When We Think Like Americans Instead of Christians

I want to share with you something that has truly been burdening my heart. It has to do with the current border crisis our nation now finds itself in. Before I share with you, I do want to state some things I honestly believe about our borders. I do believe we must find a way to stop the ridiculous amount of illegal immigration that has been occurring along our southern border. It is a national threat when we have no clue who or what is crossing our borders and first and foremost our borders should be secured. The laws we have in place provide for this, but have not been enforced, and because of this, we find ourselves in a very difficult situation.

That situation is the tens of thousands of children that are currently being detained by our government, and the tens of thousands more who could be on the way. While no doubt many nefarious characters have crossed our borders, these children, at the urging of parents and others, have come to our border and entered our nation with no ill intent. They are innocents in this, mostly unaware of our laws, and certainly influenced by the ease at which many relatives have entered our nation illegally. But they are here, and they are still coming, and we find ourselves struggling with just how to handle this.

The laws of our nation clearly state that these children should be deported back to their nations of origin. I understand the law, and agree with it, but this is no ordinary situation. In my heart I am struggling with this, and the source for my struggles is the clear teaching of the word of God.

In Luke 18:15-17 we read this: "Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Their are a couple of lessons here. The first obviously is that we must come to Christ with a child like faith(v.17). But another lesson is presented here, and that is how we are to deal with real little children. I'm going to be making some applications here, but applications I believe are valid to our current situation as a nation. These children have been brought to our nation, a nation that has proudly proclaimed itself to be a nation founded upon the teachings of the bible from it's foundation. As Christians in America, we are called the body of Christ, and we are to be distinctly different from the deteriorating culture that surrounds us. These children in Luke are being brought so that Jesus could touch them, and as the body of Christ, are we not called to minister to children as well? Where else is one to receive a touch from Jesus than from His body here on earth? Does this apply to just American children, or should we view all children with the same heart that Jesus always did? That, my friends, is the question.

Notice here in Luke it is the disciples, those who are closest to Jesus, who rebuke those bringing the children. They believe these children to be a nuisance to the Lord, that they will be an unneeded burden to Him. But Jesus intercedes and calls the children to Himself, saying "do not forbid them, for such is the kingdom of God." How are we as Christians viewing these children who have been dumped on our doorstep? Do we see them as a burden? Or do we see them as souls who need Jesus? Are they illegals, or a mission field? It is the reaction of many Christians that has burdened my heart in this regard. Many Christians seem to be taking the same path the disciples took when they forbade the children in coming to Christ. Understand, we are His body, His church. Children are coming to our so-called Christian nation, and many who claim Jesus as Savior and Lord are simply saying, send them back, they are a nuisance.  Is this truly how Jesus would respond to this situation?

Look, I'm not saying there are easy answers here. Just how do you handle such an influx of children? I have no confidence in our government to rightly handle this, but what of the church? What exactly is our mission? What has Jesus told us of how we should view those that are truly "the least of these." Well, Jesus' words in Matthew 25 are very clear on this. Jesus tells us here of a judgment that will occur determining just who is righteous, and who is not. Who are His sheep and hear His voice, and who is a goat and is not. He says of those who are righteous in v.35-36, "For when I was hungry you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." The righteous were puzzled, and asked Him, "Lord," when did we do these things? And what was Jesus' response in Matthew 25:40? "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." I ask exactly, who are these children gathered at our border if not the "least of these?" Do you see an issue here? If we are the body of Christ, how should we being viewing these children? Are they simply illegals who will be a burden to our nation, or are they the very "least of these," the very ones Jesus calls us to minister too?

I have to tell you I am struggling with exactly how many Christians are responding to this crisis. We say to our leaders, turn to God! Follow the Lord's ways! We cry out, rightly I add, at the sin that is now being recognized as normal across the cultural spectrum. But do we have a beam in our eyes? Have we, in our zeal for our borders, made America god instead of Jesus? The laws of America are clear on what should be done, but what of God's heart for children? If we are to truly be following God here, as His body, what should be our heart and mind in regards to this? The bible is clear who comes first when God's will is contradicted by man's law. In the book of Acts we see several times the apostles rebuked by the religious Pharisees and the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Christ against their commands. In Acts 5:29 Peter gives us our course in regards to this conflict when he speaks for the apostles and says, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

So how should we, as Christians, be viewing this crisis on our border? As I've stated, I do believe we need to secure our border, but what of these children who are already here? How should we as His bride, His church, view these little children who have been brought to us? As criminals? As illegals? Or should we view them as "the least of these?" I believe how we answer this question will reveal whether as a nation, God still is on the throne in His church. If the American church can't receive the "least of these," then there is little hope for our nation ever returning to the God it once feared, respected, and dare I say, loved. In spite of our economic struggles, we are still the most prosperous nation on the earth, and have by far the most prosperous churches.

Do we worship God with our hearts, or just our lips? Are we, the body of Christ, willing and able to join together across denominational lines, and "suffer the little children?" To humble ourselves regarding the things we disagree on, and agree these children need Christ's church to come to them in their time of need? A revived church unified around the person of Christ is the only hope our nation has. And a unified church that sees these children as Jesus surely would is the hope for these children as well. There is a reason they are fleeing where they live, and it's not just our porous border and the promise of a better life. Where they live is no place for a child.

There are no easy answers here. Our government must act to secure our borders. The current situation is untenable and a threat. But what of these children? With millions upon millions who profess the name of Christ here in America, and billions upon billions of money given in His name, surely there is something we, His body, can do. Exactly what is up for debate, but to cast off as unwanted innocent children? My friends, that simply should not be an option. Not for those of us who claim Jesus.