There’s been a lot of talk about immigration in the United States thanks to the president’s pushing for immigration reform and today’s “Day Without an Immigrant” Day. Some of it has been downright sickening as a follower of Jesus Christ. Everyday I see someone on TV furious about “those” immigrants “stealing our _______.” The whole protest against illegal immigrants has been based in fear, and some people are really afraid. I have pity for people whose lives are just dull enough that they need to get off work early to harass migrant workers and call INS to come “deal with the invasion of the 3rd world.”

Aside from that however, I have many theological issues with the obsession over “protecting OUR borders.” To begin with, this continent was founded on literal invasions and outright genocide. What gives anyone the idea that this land somehow eternally and essentially belongs to YOU is beyond me. This is stolen land, Mexico is stolen land. That the United States physically resides where it does today is not an eternal fact.

The next and most important objection to this mentality is that there are few theological borders that are really important, national borders not being one of them. In fact national borders are a worldly illusion. The kingdom of God is open to ALL (remember that whole “neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, Male nor Female” stuff… yeah that). For Christians to admit that, but say that national borders are not open to all, but belong to US says a few things. First that we don’t really believe God is the creator, and if we do he apparently only created spiritual things (gnosticism) because this world belongs to nations not God. Secondly it says that governments and not God may determine on what part of the created world one may reside on. And lastly it holds all things national and patriotic as more important (and more real) than things Godly and good.

When “US” becomes Americans, and “THEM” becomes anyone else, we’ve forgotten our baptism.

I’ll leave you with a line from Derek Webb’s A King and a Kingdom

Who’s your brother, who’s your sister
You just walked passed him
I think you missed her
As we’re all migrating to the place where our father lives
‘Cause we married in to a family of immigrants