One Christian’s Perspective of the Arizona Immigration Law

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. 

What if God built a church?

This past weekend our little town of Louisburg, Kansas had the annual auto and bike shows.

As I walked around looking at the old trucks, cars and then motor cycles I wondered what would Jesus be doing on this beautiful Sunday. We had heard a sermon earlier in the day by Rick Olmstead, lead pastor of the Vineyard in Fort Collins, Colorado titled, "What if God built a church? The sermon was centered around Jesus speaking to the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, which was a place Jews did not go to because of  its association with ancient Syrian Baal worship and a cave that was known as the "Gate to Hell".

Matthew 16: 13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 

 17-18 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

First, we need to know that "If God Built a Church" it would not be subject to death and decay.

Second, it would be a Biblical church. It would be based on and doing the meat (Word of God) of in the streets. 

Third, It would be a Loving church. It would be a church that knew that each of us need all of the rest of the church.

Forth, It would be a Worshipping church. It would be a church that had its worship focused on God not on itself. Everything it did concerning worship, which is found in living, would bring glory to God.

Fifth, It would be Devoted to Prayer.

Sixth, It would be a church Engaged a Naturally Supernatural way. 

Seventh, It would be a generous church. 

It would be a church that uses each of the above to impact those outside. The church that God wants begins with the lives of each person that makes up the church.

I believe if Jesus was walking the streets of Louisburg this past Sunday He would have skipped most services in our community and headed down to the American Legion park to mingle with the bikers and then walked the 7 blocks to downtown to look at the old cars and trucks. He would have taken time to talk to the person who looked the most out of place or lonely. He would have talked to the biker who was struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. He would have shared the hope of life tha tis found in Him. He would have takent he time to touched the hurting, the addicited, the rejected and the sick. 

As I walked our streets that day with my wife, my daughter and my grandkids I wondered why the churches of Louisburg were not there doing what Jesus did.

I long for and believe that Jesus will raise up a church that is biblically founded, that loves everyone within and without, that worships Him through their lives, that is devoted to praying for everyone in our community, that is engaged in the supernatural in a naturally supernatural way, that is generous with its time, gifts and money. I believe Jesus is going to raise up a church that makes a long lasting positive impact in the area around Louisburg, KS.

1 Peter 2: 4-5 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. 

Acts 2: 42-47 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.  Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

The question for you and me is: "Are we made of the right stuff and are we being the church that does what Jesus did?"