| | Why Arizona’s Immigration Law is Biblical Keys for Today: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12.13~14 “‘Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 5.20 “‘Render, therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’” – Matthew 22.21 (Mark 12.17, and Luke 20.25 similar) “Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing…” – Ecclesiastes 8.5 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to do good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have the praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God , a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” – Romans 13.1~7 “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” – Romans 12.17 “Ye who turn judgment into wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth.” – Amos 5.7 “One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” – Exodus 12.49 (Numbers 9.14 similar) On April 23rd, 2010, Governor Jan Brewer of the State of Arizona signed the Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act into law. This law, in effect, gives authorization to law enforcement officials to question anyone suspected of being an illegal alien, and ask them for documentation, which shows them to be legal residents of the United States of America. If such documentation cannot be produced, the person or people in question can be arrested as an illegal alien on the spot. Immediately upon Governor Brewer’s signing of this measure, protests both for and against immediately flared up. Those who support this immigration law state that it is a necessary measure to curb illegal immigration. Opponents argue that this measure is merely one more set-up for racial profiling. Christians and Christian groups are on both sides of this issue. Which side is correct? Which side is following the Bible? First Things First – Illegal Means NOT LEGAL The United States of America already has laws on the books requiring resident aliens to have some sort of visa, be it one as simple as a tourism visa or one more complicated, such as a permanent resident visa (Green Card). Any foreigner crossing into the United States without such documentation is thereby dubbed an Illegal Alien, subject to deportation upon apprehension by the Immigration and Naturalization Authorities (INS). Basically, anyone from another country who arrives in the United States without proper documentation or who has no proper claim or request for asylum is a criminal under the laws of the United States of America. Again, basically, illegal aliens are just that: illegal. In effect, they are already criminals due to the fact that they entered the United States of America but subverting the legal means of doing so. In essence: Illegal Aliens are criminals. Period. In light of this, it is entirely interesting to this writer to read and hear what commentators and pundits, certain racial groups, and liberals state concerning illegal aliens. In the Friday, May 1st, 2010 edition of USA Today, in a reprint of an opinion piece from The Philadelphia Inquirer, an anonymous commentator stated this: “But with 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, a round-them-up-and-send-them-back approach won’t work. The cost alone is prohibitive. And many who came here illegally are living upstanding lives.” In the quote above, if we were to replace “came here illegally” with “were once pedophiles”, how would such an opinion be accepted? What if we, instead, replaced them with “had been serial rapists” or “are unrepentant bank robbers”? Would this opinion still be acceptable? The fact of the matter is, whether or not they are living upstanding lives, paying taxes, working hard, or are raising families, as this Philadelphia Inquirer commentator later states about the “many who came here illegally”, an illegal alien is, under the laws of the United States of America, a criminal. The estimated12 to 20 million illegal aliens that live within the borders of the USA are breaking the law, their payment of taxes, raising families, hard work, et. al. ad nausaeum notwithstanding. It’s Not About Race, but About The LawThe opponents of the immigration law in Arizona are basically making this into something it is not: they are making it out to be a racial issue. Those who oppose this measure state that this will escalate racial profiling, create racial tension, and cause cross-cultural problems within the State of Arizona. This is no more than misdirection away from the truth, which is basically the kernel of this law. It is interesting to note that most people have no problem when police suspect a truck driver of being too heavy, a van and driver of carrying a kidnapped person, or a van or car as being stolen. We applaud the police and praise the law as effective and good when law enforcement officials – after using “suspicion” to search, follow, question, or any combination of these things – apprehend one type of law breaking criminal yet when police are empowered to apprehend someone who’s an illegal alien, we shout “racism”, “bigot”, and “profiling”. As stated above, an illegal alien is by definition a criminal, the race or color of skin not withstanding. Whether or not an illegal alien is a man, a woman, black, white, brown, Asian, from England or Germany, Japan or China, Mexico or Brazil, Australia or New Zealand – illegal means unlawful, and a person who engages in unlawful conduct is, again, by definition, a criminal. The glaring fact of Arizona’s law is based on the fact that directly south of Arizona’s border is Mexico. Mexicans and other Central and South Americans of varying nationalities regularly cross the border. Yes, they have distinct racial features, but again, this is not the issue: was the State of Arizona bordering Canada, and having an immigration problem, very likely they would be stopping and questioning people who would theoretically crossing over from the North and look no different than other white people (and doubtless, were white people being "profiled", there'd be not one word of protest from the ACLU, La Raza, et. al., but that is subject for a later discussion). What is at issue is the fact that these illegal aliens are breaking the law. It isn’t about these illegal aliens becoming so because they are in search of a better life and residing inside the USA can and often does lead to a far better life than is offered in Central and South America. However commendable this effort is, the fact remains that illegal aliens are breaking the law of the