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How would Jesus view illegal immigration?
The Bible teaches that we are to be kind to foreigners: "The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19:34).
The Bible also says this: "Submit yourselves to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king as 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). So the question, then, is this: Where would Jesus stand on illegal immigration? On the one hand, you could argue that immigrants who come to the United States without going through the proper channels should be welcomed with open arms, no questions asked. The vast majority of illegal immigrants who come here are fleeing lives of extreme poverty or persecution in their native lands, and the Bible repeatedly instructs us to be kind to those who suffer. As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 25:40, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" But what about the flip side of the coin? The fact is, illegal immigrants are violating the law by being here — and on top of that, many of them take advantage of government-funded schools, hospitals and social services without paying taxes that go toward those services. Some could argue that this is a form of stealing. Would Jesus encourage a man to steal a loaf of bread for his starving family when the BIble specifically says, "Thou shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15)? Since Jesus is also God, and God is just, would He support the agents who round up illegal immigrants and ship them back where they came from? Consider what Numbers 14:18 says: "The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished." Here's what I think: Jesus wouldn't necessarily turn illegal immigrants back — in fact, He'd probably try and grease the wheels so those who already are here could be here legally. However, He'd also make them earn their legal status in this country — perhaps by doing some kind of community service. I also think Jesus would advise those who wish to come here illegally to be patient and wait where they're at until they could come here properly. The Lord rewards those who wait on His timing (I Timothy 6:13-15); those who don't sometimes suffer disastrous consequences (read about Saul in I Samuel 13:8-14). But I'm not Jesus, so that's all just speculation on my part. What do you think, Bakersfield? — Ray Hacke
21 comments from 10 users
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posted by
anonymous
on Aug 12, 2006 at 05:04 PM
We sold our souls so lettuce would be 25 cents a head cheaper. Now these guys start knocking girls up at age sixteen. Then when they have 4 or 5 illegitimate kids, then they get married and have 6 or 7 more. They all work at Grimmway or Taco Bell, making peanuts per hour, and contrary to popular opinion, DO NOT PAY TAXES. They have ten bucks held out of their checks a week. Then they get a refund which pays them back that, and a lot more. They swamp all the free social services. Arvin is 100% free lunch. Watch the dopes in their fairly new cars, drop their kids off at 7:30 am so they can get the free breakfast. Then they get free lunch. After school, watch these kids spend 4 or 5 bucks each at the 7-11 on Slurpees and potato chips. Free medical and dental care abounds at the nearby Clinica Sierra Vista. Don't tell me they pay. They all have know someone who works there to certifiy them as "indigent". Everything is free, courtesy of the stupid gringo. Now that Florez and Parra have blazed the traill, eventually ALL of our legislators will be Hispanic, and they will fight each other over who can give away the most free junk. The only justice will be to see white liberals who realize, too late, that they gave it all away, to a malevolent, ungrateful mob who will now want to drive them from their homes.
posted by
Goat
on Jul 28, 2006 at 02:02 PM
Jesus would roll up a fatty and have a smoke and not worry about any of it. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Jul 28, 2006 at 01:57 PM
I can't wait to see the new season of 30 days. They're doing an episode where either a border guard or one of those minutemen have to live with an "illegal" family for 30 days. Should be interesting. I urge everyone to watch.
posted by
medlock
on Jul 28, 2006 at 01:33 PM
That was a joke everyone....don't clinch your pearls!
posted by
medlock
on Jul 28, 2006 at 01:32 PM
BTW....Jesus was NOT a Republican, so I don't think he would be at the boarder with a rifle waiting to "pick one off"
posted by
medlock
on Jul 28, 2006 at 01:31 PM
The truth is...there are many immigrants (mainly Mexicans) who feel that entering this country illegaly is their only option. They live in such horrible cvonditions in Mexico, they flee for survival. The Mexican government has failed them, and our government's immigration process is SO SLOW that people are growing old and dying before the citizenship process is finished. So...desperate times call for desperate measures.
