I started this thread due to the discussion about illegals
If it came to your attention that illegal aliens were attending your church, what action would you proceed with?
Call INS immediately?
encourage them to return to their home country
encourage them to turn themselves in
Look the other way
Help them to stay in the county legally
help them to stay in an illegal status
Would it make a difference if they came to you in confidence?
Illegal aliens in your church
Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Salty, Nov 29, 2009.
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We would deal with them just as with any other person living in active sin such as adultery/fornication, lying, stealing, etc. We'd meet with them one-on-one ("we" meaning one or more of our pastors), counsel them as to what should be done and we would assist them to get on the right path. If they refused, we'd have to possibly get to the point of asking them to no longer attend our church.
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Why don't you ask an easy question?
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And now back to our regular scheduled topic ... -
I agree with this 100%
We could also ask, what if it were brought to your attention that....
a person was driving who had an expired Drivers license
one of your men killed a deer out of season to feed his family
a member has been barred from writing checks at a local grocery store
Should we card everyone that comes to church to make sure they are citizens of America?...
When was being a citizen in any country prerequisite to being a citizen of Heaven?
What about our Baptist heritage where many Baptists escaped ILLEGALLY from authorities of RC ran countries and were in other countries ILLEGALLY?
I personally feel that politicians are making such a big ado over illegal immigration that it is spilling over into our churches and people are putting America before Heaven.
Check out Matt 25...
Matthew 25:41-46 (AKJV)
Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Guess what the Greek word for "Stranger" is...
G3581 ξένος xenos (xen'-os) adj.
1. foreign
2. (literally) alien
Or a foreigner living in another land...
So... according to Jesus, if you turn away a person in need because they do not have the right credentials of being an American, then you are turning away Jesus...
BE Careful how you treat aliens here in America....
BE Careful to not get caught up in the Hate America has for foreigners...
Remember those illegals are human too...
Actually the fact that people are called "illegals" instead of humanbeings speaks toward the HATE Christian American have toward people not their own.
Just be careful...
Each case must be handled with Godly wisdom. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The illegals don't bother me nearly as much as the citizens who sit on their butts and wait for nanny government to pay their way. There's plenty of those also.
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Which is why I agreed with Annsni 100%...
There are ways for people to be here legally.. and we should be helping them.
Another argument I hear is, "if they are here they should learn English."... Well, what are we doing to help them learn English? I for one am taking ESL tutoring classes starting January, and am encouraging our people to do the same.
Most of the Hispanics around here are legal... I really don't know of any that are not. Of course I am not carding them as they come to our Hispanic Bible study! but I do know they are from Puerto Rico...
I am all for immigration laws.. but I think that the media has overplayed this issue to the points that people don't think of them as being people with families and needs.. they only see ONE point.. they are not citizens.
And I know some people that complain about them that are driving around on suspended drivers licenses!
Some complain about them taking our jobs.. but drive around without state mandated car insurance!!!!!!
That is just as bad as being here illegally! A sin is a sin.
How hypocritical.
Hispanics are hard workers and DO contribute to the communities they live in. I know some who are doing jobs that Americans won't do because we have gotten too lazy.
So, if confronted with the situation in the OP... I would use Godly wisdom and try to help them gain their citizenship.
BTW... pray for a friend of mine, this week as they go to Pittsburgh to take her citizenship test. -
TT, I take exception to this statement.
As for the use of such labels, once they're in the vocabulary.... they'll be used whether appropriate, or insensitive, pc. or a type of shorthand.... as opposed to illegal human alien .... huh? is that your idea? People get called bad names all the time but it doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean it is Christians behind it. These people aren't 'dogs'.....now that's a dehumanizing name. But they are aliens if they aren't citizens, and if they are here without the proper permissions and identifications then they are illegal and the chances are that they have other crimes which accompany their entry such as stolen identity.