Illegal Immigrants in the Church? Do Everything Legal | Christianity Today

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Christianity Today, February, 2011

The Village Green

Illegal Immigrants in the Church? Do Everything Legal

Christian thinkers weigh in on what churches should do about meeting the sojourner.

Mark DeYmaz | posted 3/01/2011 10:09AM

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Mark DeYmaz, directional leader at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), Old Testament professor at Denver Seminary, and Matthew Soerens, the U.S. church training specialist for World Relief, debate what churches should do about illegal immigrants in their midst.

In the earliest days of Mosaic Church, one of our members was issued a traffic ticket. Later we learned he was undocumented. A year or so after this incident, he received a second citation from local police, who discovered that he'd had a fraudulent driver's license obtained with a fake Social Security number.

In every other way, the individual was a law-abiding member of the community and a follower of Christ. Yet he soon received a letter from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requiring him to leave the country within 30 days. However, he chose to ignore the letter and remain in Little Rock.

When it comes to meeting the spiritual, material, and physical needs of immigrants, there is strong biblical precedent for getting involved (Ex. 22:21; 23:9; Lev. 19:33-34; Deut. 27:19). But New Testament teaching also makes it clear that as followers of Christ, we are to honor the law and respect the rulers of our land (Luke 20:23-25; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). How should we resolve this apparent tension?

Out of concern for this member and what his decision might mean for the church, I met with local immigration officials to discuss the situation. I learned that a church is in no way restricted from ministering to people based on their legal status or expected to know who within the congregation is and is not properly documented.

For instance, there is nothing illegal about giving undocumented immigrants rides to and from church or providing them with benevolent assistance such as food, shelter, and clothing.

In fact, a church may invite undocumented immigrants to serve voluntarily in any capacity within the church. At Mosaic, however, we have decided not to appoint undocumented immigrants to serve as elders, since our board must conduct legal business from time to time. And we do not willfully hire undocumented immigrants. Several times my heart has broken over learning of someone's undocumented status in the hiring process and, consequently, turning away an otherwise qualified candidate.

Scripture requires that Christ followers and therefore churches obey legal authority. However, we have found it possible to walk the fine line between compassion and conformity when it comes to serving the immigrants among us. As Paul found, too, in dealing with Onesimus, we can remain true to both the mission of God and the authority of man. We will continue to do so unless that authority requires us to deny our faith or the core tenets of it.

I wish there were a simple solution to the current immigration problem, that we could somehow wave a magic wand and fix the whole situation. Unfortunately, an immediate solution does not exist. In the meantime, we continue to love and serve everyone we can.

Related Elsewhere:

Mark DeYmaz is directional leader at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and coauthor of Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church. M. Daniel Carroll R. and Matthew Soerens also contributed their views.

Previous articles on immigration include:

Reforming Immigration | Samuel Rodriguez, James Hoffmeier, and David Skeel chart the best road to approach 'the stranger.' (March 9, 2010)

Evangelicals Endorse Immigration Reform | The National Association of Evangelicals' board overwhelmingly approved a resolution to seek 'faith and equal treatment' of immigrants. (October 9, 2009)

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February 2011, Vol. 55, No. 2

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Larry Jones

March 06, 2011 11:51am

It should be easily understood that Paul valued his Roman citizenship. In fact he stated that he was born a Roman citizen and didn't purchase his citizenship. He knew his rights as a Roman citizen. (see Acts and Philipians) Paul never said that God didn't create borders.

Rodrigo Barrera

March 05, 2011 2:22pm

I know, from the Scriptures, that Israelites were treated as slaves in Egipt. I Know, from the Scriptures that Joseph took his family to Egipt. Did he go trough al the red tape to be a legal inmigrant? Did Jesus, as baby lived as an ilegal inmigrat in Egipt? I have known missionaries who come to latinamerica under the pretense that they are tourists, but what they do is work as preachers. Are they ilegally doing a job because they are, after all, profesional preachers? I have known latinos who go to the USA with the prescibed documents, but while there they have found a faith that brings them back with a truth and a passion to share in their Land the hope that they have found. I have seen missinaries who have been despised because they are "gringoes", crying an wishing to have enough corage to go back to their country. My personal belief is that God (Who didn't create any borders) is taking the mission field to the very doors of the American Church.

Robert Brooks

March 04, 2011 10:45pm

"Render unto Ceasear what is Ceasear's, render unto God, what is God's." This makes it real simple. What part of "ILLEGAL IMMAGRANT" don't you understand? From that point on, they are criminals. Aiding and abetting, sheltering, feeding, watering, assisting in egress.... are all AIDING AND ABETTING a felon/criminal. It's not up to us. I could feel sorry for a poor, dirty third world immigrant. Right up to when he/she detonates their suicide vest killing/injuring 10, 20, 30 people. We don't know who they are or why they are here. Let the experts handel such matters. Why can't they just get in line behind all the others. What makes them special?

Peter Smith

March 04, 2011 9:52am

So few commentators here, even those with compassion, understand the utter hypocrisy of US immigration laws. Invaders stole a country from the original people, invited in more of their own kind, and then made "laws" to keep out the relatives of the original people they killed, rounded up, and/or expelled. They then created a world economic order which keeps that nation rich and others poor - even though the others work much harder and for longer hours. Jesus hates hypocrisy more than anything else, why is His church in USA so comfortable with it?

Dan Johnson

March 03, 2011 1:10pm

I believe God has called us to reach all people. We must reach out to illegals just as well as legals. But, there is a law, and it is clear, we are to obey the laws of the land. I like this article because it brings the balance of the two. We don't stop evangelizing just because they are illegal, but you can't take someone on paid staff either, because it is against the law. You must ask yourself this quesiton, am I a follower of Christ first and American second, or have I gotten my political views in the way of reaching a lost and hurting world?

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