This past Wednesday, United States immigration authorities arrested 680 undocumented workers in Mississippi in what Mike Hurst—the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi—said was the “largest single state immigration enforcement operation in our nation’s history.” As reports came in, it was apparent that this was something important.
I live in Mississippi. I have both lived and served in two of the areas affected by these arrests. I grew up and pastored in Carthage, MS and lived in Morton, MS, where my dad pastored. When I was a bi-vocational pastor in Carthage, I worked at the local high school. I taught English and coached football daily encountering students whose parents were undocumented. My children very likely went to school with some of the children who lost parents on their very first days of school.
As I have had the opportunity to reflect on what has happened, I want to propose a few pastoral reflections that I have come to as I have thought about what happened this week.
1. Let’s not let our political views overshadow the Gospel.
I get it: many of these folks were undocumented workers. But understand also, not all of those who were arrested were. I have talked to people from one of the plants that was affected, who told me that they arrested American citizens. Why? Honestly, it seems like they were arrested because they were Hispanic. These workers were eventually released but this should cause us to be concerned.
I understand that the State has an obligation to make and enforce the laws and Christians have an obligation to the State (Romans 13:1, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-14). I understand that the issue on our Southern border truly is one of national security. I understand that many of the immigration laws and policies are outdated and ineffective. I realize that there is still much to be done politically in this area of American life. However, I also realize that we are talking about real people with real families in real communities that are really hurting. No matter what we think or feel about the issues surrounding immigration we must remember the people and families that have been affected are people who bear the image of Christ. We must remember that these people matter to Christ and, as such, should matter to us. How we react to this situation shows what we truly believe about the Gospel.
2. Let’s weep with those who weep.
Understand, many children who are American citizens went to school while their parents were being arrested. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute. Imagine this. Many of these children were left with no place to go; in response, many of the schools had to come up with emergency shelters simply to give these children a place to go. Again, I realize that many of these adults were being arrested because they were breaking the law but the kids left outside in tears were innocent victims.
One of the most common responses to this that I have heard is that this is no different than when American children are separated from their American parents who are arrested. True. However, many Christians are using this simply as a way to deflect from the fact that our hearts are not concerned at all with this. We indict ourselves for not caring about children in general if we fail to weep for either. As Christians, we are called to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) and if we do not weep for either, what does this really say about us?
3. Let’s err on the side of compassion.
We have been commissioned to take the Gospel to the ends of the world but we are missing out on the fact that the world is desperate to come here. Many small towns in Mississippi are even seeing an influx of people from all around the world. These are opportunities for us to make a difference for the Kingdom of Christ. We no longer have to go to the ends of the earth because the ends of the earth are next door and our children are playing together. Let us be committed to living an ethic of compassion as we seek to both love our neighbors and take the Gospel to them.
4. Let’s remember the Gospel of grace.
I am reminded by the words of Christ at the Last Judgment when he separates the sheep from the goats: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:34-35).
We must remember that if not for the Gospel of grace we would all be guilty and unworthy of entering the only Kingdom that matters. If we care more about our earthly citizenship than our heavenly one, we may find ourselves enjoying neither the way we should.
5. Let’s remember the blessings that God has given us.
I recently read a book that made an incredibly insightful claim: “millions of people still knock at the doors of this country, while emigration from it, which one would expect to be substantial, given how much discontent with it is being constantly publicly expressed, remains astonishingly rare” (Liah Greenfeld, Nationalism: A Short History, 63). There is much truth in this statement. We Americans enjoy common grace simply by being born here. There is no wonder why people want to come here. We Christians enjoy special grace and we should be willing to extend it to others.
Amen brother! Well said and compassionately said!
Thank you sir.
Good thoughts.
I appreciate that you acknowledge the false choice of a clash between the rule of law and compassion.
Supporting the rule of law does not have to come at the expense of compassion. Nor does compassion require that we not desire the rule of law or, as you stated, express and care about the national security concerns of essentially open borders.
I think We can, and desire to both care deeply about the pain and grief and sorrow that the innocent (and guilty for that matter) are feeling and at the same time desire for enforcement of immigration law (and a better system).
The politics of the situation being what they are, the response of Christians and of a church which has a specific Biblical function of hospitality (which is more than having the older ladies run a coffee bar on Sunday morning and fix Wednesday night fellowship supper) should be to step in and take care of the kids and provide emotional support in addition to physical needs and administrative help such as keeping track of the kids so they can be re-united with their parents at some point since the current government practice isn’t paying attention to details like that.
http://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/pubs/ipm/arrest.htm
This is an important issue that needs to be addressed in a way to really find a solution that solves the problem in a orderly manner based on our democratic, representative form of government. We need to stay away from personal experiences in the positive or negative as that is an emotional response to a problem that is complex. I grew up in Florida and my experience with illegal aliens is that it was/is a negative factor for the lower middle class working native born American citizen. Let us stay on facts and if we want to bring our Christian values into it for discussion let us do so.
I provided the link above as that is the law, the policy , the real world application that happens every day to American citizens. If an American citizen was arrested in the raid at the chicken plant , he would be treated the same as the illegal aliens. Are you advocating we have 2 separate set of laws? Actually , we do not with illegal aliens able to skirt the law in a manner American citizens cannot.
