Followers of the Way
I’ve been listening closely to the hotly contested election debates over the past few months, and the one that has risen to the top of my list in importance is the argument over immigration. Contrary to much of the political rhetoric, the problem of undocumented people entering our country is not a recent phenomenon but has been an ongoing topic of debate for hundreds of years. Numerous bills have passed Congress since the late 1700s that have either encouraged the flow of migrants into our country or severely restricted it, depending on the mood of the country.
Truth be told, border crossings have served as a political wedge issue for generations, as the one consistent thread that has run through all of our nation’s immigration policies is that historically America has had a fickle attitude regarding migrants. Sometimes our doors are open to immigrants and sometimes they are closed. For the last 20 years, for instance, border security has been a subject of fierce debate among politicians, but last spring when a security bill was up for a vote, the measure failed, even though it was a bipartisan effort. The legislation, written primarily by the more conservative wing of Congress, would have overhauled immigration laws for the first time in more than 30 years. Unfortunately, it was more politically expedient for politicians to argue over the problem than to solve it.
My interest is not primarily concerned with which party receives credit for a comprehensive immigration bill, but with our country’s attitude toward those who desperately seek entrance into our country, regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented. The overwhelming majority of these migrants are decent, hard-working people who simply are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families, just as many of our forefathers did generations ago. Crime among migrants, incidentally, is incredibly low, far lower than the national average among American citizens.
How can I possibly resent these people for trying to improve their lives? If I lived in a land where droughts or floods had ruined harvests year after year, where governmental power had broken down or was complicit with criminal elements, would I not try to seek a better life for myself and family? Would you not as well?
As a person of faith, I believe that Scripture teaches that all people, regardless of the color of their skin, culture or religion, are equal in dignity and worth. I view all people from every country as neighbors and reflections of God’s image in the world. One of the many contributions of the Christian faith is that Christianity transcends race, culture, and ethnicity. One second-century writer expressed it this way: “Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs, every foreign country is their homeland, and every homeland is foreign” (Letter to Diognetus). In other words, Christians are known not by their race or even their citizenship, but by their commitment to God.
For people of faith, differences of race, class, and gender are no longer barriers. The Apostle Paul summed it up this way: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, male and female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Luke adds, “God has made of one blood all the nations of the world” (Acts 17:26). To think that one race of people is superior to another race is simply not biblical.
Americans have often struggled or even resisted treating people from foreign countries, and even within our country, with dignity and respect. The treatment of the Native American by people of European descent bears witness to the stubborn strain of racism and xenophobia intrinsic to the human family. In the early 1800s Catholics were persecuted in our country, as the majority of Americans were Protestant. Later, the Chinese were harassed, then the Irish. Black people were forcibly enslaved by the so-called enlightened, civilized nations for several hundred years and continue to be discriminated against and find acceptance in equality of citizenship an uphill struggle. Human nature sees differences in race as an insurmountable wall that divides; Christ, on the other hand, wraps his arms around all, bringing us together as one family to celebrate our differences in culture and race as signs of God’s bigness.
In the teachings of Jesus we find an alternative to racism and bigotry—the way of Jesus. In fact, the early Christians were known as people of “the Way.” This label stuck with them because they tried to follow the way of Jesus, that is, to imitate his way of life, the way he loved and cared for all people. By the second-century, non-believers were starting to take notice of the people of “the Way.” It wasn’t their doctrines or beliefs that stood out so much as “the Way” these people lived. Christians were gentle and kind people, they kept their oaths, they loved one another and all others, they fed the hungry and cared for the sick, and they did not favor one class or race of people over another.
The Sermon on the Mount was their Guidebook on how to live in this world. These early followers of “the Way” were not interested in power, fame, or wealth. They were committed to a way of life that reflected their understanding of God—a Being who is compassionate, merciful, loving, and forgiving.
When I hear of migrants crossing our border, I do not see criminals or unsavory people. I see human beings—families, fathers, mothers, and children—created in the image of God, and in need of support, understanding, and love. In Leviticus 19 Moses writes, “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt.”
Yes, border security laws are necessary, and I hope that Congress will eventually put aside their partisanship and pass humane and fair legislation. I pray these laws will be generous and welcoming to those who seek a better life. One thing is clear, though, as followers of “the Way,” we must never treat those seeking safety within our borders with intolerance, ridicule, or disgust.
