Obedience, Immigration and the Bible

There is a biblical tradition that takes seriously both what the Bible says and the people and culture of the readers. Danny Carroll is such a scholar and is an Old Testament professor at the seminary from which I graduated in 1983. Romans 13 and Immigration, from Dr. Carroll's upcoming book Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible.

The article is worth reading for people of faith or anyone who wants to understand more about the Bible and what it has to say to our world. A couple of quotations:

Christians must recognize that their agenda is set in the previous chapter of Paul's letter. . . . believers [are] not to be molded by the "pattern of this world." Their lives should be characterized by service to others, love, and compassion—even toward enemies.

Citizens of the U.S. have the right to disagree with the government, and, motivated by their principles, Christians do this in multiple ways: at the ballot box, through publications, by organizing educational, legal, and civic organizations that defend other points of view, by participating in peaceful protests of many kinds for a host of causes, and the like. Each of these actions in its own way expresses reservations about the state of affairs and the things that the government is mandating. Immigration is an example of an area where many believers diverge from the goals and enforcement of current legislation.

If one evaluates immigration law in the U.S. as confused and unfair, and if one believes that these laws do not square with the teaching of the Bible and the ethical demands of the heart of God - let alone the historic openness of this country to foreigners - then these Christians will not say, "What is it about 'illegal' that you don't understand?" Instead, they might declare with the apostles, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God"

Last week I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Carroll at Fuller Seminary talk about how the law as described in the Old Testament scriptures are to reflect God's heart and are bound to the primary law to love your neighbor as yourself.

I hope you will link over and read the whole article and leave a thoughtful and civil comment.