Illegal Immigrants and the church

Christ said "Go and sin no more".

It would be my inclination to refuse membership, and encourage them to turn themselves in.

Protection of the ministry would be a priority.

 

This is a big issue where I serve.

Our church has taken the position that we provide them shelter, food, clothing, times for worship, prayer, and help with legal and medical expenses as needed and even linking them with employment on limited basis. That said we also work with them in understanding their relationship with Romans 13.

We don't broadcast this service nor do we advocate that they remain in the states. We have several members who work, pro bono, to help families stay together when the government threatens to deport the parents.

This is a messy issue. Too many politicos are driving this topic imho. The church's position should always be grace and aid with the teaching of abiding by the laws in according with the NT teachings.

We shouldn't get tangled up in the to deport or not to deport. We shouldn't get tangled up in the legalities or the legislative issues around citizenship. Rather, we should advocate for them before God and provide hospitality and generous love always.

Just our position.

 

Nowhere in the Bible is baptism into a Baptist Church required for Heavenly Citizenship!

 

What ever the law requires.

See an immigration Attorney but in many cases you will be aiding illegal activity.

Most likely

But we are to obey the laws of the land. However, how many church members have a fuzz buster?

I pastored in a heavily Hispanic area 66% because of the orange groves. They used to be transients from one crop to another but in the last few years they quit traveling and settled down. Every Anglo church has at least one Hispanic mission and there are no self supporting Hispanic churches. The majority are Mexican illegals. Recently they have begun a mass, exodus with work slacking, and going home.

I believe you are being wise in looking ahead. Check with an immigration attorney and get all the legal scoop you want. Also check with these guys and they will give you free counsel as well.

 

What about Luke 20:25 where Jesus says, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." And likewise Mark 12:17 and Matthew 22:21.

My study of this portion of scripture always taught me that we are to follow man's law so long as it doesn't conflict with God's law. I would think that if a Hispanic person wants to be one of God's children, they should first obey man's law. Nothing about obeying immigration laws conflict with God's law so far as I can see, so Jesus' instruction would be to obey the law.

PastorMark.

 

How many times have we discussed on here about illegals being crinimals, thats why they're called illegal aliens. Past salvation, they should not be aided at all other then to get them to turn themselves in. How many other criminals, who've not answered for tehir crimes, would a church help? Would we give aid to a child molester and help theme evade the law, how about a murderer or bank robber? A crime is a crime, and crossing the borders illegally is a crime. Nothing about salvation, nothing in the bible says we should forget a persons current illegal activities.

 

Not meaning to sound crass, but it appears you already knew your position on this topic before you asked the question. If you feel it is Biblical to help Hispanics break the law, then just do it. That is between you and God, and nothing anyone here says is going to matter.

PastorMark.

 

Corrie ten Boom should have obeyed the "law of the land" too...:flower:

 

Tim,

I was a missionary in Mexico for almost 10 years. I now live and minister less than 10 miles from the Mexican border and work with Hispanic families nearly every day.

Our policy is "Don't ask, don't tell."

It is not my job to report crime, except in cases where lives or well-being are at stake.

I would NEVER encourage illegal activity. We do not give employment to undocumented workers. We do however, give food and ministry assistance where it is needed. Our church has a thriving Spanish ministry on BOTH sides of the border- the Mexican side meets in the morning and the Amerian side in the afternoon. One man pastors both works. Some of the people attend both services.

It is also not my job to help them become legal. That is between them and the US government.

If an illegal should come to Christ and be convicted about their status- and they were to come and tell me- I would advise them to "go home", however, that is not always the practicable thing to do.

Sadly a lot of the problems are a result of TERRIBLE immigration laws.

I don't have all the solutions, but the answer is definitely NOT to just ignore the need.

 

We have a large hispanic church that is part of the larger ministry of the church wher I get to serve. We have about 500 hispanics who attend a spanish only service on Sundays.

Also we live in a growing county that is seeing the most growth coming from the hispanic population. Thus, we see many families coming through our various clothing, food, shelter, and benevolence ministries.

As Mexdeaf said above, many of our immigration rules are both archane and prejudicial towards hispanic populations. This is politics thing and I don't want to get too far into it without permission. Suffice to say there is more than meets the eye with current immigration laws.

I summarized my position above. To suggest providing aid and comfort to these people who sit at the margins of society is "aiding and abetting" criminal activity is not accurate. We are commanded to show these people decency, love, and hospitality as a visible demonstration of faith, just like everyone else. When someone comes and asks for help we don't have a box at the top of the form that asks "are you a legal citizen" that isn't hospitality.

We council people to consider their response in light of Romans 13 and other passages. Yet we will do this after we provide for their needs.

These are people who have families they are attempting to provide for. If for no other reason, our common humanity demands we show them decency.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a case study for us. The Samaritan would be an illegal Mexican day laborer today (or maybe an Arab.) We should be like the Samaritan.

 

I guess it depends,, do you want to teach these new christians crime is ok for christians? They do not have to obey laws that they don't want too (these would be laws that do not contradict scripture). Thats the plain and simple of it. Is it alright for christians to commit crimes and other christiasn to help them.

 

One extreme case does not set precedent for every illegal. But more importantly man you got to check with an immigration attorney. Having the pastor in jail is not going to help anyone.

 

Call immigration and then help him find a good church back home after he's deported.

Well, technically, living here illegally would be sin, as we're commanded to observe the law, so we couldn't accept them as members as long as they're committing this ongoing sin.

I'd call INS and allow them to visit the church for as long as it takes for INS to pick them up.

Church membership and salvation are not the same thing.

 

You can also look at this website: http://www.ice.gov/ there is a lot of information here you can use.