Hello everyone!
In light of the current issues of our day, I wanted to take this time to talk to you about how God views immigrants, refugees and "aliens." He does not view them through our political lense, he views them through a lense of love and as people made in His image.
God loves these people just as he loves those native-born to America. He does not side with one political faction or another. He is not a Republican nor a Democrat. He sees these people through only the eyes of love. He does not wish us to be a selfish nation, only doing what is best for us all of the time. God is a God of order. Immigration laws protect both the immigrant, the refugee and the alien alike. However, some of what I have seen in America recently is less about order where immigration is concerned and more about, "we just don't like these people." This has happened before - with the Irish, the Italians and later the Eastern Europeans. Now we see this same attitude about the Mexicans and middle eastern peoples. We in America, just aren't good at accepting new people and why I don't know. God's Word is clear on this issue. Why are we as a people so unclear? I think we are unclear because like those before us, we are afraid. Fear will make a people do and say strange things. I believe we can live above that fear if we act in love towards those who are different than us and simply looking for a better life, just like the rest of us.
Now I know this post may be disagreeable to some of you and that is okay. I go with what God says, not with what a political party or even a president thinks is okay. As I said in yesterday's post, I do not believe everything our president says is okay. Nor do I believe everything either political party says is okay. I do favor order but I do not favor the closing of any borders nor building a monstrous wall we can't pay for (we are already in enough debt). I believe politically we should look at the immigration laws of Australia and study them. They seem fair, just and compassionate. Spiritually, we should see these people as God sees them. He sees them as human beings looking for a better home - people made in His image.
I want to leave you with a thought and a verse I placed on my personal Facebook page yesterday:
When you live too much by the "letter of the law" you have justice, but you have no mercy and no grace.
We must always pursue mercy, grace and justice in these issues or we will simply look cruel and uncaring. I do not believe that is the heart of the American people. It is certainly not my heart. I pray for our president and our leaders that they may do what is just, merciful and graceful in this time. I pray that we may all see these people as God sees them and look past our politicial dogma and differences.
Leviticus 19:34 AMP; But the stranger (alien, immigrant) who resides with you shall be to you like someone native-born among you; and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
Pursuing His grace, mercy and justice,
Elizabeth