Not Welcoming The Stranger: KevinH
Many times here I have expressed that my concerns are primarily NOT about the wrongdoings and corruption of Donald Trump or any other politician or political party, but rather they are set on the way that so many Christians, including prominent Christian leaders, have responded to, justified, and joined in with the wrongdoings of Donald Trump and other elements of partisan politics, subsequently failing to follow the ways of Jesus and misrepresenting who Jesus is to the world.
I believe one of the most, if not the most prominent way this evil has manifested is in how so many Christians view, speak about, and treat immigrants. The Bible is overflowing with exhortations as to how we are to treat and show special care and consideration to the stranger, to the disadvantaged, to the immigrant, and yet so many in the church rebel against these teachings and treat immigrants worse than even many unbelievers do. Rather than providing the help they need, this unquestionably has resulted in more grief being heaped upon immigrants, many of whom are already in tough, even excruciating circumstances, and it has been a sordid misrepresentation of who Jesus is.
Most certainly immigration at our Southern Border, particularly with the number of immigrants who come “illegally” is a significant problem and difficulty for our nation. There are drugs, human trafficking, and other criminal activities that pass over our border. The amount of people who want to, and many times even do cross over our border is many times overwhelming. We have systems that are overall lacking to deal with the enormity of numbers, implications, and complications of this situation for which there are no easy solutions, as they would have obviously already been implemented if they actually existed. Much work is needed to try to address these many difficulties.
Despite all that, there is no excuse for those who claim to follow God to then defy the very commands He gives us. It is perfectly okay to disagree with people crossing over our border without proper documentation, believing it to be a problem that needs to be better addressed, however it is wrong and disobedient before our God to:
- Characterize “illegal” immigrants primarily as an infestation of druggies and drug dealers, murderers, rapists, and other criminals who are destroying our country and our way of life when much data and documentation show that immigrants, even the “illegal ones”, actually commit the same degree, if not even lower levels, of crime (including violent crime) than the average American citizen.
- Characterize “illegal” immigrants as a horrific drain on our economy when many studies show plenty of positive economic effects of immigration on our economy, even of “illegal” immigration.
- Say that you are all for “legal” immigration but are against “illegal” immigration, while refusing to acknowledge just how excessively, if not impossibly difficult it is for most people to actually immigrate to this country.
- Say that you are all for “legal” immigration but are against “illegal” immigration while supporting an administration that made it increasingly difficult to immigrate legally and also drastically reduced the number of refugees allowed into our country.
- Claim without substantiated evidence that “illegal” immigrants are receiving all kinds of government money and benefits to the detriment of Americans in need and hard working taxpayers when the reality is that they receive very few benefits from the government.
- Promote and believe any and all negative narratives and stories about immigrants, no matter how ridiculous, implausible, or unsubstantiated they are, such as immigrants stealing and eating people’s pets.
I have recently met and befriended a Christian immigrant family who fled their home country because they were suffering persecution due to their faith. I do not know nearly all the details of their story, but I do know that they came here under the classification of tourists and then filed an asylum claim with the U.S. government before or after they stayed past their allotted visitation time. They speak minimal English, are of humble means, and are in great need of the help and compassion of others to help them survive in a strange and unknown land.
In their time of great need, I have seen Christians reach out to this very vulnerable family of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and it warms my heart. But I also cannot stop from thinking about how this family would be deemed into the classification of “illegal” immigrants that so many other Christians demonize as terrible people, because they did not come the “right” way, by securing all the proper permissions and documentation ahead of time to come as pre-approved refugees (which likely would have taken years to do, if they would have even received approval at all, and for which time they may not have even had to spare the safety and of their family members). They would be viewed little differently from so many of the other people and families who are fleeing horrible conditions and are desperately seeking a manner of respite and a modicum of a better life for themselves and their loved ones, and cross over our Southern Border without proper permissions and then ask for asylum once they are here. It breaks my heart that so many other Christians would see and treat this sweet fellow family in the faith in such a way.
Yet the reality is that this is how so many Christians would view, speak of, and act on the situation. They choose to actively rebel against God’s commands to love their neighbor, and to especially look out for the poor, needy, and yes, immigrant, because they have made and idol of partisan politics. Not only is it bad enough that they have chosen to replace God’s rightful place of preeminence with something else, but they have chosen a “something else” that is dripping with vileness and wickedness. May God have mercy on His Church.
