Posted on 06/25/2007 3:09:55 PM PDT by Dubya
WASHINGTON — Some conservatives may reject comprehensive immigration reform as amnesty, but a large group of conservatives — Baptists — say the Bible mandates they back legalization.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southern Baptists Convention have adopted resolutions embracing immigrants — legal and illegal.
"You cannot deny the message of migration in the biblical story, in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God calling people into unknown lands is very central to the biblical story," said Suzii Paynter, director of the Christian Life Commission for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The Hispanic Baptist Convention, an arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, plans to unveil at its convention in Austin today a national program to aid immigrants with obtaining citizenship, legal residency and other immigration problems.
Through the program Immigrant Services and Aid Center, the Baptist General Convention of Texas will join with Buckner International, a Christian social welfare organization, to offer accredited training and other resources to churches around the country to assist immigrants.
The program won't be exclusive to Baptist congregations.
"We can't wait until everything is figured out by the government," Paynter said.
The decision to start the program, already under way in Texas, was made after the Baptist General Convention of Texas approved a resolution acknowledging documented and undocumented immigrants are members of Baptist congregations. The convention is made up of about 5,700 congregations with about 2.2 million members.
In the same resolution, congregations affirmed the view of the Hispanic Baptist Convention that encouraged in its own resolution a few months earlier "the adoption of new legislation that unshackles the immigrant."
The decision to be a ministry focused on immigrants came after a Baptist General Convention of Texas task force wrestled for a year with the immigration issue.
On the one hand the Baptists believe the Bible mandates obedience to those in authority. But it also teaches followers to show hospitality to strangers "even the least of these."
Deuteronomy teaches God "defends the cause of the widow and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Leviticus preaches that "when an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt."
The Texas Baptists say they embrace an immigration plan that boosts border security, allows for temporary workers and reforms broken immigration laws. As for illegal immigrants in the country, they should be considered on an a case-by-case basis and consider their "ledger of life."
Those who have contributed to the country, paid taxes and stayed out of trouble, should be allowed to become Americans, Paynter said.
She emphasized that her commission does not speak for the Baptist congregations and that each congregation is autonomous. But the resolution passed overwhelmingly.
Southern Baptists passed a resolution nearly unanimously in June 2006. The resolution criticizes the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws, laws that the Bible teaches them to respect.
The resolution urges the federal government to secure the nation and deal realistically with the immigration crisis and enforce immigration laws.
But it also encourages all Southern Baptists to "save those who are lost among the immigrant population to the end that these individuals might become both legal residents of the United States and loyal citizens of the Kingdom of God."
"We have responsibilities as citizens of the United States and the Kingdom of God," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "As citizens of God we have an obligation to reach out and try to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of visitors in our midst and that certainly would include people who are illegal aliens."
The Southern Baptist Convention is made up of about 43,800 congregations, not all of which are in the South, with 16.4 million members.
Land refuses to accept the amnesty label for proposals allowing illegal immigrants to pay fines and work their way to legal status.
Those who define the proposed legislation as amnesty "need a refresher course in the English language," he said.
With requirements that certain border security and immigration enforcement measures be in place first in the Senate bill, it would take some 14 years for illegal immigrants to gain legal status, he said. ——
On the Net:
Baptist General Convention of Texas and immigration: http://www.bgct.org
Southern Baptist Convention: http://www.sbc.net
Amen
All they see is an oppurtunity for new Baptist converts, they want to go an convince all the illegals that Catholicism is wrong and the only true way is theirs
Those who define the proposed legislation as amnesty "need a refresher course in the English language," he said.
Looks like I may be looking for a new political party AND a new religious affiliation. It is unthinkable to me that the SBC could agree with the Shamnesty Bill.
God=God....Caesar=Caesar
Me too maybe.
I have no problem with this, as long as these folks are willing to take in, feed, house and pay for 30 million illegal aliens.
It ain't God calling, sister - it's Mammon.
He doesn’t sound very bright. It’s clear to any rational person, and to the illegals present in the US, and to those waiting across the borders, that this is an amnesty. And with a title like “Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission”, he sounds like a liberal college-educated sort of guy.
Dr. Land is very BRIGHT, and one of the most CONSERVATIVE men ever!
Looks the 'type'....
Yes we should evangelize and help our neighbors but is it wrong to do it in their country or have them come thru our doors so that we know who is here? They aren't all innocents, looking for work. We can enforce our borders and still treat people compassionately.
I also understand about the comment on leaders but would God want us supporting, say an abortion bill our leaders were trying to push thru. I don't support a lot of the name calling but shouldn't we stand up for what is right? Lots of questions.
That guy needs a refresher course in the language of the Bible...
The word “alien” is not in it...
The word stranger is though...
When the Hebrew nation went to Egypt they were not illegal aliens...
First Joseph was sold as a slave...then his brothers went as businessmen on visas...then Pharoh (the Egyptian Govt) invited them to bring the family and stay....
Nice try but some of us actually read the Bible...
Oh about being “called” to other lands...
Paul didnt act like Atilla the Hun when he went to other countries...
He went to visit not invade and demand concessions...
Good info thanks.
Some people can sure twist what the Bible says.
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