Friends in Christ:

Whenever a great controversy erupts in society, it lingers and festers because the two “sides” in the discussion disagree about what the most important issue is. An example is “Right to Life” vs. “Freedom of Choice/Right to Privacy.”

In Keith Myers blog this week he dares (!) to put his toe in the water concerning immigration and border enforcement. We all know there are piranha in those waters. I appreciate that he brings to our minds some of the relevant passages in Holy Scripture that faithful Christ-followers must consider in determining an obedient course of action. As you read this, I urge us all to pray for both struggling travelers and those charged with public safety, and that all our words to one another might demonstrate that we belong to Jesus, who is fully righteous and filled with mercy.

Good morning, one and all,

I wasn’t sure if I should discuss a particular subject this week, so I asked 8 or 9 people to weigh in.  With one exception, the advice they gave me was, “Don’t do it!”  The reason:  the subject is immigration, or to be more precise, illegal immigration.  I thought it would be important to explore, since it might be the #1 subject that divides Americans.  So I will take their advice and leave it alone.  

But, if I were to delve into it, I might have included these verses about ‘aliens’:   

“Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.” [Exodus 23:9]

And Christians also know how it feels to be an alien:  

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”[I Peter 2:11]

And if someone else were covering this subject, they might point out that it is God’s desire that we obey authorities, and therefore the laws of the land:  

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God….Therefore it is necessary to submit to the authorities” [Romans 13:1,5a]  

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good” [Titus 3:1]

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men; whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”  [I Peter 2:13-14]

The pagans don’t follow the Instruction Manual, so they do things like disrupt church services.  But believers do follow the Instruction Manual, which seems to teach that aliens should not be oppressed and that the rule of law should be followed.  According to the above verses from the Instruction Manual, there has to be a way to do both.  There MUST be a way.  

But, as advised, I’m going to stay away from this subject for now.  Perhaps at some time in the future God will give me the courage to address it.  Until then…

Blessings to all, 

Keith