Rob Witham

This is the third article in the series “A Christian Response To Illegal Immigration.” The first two articles explored the issue of national border security and whether a Christian response has yet been presented on this important matter. This article begins exploring one of three Biblical commands that have direct bearing on our subject matter: what is the Christian response to foreign nationals that have immigrated to the United States illegally.

This article will explore the first of three considerations that directly impact the Christian’s response to immigration. In review, the three considerations are:

• We are commanded to love our neighbors and to do good to them even when that requires personal expense and sacrifice
• We are taught to love one another, prefer one another, and finally to do good to one another as we would have done to us
• We are exhorted to view the world around us in light of the spiritual battle that is unfolding, ever aware of Kingdom dynamics, with an eye toward what God is doing

First, we are commanded to love our neighbors and to do good to them even when that requires personal expense and sacrifice on our part.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10.30-37 NRSV)

Jesus’ command to us is that we love our neighbors and show them mercy: “Go and do likewise.” There is no room for debate on that point! And lest we attempt to excuse ouselves based on the fact that these are foreigners in our country recall who the characters in Jesus’ story are. The hero of this story is a hated Samaritan foreigner. Recall also why Jesus told this story in the first place:

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

It was this hearer’s hardness of heart and cynicism that prompted Jesus’ classic story! The inescapable conclusion is that everyone we see in need is our neighbor - regardless of their ethnicity or citizenship. The instruction remains true. “Go and do likewise,” even when it will cost you time and money. Following Jesus will always involve getting our hands dirty and having our agenda and schedule messed up. Following Jesus will cost us plenty - in fact, following Jesus will cost us everything.

The next article will expand on the second argument in this series: We are taught to love one another, prefer one another, and finally to do good to one another as we would have done to us.