Readers respond: Your thoughts on immigration issues
Readers weigh in on immigration, political debate over reform and how the church factors into this issue.
I guess I have mixed views about illegal immigration. However, the thought that comes to mind is, As Jesus was gasping his last breaths & uttering his last words while on the cross. Luke 23:34 (NIV) He says, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. Here Jesus loved even near death no matter who people were. Also, Matt. 10:42 (NIV) ” And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I will tell you the truth, he will certainly not loose his reward”. Being like Jesus will bring peace to people’s lives. To be like Jesus.
Jimmy Waggoner, Sanger, TX
I appreciate the fact that the Christian Chronicle isn’t backing away from this issue right now. I felt moved to write concerning my thoughts on illegal immigrants and more specifically what I KNOW from the scriptures concerning this issue. I am not a lawyer, an immigration specialist, a preacher, or an elder, I am simply a Christian trying to live my life according to the will of God. It is from that prospective that I write to you.
As a Christian, there are many things involved in this issue. But there are many things involved in every issue. The primary thing that we MUST remember as a Christian is to love our neighbors (Matthew 19:19) and to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). These principles apply no matter what the issue that is being discussed.
When we talk about loving in the context of illegal immigrants, whether they are your enemy or your neighbor depends on where you stand politically. We as Christians MUST be concerned with the souls of these people no matter where we stand politically. Therefore as a Christian, at times we must put away our political feelings and determine what God’s word says about the subject.
No matter where we stand politically on the issue of illegal immigration, we MUST stand for the truth first. We MUST love these people and sometimes love is hard. Truly loving them, means helping
them remove sin from their life. And if we assist them in their sin, are not also in sin (Read I Corinthians 5)? This is hard to face at times, especially when someone is facing it with someone that they love.
But if we really love these people, we would be more concerned with their souls in eternity than the short time here on earth.
Now, the political position is up to each individual. It is our duty to work to get the laws of this land as close to the laws of God as possible. The best advice that can be given in this area, is to tell
each person to search the scriptures and verify that their stand does not oppose the laws of God. Once you have determined where the scriptures stand on a subject (or where you stand if there is no
scriptural stand taken), then communicate with your representatives in government to encourage them to vote the way that you would want. Do not go around the laws, do not break the laws, this does you no good, nor does it help Christianity to spread. Paul used his Roman citizenship to spread the word across the world, we too should use our American citizenship to God’s advantage. Nothing less is expected of us. If making these illegal immigrants legal will help win more souls for Christ, then so be it, and then that is the way we should be pushing. Conversely, if removing them from this country would turn the country closer to God, then that is the way we should be pushing. Just remember, we should be like Simon and Matthew in the end, we should work together to spread the word throughout the world.
Kelly L. Fulks, Huntsville, AL
I guess I have mixed views about illegal immigration. However, the thought that comes to mind is, As Jesus was gasping his last breaths & uttering his last words while on the cross. Luke 23:34 (NIV) He says, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. Here Jesus loved even near death no matter who people were. Also, Matt. 10:42 (NIV) ” And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I will tell you the truth, he will certainly not loose his reward”. Being like Jesus will bring peace to people’s lives. To be like Jesus.
Jimmy Waggoner, Sanger, TX
I appreciate the fact that the Christian Chronicle isn’t backing away from this issue right now. I felt moved to write concerning my thoughts on illegal immigrants and more specifically what I KNOW from the scriptures concerning this issue. I am not a lawyer, an immigration specialist, a preacher, or an elder, I am simply a Christian trying to live my life according to the will of God. It is from that prospective that I write to you.
As a Christian, there are many things involved in this issue. But there are many things involved in every issue. The primary thing that we MUST remember as a Christian is to love our neighbors (Matthew 19:19) and to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). These principles apply no matter what the issue that is being discussed.
When we talk about loving in the context of illegal immigrants, whether they are your enemy or your neighbor depends on where you stand politically. We as Christians MUST be concerned with the souls of these people no matter where we stand politically. Therefore as a Christian, at times we must put away our political feelings and determine what God’s word says about the subject.
No matter where we stand politically on the issue of illegal immigration, we MUST stand for the truth first. We MUST love these people and sometimes love is hard. Truly loving them, means helping
them remove sin from their life. And if we assist them in their sin, are not also in sin (Read I Corinthians 5)? This is hard to face at times, especially when someone is facing it with someone that they love.
But if we really love these people, we would be more concerned with their souls in eternity than the short time here on earth.
Now, the political position is up to each individual. It is our duty to work to get the laws of this land as close to the laws of God as possible. The best advice that can be given in this area, is to tell
each person to search the scriptures and verify that their stand does not oppose the laws of God. Once you have determined where the scriptures stand on a subject (or where you stand if there is no
scriptural stand taken), then communicate with your representatives in government to encourage them to vote the way that you would want. Do not go around the laws, do not break the laws, this does you no good, nor does it help Christianity to spread. Paul used his Roman citizenship to spread the word across the world, we too should use our American citizenship to God’s advantage. Nothing less is expected of us. If making these illegal immigrants legal will help win more souls for Christ, then so be it, and then that is the way we should be pushing. Conversely, if removing them from this country would turn the country closer to God, then that is the way we should be pushing. Just remember, we should be like Simon and Matthew in the end, we should work together to spread the word throughout the world.
Kelly L. Fulks, Huntsville, AL
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