A Christian Response to Immigrants
While immigration has always been a topic of much contention in the United States, it has reached a level unheard of even a few years ago. Some Republican politicians openly describe immigrants (documented and undocumented) as rapists, criminals, lazy, carriers of AIDS, and originating from shit hole countries. These same politicians claim to be Christians even though the vitriol in this type of rhetoric is not Christ-like. I say this not to imply that they are not Christians but merely to point out that Christians do not always reconcile themselves to God in the actions they take. Some will argue that this is all just bloviation and that we must instead look at the actual political positions underlying these comments. In response to this assertion, I will turn to the official 2016 Republican platform. This document is created by the party to represent the party.
The platform states that “America’s immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States, and the interests of American workers must be protected over the claims of foreign nationals seeking the same jobs.” Many people in my own family would agree with this statement but what does it mean? While it seems innocent enough, it is the belief that a group of people must serve the national interest of a political entity. That based on the circumstances of birth a people should have privileges and protections no matter the cost to another group.
The results of this philosophy are seen just a few lines later in the document. “In light of the alarming levels of unemployment and underemployment in this country, it is indefensible to continue offering lawful permanent residence to more than one million foreign nationals every year.” Instead of seeking solutions that maximize total employment across both groups, the solution is to target one group's ability to work legally. This same mentality is at play in safety/security. An asylum seeker can be denied protection even when a 100% credible threat to their lives exists in there home country due to the belief that “asylum should be limited to cases of political, ethnic or religious persecution.” In fact the more dangerous your country of origin the harder it should be for you. “To ensure our national security, refugees who cannot be carefully vetted cannot be admitted to the country, especially those whose homelands have been the breeding grounds for terrorism.” This ideology evolved into the travel ban, a ban that targets Muslim majority countries.
The best way I can sum up this entire system of ideas is that the government must serve its citizens but not humanity in general. Now compare this to the religious/political institution created by Christ, the Church. It is instructed to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:16) not a selected few. As members of that church, we are taught to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]" (Matthew 5:44). Even if you construed immigrants as the enemy, they must be loved. During the life of Jesus, he illuminates that institutions are made for man and not the other way around. Just as the "Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28) our sovereign nations should protect all man. Their duties are to all of humanity and not a select few labeled as citizens.
To reconcile our government to Gods will we must first reconcile ourselves. We must see that citizens and non-citizens alike are made in the image of God. Our goal should be the betterment of all of humanity and make decisions that improve the world entire. If we can become like the Christians described in the "Letter to Diognetus" below, we can elevate ourselves and our government's response to immigrants.
Excerpt from a "Letter to Diognetus"
"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs.... They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them, their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country.… They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they, rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life.”
