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| 3 | » RE: wonderful article :) |
| A very pertinent message for our churches! Immigration is not a black and white issue and there is a lot of grey and fuzzy lines. I have had the unique experience of experiencing immigration, INS and the horrors that many go through as a wife to a non-US citizen. My heart breaks for those who come here and risk EVERYTHING in hopes of a better life ... and a better life usually means food, shelter and the basics! We have been through the horrors of deportation - and through no fault of my husbands even! He was here legally, working legally and had political asylum. The only way he could get that though was by coming here ILLEGALLY! He did change his status though and made it right. (easier to do 20 years ago thankfully) Even though he was legal and we married in the US, he ended up with a deportation ... it was not his fault, he didn't break any laws, his "crime"??? INS decided that they would take away legal status to a huge group of immigrants that had political amnesty! (and they "forgot" to notify us of this until 4 years AFTER they supposedly issued it) That made my husband "illegal" in that moment. It took us years of fighting this and fighting to get his greencard and many years out of the USA even. INS told me "YOU can stay, he has to go" ... tearing apart a marriage, a family. We no longer attend English speaking services precisely because of attitudes & lines of thought such as have been expressed above. Where is the compassion in our churches? Where is the acceptance of a person - regardless of their race, immigration status, color, culture, language??? I say this with great sadness and many will not accept my opinion or feel that it is true - but as a bi-racial/cultural/lingual couple -we have found the church to be one of the most unaccepting places. I am SO thankful that we have found a place to worship that accepts us as we are. It is not in my first language -but it is in a place filled with love & acceptance. We need more compassio |
| 2 | » RE: respectful disagreement |
| Driving with an expired license is illegal, as well as coming into the country with documents that are ânot in order.â This is not a mere technicality. We do have immigration laws. When a person comes into this country in ways that are not in keeping with the laws of the United States, they are illegal immigrants. Renaming an illegal act does not make it legal. Do nations not have the right to enforce duly enacted immigration laws? Are we free to disobey any law that we disagree with, even if it does not contradict Godâs law? What about Romans 13? It is obvious that the leadership of the Nazarene Church has adopted a political agenda. |
| 1 | » respectful disagreement |
| While I applaud all efforts of our church to reach out, and greatly respect the Ministry of Dr Porter, i respecfully disagree. I am clearly for legal immigration, and believe many who come to this country do so because they seek true freedom. However, I am very concerned that our church would saction any illegal activity unless it is clearly immoral. It is not immoral to have rule of law for entrance. In a time of dangers around us it is for the benefit of immigrant and current resident alike to follow the rule of law. Dr Porter likens this to a minor infraction like driving without a license. So then should we now refer to those who cannot afford, or choose to drive without insurance, or who drive without a current license or current car registration as "undocumented drivers?" I am afraid we are downplaying the immorality of willfully breaking the law. We are not talknig about, for the most part, those who lost or forgot documents, but those who willfully chose to enter illegally. We may debate what to do with them now, but to sanction illegal activity of any kind is not helpful. Jesus himself validated the validity of law even from a govt like Rome. I trust we can find a solution to encourage all those who like generations past choose to come to this great land for freedom and opportunity while still abiding by law and order. |
