Posted on 07/07/2010 10:46:06 AM PDT by van_erwin
One of the most heartening things about the immigrants rights movement today is the involvement by U.S. citizens who are people of faith. Thousands turned out in the streets around the country -- side by side with immigrants -- to demand humane immigration reform and to express outrage at Arizona legislation that cracks down on immigrants. The concern for immmigrants' rights is mirrored in migration theology, a growing area of scholarship that examines what the Bible has to say about how we treat "the stranger among us."
Migration theologians frequently cite Leviticus 19: 33-34. "When an alien lives with you 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."
The focus of migration theology is on the treatment of the "alien" in terms of charity and justice; they need our help and, according to the Biblical tradition of hospitality, we must respond. (See NCR, September 18, 2009, "Theology in the Age of Migration.")
But there is more to this story. What if we are the ones in need of help from immigrants? What if we need the presence of immigrants to aid us in the battle against ethnocentrism rooted in white supremacist attitudes?
This is the argument put forth by Jose F. Morales Jr. in the March issue of Sojourners magazine. Immigration reform -- bringing scores of immigrants out of the shadows -- will "allow the church to pray and worship in a new way" as immigrants and non-immigrants alike work together to build God’s kingdom on earth, Morales writes. "In this light, it can be argued that the church must rise up in support of the immigrant ... in order to provide healing for a church and nation in need of repentance and reform. Diversity within the church will not only be liberation for a nation trapped in its own white skin, but it will also serve as a crucial spiritual discipline for the white American church."
Morales's argument is one rarely heard. Hopefully, more and more scholars will integrate migration theology with an understanding of the history of racism in America. Such an understanding will require that we repent—and in so doing, renew our spirits and rebuild our churches on a firmer foundation, in the image of God.
IOW, the Church can make more money.
“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.”
I read that to mean if the alien has broken the law to be here, the alien must be held accountable just as one of the native-born would.
Sojourners is Jim Wallis' rag.
Drivel such as this is one of N reasons (where N is a large number) that I am no longer a Catholic.
So I guess the Israelis should let in all those Palestinians under the “right of return”.
Not so tough. It tells us not to mistreat people just because they are aliens. The Bible (Jesus) also tells us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Now, that’s mostly in financial tribute to our government but the Bible also tells us to respect and obey our government’s laws.
We have laws on the books that deal with illegal-aliens. They are constitutional and should be obeyed. Obeying them in no way mistreats people who came here illegally.
There are aliens and then there are illegal aliens (who jumped the line). Then there are aliens who want to replace our language and laws with their own. And there are those who rape and murder, fill our jails, take our jobs, and take opportunity away from those who wait to enter legally.
Sorry, but are you talking about Leviticus or the article? I don't know that I really get what the author's saying, but I don't think I can ignore Scripture.
This reads like more Latin American Social Justice B.S. I hear about coming from ELCA,too.
I must have missed the part of scripture that commands us to give them, and all their relatives, free goodies for life, and to vacate our lands on their behalf.
They are NOT CHARITIBLE to say the least.
Time for "these strangers" to go back home.
If you read a little more about Leviticus, you would realize that they are talking about Gentiles (also referred to as Strangers.) They are not talking about Illegal Aliens.
If you read a little more about Leviticus, you would realize that they are talking about Gentiles (also referred to as Strangers.) They are not talking about Illegal Aliens.
The New Testament tells us that Jesus brought a new Law that wiped out the old. Read John 10:1 and get back to me on ambiguity.
It shouldn’t be a tough one with you. I don’t think anyone is advocating treating immigrants as second hand citizens. Those that immigrate should be treated well.
However, those that enter our country with no permission should be sent back.
The ambiguity is in the status of the alien. One would assume the alien is there legally since the Israelites were in Egypt legally.
"People of faith" who jump on the anti-Arizona bandwagon are basicly "people of emotion" who's faith is a mile wide and about an inch deep.
(Now, if you similarly separate wool and linen, don't eat shellfish, tithe 10%, then this applies to you).
2) In other parts of the OT, God told the Israelites to "utterly destroy" those living in the and they were to occupy. Well, if we apply that today, we would have destroyed the Mexicans in the Southwest in the first place---though obviously not those in Mexico.
3) The Bible also intended that the alien live by Jewish laws---obviously, the alien had to adapt to Jewish culture. Somehow I don't think any "alien" shouting "Viva Babylon" in Judea would have lasted long. Are the current immigrants doing this?
As for the utterly goofy notion that I need a bunch of illegals to keep me from being a racist---it's so stupid I don't have words.
Yes, there is a lot of ambiguity.
Most importantly, what is the context of this passage? Who is an alien and how did they get there? What was expected of them in return? Did they need to have the approval of the king to live there or did everyone just wander around crossing borders and squat on whatever plot of ground looked appealing to them?
Immigrant rights activists believe in breaking the law but you won’t find much support for that viewpoint in scripture.
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