Strangers and Aliens

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wonder at the fervor of the argument that rages over illegal aliens. A dear friend recently posted the words inscribed on our Statue of Liberty on his social web page. I was stunned at how far they are from the truth of the attitude we seem to extend to those who are simply trying to honestly find a better life.

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Do we really think we make our nation stronger by forcing people who work hard, are willing to do jobs we do not want to do, and who could make this nation their nation lurk in the shadows? Have we not learned anything from the errors of our past?

I am a conservative man and do not mind being thus. I do, however, disagree with most conservatives, especially those who claim to follow Christ on this issue. I cannot reconcile refusing to share the great bounty we have as Americans with any form of Christ-likeness. I know that there are those who come here will ill intent. That does not justify not showing love and succor to those who come looking for a chance to build better lives. We are mission bound to embrace the needs of others. What more basic need is there other than that of a safe home.

Someone recently said to me that no one truly embraces the loving nature of Christ and emulates it without the world trying to kill them. I would think that Christ followers would realize that we are also aliens and strangers. We are not home in America or any other country. Balancing that truth with the command to love our neighbors as ourselves means that we are honor bound to treat those who wish to live in our land with love, acceptance, and deference. We are assured of a future home as we follow Christ. How can we dare deny a temporal home to those who ask? There was a time when it was the followers of Christ who demanded social justice in this nation. I am ashamed when I hear someone claim to be Christian and then hear them speak ill of those who are desperate for better lives. There is no argument that supersedes the command to love others and provide for them as we can. We have so much more than we need. What would it say to the rest of the world if Christ followers in the United States stepped up to provide succor for those in need? How would it change the view of us?

The stigma of strangers lost in a strange land,
In a fallen world that's not our home,
But we are not homeless prodigals here,
Because we have someplace to go. – Michael Card

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."