What can immigration pressures tell us about our nation?

“For the LORD your God is a God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore…” Deuteronomy 10.17-19

We often hear it said that America is a nation of immigrants, and this certainly is so. Even the native populations, who have largely been displaced by immigrants from Europe and elsewhere, originally journeyed to the “new world” from their homes in Asia. Immigrants have always been a feature of the American landscape, and we may expect that this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

What does this tell us about America? At the very least it indicates that this nation is, and always has been, a desirable place. Its wealth of resources, beautiful and expansive lands, and abundance of opportunities have appealed to people from all over the globe. The continuing press of immigrants to this country should serve as a reminder to Americans that, of all the nations of the world, our country has been most abundantly and lavishly blessed of God.

This observation did not escape the notice of previous generations of Americans as they reflected on the goodness of God to this country. “God Bless America” has replaced “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at many American ball parks as the favorite to be sung during the seventh-inning stretch. But is this a sincere expression of gratitude, however primitive may be the understanding of “God” on the part of those who join in the singing, or is it simply a post-9/11 tipping of our hats to Someone few of us otherwise take seriously? And if the latter, how long can we expect it to continue?

The Christian community must not respond to the present crisis over immigration policy as, in the first instance, a matter of politics. If we do not lead the nation to remember that immigrants are indicators, first and foremost, of the continuing blessings of God on this nation, then we will struggle ever to be able to lead the nation in addressing public policies relating to this question from a more Biblical perspective.

Some of us may struggle to thank God for immigrants – including “illegal aliens” – but we must not fail to thank Him – in private and in public – for what the continuing stream of immigrants to this country represents: America is still, for all our failings and shortcomings, the nation most abundantly blessed of God of all the nations of the world. And for this, every Christian should be more outspokenly grateful at every summons to thanksgiving that comes to our attention, including the crisis of immigration.

Responding to the crisis of immigration with such a perspective and posture may help us to recommend a new approach to crafting public policies more in line with the teaching of God’s Law.

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