Immigration, Riots, Jesus, and Common Sense?

I am an immigrant in this country. I have a green card that I renew every 10 years, and if I do something dumb, I could be deported. One entire side of my family is refugees who escaped communism and came here poor with essentially only the shirts on their backs and a few suitcases. It was a long and expensive process, but we are so blessed to call this place home. It is a privilege that I do not take for granted.

Positionally, the Kingdom of heaven is my home and to whom I pledge my life before anything else, and I have tried to live my life as a banner for that Kingdom. I am not America first; I am Kingdom of God first over everything, by far, even though there are times when I struggle with letting my Western viewpoints overpower my spirit. With that said, I am so thankful that Jesus allowed us to be in this fantastic place that is not perfect but good until I can be home with Him. We are a country of immigrants, with unimaginable possibilities for those who call it home.

From the moment my wife and I were radically changed by Jesus, we answered the call to enter pastoral ministry and have purposefully loved and served refugees over the years, providing His love, food, clothing, and medical care to families in need, without asking for proof of citizenship. Many of the people we serve were here illegally, and it didn't matter because there were people in need right in front of us. I have also been incredibly blessed to travel to the nations on mission, bringing the love of Jesus to the lost across many people groups and continents. There are so many beautiful people in this world, and sometimes I have found more joy and kindness in their cultures than in ours. I cannot wait to get to worship Jesus for eternity with every tribe, tongue, and nation.

What is not a contradiction to that is a heart for legal immigration. 

I am 100% for secured borders and vetting every single person who comes to this country (as is almost every other immigrant I know). I am very aware of what the scriptures say about how Christians are to be toward refugees (Exodus 23:9, Deuteronomy 10:19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 27:19, 1 Chronicles 16:19-22, Job 29:15-17, Psalm 146:9, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Ezekiel 47:22, etc.).

It is possible, and I believe biblical, to do that and also secure and protect the land that the Lord has given us. What would we call a man who welcomes anything and everything into his home without standing at the door with his shepherd's eye to make sure the flock he oversees is taken care of, protected, and growing? What would we say about a man who would allow his own family to starve while he feeds the mouths of others? What would we call a man who lets his daughters be subject to rape and his sons murdered because he wouldn't vet visitors in his home for fear of offense? None of that reflects the heart of Jesus.

We are to lay down our lives for others  AND steward what He has given us.

Is everyone who comes into this country a murderer, pedophile, or thief? 

OF COURSE NOT, but there are some, and we seem to completely disregard the families that have had to endure those things because of reckless open borders. Where is the compassion for them? Where is the great uprising for those families?

Refugees are mandated to live under the statutes and laws of the land they are in:

Numbers 15:15-16 (ESV)
15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. 16 One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.

Common sense: Coming into a country illegally (against the laws of the land) is contrary to the commands of God.

We are mandated to submit to the authority placed over us:

Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Note: 

• They are placed there by God himself
• To resist them is to resist what God has appointed
• Our leaders bear a sword and carry out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

The argument against this in totality is that we are to submit in all things EXCEPT for things that are clearly contrary to the statutes of God. That is absolutely true.

You cannot cite any scriptural commands for open borders.

I pay taxes, I don't steal, I support my leaders, AND I do not support or vote for abortion, sexuality outside of what Jesus defines, ideologies like Islam, mutilation of boys and girls, and yes, even going into unfathomable debt as a nation.

We are blessed to live in a democratic republic. If you don't like or believe in the laws, do your civic duty and change them. BUT you cannot go against laws you don't personally agree with, or that lack biblical grounds for rejection.

I can love people from all over the world AND submit to the authorities and laws under which God has placed me. Compassion AND faithful shepherding are BOTH biblical statutes.

Belief: There are no walls around heaven; everyone is welcome.

Reality: Yes, all people are welcome to be with Jesus eternally in heaven and in the new earth! AND, not everyone can go because they will not bow their knee to the name of Jesus. No one walks in; there is a "protocol". It is a free gift, but it must be received, and you must surrender yourself to His throne.

Belief: Jesus was an immigrant.

Reality: Context matters more than emotional pandering to make a point. An angel commanded Joseph to take Jesus as a baby to Egypt to keep him safe from the wickedness of Herod. He went from one Roman territory to another and then CAME BACK when the Lord allowed it.

While this can absolutely be grounds to make an asylum case, to say that this is a scriptural mandate to open our borders is weak.

Secure borders do not mean we are no longer a country of immigrants. Of course we are.

• We have legal immigration. You have to work the process.
• We have asylum for people who are fleeing actual oppression. You actually have to prove that you meet the standards of asylum.

It is heartbreaking that the young lady lost her life in the confrontation with ICE agents. I pray for her family. That doesn't defy the point that when you cuss and scream, threaten harm, spit at, and cause damage to law enforcement upholding laws you disagree with, you end up having to face the consequences.

To believers on the other side of the fence, saying and posting things like 'play stupid games and get stupid prizes' (and the other phrase), seriously, stop and repent. Remember that we serve a God who spares us from the full consequences of our bad decisions and doesn't mock us about it.

ICE agents are human beings who enforce the laws of the land (laws we are commanded to uphold). Regardless of what the news may say, most of them are not out there trying to terrorize, murder, or tear kids from their parents. Yes, it is horrible when families get separated, and I cannot imagine how scary that must be.

The question we have to ask is, why are these things happening?

Is it the officials and law enforcement who are trying to carry out the laws of the land at fault, or does it fall upon the fools who openly let it happen and actually break the very laws they were to uphold? (and ironically, were the same laws they supported and created when it was politically convenient).

Every civic leader who defies the law of the land and endangers our law enforcement needs to be removed and charged immediately. Is it a coincidence that EVERY mayor and governor who spew violent rhetoric about immigration and law enforcement are also the same people who support and uphold every other carnal belief and lifestyle that are contrary to the scriptures?

I'm going to pray and contend for every person and family out there trying to find a home. I am not opposed to some legal clemency for those who are here and uphold the law of the land, who will submit to the authority of our laws.

I am also going to contend and pray for all of our amazing law enforcement officials (some of whom are legal immigrants themselves), and fight to uphold the laws of the United States.

In all honesty, my heart breaks for some people who I love dearly that follow Jesus, who seem to have completely sold out their allegiance to the true gospel for an artificial social justice version that doesn't reflect heaven. If you are in favor of protests that are, in reality, riots driven by fools who have no biblical conviction and actually cause harm and break the commands of God, you need to repent.

My heart is heavy for all of this. It seems that more than ever, we need to be clear about the Kingdom of God, bold about our calling and obedience, and leave all other man-made perspectives in the ditch where they belong.

Love you all...