United States of America. Breaking the law makes one a criminal. The Bible has MUCH to say about the laws of a nation and breaking them. The Ezekiel Factor and the Watcher On the Wall Maybe it’s because it happened so long ago. Perhaps it’s because Democrats, those who hold to liberal thinking and philosophy have had their message heard most often via the mainstream media. Possibly it could be because of Hollywood’s Star Power being more easily recognizable and their lending of their voices and images to the so-called “peace” movement. Whatever the case may be, we in the United States of America have seemed to forget that we are a nation at war. Consider these words form the prophet: “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.” – Ezekiel 33.6 Many who are detracting form this Immigration Law in Arizona are forgetting that we, the United States of America, are at war against terrorist organizations, such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban, two groups who would love nothing more than to sneak a nuclear weapon into the USA and detonate it, in similar fashion to what took place this past week in New York City with Times Square bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad. Al Qaeda and the Taliban have been at work attempting to send some of their recruits and trainees across the border into the United States via our porous border with Mexico. Arizona is taking this threat seriously with this law. In effect, they are taking it upon themselves to “man the walls” and keep the illegals out of the USA, all the while, at the same time, making sure that no Illegal Arabs and possible Al Qaeda/Taliban thugs sneak in as well. Protesting against measures that would protect the United States in a time of war is tantamount to treason. In essence, the groups who are crying “Foul!” at this measure by the Government of the State of Arizona are, by definition, taking on traitorous actions at a time of war….one in which the enemy isn’t about to surrender. Render Unto Caesar the Things That Are Caesar’sThis is a quote – and one of our keys for today – that Jesus himself spoke. Jesus spoke quite strongly with regards to following national laws and ordinances. He also spoke quite pointedly concerning those who not only break the law themselves but also teach others to do the same. While our Key For Today from Matthew 5.20 is talking most pointedly concerning the Laws of God, it can also be applied to man’s laws as well, and this is for two reasons. First, God clearly states through the pen of Paul the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans that we are to render honor and respect to not only those who legislate and enforce the law, but to the laws themselves. Consider… “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” – Romans 5.13 “For not hearers of the law are just before God, but doers of the law shall be justified.” – Romans 2.14 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law…” – Romans 7.7 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good.” – Romans 7.12 “For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, ‘That man which doeth those things should live by them.’” – Romans 10.5 Again, these Scripture references are primarily speaking of the Law of God, but they, too, can be applied to human law, especially those of the USA, whose laws are based upon Judeo-Christian values and the Bible itself. As such, God time and time again commands his people throughout the Bible to follow the law. In Old Testament times, the breaking of the law often meant death, corporal punishment, or a heavy fine. As Romans 13.1~7, it is tantamount to commission of sin to disobey the laws of the land when those laws are in accordance with God’s laws. Consider this… “All unrighteousness is sin…”– 1st John 5.17 Illegal Aliens – Receiving Better Treatment Than Citizens and Legal ResidentsOur Key For Today from Exodus and Numbers begs repeating… “One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” – Exodus 12.49 (Numbers 9.14 similar) The fact of the matter is concerning the immigration situation in the rest of the United States outside of Arizona is this: Illegal Aliens are receiving a life that is above and beyond the law of the United States of America. They are essentially living as law-breakers, yet never having to spend a day in Jail, and rarely having to face a judge or jury, unless, of course, they are apprehended in their illegal status or in the commission of another crime or crimes. This is basically because they are – for the most part – undocumented residents of the USA. As such, they do not have to pay federal or state income taxes, fail to sign up for medical insurance, don’t get car insurance (though they can and do get drivers licenses), yet receive federal and state welfare benefits, food stamps, WIC benefits, and other state and/or federally funded, low-income benefits, including easy access to federally subsidized housing. All the while, it is the citizens and legal residents of the United States of America who have to foot the bill. When illegal immigrants have to go to the hospital for medical treatment, because they possess no medical insurance, Hospitals have to bite the bullet of the costs which filters down to both medical insurance companies and eventually winds up on the tab of the medically insured in the form of rising prices for healthcare at the hospital and higher premiums for insurance coverage. Legal residents and citizens, in the form of income taxes, again, pay all the state and federally funded benefits. Illegals further get an added bonus: expectant mothers who come to the United States and have their babies automatically become dependants to their citizen newborns, and can apply for such status with the INS. If the father of the child happens to be around, all the better. Suddenly the father and mother of the citizen baby are on the fast track to legal status, whereas those seeking to legally obtain legal status may have to wait as long as four to five years, be subject to humiliating physical examinations, wade through a sea of red tape, and pay hundreds or thousands of dollars before even being considered (such was the case of this writer, whose wife is Korean. The wait work for her permanent resident status took four years, innumerable trips to the United States Embassy in Tokyo, seemingly endless pages of forms to fill out, tax and US residency status verification on the part of this writer, and several hundred dollars