As a follower of Jesus, how should we engage in the discussion about illegal immigration, especially in light of the recent law passed in Arizona? On the one hand, we are called as followers of Jesus to reflect His love and concern to the poor and the marginalized, the least of these (Matthew 25:34-40). On the other hand, we are also called by Jesus to respect and submit to the government, as long as its laws do not compel us to violate the teachings of Jesus (Romans 13:1-7).
So do these two passages of Scripture contradict one another? Can we, as followers of Jesus, be faithful and reflect Christ by following the teachings of both passages when it comes to illegal immigration?
I believe we can. However, I do not believe that we reflect Christ and His teachings when we lash out with uninformed, emotional, soundbites that attack and demean others. Illegal immigration, at its core is an emotional issue that requires thoughtful, informed, and gracious engagement. A focus on the facts and the substance of the Arizona bill and the issue of illegal immigration would advance the discussion further and reflect Christ. While we have the freedom to disagree on this issue, we do not have the freedom to misrepresent Jesus or His teachings by how we engage others on this issue.
What do you think?
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