A Gospel View

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with a group to the border between the US and Mexico in south Texas. We stayed in San Juan, and spent our time in the Hidalgo and McAllen area. 

It was a week filled with work, as we took part in food distribution, visited with border patrol, walked along a portion of the border wall, and volunteered at a respite center where refugees are further processed after they are cleared at the border.

The issue of immigration has become a hot topic in recent years, dividing people mainly along political lines. I agree we have a crisis at the border. Thousands upon thousands of people are migrating to America for various reasons. Many are fleeing violence, corruption and poverty. And there are the cartels and gangs who are involved in smuggling drugs across the border, or those who take advantage of refugees, charging them exorbitant amounts to smuggle them across the border.

This influx of people into the country can overwhelm the various resources that the various border cities have. Law enforcement is stretched, the need for food and clothing is great, and the poverty level in these areas of the country is large.

There is no easy solution, and neither political party has been successful in finding the perfect answer. Our government has the responsibility to ensure the safety of it's people, so the need exists for some form of control at our borders. Yet there are people who have left their countries and are seeking entry into America for real reasons, they need real help. As I mentioned above, they may be fleeing from violence, persecution, corruption, or poverty. What about them?

I would like to look at this from a Biblical perspective. Border Perspective, the organization that we worked with, states " In 2015, only 12 percent of evangelical Christians thought about immigration issues primarily from a biblical perspective. In 2021, 21 percent now cite the Bible as the most important factor guiding their views. (Lifeway Research, 2022)

This was taken from a booklet put out by Border Perspective. 

In recent years I have often seen and heard Christians advocating for stricter border control, even up to the point of disdain for immigrants. Some of the comments I have come across are shocking considering they are coming from people professing the name of Jesus. Again, I understand the need for security at the borders, and respect the fact that our government has that responsibility.

The elections in recent years have really brought this out. As a general rule conservatives are for greater control at the borders, and evangelical Christians tend to identify with this. 

But are we as followers of Jesus supposed to look at the world through the lens of our political views, or should we be looking at the issues around us through the eyes of the gospel? 

I firmly believe that as Christians we must make the teachings of Jesus our reference point when facing issues such as immigration. We may all hold to our political ideas, but at the end of the day we must live as citizens of another kingdom, which is what we truly are if we are born again disciples of Jesus. 

Our political leaders will do what they do. Depending on whatever party is in power, the rules will change. But our mission will not. Jesus has given us two mandates that we dare not neglect. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and go into the world and make disciples. 

So to sum up, we may all hold various opinions and political alignments, and that's okay. At the end of the day the government will do what the government does. It will not "fix" the crisis at the border, for that is what it is, a crisis. We may agree with the steps put in place, we may not. However, the people coming into this country are here. Others will come. Will we as followers of Jesus be the hands and feet of Jesus, and reach out in love. The opportunities are plentiful. We may ask "Who is my neighbor?" Anymore, our literal neighbor may very well be from another country, culture, and religion.

Here is a great opportunity to obey the great commission and make disciples of the nations. And we have equally great opportunities to love our neighbors as ourselves. As Christians, who are called to live as strangers ourselves, in this world, let's live it to reach others with the love of Jesus.