Our Clear Place on the Map
May 26, 2010
Like many of you, I have tried to stay engaged in the conversation regarding our state’s new immigration law, both in conversations and in reading media reports. And frankly, my head is spinning as I see people all over the map. Consider these differences within very narrow categories:
First is the “young, white, trendy, conservative pastor” category. One friend is for the law, one is against it. The one for it also works as a farmer in Casa Grande and has some very personal reasons behind his view. In one incident, the man who farms the land next to his was held at gunpoint and had his truck stolen by someone who had recently crossed the border illegally. My other friend in this category is working on his doctorate and has written a 50-page paper on the issues surrounding illegal immigration. He is against it because he is convinced that the system is thoroughly exploitative, in that our economy depends on immigrant labor yet does not make such labor accessible through temporary work visas. He believes the law does little to address the real problems.
Second is the “older, heart-for-the-poor, Civil Rights veteran, victim of racial profiling, African-American pastor” category. Again, one friend is for the law, one is against it. With vehemence, I might add. How these two men that I respect are on opposite sides of the rallies is beyond me, but there they are.
Third and finally comes the “surprise!” category, both of which happened on Thursday. The first came when I read an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal by Robert Morgenthau, the district attorney of immigrant-dense Manhattan from 1975-2009. I fully expected him to join the chorus supporting the law, and it turns out that he strongly opposes tying local police work with federal immigration work, for many of the reasons stated by the Phoenix Police Chief. Only a few hours later I was getting a haircut from a Latino brother in Christ who attends a largely Latino, English-speaking church. When I asked him about their general vibe, he said that the congregation was largely supportive of the law.
With views like these all over the map, I am deeply grateful that our clear place on the map transcends these categories. Whatever “side” we land on politically, our unquestionable, irrefutable commitment is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to call them to join us in following Jesus Christ. We must be relentless in reminding ourselves that we are talking about human beings created in the image of God, and that to categorize them as “illegals,” “victims,” or anything in between will hinder the real work we are called to do as God’s people.
Please continue to pray with me that God would show us how we as a church might move toward our neighbors in portraying and proclaiming Christ’s love. Make sure to mark your calendar for our neighborhood picnic on June 19th, and pray that God would display his glory through that event. Let us be the salt and light we are called to be as we fulfill the disciple-making mission Jesus left us to do.
Pastor Chris