion thread on myspace as follows (the comment to which I was responding was a question about how the church can provide legal clinics to illegal immigrants, and use the term justice in connection with it):

I’m always hesitant to just throw around texts in a "proof-text" kind of way...but...

Exodus 22:21 -- "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt."

Exodus 23:9 -- "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt."

Leviticus 19:33-34 -- "When an alien lives in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

Deuteronomy 10:18 -- "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing."

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 -- "Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this."

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 -- "When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the Lord your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them."

Deuteronomy 27:19 -- "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless, or the widow."

Isaiah 58:6-7 -- "is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bods of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and when not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Jesus:
"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the law and the prophets." (Matt. 7:12)
"’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the first commandment. And a second is like it. ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22:37-40)
"Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...I was a stranger and you welcomed me...when was it we saw you a stranger and welcomed you?...truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these...you did it to me...you that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels...I was a stranger and you did not welcome me...Lord, when was it we did not take care of you?...Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’" (Matt. 25:31ff)

Likely you will return with quotes from Paul (Romans 13) or Peter’s Epistles which state something along the lines of "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed." (Romans 13:1-2) so I’ll just quote if for you and say that there are more references to caring for the stranger and the alien in Scripture than there are for being subject to the rules of governing authorities (the same authorities that crucified Christ and so many other early Christians at that!). The general tenor of Scripture (a good--nay, very good--Wesleyan concept) speaks to caring for the stranger in our midst and seeking justice for the alien, the widow, and the orphan as God’s Law and that, my friend, weighs more importantly in my heart than any laws of our nation.

Galatians 3:28 -- (Paul’s description of a church that wrestled with racial/national divisions) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Colossians 3:11 -- (again, on the same issue of national/racial divisions) "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."

I realize that may not have been the most charitable way to respond to a thread, and were I given another chance at it...I’m not sure I respond much differently. Rebukes are a good part of the Christian tradition when it comes to sticking up for the outcast and the downtrodden, so maybe I’m just playing into that particular tradition.

However, I’m coming to the realization that silence isn’t helpful on some topics, espeically when it means that others may be hurting.

I’m also getting weary of people who want to put allegiance to nation before their allegiance to God. As some of my friends say, "Angel made a jailbreak said go & walk this land and be in awe...you must obey God rather than man if you’re in awe." (Thanks to the Psalters for that one.)