posted by
rebel311
on Jun 29, 2006 at 10:49 PM
Illegal's are exactly that--ILLEGAL! We cannot have any National security without secure borders! Illegals constitute nearly 40% of the CDC population, birth at ungodly rates that create more Welfare and Medi-Cal Debt that are on the backs of common tax payors that are legal residents of this Country. We need to give the boot to anyone who cannot follow our Laws! WAKE UP BAKERSFIELD DO YOU WANT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO LOOK LIKE EDISON OR GAGE STREET? A revolution is coming and it is one of a communist nature. Many of the organizations that sponser the marches and radical activities are communist! The Catholic Church is the biggest COMMUNIST OUTFIT OUT THERE ALONG WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS THE ZIONIST! WHILE THROWING THE ILLEGALS OUT WE NEED TO RID THIS LAND OF THE POPISHNESS AND ZIONISM!!! posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 28, 2006 at 04:14 PM
So would a bronze ball-peen hammer, Robb. Zometimes ze olt ways are best, no?
posted by
robbwillis
on Jun 28, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Your interpretation of Leviticus 19:34's "alien" is rather loose. It actually refers to beings not from this planet. But if you want to know what Jesus would say about the USA's illegal immigration problem, you'd have to assume Jesus would be up-to-date with all issues and technology. Things have "evolved" somewhat in the last 2,000 years, so you can't expect Him to apply bronze-age solutions to today's problems. Being a supernatural power, one would hardly expect such mundane plans from Jesus as are currently on the table. If Jesus wants to retain his credibility, he better come up with something miraculous. Something on the order of the electronic fence from the movie Forbidden Planet, where illegal aliens would vaporize like bugs in a bug-zapper, would impress the hell out of me.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jun 26, 2006 at 05:50 PM
Oddly enough, Jesus told a story about one "illegal alien." The man went out of his way to assist someone he didn't even know, after various upright, religious types had passed him by. Read the parable of the "Good Samaritan," and substitute the words "illegal alien." The Samaritans of Jesus' day were considered interlopers and apostates--strangers in a land they had once occupied--and in the words of the historian Josephus said of themselves "we are aliens from their nation and from their customs." Jesus would have shared his bread with illegal aliens--heck, he probably *WAS* one, if the flight-to-Egypt story is true. posted by
paxchristi3
on Jun 22, 2006 at 08:29 PM
I agree with Ray's speculation on what Jesus would say on this issue. He'd certainly have some words for the illegal immigrants as well as those who'd put themselves ahead of others, particularly the least of those among us.
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Yeah, tonyh but what planet are you from, Uranus?
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Yeah, tonyh but what planet are you from, Uranus?
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 05:42 PM
Yeah, tonyh but what planet are you from, Uranus?
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 05:42 PM
Yeah, tonyh but what planet are you from, Uranus?
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 05:41 PM
Yeah, tonyh but what planet are you from, Uranus?
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 03:38 PM
What's up with all you whiners? I think this works pretty well.
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 01:06 PM
Me no likey new format. Posted by Drummel. posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Paying anyone, legal or illegal, sub-minimum, below povertry wages, I do not see as a Christian thing to do. On the contrary, it is using them and making them subservient. Then again, for many centuries, Christianity found nothing wrong with slavery, which in this country was most common in the "Bible belt."
posted by
morganlynnlamberthgriggsy
on Jun 22, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Who knows what Yeshua would have said.A nyway, it is time for humanity to grow up and leave behind the morals of yore of ignorant bigoted men. We have now the humanist ethic of discerning what is actually good for us , other animals and the enviornment , not the prejudices of those men .Yeshua's ethics are impractical; she who turns the other cheek might just end up in the hospital and she who doubles what the robber has taken, ends up in the poor house. Yeshua and the men of the Tora h did not use intelligence,but their own prejudices . One expects faith-based ethics to be that way and as far as people go against those ethics , they use humanist ones. Who countenances a Deluge, killling of the first born ,slavery and misogyny and cpaital punishment for trivialities that Yeshua as Yahwe endorsed ? Read the Bible through the clear eyes of reason!
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 22, 2006 at 09:06 AM
Back when the good lord was walking this earth..they werent paying outragious medical costs paid by taxpayers in our country..they didnt have to support them on welfare or let their children suck off the system and receive better bennys than the born in raised in america kids receive from their hard working parents that cant afford to send them to school due to the taxes being levied on them to help support the illegal families. THe comparisons in this article are ridiculous and offensive to the hard working americans that get the shaft for all this crap.
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