response to those coming through mexico illegally

i noticed even though the immigration issue has been in the news for a few weeks now, no one has really touched on this topic. i just wonder, what do those who come to the forum think as a Christin our repose to the situation should be. i read that some churches are now being asked along the border to help house some of those who have come in illegally, and that church members are being asked to open up their homes too?

any thoughts on this topic
rdg

As a stranger in this land, myself (since my citizenship is in heaven) I am inclined to not be as hard on some of these immigrants as my other southern friends.

However:

1) It is illegal.

2) If they want to be a citizen of this country, then there is a process by which they can attain that. So they should go that route.

That being said, as a Christian, if I am in a situation in which an illegal immigrant is on my doorstep, I am going to do my best to take care of them, witness to them, and hopefully lead them to the Lord. I think the way Paul dealt with Onesimus is an excellent example to follow.

Do I want them to go back to Mexico? Yes, I do, if that is what the Lord wills. Am I going to resort to violence to get them back there. No way. Do I think that illegal immigrants are ruining our country? I refuse to answer that, because I think laziness on the part of Americans is far more devastating to our country than any 10's of thousands of illegals ever could be.

so do you believe that all these people coming should be allowed to stay even though they have broken the law in doing so?

if a church refuses to ask its members to home these people do you thing they are in sin for doing so? if a member who is concerned about sickness and criminal aspect refuses to open their home to illegal immigrants would they be in sin?

rdg

Would you help someone who was a liar, if it gave you the opportunity to present to them the Gospel?

havok20x
i would help them only if the Lord led me to do so. i would pray about it first and then follow His leading. if i was not moved by the Holy Spirit to act then i think it would be sin to do otherwise wouldn't it?

i know there are some moms who are concerned about their own young children becoming sick because of some of the diseases being carried by some of those seeking to come here. do you think they are wrong for not wanting to expose their children, or for wanting to protect them from some of the criminal aspect that is getting through?

rdg

At what point is aiding and abetting criminal behavior ok?

That is what makes this issue difficult. I personally would not illegally emigrate into another country, with no intention of learning their language and then expect their citizens to take care of me with their hard earned tax dollars that are already squandered by their government. My stepdaughter has to teach her 2nd grade class where half the kids cannot speak English and their parents who speak very limited English blatantly state that they will not teach them English.

The immorality of what these illegal immigrants are doing seems shocking to me.

Quite frankly I am not sure what Jesus would do. As far as I can tell he did not have to deal with this issue.

I am all for showing compassion but I am not for enabling criminal activity. Get here through legal channels and then we will talk about compassion. It is a much easier conversation at that point.

Our default setting, in my opinion, should be to help unless told otherwise.

The Lord is capable of protecting us from diseases and such, and if your children are vaccinated, then they should be okay.

*****************************

It is illegal in Texas to pick up hitch hikers. I do it anyway. Am I a criminal? I guess so, but I am doing what I am commanded to do by the Lord and helping people who need it. I won't pick them up if it seems to me that the Holy Spirit is telling me otherwise.

I don't want illegal immigrants coming here and raising my taxes and all of that, but I am called to something greater than that. I am called to advance the kingdom and I desire (although I am not always consistent) to do that by any means possible.

If the Lord can be glorified and I can impact eternity, why would I not take the opportunity? I am not saying to give anyone amnesty, but I must help them.

(edit: making the following less accusatory. Sorry, again, RDG.)

ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone. If the issue is that they are law-breakers or sinners, then we ought never help anyone.

I don't have children or a wife. It is just me. So I don't have to concern myself about my family's well-being or their health; however, I would pray if the Lord wanted me to have that attitude in the first place. If so, then I should obey. If not, then I should be transformed by the renewing of my mind.

Again, Paul's actions in Philemon are an excellent example for us.

I don't have children or a wife. It is just me. So I don't have to concern myself with what you are saying, RDG; however, I would pray if the Lord wanted me to have your attitude in the first place. If so, then do so. If not, then be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

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i am sorry i don't understand what you meant by this last part?

i didn't say people shouldn't help others, i asked what you thought about the situation.

i am only asking questions, i have heard many differing opinions from those very near the issue so i wondered what others might be thinking. that is why i asked.

rdg

I should have paid more attention. I am sorry for saying that it was your attitude.

