What's Legal, What's Right?
Posted by: Josh
A couple of weeks ago I read this story about an illegal immigrant who sought refuge in a church for a full year to keep from being separated from her son. I was struck with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I believe in following the law of the land. Obeying the law is both biblical and necessary for a civilised society. There is an immigration process for a reason. People who are in the country without having gone through that process are, in all honesty breaking the law. Should they not be treated like other law breakers? And is it the church's place to assist in the breaking of the law?
On the other hand, if this woman had shown up at my church fearing being separated from her son how would I have reacted? As followers of Christ can we really turn our backs on a person like this in the interest of obeying the law? Does preserving a family trump obeying the law? God's laws are higher than man's laws, but does this situation qualify? As I said... I was conflicted.
The conclusion I finally came to for myself was that if I were that pastor, and I had the ability to help this family, I would. Is that supporting anarchy? I don't know... maybe. But it just feels wrong to turn away someone in this kind of need and proclaim Christ's love to them at the same time. Seems like it would water down the message. Any thoughts?
A couple of weeks ago I read this story about an illegal immigrant who sought refuge in a church for a full year to keep from being separated from her son. I was struck with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I believe in following the law of the land. Obeying the law is both biblical and necessary for a civilised society. There is an immigration process for a reason. People who are in the country without having gone through that process are, in all honesty breaking the law. Should they not be treated like other law breakers? And is it the church's place to assist in the breaking of the law?
On the other hand, if this woman had shown up at my church fearing being separated from her son how would I have reacted? As followers of Christ can we really turn our backs on a person like this in the interest of obeying the law? Does preserving a family trump obeying the law? God's laws are higher than man's laws, but does this situation qualify? As I said... I was conflicted.
The conclusion I finally came to for myself was that if I were that pastor, and I had the ability to help this family, I would. Is that supporting anarchy? I don't know... maybe. But it just feels wrong to turn away someone in this kind of need and proclaim Christ's love to them at the same time. Seems like it would water down the message. Any thoughts?
Labels: illegal immigration
Great question! Would you have helped runaway slaves 150 years ago even if it defied the law of the land? Are the two equivalent? You could take this further--do you only support "just" laws (e.g. murder, theft, etc)? If so, we should turn in a murderer, assuming he showed up at your church, but--depending on your view--not the illegal immigrant.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Thu Sep 06, 02:33:00 PM 2007