{"id":5558,"date":"2014-02-13T13:57:42","date_gmt":"2014-02-13T18:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/formerlyfundie\/?p=5558"},"modified":"2019-02-18T07:04:39","modified_gmt":"2019-02-18T12:04:39","slug":"if-people-excluded-illegal-immigrants-we-wouldnt-have-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/formerlyfundie\/if-people-excluded-illegal-immigrants-we-wouldnt-have-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"If People Excluded “Illegal Immigrants”, We Wouldn’t Have Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sometimes I end up being controversial even when I\u2019m not intentionally being controversial. The other day when I wrote a piece on why Jesus followers need to reclaim the immigration discussion<\/a> and insert pro-immigrant Jesus values into the discussion, I actually wasn\u2019t trying kick the hornet\u2019s nest (this time).<\/p>\n

But, I should have remembered: nothing pisses some people off like suggesting we should love immigrants.<\/p>\n

Think we should bomb the crap out of Iran to protect Israel? You\u2019ll get high-fives all day long.<\/p>\n

Suggest we should love immigrants? Well, you\u2019ll get a long list of excuses and push-back.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always thought it silly that some folks will go to the mat and condemn folks over issues that Jesus never once discussed (such as abortion or gay marriage) but yet will completely ignore some of the stuff he actually\u00a0does<\/em> say\u2013 such as that uncomfortable story in Matthew 25. The story\u2019s about two groups of people\u2013 one that goes to heaven, and one that is eternally condemned. To the group that is condemned by Jesus, one of the reasons he gives is:<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the King will turn to those on the left and say, \u2018Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons\u2026 For I was hungry, and you didn\u2019t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn\u2019t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn\u2019t invite me into your home<\/strong>. I was naked, and you didn\u2019t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn\u2019t visit me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While I don\u2019t believe in the \u201ceternal conscious torment\u201d aspect of hell\u2013 a topic I hope to cover next week\u2013 this is a story of condemnation no matter which way you cut it<\/em>. Now, the way folks try to get out of this and justify not actively loving immigrants is by one of two ways. First, they argue the word \u201cstranger\u201d isn\u2019t referring to an immigrant. Secondly, when they lose the language part of the debate, they skip to: \u201cwell, he wasn\u2019t talking about illegals<\/em>\u201c.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s dismantle this one at a time: the word Jesus uses for \u201cstranger\u201d is \u00a0\u03be\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2, and it actually means foreigner\u2013 aka, an immigrant. Pronounced \u201cxenos\u201d, it actually makes the root of the word xenophobia, a fear strangers\/foreigners. It also makes for half of the Greek word for hospitality (meaning to love strangers like a brother), which you can read more about here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since that argument doesn\u2019t work, one\u2019s only hope is to claim that we\u2019re not under a Christian obligation to love \u201cillegal\u201d immigrants\u2026 but that argument doesn\u2019t work either.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>You see, there actually is a story about an \u201cillegal immigrant\u201d in the Bible. (I use the term \u201cillegal\u201d for context, though I believe it\u2019s actually sinful to call undocumented immigrants \u201cillegal\u201d<\/a>). Aaron Taylor tells the story in it\u2019s entirety here<\/a>, but the example is that of Ruth in the Old Testament. Ruth (a Moabite) could have been considered an \u201cillegal\u201d immigrant based on the Law of Moses. As Aaron states:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Deuteronomy 23:3 is clear, \u201cAn Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever.\u201d If you\u2019re still not convinced that descendants of Moab were ordered to be excluded from the congregation of Israel, take a look at verse 6, which says, \u201cYou shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all their days forever.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Under God\u2019s law, Ruth was an \u201cillegal\u201d and to be excluded\u2013 but thankfully, she was not. A man named Boaz comes along and becomes the hero of the story by ignoring<\/em> a law that was ultimately unloving. Boaz marries Ruth, and they have a family.<\/p>\n

Like Jesus demonstrated by healing on the Sabbath, Boaz realized that it\u2019s better to love than to obey the law<\/em>.<\/p>\n

And, it\u2019s a good thing he did\u2013 because had Ruth been excluded, we wouldn\u2019t have Jesus himself. You see, Ruth\u2013 the \u201cillegal immigrant\u201d\u2013 had a grandson who\u2019s name was King David. And who\u2019s the most famous descendant of King David?<\/p>\n

Yup, that would be Jesus.<\/p>\n

In fact, in the New Testament we see the genealogy condensed to the point that Jesus is simply called: \u201cJesus, son<\/em> of David\u201d.<\/p>\n

Or, we could also say, \u201cJesus, son of David, great-grandson of an illegal immigrant\u201d.<\/p>\n

The next time you hear someone demonize an immigrant for being \u201cillegal\u201d, or suggesting that Jesus followers are not under any obligation to radically love immigrants of any type? Just remind them that if folks had always thought that way, we never would have welcomed Jesus into the world.<\/p>\n

We only have Jesus because someone loved an \u201cillegal\u201d immigrant.<\/p>\n

Yes, secular governments have the right to control immigration policies. However, as Jesus followers (a term I use separate from the term \u201cChristian\u201d), we are simply called to love and serve\u2013 even when we think the object of our love or service is somehow less than deserving.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2026Because we all are when you get down to it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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