It seems that pastors/priests and the flock of the regularly faithful have developed a more favorable attitude towards undocumented immigrants than the less faithful—so found a study by the Pew Research Center. In these pious circles, few denominations are officially proposing that the paperless be excluded from the communion of the saints. Still, a grumbling has surfaced in Christian discourse to that effect. The questions this debate poses are biblically significant: What is communion? Who are the saints? What is our responsibility towards people who have entered the country illegally?
Communion: White Bread for White Bread
Communion, as in “bread and wine,” is a symbolic act that reminds Christians of the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf. Michael O. Emerson states that in the US, communion of the saints consists of the most segregated hour of the week (Sunday morning). The article I read suggests that this segregation is no more complex than our desire to keep worship to similar melatonin levels. That means that white bread is both what is served and who serves it in most historic churches. Therefore, it is unlikely for an undocumented immigrant to be invited to worship in the community where he/she does landscaping or childcare. However, Christ had something completely different in mind.
We cannot remain silent or be still at a time when our own brothers and sisters are scorned or threatened –for, as one member of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26).
The Saints: Beggars Can’t Be Choosers
The most common faith statement in Christian churches is Symbolum Apostolorum, or the Apostles Creed, and it affirms communion of the saints as central to the beliefs of a Christian. Who, then, are the saints?
“God shows no partiality, but in every nation one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him” (Acts:34-35)
So there it is, your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to be in fellowship with the fearful and obedient folk. But, are people who break immigration laws being obedient or God fearing? Taking the question at face value, the answer is no. Does that mean that they are not saints in the fold? Now that’s the rub, ain’t it? Consider that anyone who speeds, cheats on their taxes, takes unfair advantage of government benefits, does personal business on company time etc. is violating the law. So, if I can justify speeding when I am late for work, then how much more justifiable is crossing a man-made line to save your family from starvation. Fortunately, God allows me to be a saint because of what Christ did, not because of what I do. I merely accept a call and work to show my gratitude. But, more importantly, I am called to call. Whom am I supposed to call? EVERYONE. Why? Because He said so.
Questioning the Question
Is breaking immigration law obedient or God-fearing? Questioning the question itself, what is left is a myriad of possible answers and further questions. Is immigration law just? Is your reason for breaking the law just? Would Jesus do it? Would Jesus mind if I did it? The best biblical apology for immigration, both legal and not is in Church World Service’s immigration article. The blog Quo Vadis tells the story of a woman who married a man who got his residency by fighting in Iraq. He applied for her residency and was denied. She is now living without documents in the United States. It could be years before she gets another shot and nothing guarantees that she would be accepted. What is just about that?
Love Your Neighbor: from a distance?
I had a friend in College who approached a church about volunteering for them. Several of the members in that church have stadiums, libraries or schools named after them. An elder of that church took my friend to the parking lot and pointed at the people lined up at the homeless shelters and food pantries that other non-profits had set up across the street.
“If you see any of those people wandering into the church, give them a ticket to the pantry, or a bus ticket if they need it, but make sure they don’t come in and bother the members. We have very important names in this church, you know.”
I can see Jesus rolling his eyes from heaven at first then being tempted to pick up a whip and turn some tables. Seriously though, when I firs heard this my mind jumped to a passage of scripture I was forced memorize in the fourth grade.
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Hebrews 13:1-3
This is one of the many references to our responsibility to foreigners/immigrants found in the bible, but the message is clear. Be welcoming!
What Other Saints Think
The only church executive whose face I could find in an online video on immigration is Peter Borgdorff, former Executive Director of the Dutch-founded Christian Reformed Church. He addresses hospitality within our gates in the context of the immigration protest marches against House bill HR4437, passed in the spring of 2006, but rejected by the senate.
Borgdorff, however is in some pretty impressive company. The Presbyterian denomination PC (USA), with its Scottish roots, has an official statement on its site in favor of comprehensive review of immigration policies, and the racism underlying the debate:
Mexican immigrants reveal again our divided mind about immigration. They are told they are needed and at the same time that they are not wanted. They are regarded both as burden and benefit. Political and geo-graphical boundaries are in and of themselves part of the human social existence… However, the only boundaries Christians recognize ultimately are those established by justice and love.
The Reformed Church of America, another historic church with Dutch heritage, has been discussing since 1983. The result was an official stance on immigration with a series of responses that favor compassionate immigration policy.
The Evangelical Covenant Church, of Scandinavian lineage, explicitly calls its members to love their documented and undocumented neighbors coming in from other countries through an official statement.
The Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church seeks to faithfully welcome both documented and undocumented immigrants with the love and peace of Christ as well as stand in solidarity as a people who bear good news in thought, word, and deed. The doors of our churches must remain open to all that would receive God’s saving Word.
Historic Predecessors
Since Christians and Jews share a common document, it is no surprise that the American Jewish Committee and the Vatican see eye to eye on several things, including immigration. The American Jewish Committee made its point in a 2002 statement reaffirming the need for generous immigration policies even in light of the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Understanding the significance of these events, AJC recently began a process of reexamining its policy positions on immigration. Upon extensive reflection and debate, AJC reaffirms its commitment to fair and generous immigration policies, as fundamentally good for the United States and consistent with Jewish values.
Pope John Paul II gave a message on World Migration Day, on July 25, 1995 calling the Church to consider migration from the complex reality of emigration rather than the simplified immigration arguments.
His irregular legal status cannot allow the migrant to lose his dignity, since he is endowed with inalienable rights, which can neither be violated nor ignored. Illegal immigration should be prevented, but it is also essential to combat vigorously the criminal activities which exploit illegal immigrants. The most appropriate choice, which will yield consistent and long-lasting results, is that of international cooperation which aims to foster political stability and to eliminate underdevelopment. The present economic and social imbalance, which to a large extent encourages the migratory flow, should not be seen as something inevitable, but as a challenge to the human race’s sense of responsibility.
To me, at least, it seems that I would be going against half of Jesus’ teachings were I to disregard or reject undocumented immigrants. It further seems to me, that I’m in pretty good company on this imperfect side of heaven if I’m to take that stance. I understand that not everyone agrees, and that I did not quote or link to those who do not. I must say that what I found to the contrary were blogs of such hateful and often vulgar tone that I decided to keep that off of my own blog. Still, this is an open door. So, with that I leave any comments, disagreement, dissent, and hopefully civil and intelligent discourse up to you. Thanks for reading…let’s talk.