Churches and Christians can legally provide any aid they see fit to help those in need but that does not mean it should be public policy or law. The USA is the most generous , open and equally welcoming country in the world for legal immigrants. That is because of our Christian heritage . If I support strong border control, enforcing immigration laws set by an elected Congress and believe in the rule of law , have I lost my Christian values?
Much to this issue and it will and should not go away , we need to address it though the political system . We can change our Representatives every 2 years .
Why should we stay away from our personal ‘experiences’ positive or negative. This is an emotional issue, is that a bad thing? Christ will judge our hearts. Matthew 25 is very clear and I will be counted as those loving the ‘least of these’- which in today’s America seems to be immigrants both legal and illegal. I will weep with those who weep because Christ has asked me to. And, when hard hearted people quote rules and laws to exclude and abuse others I will warn prophetically that if your heart is in line with your rhetoric then it is not loving, not compassionate and God will bring judgment.
Lee,
The great news is that many local churches have stepped in and met needs. They have truly taken this to be a great way to love and serve their community.
AW
the author starts off as his first point with “Let’s not let our political views overshadow the Gospel” and then never defines the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,.
I fear when every issue becomes a Gospel issue that the Gospel will not have meaning.
Point well taken. Thanks for this. I totally see your point with this. I should have been more clear on what I meant by “Gospel.”
AW
Thank you. I plan to share this on Facebook,
thank you. I was debating with an old classmate from high school who is Southern Baptist. I grew up in Del Rio,TX where Samaritan Purse visited the Val Verde Border
Humanitarian Coalition. They started it a few months ago to addressi both sides as Del Rio is a military town and a friendship city with Mexico. A few months ago people started giving Bibles in backpacks to children passing by. This has expanded very fast and really easy to see some of it on their Facebook.
Naomi,
Please share it. We would love to get this out to as many folks as possible.
Thanks,
AW
There are two issues [at least].
One is civil, governmental, legal.
The other is Christian thus involving compassion, sacrifice, and loving one’s neighbor.
I am thankful that the churches are acting in love with compassion and sacrifice.
That is what we are called to do.
I am glad that the govt. is seeking to uphold its laws.
I am also glad to live in a country where we, as citizens, have a way to change those laws if we think they are wrong or can be improved upon.
I feel bad for our citizens who were swooped up wrongly.
I know I wouldnt want to be collared just becuase I looked like someone else.
But I understand the govt. dilemma, as many they were looking for either have no id picture on file or were carrying fake official ids.
Its a messy business, and the children get caught in the mess, and that is terrible.
Let us pray for them, their parents, and for our brothers and sisters who are seeking to show them the love of Christ.
Agreed on compassion, grace, empathy, comfort, ministry and gratitude for our blessings.
These should also be available for victims of the suspected crimes. Those victims – according to unsealed court records and affidavits from a lengthy investigation – include:
– Women (U.S. citizens) with Hispanic surnames whose identities have been stolen, whose food stamps and other public assistance were cut off because their stolen ID showed them ‘working’
– Those victims’ children
– Persons whose Social Security numbers are being illegally used, and who therefore can’t get their benefits including medical
– Employers knowingly employing undocumented workers, who then underpay and otherwise abuse them over the years
– the 14 year old undocumented boy found as a poultry plant worker.
This aspect is not ‘politics.’ It’s yes-and. The 680 arrested /detained (303 released on humanitarian grounds) seem to have gotten their jobs through someone’s crime – their own and/or a complicit employer. (Two companies implicated seem to be owned by someone in California). These crimes often have real victims. Sometimes the very SS numbers used are of children. Federal investigation of these employers continues.
So it’s a multi-faceted situation in which many deserve compassion. even if they get no headlines.
Karen, excellent points on the reality and dealing with practical , political and social effect of illegal aliens working in the country. We once were a nation of laws and our judicial/ political system made us the nation we are today.
I can not find or fact check that American citizens were arrested in the raid because of they were Hispanic , that is a red herring adding to the emotional response to the issue. The SBC needs to separate political issues from Gospel issues , a phrase that is so over used now it loses its meaning.
The country’s judicial system, law enforcement and respect for the law is the foundation of our society. The underlying foundation of this nation’s laws were based on Christian values, including our immigration policy. I was firmly against the Moral Majority concept , as Christians should be able to vote correctly on the issues using their faith based decision making and do not need any political or social advice to advance an issue .
America is not a theocracy , we were and barely still are , a nation founded on Christian values and beliefs. These beliefs became ingrained in our social, cultural and political system. We have been able to incorporate our faith values into the political system by individual effort not mandates or guilt from religious denominations.
The SBC is drifting into the social justice political that is not organic. The average SBC member can navigate the issues and legality of the illegal immigration issue themselves but some at the top might not agree with their political decision and use the bully pulpit to change the SBC from a faith based organization into a political action body.
