Last Monday I Ditched School
Last Monday I ditched school. I didn’t go to City Park, where the majority of East High students go on their “off-period,” nor did I go to Starbucks or Chipotle. Instead, I found myself surrounded by 75,000 people waving American flags and screaming for acceptance, whether it was for them or for others. It was an immigration rally dubbed, “A Day Without Immigrants.” Now, sunburnt and in the newspaper (if you count the panoramic photos of the masses), I have the chance to reflect upon my experience.
Initially, I thought that this would be a great opportunity to get a 3-day weekend, enjoy the weather, and get some exercise. But by the time we reached downtown it became something different. I didn’t know what to expect. Would the march turn violent? Would we get tear-gassed? Would I be the only gringo there? My questions were soon answered, No No and No.
More questions came. What will be the affect of this march? Will this problem ever be solved? WWJD? These questions were left unanswered, reminding me of a quote by Bobb Biehl, “When God seems far away, focus on biblical answers that can not be questioned, rather than life’s questions that cannot be answered.”
I got to thinking to myself, “If God were here right now what would he say?” On judgment day, will he cast us to the side and say, “’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I was an 'alien' in your foreign lands and you cast me aside.” What would your reply be?
“Lord, when did I see you a stranger or an 'alien'? When did all of this happen?”
I can already hear God saying, “There were 11 million “strangers” and you couldn’t find me once? It looks like the theological lenses which you see life through need a stronger prescription.”
All throughout the Bible, God’s chosen people immigrated to other lands, invaded, and “took over the jobs.” Imagine if the Israelites got to Canaan and couldn’t get into the Promised Land because they didn’t have the right papers. If Jesus came now would one of his disciples been an illegal immigrant?
I went to www.biblegateway.com and did a word search on the word “alien.” This is only a small fraction of what I found.
• Exodus 22:21 (New International Version) "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.
• Exodus 23:9 (New International Version)(NIV) "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.
• Leviticus 19:33 (New International Version) " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.
• Leviticus 19:34 (New International Version) The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
• Deuteronomy 24:14 (New International Version)Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns.
• 1 Peter 2:11 (New International Version)Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
So, you see, we are all aliens in this world. We are all here waiting to get our “papers” to get into the land “flowing with milk and honey.” What would you do if Jesus increased his border patrol? Through my adventures in the scriptures I have found answers, formed questions, and have come to the realization that the harvest is full, but the workers are few. As I reflect on recent events I wonder if the harvest Jesus speaks of is the means of getting our “papers,” or the reason for those “papers.” Or, is it there to be a stumbling block to those that think but do not act? These are questions that are not easily answered, which is the exact reason why I’m asking them.
Confused in Christ,
Levi Johnsen
(303)880-9846
captainlevi@comcast.net
Comments
Thanks for getting us to think, Levi.
Posted by: Matt W | May 7, 2006 10:25 PM