spent overall). In the Summer of 2006, a law was attempted to be passed which would have given even further ease to illegals in the form of a general amnesty to all those living here without proper paperwork. The words written by Moses in Exodus and Numbers, which call for one law for those born in Israel and any foreign residents, were meant to dissuade Israelites from mistreating foreigners living inside the twelve tribes, and later, the kingdom of Israel. It seems, however, that this law needs to be applied in the United States in order to keep illegals from continuing to gain preferential treatment from the United States Government. Essentially, Illegals are receiving special treatment and special rights over and above what citizens and legal residents receive. What the Protests Are REALLY AboutThough the different racial and cultural groups are screaming and protesting that the Arizona Immigration Law is Racist in nature, the real fulcrum of all of this “protesting” and “demonstrating” is aimed at allowing illegals to continue to live off of the fat of the land, yet not pull their weight when it comes to taxes, civic duty, and – essentially – responsibility. Simply put, groups like La Raza, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, and others who oppose this Arizona Immigration Law are doing no differently than GLAAD, GLSEN, and other homosexual advocacy groups are doing with regards to legitimizing a chosen lifestyle as a “minority”. These laws are more about perpetuating special status for a select group of people over and above law-abiding citizens and legal residents of the United States of America. There can really be no logical conclusion or rationale for the groups who oppose and are protesting this law. Those who are protesting it are essentially desiring to allow people to continue to break the law. It is no different, really, than the pastor or preacher who never preaches on the consequences for sin and never calls for people to be saved. It is akin to the teacher or school who sees a glaring deficiency in a student, yet continues to pass him or her right along, never correcting the ignorance and lack of knowledge. These groups opposing the law in Arizona – yea, in the entirety of the USA (though nationwide it has been less and less enforced, thanks to lawsuits against Border Patrol Officers when they do their job and prevent illegals from entering the USA) – are essentially wanting special laws, wanting to change the law. The Bible has this to say… “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.” – Exodus 23.2~3 Further, these groups that are protesting, litigating, and suing to overturn this law are essentially following what Jesus Christ spoke in Matthew 5… “‘Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 5.20 Again Jesus’ words primarily refer to God’s Laws, but again, they can be applied to national and state laws as well. After all, if we cannot keep the laws of the land, how can we expect to begin to keep the Laws of God, even the two that are the most important…? “‘The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:” this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely, this, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” There is none other commandment greater than these.’” – Mark 12.29~31 Essentially, the groups that are seeking to overturn this law are doing nothing but teaching men and women to disobey the law and to disobey God. This is all not to mention giving aid and comfort to criminals and possible terrorists during a time of war. The Bottom Line – There is NOTHING Wrong with Arizona’s Immigration Law If we take a look at this law in Arizona and the laws of the land in the United States concerning immigration, there is nothing inherently evil or wrong. Though people may say that it targets Latin Americans, the fact of the matter is, it targets law-breakers, just as all laws do. As the Bible states with razor sharp clarity, the only ones who ever need fear are those who break the law. This begs the question: what do all of these groups who are protesting this law have to fear? Why are they seeking the courts to overturn this law? If this law isn’t about race – and it isn’t – then why all the protests? Why the lawsuits? We, the United States of America, are at war, and have been since September 11th, 2001. There is no higher priority in the United States today than protecting the borders, especially the Southern Border with Mexico, where so many thousands come, and millions have come, illegally – essentially breaking the law and incriminating themselves. The only ones who have to fear the laws are those who are breaking it, and the only ones who have to fear this new Arizona Immigration Law are those who are here illegally. Conclusion – A Slap In God’s FaceAs homosexuals are clamoring for special rights (and getting them to a large extent), so now are illegal aliens doing the same. As abortion proponents have succeeded in murdering 50 million Americans in the United States of America, worsening the Nation, so Illegals are attempting to do similarly in their fight for special rights. As a small, select group was able to have God removed from public school, so now is a small group in the US of A attempting to get their way despite opposition form the majority. If it has happened in the past, cannot it happen again? Friends, if this law is downed by mob rule, it will be yet another slap in God’s face. We are admonished in the Bible time and time again to be responsible with the things we are given, and we are implored to simply follow the laws of the land and give honor and respect to those who have made them. If we as a society continue to cry foul at every turn, how much longer can we as a society truly stand? If special rights are to be defended at the expense of the law, how long can we, as a nation, expect to have any semblance of order? Prayer – Lord and Father in Heaven, we ask for wisdom and courage to follow good laws and right ordinances. This one is good and right and needed now more than ever and not just in Arizona but nationwide in the USA. Be with us and help us, Father, and we pray for wisdom for the legislators and Governor of Arizona. Bless them today, and all who read this, we pray, in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen. Verses to Remember: “‘Render, therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’” – Matthew 22.21 “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” – Romans 12.17 |