Partisan politics are poison to the soul.
Jesus is the cure.
Kevin,
Thank you for this very well-written and thoughtful piece. I have worked with immigrant families since the 80s, and I grew up with immigrants (Chinese, Japanese, a variety of European, Hispanic, and Filipino). They were and are my friends. The majority have been hard-working and busy in their communities. I have been welcomed into their homes, and they have shared with me what little they have. I know we need to clean up our immigration process, but once people are here, Christians-above all people-should at least treat them kindly and respectfully.
Thank you, Linn. And thank you for your heart for and work with immigrants.
Kevin,
Normally I find myself agreeing with you, and I guess I do so here, also. But I must admit I have mixed feelings about this particular issue, one in which I am not entirely unqualified to proffer opinion.
I met my beautiful wife, a native of India, in 1996 and we married in 1997. We have been married for nearly 28 years now. I lived in Delhi from 1996 to 1999. When we made the decision to come to America, it proved to be difficult. It took me over one and a half years to get the documentation in order and get approval for my wife, even though our marriage had been well established by that time. In fact, one dark day in March I received a letter from our government indicating that the process would take another two years. That was perhaps the most dismal day of my life. Then, inexplicably, within a few weeks, I received a letter indicating that her immigration had been approved and I had just 3 weeks to get everything in order and bring her into the United States.
I also know what it is like to be on the “other end”. I lived in India for 3 and a half years, and we regularly make trips back. We stay actively involved with my wife’s family. I know what it means to be in a culture so completely different from our own that you feel like a child because you don’t know how to do the most basic of things, and are dependent on everyone. I also know what it means to be discriminated against. Many Indians remember the bitter treatment they received under British rule and dislike white people altogether. More commonly, however, is the thought that all Americans are rich, gullible, and there to be taken advantage of.
Speaking as a couple who paid “the high price” to do things properly, I can say that I am troubled by the idea that someone can simply come to our country, take a job, receive assistance, while completely ignoring our process of law and accordingly disrespecting our citizens.
On the other hand, I understand the following:
1. Many who come here are completely ignorant of our laws, or have been outright misinformed in their home country, and are not necessarily aware they are doing anything illegal.
2. Many are in fact refugees – either from absolutely oppressive nation-states, or from persecution, or from social conditions that have imposed a “law above the law” in their home countries – I’m thinking of countries that have regions overrun by drug cartels or revolutionaries. I do believe we should open our arms to such people and make a way for them, irrespective of how they got here.
I understand that “he who claims to be objective will lie about other things as well” – a quote from one of my college professors…, but I do believe that I am relatively free of racism or bigotry based upon age, race, disability, gender, skin color, language, etc. I believe that “In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, Male nor Female, Slave nor Free”. There is only one human race.
When I am in India, I do not wear clothing with American flags or other cultural markers that might indicate superiority. In fact, I speak relatively decent Hindi and can read it in its original script. I have taken the time to understand both Cricket, Indian Politics, and Bollywood. I love North Indian culture (minus, of course, the rampant idolatry), there are places in North India that are so beautiful I would “disappear” there in a heartbeat, were I not in the ministry, and I absolutely love North Indian food and street life.
I have also spent serious time in Nepal (The relationship between Nepal and India is somewhat analogous to the relationship between the U.S. and Canada).
My wife and I have over the years developed numerous relationships with citizens from the Middle East and Southeast Asia as a result of our combination of circumstances. I would venture to say that I probably have a favorable attitude towards many cultures that the average American might look upon as “the enemy”.
Still, I am troubled by the mindset of anyone who would come here knowingly illegally, for the specific purpose of benefitting from our culture, without concern to participate in and be accountable to our society.
I don’t really know where I’m going with this, except to express the thought that “this is a very complex issue”, and we should be careful not to swiftly judge those who have real concerns about immigration, just as we should be careful not to swiftly judge “the stranger who dwells among us”.
I hope this was coherent…
It would do us all good before commenting further to ponder the fact that both the Christian religion and – gonna go out on a limb here – our own ethnicities were immigrants to these shores…and incorporate this understanding and humility into whatever else we may wish to write here.
Terrie,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment and approach. I think you are correct in your feeling that we shouldn’t just be okay with people being able to freely come into and stay in our country with no intention to assimilate at all while completely ignoring the laws which govern such. This is definitely a problem and it shouldn’t be ignored and I wasn’t trying to argue otherwise.
My main thrust however, is that our overall leading posture toward immigrants, legal and even illegal, should be one of care and concern, and not one that seeks to demonize them and characterize them as terrible people who are destroying our society, which has become so prevalent in large circles in our culture today, sadly even among large circles of Christians. I think you already get this and display a caring attitude, and I thank you for that.
Terrie,
Was the delay in documentation from the Indian government or the US government? If you were a US citizen when you married her, you should have been able to immediately bring her to the US (at least according to US laws as I understand them).
Kevin and Terrie,
I think a lot of the hostility towards immigrants is based upon the fact than many of these so-called Christians (especially white) have bought into “Great Replacement Theory”. They are scared of losing their power and prestige due the change in demographics and birthrates.
The vast majority of critics are themselves descendants of immigrants. 100 to 150 years ago many of those immigrant ancestors of these critics would have been from undesirable, sh**hole countries like Ireland, Italy (and other Mediterranean Countries) and not considered “White”. And the whites of that era complained about it (and had their Great Replacement Theory.” There are famous signs from those era saying “No Blacks (Neg***), Italians (Dag**), or Jews allowed.” (or similar).
R’as al Ghul,
The delay in documentation was from the US government. I am a US Citizen by birth, and was so when we married in India in 1997, and we remained in India until 1999.
“Just being able to bring her in” was not my experience, at least in 1999.
Since I was living in India at the time, Before I could bring her to the US, I had to
1.) Establish domicile here again
2.) Establish employment again
I think another factor has to do with the country she was coming from. It is my understanding that different countries get treated with varying priorities and levels of scrutiny.
At least this was my experience from 1997-1999. I do not know if the immigration laws have changed. I will say this: It was my experience as an American citizen that when I applied for her residency, I became aware of a completely different set of laws that I had previously known nothing about.
My wife has since become a U.S. citizen, but India is one of those countries that accords it’s “persons of origin” special status and consideration – whether or not they were born in India, and whether or not they are currently Indian citizens. In fact, some of those benefits extend to me. This has allowed us to move freely and greatly enriched our relationship with my family-in-law. For this we are thankful.
R’as al Ghul,
Many probably don’t even know what the Great Replacement Theory is, yet their thoughts are influenced, if not even driven by its tenets.
Terrie R. Beede,
I work in a school with many families from India, and I have heard from them the immigration issues they go through. However, after jumping through all those hoops, they do enjoy the safety of being legally in the country and not needing to look over their shoulder to see if ICE is coming their way. We need to find some legal balance between onerous rules that discourage discrimination and the ability to just walk over the border. Most of the undocumented folks I know live in constant fear of deportation and being separated from their families. They have nothing to return to in their home countries, which is why they come here.
I have never understood two things about our government’s approach to immigration — If the government deems that more immigration is beneficial to the country and should be encouraged, then why doesn’t it:
(1) automatically grant citizenship to every one of the immigrants currently within the multi-year legal immigration pipeline, to clear out the backlog and make room for new immigrants to enter the legal process (which can be updated and streamlined).
(2) set up a new Ellis Island — a single point (or two) where all those wishing to immigrate to this country can be specifically directed, appropriately screened & vetted to prevent criminals (gang members, terrorists) from entering as well as to identify and treat the sick to prevent the introduction/movement of tropical diseases into the country, and if they’re clear, let in with a big welcome.
Instead, the government has, by its inaction, encouraged illegal immigration and seems perfectly fine outsourcing nearly all of it to the Mexican drug cartels, who have been making money hand over fist because of it. I live in a place where citizens have been killed and injured in car accidents because the cartels recruit teens on Snapchat to drive down here, pick up a few illegal immigrants, then lawlessly race through the county to get them out as fast as they can, driving 100+mph up busy highways, driving at night with lights off, driving on the wrong side of the highway, et cetera. No one I know objects to legal immigration, but everyone here is angry over illegal immigration because of such threats to public safety, and this discourages people (churchgoers, too) from welcoming immigrants because they don’t want to encourage any more illegal immigration.
When Kevin sent me this last night I had to make an executive decision about whether to post it.
My own articles over the last decade on the subject almost destroyed the site.
I reflected on this for almost a second before preparing to publish it.
At the same time I was trying to rebut claims that immigrants were eating cats.
If you know me personally you know I have defended cats my entire life and I’ve never been above brandishing firearms to do so.
Think of me what you will, but I love my cats and find any animal abuse utterly intolerable.
I would be really, really upset if the lie were true.
It’s not.
The deceased cat in question was killed by an American citizen who is in jail as we speak on charges of animal cruelty and who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Anyone who believes the lie could probably plead likewise.
My worst encounters have been with white hillbillies, not immigrants.
My point is simple…the pet eating lie was just another way to demonize a whole group of humans made in the image of God …and it worked.
It worked because Trumps base wants to believe it, wants any reason to hate immigrants, and actually thinks Jesus blesses their hate.
The particular group in question is here legally having applied for asylum and they’re working here while awaiting asylum hearings.
That little detail doesn’t matter .
What should matter is what happens when demagogues inflame hate against certain people groups…it’s a prelude to mass incarcerations and murder.
It’s anti-Christ in every way possible…but much of what is called Christianity in this country is.
I don’t really care what anyone thinks anymore and I don’t really give a damn if you read here or not…I have to answer to God…and so will you.
sarahmorgan,
If the government actually solves the border problems it takes away the last big issue that divides the country and motivates voters.
It would also deprive both Mexico and the U.S the biggest source of cash that both countries access, which is drug money.
The fastest way to solve the border issues is to help make the places immigrants flee from habitable…but you’ll never hear that proposed…because we don’t want to solve it.
Michael,
I write these things only to destroy the site all the more. 🙂
Heck, according to one of our buddies in moderation, it was an “ill informed moronic post” that came about due to “low brain activity”. I must be doing a good job of achieving my goals. 🙂
Let’s not confuse/conflate individual piety with government policy.
As an individual Christian I am require to show love to my neighbor, and Jesus said, a neighbor is not just the person in the house next door, as the story of the Good Samaritan tells us.
So I have the responsibility to show compassion and as much physical aid to people I come into contact with in my life as a Christian, whoever they might be.
But a government allowing/encouraging large groups of people from other countries/ cultures is not the same thing. When the government drops a large number of, say Haitians, in a small town in Ohio, this is not Christian piety, it is politics done by the government. And as we have seen in Europe, it has been disastrous.
The plain fact is that people don’t like living among strangers, they prefer to live with people they have much in common with. You can’t force strangers from an incompatible culture upon an area and not expect resentment, and then denounce their legitimate concerns as non-Christian.
I believe Christ expects individual Christians to love and welcome the stranger as an individual. We have a vacant house next door; when it sells I intend to be neighborly no matter what kind of person moves in, as we always have done in this very diverse neighborhood. However, I would not welcome the government sending hundreds/thousands of strangers to our small town, with the resulting chaos.
The government cannot be pious on my behalf. It is up to me to show compassion as one person to another. Just like all the tax money the government spends to help the impoverished doesn’t mean I am not responsible to give alms on a one to one basis. I don’t get “credit*” if the government does it; only if “I” do it.
When the government does good works, Jesus is very rarely involved, IMO.
*When I say “credit” I am not talking about spiritual bean-counting.
KevinH,
It’s so strange that a Christian blog would go down for espousing Christian virtues…but that’s the day we’re living in.
Kevin,
Did you notice that the guy had a scripture verse for his email address? 🙂
No, but at least he’s not using his work email address anymore to spread his ridicule and hatred.
Xenia,
I’m leaving the house, but I will respond by saying there are multitudes of legitimate issues surrounding immigration.
Sober discussions are needed.
What Kevin and I are addressing is concerning what the heart of God is toward those fleeing poverty and violence…and how lying about them is simply wrong.
Xenia,
I mostly agree with what you said. My writing here addresses the attitudes of individual Christians, and not so much what all the government needs to do to address the problem.
