Immigration:

I can't begin to claim that I have an understanding of the whole issue- politically, socially, or biblically but God is teaching me about His love and my responsibility through the subject of immigration.

Yesterday Dr. Daniel Carroll, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary, came to Providence to teach the church on "Thinking 'Christianly' About Immigration". I had no idea what to expect. Going into it I had given very little thought to the issue (I viewed it that way too- as a political issue over which I had no power or responsibility). I, like many who were brought up around conservative republican Christians, fell back on Romans 13 as my defense:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..."

This is a fairly easy cop-out for me so that I don't actually have to consider the possibility that I could be in the wrong. Yes, obedience is a command. I'm not changing my stance on that. But who is my ultimate authority? I saw a portion of the Scriptures posted outside a church last week that said:

"to obey is better than sacrifice"

Taken out of context this portion of I Samuel 15:22 speaks an entirely different message. When I look at the entirety of that passage, the difference between obedience and sacrifice being spoken of really comes down to authority-God or man. God had set up a law for His people that included sacrifices, but He was not pleased with even the best of sacrifices when it was against His direct command to Saul.


So how does this relate to immigration?

Dr. Carrol challenged us not to start the debate about immigration at the border- at Romans 12/13- where law breakers deserve what they get (which, for the record, they are getting much more than "what they deserve" which is an entirely different argument- one of which I am realizing I need to understand much more before I can really attest to my position on it).
Our Christian thinking about immigration must begin in Genesis 1- that all men are created in the image of God and are equal. Listening to story after story about immigration in the Bible (which I had never even seen although it is right in front of me) was eye opening. I don't yet grasp exactly what Scripture then gives me as a proper guideline for dealing with immigrants but I do know that Scripture says:

"He [the LORD] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:18-19

"'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'" Deuteronomy 27:19

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." Zechariah 7:9-10

That is only the beginning of the references to the sojourner or foreigner in the Old Testament. Not even scratching the surface. This doesn't even include all the passages dealing with loving one another with the love Christ showed to us in His death on the cross. I am looking forward to reading Dr. Carroll's book Christians at the Border to gain a deeper understanding of this issue.

I am realizing that I default to obedience. This is not a bad thing in most situations and I am grateful to my parents for ingraining it into me as a child. "Even if you don't understand, obey." I praise the Lord for the fact that I grew up under godly leadership and was able to default to obedience because those over me (knowing that they give an account to the Lord) led me well. Not to say that I always agreed with my authority- by no means. Even still, the default was obedience because I was not being asked to break the laws of God by following rules I didn't enjoy.

For the first time in my life I am being faced with the reality that my earthly authority is asking me to do something that is against the will of my heavenly (and ultimate) authority.

I know that this is a life changing path the Lord has placed me on. This is just the beginning for me.

My heart is longing for heaven like never before.
Last night we heard the cry of a mother whose son was deported 5 months ago. She wept for home- for her son. She struggles knowing that God has brought her to America but why then would He send her son back? She longs for home. Aches for it.
I wept in prayer for her. For the example I see of the longing I too should have for home- the place where my Jesus is. I am not a citizen of this earth but of heaven. I am sickened by how comfortable I have become here. I want to know that ache for heaven as Laticia does for Mexico- for reunion with the Son.

The Longing
-Enfield

"Lord, let me long for that heav'ly shore
Though wonders fill this world, there await much more
O Lord, let it seem closer than a distant dream
And make my heart pine for that land like ne'er before

God, grant me faith to trust Your perfect plan
'Til You finally complete in me the work that You began
O God, guide my feet 'til I walk on golden streets
On this narrow path ahead that leads me to Your promised land

Father, fix my eyes to see beyond my home
For my fortune and my comfort weigh me down like heavy stones
O Father, strip from me all but breath and love for Thee
So all that is within me will depend on You alone

Jesus, join Your church both in spirit and in mind
Let her always bring You joy as Your pure and faithful bride
O Jesus, may You be Savior, Lord and Coming King
In our lives as we share Your glorious gospel to mankind"

Have You Ever?

I love this song. It was particularly striking to me this week. Not sure why.





Have You Ever
by Brandi Carlile

Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods
if you've ever wandered lonely through the woods

Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back you're asking why
What's the purpose I wonder who am I
If you've ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever stared into a starry sky

Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back to where you were before
You always end up not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow
If you'd ever been out walking you would know

Rules and Discernment

Do rules weaken an individual's ability to use discernment?


I asked this question of myself while driving in Denver's late afternoon city traffic. I realized somewhere along the busy familiar way that it didn't take hardly any mental engagement on my part to arrive safely at my destination. I thought back to my experience in other countries (particularly Mexico) where the laws of traffic are significantly different (and in most cases looser). I remember having to be more alert in order to survive the overwhelmingly hectic traffic. Not to say that there are no traffic laws where I was in Mexico, they just hold to a different standard of following those rules. Traffic laws are mostly suggestions there.

I need to insert this little disclaimer here:
I don't have anything against rules really. I understand the reasoning behind them and I value them (maybe more than I ought to at times). I cling to Romans 8:1-4 in my interpretation of "law" (this passage is one of MANY which I could reference here).

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

So I know the law is weak. It can't stand alone. Nor should it. Not now.
Not in the age of the Spirit.
How then does this change how I approach the law?