The state of Arizona has passed and the governor has signed into law a strict immigration law aimed at combating the influx of illegal aliens into the state. The law seems to be written in such a way to stand up to the legal standards of the United States Constitution.
Whether it stands up to those standards is important but more importantly how does the law stand up to the higher law set by God. God has always set high standards in how aliens are treated and so we will look at those laws and then at how Jesus interrupted those laws. Finally, we will apply those standards to this law and see if it passes what God would expect His people to do as well as the standards of the US Constitution. The bottom line is if it does not pass God’s standard it fails no matter what.
First, we will look at the United States Constitution.
Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
We find nothing in the Preamble, the Seven Articles or and the only Amendments that would apply to this law would be the Fourth so if the law does not meet the standards of the Fourth Amendment it should be discarded.
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
According to the Arizona law a person cannot be stopped purely because of suspicion of being an illegal alien but must have broken the law in another area so there is no violation of the fourth amendment.
Now let’s look at God’s standards on how His people should treat the alien to see if the law meets that standard.
Leviticus 19: 33-34 "When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don't take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God.
Deuteronomy 27: 18 God's curse on anyone who interferes with justice due the foreigner, orphan, or widow.
Zechariah 7: 9-12 "'Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'
Titus 3: 1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.
Jesus in Matthew 22: 37-40 gave the two commandments that the whole law is based on. Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
The Arizona law does not appear to violate either the United States Constitution or the standards God set in place considering aliens. If any thing the illegal alien is in violation not only of the laws of the United States of America but also in violation of God’s standards.
The concern then and rightly so is how man applies the law. If a person has evil in their heart towards the alien then they will apply the law with that influence. If they have the compassion that flows from the Father they will apply the law according to how it was written. The conclusion, as it is in most cases, lies in the heart of the person applying the law. The heart of the one applying the law will determine if the law is used in such a way as to violate the rights of an illegal alien in our country.
Whether it stands up to those standards is important but more importantly how does the law stand up to the higher law set by God. God has always set high standards in how aliens are treated and so we will look at those laws and then at how Jesus interrupted those laws. Finally, we will apply those standards to this law and see if it passes what God would expect His people to do as well as the standards of the US Constitution. The bottom line is if it does not pass God’s standard it fails no matter what.
First, we will look at the United States Constitution.
Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
We find nothing in the Preamble, the Seven Articles or and the only Amendments that would apply to this law would be the Fourth so if the law does not meet the standards of the Fourth Amendment it should be discarded.
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
According to the Arizona law a person cannot be stopped purely because of suspicion of being an illegal alien but must have broken the law in another area so there is no violation of the fourth amendment.
Now let’s look at God’s standards on how His people should treat the alien to see if the law meets that standard.
Leviticus 19: 33-34 "When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don't take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God.
Deuteronomy 27: 18 God's curse on anyone who interferes with justice due the foreigner, orphan, or widow.
Zechariah 7: 9-12 "'Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'
Titus 3: 1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.
Jesus in Matthew 22: 37-40 gave the two commandments that the whole law is based on. Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
The Arizona law does not appear to violate either the United States Constitution or the standards God set in place considering aliens. If any thing the illegal alien is in violation not only of the laws of the United States of America but also in violation of God’s standards.
The concern then and rightly so is how man applies the law. If a person has evil in their heart towards the alien then they will apply the law with that influence. If they have the compassion that flows from the Father they will apply the law according to how it was written. The conclusion, as it is in most cases, lies in the heart of the person applying the law. The heart of the one applying the law will determine if the law is used in such a way as to violate the rights of an illegal alien in our country.
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