Immigrated

Following Arizona’s new law, many people have been talking about the immigration question. There have been threats of boycotts and many protests. Washington D.C. has even taken notice. In case you have been hiding in a hole for the past week, the new law gives authorities the right to ask anyone to provide proof of citizenship. Individuals who cannot provide said proof might be subject to jail time. Many have called it racism, or a violation of privacy.

Personally, I think this law is ill conceived. It seems to have been passed out of revenge and fear. I think it will be effective solving it’s objective if enforced; yet I do not think this objective serves to benefit the citizens of the state of Arizona. The best possibility that I think could come from it is that it might cause the United States government to take notice and try something different than putting people in jail. I am not a law expert, but it seems to me that making citizenship easier to attain is a much better idea.

In the 6th chapter of the book of John, Jesus is being followed by a large group of people. These people are away from their homes, longing for a better life for themselves and their families (does that sound like immigration to you?). They had come to listen to Jesus and see his miracles. Jesus kept his part of the deal and spoke to the people. No one said that Jesus had to feed them. Yet Jesus brought it up, then he performed the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people even though he started with next to nothing. Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I know that immigration is not an easy problem with easy solutions, many of which I probably do not understand. Yet I do not think Jesus would be in favor of Arizona’s current approach. He was in the business of convincing people that they are important. What do you think?