Recently the Portland Tribune ran a story What would Jesus do about immigrants? I agree with most of the article that a middle way solution to the immigration issue need to be found; a solution between absolute amnesty on the left and absolute restrictionism on the right. A solution that respects that we are we are all created in the image of God, and respect the clear scriptural teaching and strangers among us.
Leviticus 19:33-34 (NKJV)
33‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
What I have found disturbing was the flippant response by Jim Ludwick of Oregon Oregonians for Immigration Reform hen he said “To be very crass about it, they’re looking for members, and I think that’s partly what’s driving it.”
I find Mr Ludwicjk comment insulting to Christians. Our motivation is not numbers but our duty to follow Christ revealed and commanded in scriptures.
This incident with Ludwick should give concern Christian cultural conservatives who we allow to influence our political beliefs. Mr. Ludwick statement raises my own awareness that even in Conservatism there are differences of worldview of religious and secular conservatives. On the religious conservative side, there is the Judeo Christian ethic that we all are God creation and our rights and liberties com not from the consensus of man but from God. Even the verse Leviticus 19:33-34 conveys the ideas of right from God. Israel shall not mistreat the stranger and to be to Israel as one born among them; Why, because the stranger is a special creation of God. Contrast that to the secular view of protecting secular institutions for the reasons of national sovereignty, entitlement Ie job only belong to Americans , and conservative political power ( the immigrant tend to vote democrat). To protect these intuitions even if conservative actions violate the rights to immigrants that comes from God.
As I listen to conservative talk radios show host or the Tea Party We need to be caution and discerning that we do not compromise our faith in Christ by following the influences of secular cultural conservatism.