Faithful Democrats - Jesus was an Illegal Immigrant

Jesus was an Illegal Immigrant

By Shaun Casey

Sep. 04, 06 16:38

Tags: Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, Race and Ethnicity,

Sunday School for preschoolers in the Churches of Christ in the 60s was pretty cool. In between the Kool-Aid and the cookies our teachers told us the basic stories of the Bible aided either by handouts with pictures of dramatic biblical scenes painted in romantic nineteenth century style or by "flannel graph" technology which consisted of paper cut out figures of the biblical characters being stuck on a felt board at the appropriate time in the narrative. The paintings made a huge impression on me and I can still see the artists' renditions of Cain and Abel, Samson and Delilah, not to mention Goliath or Moses and the Ten Commandments in my mind's eye. Once we learned to read, these dramatic reenactments ceased and we had to fill out tedious workbooks, but that is a blog entry for another day. One of the most powerful images from that era was the story from Matthew's gospel about Joseph being told in a dream by an angel to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape the death sentence issued by King Herod. Later, of course, Joseph was told he could safely return to Palestine, but all of this was illegal since it violated Herod's decree.

Fast forward about forty years and I found myself teaching an adult Sunday School class and the topic of illegal immigration came up as we were considering one of the multitude of passages calling for God's people to love aliens and sojourners because God had taken mercy on us when our ancestors were such themselves. ("And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:18-19). A class member declared that all undocumented immigrants in this country should be sent home since they were lawbreakers. No biblical argument to the contrary would move this person off this thesis.

It struck me as very ironic that this class member would affirm the orthodox Christian belief of Jesus as the Son of God, yet the logic of the political credo would have demanded that Joseph, as a law breaker, should have surrendered Jesus to Herod for execution as an infant. No cross, no teaching, no ministry, just infanticide should have been Jesus' fate on earth.

I am convinced Matthew included the flight to Egypt by Jesus and his family to show that Jesus' own story was part of the ancient story of Israel. They, too, fled to Egypt, suffered persecution, were redeemed by God, and then were empowered to live lives in solidarity with sojourners and aliens wherever they encountered them. Likewise disciples of Jesus throughout history pick up the same ministry of solidarity with displaced people. Jesus was an illegal alien and that ought to shape how we enter the current debate. But too often political ideology clouds good theology. In the current debate over immigration policy it distresses me to no end that so many of my fellow church goers ignore this fundamental tenet that should be central to our identity. Instead as theological amnesiacs we insist on a secular law and order ideology over a biblical mandate.

LIST OF COMMENTS

8/21. O, for a deeper understanding!

I appreciate Dr. Casey's position. I was disappointed in his presentation. Like far too many of us who could "know better," or speech ignores important relatiies about our country and world.

Dr. Casey's brief comments suggest an understanding that all readers are actively aware of the significance in the Old Testament of Israel as "Hebrew" (or people with no land..wanders...foreigners..."no bodies"). Pharo is able to keep the "Hebrews" as slave laborers because, by the standards of the day, nomadic dwellers (which the Hebrews were) had no land and, therefore, no rights, significance, or power. "Hebrews' were, therefore, treated as something just above dirt. They were the "homeless" of their time.

After deleivering the Hebrews from Egyption captivity, God is always reminding the "Hebrews" to remember when they were nothing and always provide "hospitality"...openness and support...to the "foreigners" (the outsiders, those who are not part of us) lest they absue them as the Hebrews were abused in Eqypt.

Had Dr. Casey remembered that this knowledge is generally not a part of most Christian's active memory, he might not only have better clarified but strenghened his arugment and further enlightened one of the more cloudy debates in our national discourse.

If we are to be true to our the Biblical witness, we cannot in the name of Christianity fail to recognize that in the Flight to Egypt the New Testatment Fathers recognized Jesus idenification not only with the Hebrews, but, with the poor, outcast, and most desperate of Jesus or our time (a reality the Gospel of Luke goes into great lenghts to underscore).

While many "illegal" immigrants may be in our country against our laws, it seems to me that no good thinking or "God hearted" Christian can weigh into this debate without also dealing with God's clear command regarding "Hebrews" in our midst; nor, can we ignore the way in which we all commercially benefit by their cheap labor!

