Illegal Immigration: A Biblical Perspective

Breakpoint with Chuck Colson ^ | 5/8/2006 | Mark Earley

[Mr. Silverback]

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[LS]

This still doesn't really develop the overall perspective of the Bible. First, remember the Jews, at God's command, evicted forcibly ALL Canaanites and others from the Promised Land.

Second, the Judaeans and the Israelites had their own rules for who was, and wasn't a "citizen," (no such concept existed at the time). Basically, anyone who wasn't a Jew was an alien, a guest, with certain "human" rights, but absolutely no political rights. They could not participate in any of the social or religious functions.

Keep in mind that this was no democracy with individual "rights," and the Jews themselves were subject to the King, who supposedly was selected by God. I could be wrong, but I think Gentiles could bring suit against Jews that would be tried before Jewish judges; but the notion that a bunch of Assyrians (as "aliens") would suddenly move into Judea and "demand" rights as Jews would be laughable.

And, just to make sure that even those who were sincere didn't abuse the "citizenship" process, they had one practice that ensured that only those truly committed to becoming Jews would do so . . .

circumcision.

[Mr. Silverback]

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[raybbr]

ping

[g33k355]

right on!

[Larry Lucido]

I'm a Bible believer, but we have a Constitution, not a Biblical monarchy.

That said, even with strict border control and expulsion of every illegal, the U.S. takes in far, far more than its share of legal immigrants, from any perspective.

[Sabatier]

"Such disrespect for the law sets a terrible example to everyone."

That's the trouble with amnesty. It validates the disrespect for the law, saying in effect, if enough people commit a crime, it's no longer a crime.
The leadership of Mexico has to be confronted. It's like when you see neglected children on the street, the parents have to be confronted. You don't just adopt the kids and let the parents off the hook. The Mexican government is like those bad parents that neglect their own children.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

I'm sure that anything we do, securing the boarder must come first. That dosen't cross any of my Christian values and respects law and order.

[jackbenimble]

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.”

When the native born commit crimes they are not mistreated but they are punished.

I don't see any point in mistreating or abusing illegals but I think it is absolutely appropriate for them to be punished for any crimes the commit including coming here illegally. The punishment for that crime is typically deportation.

[Mr. Silverback]

The leadership of Mexico has to be confronted. It's like when you see neglected children on the street, the parents have to be confronted. You don't just adopt the kids and let the parents off the hook. The Mexican government is like those bad parents that neglect their own children.

Great analogy.

[Sabatier]

Thanks. Mexico is like the dysfunctional family on the block where the sad little kids break your heart, but their parents are oblivious. That's the real heart of the matter.

[DocRock]

Bump to read later...

[Cap Huff]

Bump

[Ptaz]

Nobody wants us to mistreat anyone and nobody wants to stop legal immigration. Most conservatives just want the government to enforce the laws on the books and wants people to come to this country legally and obey the laws. If the laws are too cumbersome to obey, then work within the system and change the law. Now what it takes to get there is anyone's guess with our current political climate. Do we deport anyone rounded up? Do we offer blanket amnesty (I hope that doesn't happen)? Do we punish businesses who knowingly hire illegals? If the Republicans want to galvanize their base, this is something they'd better solve.

[kellynla]

BTTT

[Earthdweller]

BTTT

[Mrs. Don-o]

LS, your Biiblical paradigm is not at all self-evident and can be disputed from a number of angles, but here's one to think about:

• the Canaanites were abominable to God because of baby-killing (sacrificing babies to Moloch)
• the Jews got their land because they were people of His covenant
• Today, Americans have a much higher abortion rate than Mexicans, and therefore resemble baby-killing Canaanites;
• and the Mexicans are more predominantly Christian (very few Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, Scientologists, or ACLU atheists), and therefore they are by a bigger percentage, people of the Covenant.

  Following this line of reasoning, they should drive us out and occupy the land.

  Before you get out your flamethrower, I hasten to say I'm not advcating this point of view; I'm just saying it's as plausible as yours.

  I think Mark Earley's got it about right: acts of compassion at the personal and Church level; even-handed law enforcement at the government level. He argues his point well--- just what I'd expect from Prison Fellowship--- in a principled, lawful, and Christian manner.

[LS]

I disagree on why the Canaanites were an abomination---the harlot Rahab let the cat out of the bag when she said that they KNEW they were not supposed to be there. Obviously, God would be an unjust God if He allowed the Jews to take their land "just cuz."

We Christians are the people of His covenant now.

Regardless of what one wants to claim about abortion, the U.S. is the most moral nation on the planet, with more practicing Christians than anywhere (perhaps not as a % of population, but in sheer numbers). This is a glass half full vs. half empty argument.

If there was no such thing as "citizenship," Paul would NEVER have made such a big deal out of his civil rights as a Roman citizen. He would have had to say, "Well, I'm just another alien, so who cares. Kill me." But he appealed directly to Caesar on the basis of CITIZENSHIP LAW.

By their very nature in coming here illegally, the Mexicans have no more part in the "covenant" than anyone else. God doesn't like lawbreakers, and said so in Romans, repeatedly. Oh, and don't forget, they were the ORIGINAL child killers (Aztecs) in their previous incarnation.