Diversions

Pastor Szmara tactfully did not spend much time going into some of the arguments made over immigration. He simply acknowledged that the issues are complex. Hopefully, we agree on the principles. We often disagree on the concrete specifics of situations and the unintended consequences of policies.

At the same time, our arguments can be rationalizations or diversions. If we are determined to take a certain position – whatever it might be – we usually can find arguments to support what we want to think or do deep down. Sometimes, we aren’t even aware of the forces pushing us in certain directions.

Issues can be complex. There can be competing values and principles in play. There can be debate over the consequences of certain decisions and policies. None of these absolve us of our biblical responsibility toward our neighbor and the foreigner. Christ demands that we help others in need when we are in a position to do so.

What then are the core principles?

• All humans are created in the image of God and are inherently valuable (Gen. 1:26-27).
• From a Christian perspective, a person’s country of origin, race, ethnicity, or gender makes no difference to God. He loves outsiders (and we must love them) no less than the person in our group (e.g., Gal. 3:28). National distinctions have nothing to do with the kingdom of God.
• Jesus is for the “lost sheep.” The lost sheep are those on the edges, those on the margins. Jesus loves the majority too, but his earthly ministry focused on the edges (e.g., Matt. 9:12; Luke 4:18-19; Luke 15).
• God calls us to love everyone from our friend to our enemy, and love means action (Matt. 5:43-48; Luke 10:25-37). 
• God loves the truth. There are a lot of anecdotes and misconceptions about immigration that permeate our lives. Often these take the form of excuses for existing prejudices – they just make them sound just and noble. If we are the people of God, we will be people who are not only open to what is factual and true but will seek to change our views if they are incorrect.

How we “label” and refer to others is important because it is an indirect way of expressing how we value them. We are called to love without labels (e.g., “illegal” immigrants). There isn’t a footnote or asterisk next to God’s command. For example, the Bible doesn’t say, “if they are legal” or “if they learn English” or “if they are hard-working” or “if they erase their cultural identity”... then we will love them. 

God doesn’t re-label immigrants. He just calls us to love immigrants – simply because he does.

We can disagree on how these principles might play out at a particular time and place, but hopefully we are not arguing over God’s fundamental love and concern for all people. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, and that is not just spiritually but the whole person. It is the Devil’s trick to dehumanize others in sneaky ways so that we might subconsciously feel like it’s okay not to be concerned about them.

For a more concrete look at some of the diversions that are made in relation to immigration, a helpful reference is The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong.