Friends and Aliens

An expert in the Bible asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The punch line of this familiar parable is that the one who was truly a neighbor was the one who had mercy on the man in need. This is not a difficult parable to understand. Its application, however, can get complicated.
During the current conversation about immigration policy the question is on the table before us, “What does it mean to be a neighbor to the immigrant population?” The question is further complicated because our neighbors include both immigrants with and without proper legal status. Our neighbors also include both naturalized and birthright citizens. It’s quite a neighborhood. Now what?
Interest groups and the media tend to polarize positions and stage yet another shouting match. It is hard to imagine how that will help the neighborhood. As salt and light in the world the followers of Jesus are advocates of justice and compassion. This is a very difficult place to stand, but it is the only one that offers the hope of shalom for our neighborhoods (from next door neighbors, to cities, to a nation).
I am challenging us as Friends of Jesus to be advocates of mercy and justice in this conversation. Whether the conversation is among friends, in the workplace, at an immigration rally, on a website, or in a senator’s office, we will actually be Friends of Jesus if we advocate for justice and mercy.
I’ve become involved with a group of people working to a similar end. We are concerned about our neighborhood (our block, our state, our nation). As followers of Jesus we want to be a voice of mercy and justice. We hardly know where to begin except we must because mercy and justice need a voice. We’ve drafted a document to share with our senators and representatives. I am very interested in feedback on this document that is intended to stake out some territory for mercy and justice simultaneously. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your help. Here is the statement:

A Call to Our Government to Enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform

As Evangelical Christian leaders in Denver’s Metro area, we express to you our deep concern over our country’s broken immigration system. Because of our shared theology, which compels us to love, care for, and seek justice for the stranger among us, we call on our nation’s Congress and President to address this issue immediately. We believe:
• That all people are made in the image of God. As such, they are worthy of dignity and respect and have much to contribute to the common good.
• That as Christians we have a responsibility to love and show compassion for the stranger among us.
• That immigrants are our neighbors, both literally and figuratively. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and show mercy to neighbors in need.
• In the rule of law and that Christians are to be a voice within our democracy for just laws that protect all people, especially the vulnerable.
We recognize that the current United States immigration system is limited and reform is necessary. The Bible does not offer a blueprint for modern legislation, but it can serve as a moral compass to help shape the tone, content, and purposes of contemporary laws. Using the Bible as our guide, we are compelled to support immigration reform legislation that includes the following elements:
• Secure Borders – A fundamental responsibility of the government is to secure its borders. We must improve safeguards and the monitoring of our national borders. Enforcement of our borders must reflect our deeply-held American values of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of the family.
• Immigrant Labor – Various sectors of the American economy rely on the labor of immigrants. Laws and quotas should more accurately reflect this need and provide for the legal entry each year of a viable number of immigrant workers and their families.
• Path to Legality - Millions of undocumented immigrants live in the shadows of our country today. The present state of affairs does not allow them to flourish as constructive members in society nor does it serve the common good. A rigorous yet fair process needs to be established, requiring them to register with the appropriate authorities, embrace their civic responsibilities, and earn the privileges of legal status, for example: permanent residency, citizenship, work permit.
• Centrality of the Family – Immigration reform should reflect the central importance of the family. This commitment can be made concrete by reconsidering the number of visas available for family reunification, by dedicating resources to reduce the backlog of cases presently in process, and by acknowledging the negative impact of current deportation policies.
We urge our national representatives to re-engage the immigration reform debate in a civil and respectful manner. We emphasize the need for a national solution. We eagerly offer our time, energy, and ideas so that the current discussion might move toward greater understanding within our nation and constructive resolution through new legislation. We look forward to working together to find common ground on this critical issue.