I don't quite understand the World of Fear that many Evangelical Christians live in today. It seems that there are many enemies out there for them, from Islamists to Immigrants. So much of what I see among Evangelical Christian thought is based on various forms of fear and loss of control, but I wonder how God views the same sorts of issues. The whole "Left Behind" theology seems to be based on fear.
In the first chapter of Exodus, we see how the Egyptians buy into the cycle of dread and how that creates oppression, and we can see how fear operates in a society. Clearly the Egyptians were afraid of being swamped in their own country. Where have we heard that before?
How does Jesus handle fear and model that for us? Did He use it for political power or to extract donations? Did He listen to talk radio for His Spiritual guidance? No, He faced it and He taught us to go beyond our fear of others, to unmask and defuse it, to reach out to the poor and marginalized.
The Gospels aren't the only source of this idea. The Hebrew Scriptures are very clear in their support of aiding "strangers in a strange land." In Leviticus 19:34: "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." You can see the same concept in Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 25:35, Numbers 35:15, and Jeremiah 7:6. God is pretty adamant about this command to show kindness to strangers.
A constant point in these verses is that we were once immigrants our selves. Seems to me, the Apostle Paul tells us that are also strangers and pilgrims in this land, "But our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20a).
Maybe we should be less concerned with a person's immigration status, and more with their spiritual and eternal status.
Good post. Keep it up.
Posted by: Joshua Ligan | July 30, 2007 at 05:51 PM
In my opinion what comes out of people in times of pressure is truly what is in their hearts...regardless racism and ethnocentrism is wrong and that kind of rhetoric shouldn't be used when talking about making national and local policies concerning immigration.
Posted by: Dino | July 28, 2007 at 01:32 PM
People are people. I really don't think any of them truly intend to be racist, but they become racist when something happens to them that is unfair. People are racist against Democrats, Republicans, the upper class, and the IRS.
It's almost like it is some sort of protective mechanism we have. When one person of a certain type, ethnicity or does something harmful to us we then project that onto everyone who is similar.
Posted by: CRAZY OLD BAPTIST BEN | July 28, 2007 at 12:23 PM
I don't know if it is fear as much as blatant racism in some instances.
Here in Tulsa it seems that much of the immigration issues are couched in racist kind of rhetoric. In the MSN article a week or so ago the professor they interviewed said “that whole part of the city has become a miniature Juarez or Tijuana or whatever you want to call it,” referring to the 21st and Garnett area.
However I understand the legal components...for example the same professor was in an accident involving an illegal immigrant and nothing could be done because of it, and he had to pay for the damages even though it wasn't his fault.
Posted by: Dino | July 27, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Well thanks John, and a cool blog site you have as well
Posted by: Monk-in-Training | July 27, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Your blog has just been reviewed for this Friday's blogachute over at Heaven's Highway. You can read the comments at
www.glenkirk.blogspot.com
Posted by: John Stuart | July 27, 2007 at 03:13 PM
Can we really blame the government for using fear tactics when so many are willing to believe it? Why are they willing to believe it? Maybe they are willing to believe it because they have to face it all the time.
Posted by: CRAZY OLD BAPTIST BEN! | July 27, 2007 at 12:28 PM
There is nothing wrong with saying that we send missionaries there all the time. I think the statements following support the idea that you presented. We do see Jesus in their eyes. We do love them. Unfortunately we can't pack them all up and take them home with us. I wish we could, but at this time we can't. I can barely support my own family as it is.
Posted by: CRAZY OLD BAPTIST BEN! | July 27, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Ben
I want to point out that your statement "We send missionaries to Mexico all the time" can sound like "you brown people stay over there" to someone who doesn't know you. I know you do not mean it as it can be read, which is why I wanted to mention this, so others won't take it that way.
What assumptions in the first paragraph are you having a problem with? I only pointed out what I see, and among my family, co-workers and such. I do see a lot of fear of the "other" that is fanned more by right wing radio than it is by the Gospels.
My point in this posting isn't about illegal immigrants, it is about how Christians appear to me to be afraid about all sorts of things, and the immigrant thing is only one aspect of it.
Posted by: Monk-in-Training | July 27, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Sure we see Jesus in their eyes. We send missionaries to Mexico all the time. We continue to open our doors to those who are really in need. I don't have a problem with that. Christians can work within the framework to show compassion and love. You make a lot of assumptions about evangelicals in your first paragraph. That is what I've been addressing. I think we should also take time to understand why people are so afraid of what illegal immigration can do this country. If you wanted to make this just about illegal immigration and the love of Jesus then you could have left your first paragraph or so out of it.
Posted by: Crazy Old Ben | July 27, 2007 at 07:05 AM
Hey Ben,
Good to see u again.
Who is calling anyone to ignore anything?
I think we may be looking at two different problems, and that may be the real issue here. Conservatives appear to be focusing on the illegal aliens. I wanted to focus on our fear and loathing of them. No problem can be solved with inflamed rhetoric and unreasonable fears.
The clear question is, do we see the Savior in the brown eyes of those Spanish speaking food stamp users?
Fear and feelings of loss of control are powerful motivators, and political people use them all the time to acquire votes. My question is how do we pass through that and reach out the wounded hand of Christ to those who need Him?
Posted by: Monk-in-Training | July 27, 2007 at 06:02 AM
And your approach to handling this fear is simply recognize it and then ignore it? As if an evangelical can't have any valid point? Look, you all can call it fear, you can call it racism, bigotry, xenophobia, or whatever makes you feel comfortable. The truth is that people would much rather call each other names from the sidelines than to come together and reach an understanding. Personally it is really starting to sicken me.
Posted by: Crazy Old Ben | July 26, 2007 at 09:24 PM
Hope it's okay that I linked my blog to yours with the cartoon. Thanks.
Posted by: Jan | July 26, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Good cartoon! (shows where my mind goes first. . . .) Ditto to others above. Thanks.
Posted by: Jan | July 26, 2007 at 07:31 PM
I believe it to be fear as well.
But when it comes to Islam, it's a "we're right, their wrong" mentality.
I think we overlook the stories of oppression in the Bible because as Americans, we want so desperately to be on the right.
Posted by: Connor | July 26, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Crazy,
It's fear. Saying these sentiments is based in the rule of law for most evangelicals is giving them too much credit. Listen to what most of them say and you'll realize that it's fear. "The end of our culture...", "Speak english here, buddy!", "...taking our jobs...", "... rapists and thieves...", blah blah blah... these are the sentiments expressed. They are not rational observations that a nation has laws that must be followed, with a desire to get to the root of the reason why they are not. They are expressions of fear based in the desire to see people not like them kept on their side of the line.
Posted by: stephen | July 26, 2007 at 08:56 AM
Is it fear or is it respect for the rule of law? Is it fear or is it a desire to keep people aware of who the real terrorists are?
I agree that Jesus doesn't necessarily see borders or ethnicities. After all He did tell a story of a good samaritan. I have noticed that some people aren't very realistic about immigration or terrorism. Realistic is what I choose to be.
Posted by: That Crazy Old Ben | July 26, 2007 at 07:13 AM
Josh,
Thank you very much for that recommendation! I will buy that book, it looks like a powerful witness to the Church. I like his points about how the Church has lost the ability to practice Christian Virtues because of the culture of fear we have allowed ourselves to be entangled with.
Posted by: Monk-in-Training | July 26, 2007 at 05:43 AM
My friend Scott Bader-Saye, a professor of theology at the University of Scranton, just had a book published titled, "Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear." You may be interested! Peace - Josh
Posted by: Josh Frank | July 26, 2007 at 12:17 AM