9/21. Very bad exegesis

I think Dr. Casey?s argument about Jesus being an illegal immigrant is a bit strained. Judea was controlled by Herod who sought to have all infants under two years of age killed (Matt 2:16). Herod ruled Judea as a vassal to the Roman Empire. Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus fled to Egypt which was also under control of the Roman Empire. How was crossing the border into Egypt illegal? How was the return to Judea illegal? There was no immigration or emigration going on there! They fled the wrath of an evil ruler and went into another area of the same Empire where Herod had no control. Dr. Casey says that Joseph was a law-breaker. I would like to know which law he broke. Herod did not order for all infants to be surrendered to be killed. Matt 2:16 says he sent men to kill the children. If any law was broken, Herod broke both the Law of Moses and Roman law as well (infanticide was made illegal under Caesar Augustus who ruled Rome at the time of Christ)!

I agree with the point Dr. Casey was trying to make. We should feel a Christian responsibility to view the poor coming into our country with the eyes of Christ and have compassion for them. Perhaps immigration laws need to be reviewed and perhaps modified to allow for temporary workers. What I disagree with strongly is Dr. Casey?s tendency to read into Scripture something which isn?t there in order to make his political point. There are plenty of passages where Jesus admonishes those who mistreat the poor which would make the point more honestly than calling Jesus an illegal immigrant!

10/21. We are all sojourners

I don't know the details of Roman law, so I cannot speak to this legal debate about whether Jesus and Joseph were, in fact, illegal immigrants. There are two key points, though, that seem to transcend that debate.

First, we can't simply point to "the law." We must also ask, is the law just? Does human law square with God's law?

Second, there is ample evidence to suggest that God wants us to be good to "the alien." The Deuteronomy citation above is just one of them.

Third, we are all sojourners. We are all somehow estranged from our true home -- being with God -- and should be able to relate to those who journey to find a better life. It's a question of empathy.

Given all that, would kicking out illegal immigrants be just?

11/21. Handling of Illegals

I too had questions concerning what the border situation should mean to Christians and what would Jesus think.

Yet, it was pointed out to me that these people are breaking our laws, infiltrating a country illegally and no country can survive without borders that protect it from being overtaken by others.

America welcomes the tired, the poor, the helpless. We should never be criticized as disregarding the poor. But, we too have to protect this country if it is to survive for our children.

God was very particular about who he allowed the Jews to include in their midst. He did not allow them to bring in everyone. I remember the times they were told to go and destroy all in a city.

Why? Could it be that God knew what would happen to his treasured people with those outsiders among them.

So, we will feed, clothe and do all in our power to help the poor among us because we care. But, there must be control of our borders to protect this country from terrorists sneaking in to kill us and overtake this country.

America is the most wonderful place on earth and many want what we have built in 200 years. But this country did not come about without the hard work of those willing to fight for America, willing to protect it and many gave their lives.

So, we are to give it away? What will our children think as they no longer have America but instead have a country taken over by Mexico, by terrorists who will bring their socialistic or terrorist beliefs to rule over America.

Think people. This country needs protecting and I, by the way, think God has blessed this country and that He would agree it must be protected.

12/21. Refocus

I don't know enough about history 2000 years ago to say more than people moved about in this world then and now out of necessity- Godly, economic, physical well-being or otherwise. I do know however, that God's word tells us to treat foreigners well. His word says it so much (at least 10 times) and without man-made conditions that His command is unmistakably clear.

I am always disheartened to hear believers conveniently apply the legal/illegal exception they aren't willing to apply to the gay/lesbian or abortion issue. Believers, Republican or Democrat alike don't get to have it both ways, but it sure seems that way. Man's laws are always subordinate to God's word, it that simple.

Either we believe and follow God's word- entirely, or not.

God's timeless word purposely says nothing about terrorists, the economy, courts, good nations, evil nations or war as it relates to his commandment to "love" one another (illegals included). That, along with loving Him should be our focus.

History tells us this country was built, to a significant degree, by those coming here willing to work harder than those already here. With few exceptions, this American phenomenon isn't repeating itself, it never stopped.

Those comming to our country simply want what we have. And from the looks of things, here is pretty hard to match elsewhere.

