Friends, I'm pleased to share this piece from the Evangelical Immigration Table's Matthew Blanton, writing on the current humanitarian crisis of unaccompanied children at the U.S./Mexico border. EDIT: Don't miss this standout companion piece from Matt Soerens offering a (rare) first-person perspective and practical ways forward for churches wanting to make a difference for vulnerable children. – Paul
Easy prey for human traffickers. Thousands of traumatized children. Overcrowded government facilities. Social unrest. How are we to respond to the political, moral, and humanitarian crisis happening at the southern border of the United States?
An unprecedented wave of children has been pouring into the United States from three Central American nations: Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In the past few years, the number of children migrating to the U.S. has exploded—8,000 in 2012, 14,000 in 2013, and a projected 90,000 this year. These children are seeking refuge and protection here, and many may be eligible for asylum. Fleeing incredible violence, forced conscription into gangs, and the instability of drug wars, they are "jumping out of a burning house."
To demonstrate this point more clearly: Honduras is the murder capital of the world, and Guatemala and El Salvador are also in the top five. You'd be more likely to die in one of these countries today than as an Iraqi civilian at the height of the Iraq war.
We are tempted to respond out of the values of our earthly kingdom, forgetting the radical values of God's kingdom.
As exhausted and war-torn children enter the U.S. looking for relief, our nation is overwhelmed by logistical, financial, and humanitarian challenges. To make matters worse, politicians and pundits are polarizing the issue, spreading misinformation and fear. In this intense climate, we are tempted to respond out of the values of our earthly kingdom, forgetting the radical values of God's kingdom. But as a group of decidedly kingdom people, the church should avoid these three responses to the border crisis.
1. Misinformed arrogance
In my years of ministering in immigrant churches, studying immigration, and working with churches on immigration reform, I am convinced that there is no other issue in American public discourse that couples arrogance and misinformation quite like immigration. Regarding these children, I grimace as I hear members of Congress, talk radio hosts, and fellow Christians oversimplify the issue and recommend solutions like "just deport them all" or "build a fence." That such solutions actually would break aspects of U.S. law and potentially send people back into the hands of human traffickers doesn't seem to matter.
In our polarized, bumper-sticker world, more and more Christians are falling into the trap of oversimplification.
In our polarized, bumper-sticker world, more and more Christians are falling into the trap of oversimplification and uncritical listening—simply accepting and spreading what we hear. This is especially troubling for those who believe in Christ, the very incarnation of "truth" (John 1:14; 14:6). Ethicist Dennis Hollinger elaborates that "as people committed to the truth of the gospel, we must seek to render the facts with precision, clarity, integrity, and yes, humility." Although we sin against God when we knowingly lie, when we spread half-truths or lies without checking their veracity, we are still bearing false witness through our own laziness.
We must choose our news sources carefully. To understand and learn about complex issues such as the current crisis, we need to turn to respected, nonpartisan researchers such as the Immigration Policy Center (which has summarized the situation here), and objective reporters such as the Arizona Republic, New York Times and Vox, which are some of the outlets that have published in-depth pieces recently.
2. Fear and hatred
"Don't feed stray animals." "Machine guns at the border would do the trick." "I have to worry about my kids, not these illegals." I know such statements do not represent the church as a whole, but I have been grieved and broken over statements that professing Christians have been making about the crisis.
The focus on "me and mine" and the attitude of "not my problem" are values of our earthly kingdom, not our heavenly kingdom.
We must remember that the focus on "me and mine" and the attitude of "not my problem" are values of our earthly kingdom, not our heavenly kingdom. As kingdom people we are taught to welcome the stranger, care for widows and orphans (James 1:27), take responsibility for those who are hurt (Luke 10:25-37) and even to love our enemies (Matt. 5:53-54). That uncomfortable command means that even if children at the border were our enemies, we would still be commanded to love and care for them. Fear-mongering and hateful remarks are tired, overused tactics (that were employed against most of our own immigrant ancestors). In contrast, the kingdom way teaches that "there is no fear in love and perfect love casts out fear," and through its example of selfless, subversive love it points to a better, upside-down world (1 John 4:18, Acts 17:6).
3. "What border crisis?"
For some, the attitude might not be of hate or fear, but of ambivalence or willful ignorance. Although seemingly not a response, this is actually one of the most dangerous ways to respond. As the spiritual hands and feet of Jesus, it is our calling to respond in compassionate and gospel-centered ways to the needs around us (1 Cor. 12:12-27).
Christians not caring about crises in the world is a bit like firemen turning off their radios and settling in for a nice game of poker at the station.
Christians not caring about crises in the world is a bit like firemen turning off their radios and settling in for a nice game of poker at the station. Where there is human brokenness—whether it is in our family, church, or down at the border—we are responsible to help. In his book Scandalous Obligation, Eric Severson explores the extent of Christian responsibility, stressing that as we are made in the image of God, "To be human is to be responsible, to be bound wonderfully and frighteningly to the faces that surround us."
Informed, humble, and engaged
While the situation at the border is complex, this much is clear: We need to be informed, humble, and engaged in compassion for "the least of these." We have a responsibility to bear this burden. We can respond with political advocacy, insisting that children be given a fair hearing and the chance to apply for asylum before being deported and that Congress remove the ambiguities of our immigration system by finally passing broad immigration reforms. We can provide financial support to ministries meeting the physical, psychological, legal, and spiritual needs of these kids. Some of us may even open our own homes to an unaccompanied child.
Let us stand together as the church, working towards a response that mirrors the kingdom of God rather than temporary, earthly kingdoms.
Wondering what to do? Read this standout piece from Matt Soerens offering a (rare) first-person perspective and practical ways forward for churches.
Matthew Blanton works across the Carolinas in support of the Evangelical Immigration Table, encouraging Christians to think biblically about immigration and advocate at the political level. You can connect with him on Twitter.
