Christians and Immigration - Conclusion

In this series of posts we have been attempting to examine the issue of immigration from a Christian perspective.  We began by briefly looking at the issue of immigration itself (Christians and Immigration - Introduction).  We saw how the immigration issue is influenced by the happenings of the rest of the world.  Next we examined some Old Testament passages such as Genesis 1 and the accounts of the patriarchs such as Abram (Christians and Immigration Part One - The Old Testament Pt.1).  We pointed out how all humanity is created in God's image.  As a result all humankind, including immigrants, are endowed with dignity and respect as bearers of the Imago Dei.  We also saw that the OT contains many accounts of the patriarchs migrating from one place to another.  Hospitality was a huge part of these migrations.  Then we examined the OT Law as it relates to the issue of immigration (Christians and Immigration Part Two - The Old Testament Pt. 2).  Here we saw that over and again God's law pointed the follower to provide special care for the alien and foreigner in their midst.  They were to provide for them through special offerings, and by leaving the edges of their fields unharvested so that the alien could come and glean the edges for food.  The poor and the alien have a special place in God's heart.  After this we looked at the New Testament and what that brought to light on our issue (Christians and Immigration Part Three - The New Testament).  We saw that Jesus himself experienced a migration when as an infant Joseph took him and Mary to Egypt where they stayed for about two years.  We also examined some of the teachings of Jesus in which he held up Samaritans (foreigners/aliens in the culture) as prime examples of faith.  We did not, however, go into the other NT passages that call Christians "aliens" and "citizens of heaven", etc.  But these passages must also be taken into account for a more thorough discussion on the issue.  Now, I would like to just tie up this series with a few closing remarks.  Again, the work of M. Daniel Carroll R., Christians at the Border:  Immigration, The Church, and The Bible, has been a huge help guiding me on this topic.  For anyone who wants to look deeper at this issue than we have done here I would recommend his work as a good starting point.

One thing that needs to be made clear is how complicated this issue really is.  Sometimes we want to make an issue simply black and white.  Most often things are more gray than we want to readily admit.  I think immigration is one of those issues.  As we pointed out in this series, immigration involves people.  There are lives involved here.  Lives that have all sorts of stories, backgrounds, hopes, dreams, desires, pains, etc.  It involves lives for which our Lord and Savior died a cursed death on a cross.  In light of this we must think things through before we attempt to make a point.  M. Daniel Carroll R. reminds us: 

An appropriate response to the complicated situation in society will not come from detached, objective analysis, cost-benefit calculations, efficiency quotients, and cultural arguments.  The decisions that are made and courses of action that are recommended should be commensurate with the life of Jesus--his actions, his teaching, his cross.  Analysis and calculations are necessary, but they must be informed by more transcendent beliefs and other overriding life commitments (p. 139).

There is also equal responsibility on both sides of the border.  Those entering another culture must recognize their responsibility within the new culture, meanwhile, the host culture must likewise recognize their responsibility to the alien.  Especially as Christians, who are "resident aliens" themselves in this world, hospitality is to be a hallmark of our lives.  Ultimately, we will find "resident aliens will embrace resident aliens: respectful and mindful of differences, open to grow and change, reciprocal and mutual, personal and communal, assured yet with great risk, while confident in the light of the Word, the empowerment of the Spirit, the example of Jesus, and the blessing of the Father" (p. 140).

Regardless, followers of Jesus Christ must lead the way.  After all, Jesus is the one who tears down walls that divide.  We must take the ministry of reconciliation with us wherever we go, and that even applys to the issue of immgration.