Michael beat me to it. 🙂
I think it goes without saying that Christians should not lie under ordinary circumstances. I think exceptions can be made when the SS is at the door asking if you are hiding Jews under the floorboards. Remember Rahab. But the cat story doesn’t fall into this category, although the liar might have convinced himself he was saving the Republic and the lie was justified. Maybe to him but not to me.
And it should also go without saying that all humans are created in the Image of God and should be shown respect, at least as individuals. No dehumanizing people. Who knows, that homeless man on the street might just be an angel unawares.
I was hoping to talk about something more universal than the wretched cat story, trying to answer the question “Who is my neighbor?” I think the question must be answered on the level of the individual, not the government. All of us Christians, Dem/Repub/Non-of-the-Above, are to show compassion to the individual refugee but that doesn’t mean we are less of a Christian for not voting for the political party that brings thousands of them in and drops them into neighborhoods with no regard for the people already living there. The first job of any government is the protection of its own citizens.
Funny thing about the Replacement Theory, I learned about it from a very far left radio show on a very far left radio station here in So. Cal.
And they weren’t against it, they were actually articulating the left’s political benefit and how they were going to use it. And this was about 10 years ago.
My Christian friend just posted a meme on Facebook (shocking that someone would do that on FB) showing the TV character Alf asking for a ride to Springfield, OH. If some of you don’t know this, Alf was a TV show whose main character was an alien from outer space.
Dan, that’s actually kind of funny.
Here’s some classic verse-ology:
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me….”
Just brass tacks, no lofty theology, no horse-poo-poo.
All the Law and the Prophets in real time. So who’s justified?
Somebody who talks a good game? Or the person who goes out and does it to and for the stranger?
I remember an article I read a number of years ago (probably during the tenure of the previous president of the US) which detailed that there were 3 different words for “immigrant” in the OT Law. As memory serves (which is suspect right now due to the length of time that has passed), these words were translated “alien,” “foreigner,” and “Soujorner,” respectively and each one had a certain connotation.
I am TOTALLY willing to be corrected here, but I tend to remember that “alien” is the equivalent of “Illegal immigrant,” “foreigner” was basically an OT equivalent of a modern-day green card holder and “sojourner” was basically a tourist or someone passing through.
There were certain rules/regulations under the LAW for each of them with certain “rights and privileges” each one was to have access to, and how the local person was to act toward and treat them.
Being reviled, slandered, mistreated and unloved was not on that list.
Then again, neither was giving free money, voting prilvleges (:P), and the like either.
Stephen
You could begin your research here…
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0266.xml
Xenia,
Perhaps if you researched why and how Springfield, Ohio has many Haitians in the first place you would not make those comments. The reason is the same as why Lowell, MA has so many Cambodians and why Waltham, MA has so many people from Uganda.
It starts when a handful of first immigrants/refugees settle in the town. The location is good for them to rebuild their lives, get jobs, contribute, raise a family, and participate in the American Dream. As more refugees are granted TPS, they hear from their fellow relatives/countrymen about how nice/good/etc how Springfield, or Lowell, etc. to rebuild their lives. So they go there and more end up living there (and the cycle continues). This is not politics. This is what ALL ex-pats, immigrants, refugees do in a land other than their home country. If one is going to complain about all those Haitians in Springfield Ohio, they might as well as complain about Sicilians grouping up and living in the North End of Boston. But I guess because Haiti is sh**hole country, that makes them fair game for nativist a**holes to b*tch about it. Of course, 100-120 years ago, Italy and Greece were considered sh**hole countries to the nativists back then.
Michael and Kevin,
Kevin Williamson over at The Dispatch hit it out of the park with this article about the Haitians in Springfield Ohio:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/wanderland/exotic-cat-eaters-springfield-ohio/
R’as al Ghul,
One of the best articles ever written on the subject.
“Cleetus the Gap-Toothed Twitter Troll”
Great article. Lots of context. Thanks R’as al Ghul for posting.
One money quote about why Vance’s hillbilly ancestors migrated to Ohio from Appalachia;
“It was a world—and a life—of subsistence agriculture and hustling, with very little in the way of rule of law or decent public administration, where the biggest business was organized crime and where politics vacillated between demagoguery and banditry, beautiful in some parts, hideous in others, and poisonously backward—you know: Haiti, but with white people.”