Every one of you who decides to read this post is either an immigrant or a descendant of immigrants. Your immigrant relatives either crossed the border legally or illegally. In every respect, we are all immigrants. It seems like many have forgotten where we come from.
This country has assimilated individuals from all nations at one time or another. Most left their home country for a better life. Some leave to escape the criminal nature of the land they were born in. Some leave because the promise of America offers them a better way of life for themselves and their families.
Any individual who thinks, acts, or believes in ways that denigrate the individuals crossing our borders to find a better life are in essence forgetting the heritage that has made them who they are.
The anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions of individuals who adhere to MAGA philosophy and actions are infuriating, un-American, and antithetical to their professed spiritual beliefs. If you have ever identified in any way, with anti-immigrant thought, beliefs, and actions you need to check your reasons for believing and acting in ways that betray the very core of what it means to be an American, what it means to identify with the cross of Christ, and what it means to be a person of integrity.
Before I go deeper into the spiritual realm on this topic, know that I believe individuals crossing the border must do so legally. Our political leaders need to provide legitimate paths for individuals to participate in the opportunity to be included with the rest of us whose ancestors migrated to the United States.
In Matthew 25 the words of Christ define what he expects our attitude to be regarding immigration and the treatment of those less fortunate than ourselves. Unfortunately, Matthew 25 has largely been ignored by huge numbers of “Christian” individuals. This is especially true with those who identify with the “Christian Nationalist” subversion of Evangelical Christianity. Immigrant bashing by those who identify as Christians, destroys their witness to the world and casts doubts about the depth of their commitment to the God they claim to worship.
Before you go any further. Take a long look at Matthew 25 and then take these comments to heart.
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that what we do, or don’t do, for the poorest and most vulnerable is what we do and don’t do for Him. Basically, he is saying that he will know how much you love him, by how you treat them. Matthew 25 became Jesus’ final test of discipleship: How we treat the poor is literally how we treat him.
I doubt there are many immigrants that are currently crossing our borders that are rich. Immigrants in many cases have walked many dangerous miles to escape the horrible oppression that comes from living in their home country. Many face murder, rape, and beatings along the way. Immigrants are horribly poor and anyone who treats them with disdain, face the consequences listed by Christ in Matthew 25.
Matthew 25:35 – “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat: I was thirsty and gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in.”
Matthew 25:40 – And the King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me”
Matthew 25:43 –” I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in.”
Matthew 25:45-46 – “Then He will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me”. “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Those who claim the cross of Christ and still have bad attitudes and actions towards immigrants trying to join us in this great American experiment, should heed the words of Christ as spoken in Matthew 25.
I am sickened by the actions of Donald Trump and the way he lies about those crossing our borders. He lies about the numbers of individual who have entered the country illegally. He lies about the level of crime committed once they have entered. He lies about whether or not they are criminal. All of his lies are for one purpose, to excite his political base and show what a tough guy he is.
I can’t listen to any individual who treats immigrants in ways that are unacceptable. To those I say “don’t talk to me about your faith because your actions betray everything you claim to believe in.”
There is spiritual danger that comes with ignoring Matthew 25. We have been warned. The danger is real for those who reduce the immigration debate to the levels exhibited by those who claim to want to Make America Great Again.
Independent Investigations 