Los Angeles has been quite the hot bead for activists and protestors over this last week. I guess even some high school students marched from one campus to another to fight over these laws that could make it illegal to harbor an illegal alien. Later today, I am going to try and do some research on the whole thing and give my best attempt at my personal response. But my initial thoughts in regards to the issue is confusion, YES J-Lou is confused!
First, it seems a lot people protest out of ignorance and probably many of the 500,000 people who gathered in Los Angeles to protest were uniformed about the issue and just thought it would be cool to be part of this gathering. One of the things I really like about Jim Wallis (God’s Politics) is that he never just comes against a political or moral issue without a better way. As I try to take a better look at the issue, I think our concern as people of faith and those who follow Christ should be to try and find a better way. I’m sure the people who wrote the potential law are not bad people at their core, but may be disconnected from the people this will affect.
Also just because some people were protesting in ignorance does not mean that the protest was wrong or there are no problems with the pending law. It just means that some people like to protest. I am sure many people gathered with an intelligent reason and passion for gathering and protesting this law. I am sure the law had a very personal affect on their lives and the people who they love. I know they did not lead a gathering just for the fun of it.
As I follower of Christ, we must lean first on our faith in God and his value of people over our American allegiance. And if someone disagrees with a political issue that does not make them anti-American, it makes them against this issue. I read the following passage this morning,
"The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. 18 He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 You, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You must fear the LORD your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. 21 He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourselves have seen. 22 When your ancestors went down into Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky!
Deut. 10:17 – 21
This is my confusion... why does everyone have to be hostile about issues. It seems even Christians who I have read that are upset about these issues do not allow a biblical thinking to direct thier perspective, but allow an American nationalistic perspective to drive the issue. As i read the OT and the NT it does not seem to be about what nation you are from, but how you treat people. I am confused myself, why for so long i would try to remove myslef from the situation by not trying to understand either side and the personal issues that led people to those sides. I am confused at how many people act as if the other side is so illogical and evil to think a certain way. I am sure for every ignorant protestor that was in LA on Saturday (or any other protest). I am sure we can find ignorant people on the other side who just do not like the protestors and have no idea about the issues as well.
That is it for now, but i think i will talk about why people waive Mexican flags at rallies and sporting events tonite. I am sure it will be interesting. Sorry for the long post (Irene). I will stop now.
Peace.
2 comments:
i knew this one would awaken the giant within you. i am asking questions... the link you gave to read the issues did not go through. so i cannot tell you if the "laws of the land" are unbiblical unless i am able to really come to a better understanding of the laws. so i will withhold my thoughts on that, except that the bible does teach us to take care of the foreigner, to actually clothe and feed them. so i will investigate if i can support these laws as a person of faith.
but here are some intial comments for fun: i am sure some radical groups are not trying to back a better solution that what the law may or may not describe (again i have not been able to read). that is where people of faith need to look for a better way. one that is not one side or the other but that respects people and finds a better solution, a third way.
i know if kids are left homeless and put into the foster care system because their parents are deported is not the solution. i know that a teacher who loves thier students and would be forced to turn them in becuase they are not legal is not the solution. i know that someone being forced to deport grandma that is dying is not the solution. i know that jesus would challenge us to better understand how to love our "chicano pride" neighbors. and not just call them names and maybe even show them a better way.
i am not making this a racist issue and you should also separate me from the people who are waiving flags and banners. they are not the issue. the issue are the people who will be affected. and the bible is clear that people of faith should be concerned about how people are treated. just becuase we do not burn and mame people here in america is not the issue. the issue is whethter what we do is something me as a person of faith would like to support. whether it is in the best economical situation for our government or not.
you jump to many conclusions. i only watch sports center and cartoon stations, so i have gotten no information from any of the sources that you have stated. and i said that i am in the gathering information stage and asking questions. "my precious democrats" is acting as if i am aligned with a party. i am not democrat. i am trying to look at this as person of faith and not behind a political party of choice. and jesus did not condemn a woman caught in adultery.... hmmm. maybe he would also not turn in an illegal alien. you keep quoting laws of the land, but if we never challenged the laws of the land we would not be where we are at today in this fine country. we would still have slaves, women still would not be able to vote, and many race issues would not have moved forward.
i am trying to read hr 447, so i can make an intelligent stance, but it is a bit long. so i'm not sure how you are asking me to take a stance and stick to it. i have not taken a stance but only quoted some passages like Lev 24:22 that states we should treat them like people who live in our country.
you have not responded how you interpet that passage in our day and age, but i am sure you can. no offense taken.
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