A good article Adam, though I may have said things a bit differently. I don’t have time to speak to everything that resonates with me (comfortable things or not). Let me at least say the following…
1 – I am broken over the children and families who have been affected. I will be returning to the US soon and one of the places God will use me is working wi h the underprivileged and displaced people in the states. I am not yet sure how this will look but I am ready.
2 – I am angry at the parents who put their children and families in such a predicament. At no fault of the children but completely at fault of parent(s) who made some choices that have such dire consequences upon their families.
3 – I am angry at our government for not doing something pro-active to keep our borders protected but instead making a political argument against their opponents for following laws created by the same government.
4 – I’m burdened for the church who has a great, biblical responsibility to reach out and love those affected yet either doesn’t have the means or compassion to do something that honors God. The church did not seek this but it is at our doorstep. What will we do? I’m angry that too many of our churches still work to keep people of different color out of our buildings. Wanting them out of our country (lives) is the same mindset.
As I see it. God has told us to go – and so few are when the harvest is ripe… so God is bringing them to us and we still (en masse) are sitting on our hands doing nothing. When will the church stop raising funds to build kingdoms for themselves?
I have no idea if I am making sense. Just a bit fed up.
Aaaargh
Just so some potential commenters know: a comment with mostly caps is sure to be deleted, as are comments that are lengthy and yank at all the usual political chains. Maybe shorter and to the point that the writer was addressing which was pastoral, not political.
Some churches and individuals around here are on call for emergencies regarding temp housing and needs such as described here. This raid created a situation an order of magnitude higher, though. Seems like those in charge would think this stuff through.
yep
Still looking for the yes-and on what Christians can do for real people with real families in in real communities that are really hurting in response to ICE raids. Because, if this is on people’s hearts, let’s put legs on compassion.
To me, this part is important: let’s educate ourselves, because it’s going to continue, and most of us honestly know little beyond headlines. Even a few minutes of Googling helps (that’s how I found the Miss. ICE raid docs). ICE raids workplaces due to work-related law-breaking: employers hiring illegally, or employees working w/o U.S. ID or with fake or loaned or, less often, stolen ID (mismatch). Working w/o papers has been illegal by federal law since 1986. Fact is there are few ways undocumented immigrants can support themselves year-round legally. Other ways include “off the books” jobs/payment like housekeeping, childcare, lawncare/landscape, stonework, etc. So the system incentivizes black market ID’s & off-the-books payments, which (along with demographics), mess up the tax-funding basis of Social Security & other public benefits systems. So, law enforcement (district attorneys, federal agents, etc.) will continue to enforce laws they swore to uphold; illegal immigration/family immigration continues; they’ll continue to work, undocumented, to support their families. It’s the system we have.
Ideas for local churches: Offer ESL, or better, offer/learn Spanish. Beef up all your children’s programs/areas/budget/emphases. Increase the budget line-item donation to local help centers, especially those that assist with utility bills & rent. Help with whatever our Hispanic-church partners are doing. One-on-one we can help neighbors; as mentioned, our kids’ friends, or after school programs. Host/offer Spanish-language services. Smaller scale, host a Spanish-language Bible study group. Partner with local public elementary schools, which are increasingly Hispanic. Individually, volunteer and/or get on a Board of a local nonprofit that helps with immigrants or children or the accused or legal rights whatever population moves you; they are usually dying for committed, diligent volunteers. And don’t demand that everyone else in your church do the same thing you are doing; we’re all differently gifted. Other ideas?
I focused on Spanish language because it’s most common and doable. Here in DFW, some churches are also equipped to help immigrants from other countries, from around the world, in the name of Chrust.
Lots of local churches have stepped up in a big way. Additionally, local schools and administrators are boots on the ground and have a better understanding of what children have been affected.
I’m grateful to see the compassion of the natural born Americans that are touched by this incident. However, no children were home alone nor abandoned. The few people that were picked up that were “legal” did not possess the accurate documentation on them at the time. Yes their should be compassion, empathy and Christian’s should be able to help and want to help but their is a fine line here. This is no different than a drug dealer selling drugs (breaking the law), gets arrested and worse than the illegals, the kids actually do get off a bus to an empty house. My heart bleeds for the adults sacrificing their life to break the laws in Hope’s of providing a better life for their kids, who doesnt want that? But dont teach your kids to break laws or that it’s ok to BEND the law.. that is bad character. Many had fake SSN which means they are NOT contributing to Taxes, SSI and so much more that we as natural born are obligated to. If there really is that many people that feel for these people and want then to succeed, help in some way to rebuild their country. The bible also says ‘give but dont give to the point you cant feed your own’, somewhere I definitely remeber but not taking the time to search and copy paste. You cant save all the stray animals, you can try. To me the illegal immigration issue today is like fleas on a dog… a few fleas, it’s a but uncomfortable but eventually if you dont do something they multiply and suck the life out of the dog until hes dead… everyone has to work together and contribute otherwise America will NOT exist in 50 years and other countries will take advantage of us and our weakness and blow us up all because thousands of people wanted a free ride and us Southerns (being the kind hearted compasioned “bless their hearts” gullible people we are) say let them ALL come, let’s not enforce that law and our grandchildren have no land to inherit or continue. The law is the law and sometimes I hate it too but laws are their to create order.