The attitude that I am referring to is "I can't help them because it is illegal and I don't want my family to suffer because of them."

I have edited my post and posted a note to reflect the changes. I will try to watch what I am saying better and not redirect my frustrations I have in talking with others around this area toward yall.

Is a person who remains in this country illegally sinning based on their presence here?

What did Jesus say to the woman caught in adultery?

How can a person in the country illegally stop sinning? I can think of one way only.

It is not quite fair to say that since we all sin we have no right to take a stand on this issue. If that were the case we should just chuck all laws out the window.

Of course I am not saying we should be nasty to illegal immigrants. We should simply courteously escort them back across the border and do just a tad better job at preventing the problem in the first place.

havok20x

not a problem. i really don't know what the Lord heart is on this whole matter. i have begun praying about it myself because i have been having others share things with me a lot about this. it is a very difficult situation. i know very kind loving Christians on both sides of this topic.

rdg

If they have not repented and turned to Jesus, I don't expect them to leave at all.

They are dead in their trespasses and sins apart from Jesus Christ, so we cannot expect them to act as if they had the moral fortitude granted by the Holy Spirit.

It is not quite fair to say that since we all sin we have no right to take a stand on this issue. If that were the case we should just chuck all laws out the window.

This is not an issue of fairness, and this isn't an issue of our laws. I already said that it is illegal and if they wanted to be citizens, then they need to go through the process of becoming one.

However, since they ARE here and since my job is not to moralize the world or even a single individual, then we ought to take the opportunity we have to present the Gospel to them, so that they can be transformed and get a new heart and God can write His laws on their hearts and put the fear of Him in them so that they will not turn away from Him. Then you'll see obedience out of them toward God. But for right now, they are acting exactly as natural men, women, and children would.

Many American "Christians" are going to hear these words on that great day of judgment:

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. [Mat 25:41-42]

Many of the "illegals" crossing the border are born again Christians whose devotion to the savior would make many of us feel shame for our own lack of it. About a month ago I visited one of them in an immigration prison. The gangs in El Salvador kept pressuring him to "pay up" ... they finally told him that if he didn't he would come home and see the head of one of his children cut off. When he arrived at the border of the USA "illegally" the border patrol permitted his wife and 5 children to live with his dad, but they kept him in prison. God has a purpose ... he is winning souls to Jesus in the prison.

Should that man of God starve his children to satisfy the gangs in El Salvador, or should he seek a place of safety and search for a way to provide for them?

When God commands them to provide for their families, and they CANNOT where they are living, SHOULD THEY OBEY GOD OR MEN [USA's faulty immigration laws]?

I am currently housing a man who just arrived here from Honduras Sunday. He explained to me the EVERYBODY in Honduras pays "gang tax" and with what little they earn they might pay rent this month but will not be able to eat ... then if they buy a few groceries, they can't pay rent. He traveled 4 days on top of a train to get through Mexico. He watched a gang member machety a man right down the shoulder and in the abdomen ... and then throw him off the top of the train. He had a special code number written on his shoe that his leader gave him so that if a gang member caught him, the code would be his pass (gang taxes have been paid). When he crossed the border (praying all the way), it just so happened that the immigration department never saw their group. He traveled 4 days in the desert. One gallon of water between 4 guys didn't last long. He thought he would die of thirst. They rejoiced to find a drinking pond that cows were drinking out of to quench their thirst.

This is just one of the MANY horror stories that I hear all the time. A few days ago I found out that the sister of a good Mexican friend of mine ran into the attic of their office (in Mexico) and escaped a raid. When she came down fearing and trembling, she saw her boss' head in a box.

Most Christians have the attitudes that they have toward the immigrants simply because they are only hearing what the news media tells them. If they ever got the chance to communicate with them they would have a different attitude.

If I were in their countries suffering what many of them suffer, I would break the border laws of the USA too.

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

When it comes down to either obeying God or men, I would have to choose to obey God rather than men (as Peter did in the book of Acts).

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

As for the MANY who arriving in the USA without Christ ... WHAT A MISSION FIELD!!! Right here amongst us ... you don't even have to leave home.

its good to hear from others on this. it is a real difficult situation. as i said something to be praying and asking God what His heart on the matter is.

thanks
rdg