15/21. Illegal immigration and submission to authorities

Submission to the Authorities

Romans 13:1-7

¹Everyone 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. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. ⁶This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

17/21. Illegal Immigrant or refugee: this clarification changes the entire argument

This argument draws readers in and is almost believeable until you reach the point that gives for Jesus being classified as an illegal immigrant. He is not simply leaving Palestine for a better job, or for a better opportunity. He is leaving because the government has mandated that He be killed for no reason at all. Now even in "cold-hearted" conservative America, refugee status is granted to those who are caught in the middle of something like that. Also, to add to a previous post, we are not attemplting to rid America of all immigrants, and that is not what the debate is about. It is about how we should treat those who break our laws. And the answer is simple: treat them just like anyone else who breaks the law. Give them a punishment that fits their crime and in this case the most obviously fitting punishment is deportation. That is not to say that we are being cold hearted or hateful or disregarding the teachings of Christ. We welcome these people as long as they do it right. Yes, we have a responsibility to share the love of Christ but we have that same responsibility to our fellow American citizens. and we aren't showing love to them if we simply open our borders to any potential terrorist or person wishing to cause harm to Americans. The logical conclusion is this: IF they come legally, we will be ther to support them and assist them in any way, but if they come illegally, we have a duty mandated by Christ to follow the laws of our government and to protect our fellow man, which means to deport them.

18/21. How would Jesus see immigrants?

I believe that it is perfectly alright for our government to make laws concerning immigration and for the government to inforce such laws, but I also believe that our job in fulfilling the Great Commission is for us to bring the gospel to all peoples. This is our main calling to go and to make disciples. Perhaps we can not all of us go very far away, but look what excellent opportunities we have in America. We can go and teach all nations right here at home, because God has blessed our country so well, that all nations want to come to us. They are hungry for liberty, justice, and prosperity, and these gifts have come to America through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The terrorists, who hate us, perhaps focus on the hypocrisy of our apparently immoral society, but these things have come to pass largely because we as Christians have so often failed to bring the truth to our neighbors in love, and we have lost the backbone to speak out about the terrible consequences of immorality and the wages of sin. The airways proclaim through the media America's apparent Godlessness, yet the world beats a pathway to our doorstep to obtain some of the measure of God's blessings upon us. We need to repent of our selfishness, and reach out to all people with the truth of God's word regardless of their nationality. Certainly Jesus and his family were aliens in a foreign land regardless of legal statice, and God's word does mandate that we treat the aliens in our land well. When I see people of another nationality, I believe God wants me to share the gospel if I can, and I leave the question of their legal status aside as non of my business. God has called me to share the gospel.

As a political commentary on the side, I wish my country's immigration laws were more fair and easier for the poor to comply with. Many good people have broken immigration laws because the laws themselves are very difficult to comply with. Many hard-working, otherwise law abiding, aliens would like to fix their status if they were able. I am a white, second or third generation descendant of immigrants, and I am married with an American whose ancestors have probably lived in American territory since it was annexed to America from Mexico. We should all remember where we come from, be thankful for what we have, and be willing to share God's blessings, because He is our source of supply.

20/21. Have a Good Time

I'll try again

Paul Simon wrote a song (Have a Good Time) that has these lines:

God bless the goods we were given
God bless the US of A
God bless our standard of living
Lets keep it that way

And we'll all have a good time

We carefully craft a Biblical basis for our stand against illegal immigration and in favor of deportation and a big wall but I fear that the real reason for our concern is that these people will degrade our standard of living and keep us from having all the stuff we want. We have a deep unspoken belief that we deserve to be the haves while the rest of the world has not.

You can surgically clip out scriptures that support your position but the overwhelming message of the Bible is this:

That we love and not hate

That we give and not take

That we trust God instead of laws or fences

We have a festering sore south of our border that could one day explode into rebellion. Instead of doing something to help we have invested heavily in economies on the other side of the globe. It is ironic that China and India may have a much greater negative impact on our standard of living than any number of workers that have slipped across the border.

21/21. Shaun Casey's false compassion

Shaun Casey is deeply confused, he's engaging in false compassion, and if he had his way the situation would be far worse for everyone involved.

Deporting illegal aliens isn't like infanticide, it's simply returning people to their home countries. And, returning illegal aliens to their home countries - provided it's done in accordance with our laws and with generally accepted standards - is the best thing for all concerned.

By enforcing our laws, we'd raise wages for our own low-wage earning citizens, our own citizens wouldn't be prevented from going to college because an illegal alien was given their spot or discount, and, among many other benefits, we wouldn't have to listen to people like Shaun Casey trying to hide his support for illegal activity behind a highly questionable interpretation of the Bible.

And, that would work wonders on Mexico and other sending countries. Rather than trying to profit by sending us people, Mexico would be forced to take care of their own people. Those illegal aliens who returned home would press for reforms and would help build up Mexico rather than the current situation where large parts of their countryside have been emptied. And, since many fewer would try to cross the desert, many fewer would die while trying.

I urge the reader to think everything through, and hopefully the reader will see that if we follow Shaun Casey's advice, we'll just make the situation even worse.

Last Updated ( Sep. 04, 06 21:47 )

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