People should be treated as children of God
Editor’s note: This is a reprint of an earlier column. Scripture reading: Exodus 20:1-17. Text: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
We read, hear and are informed about the issues connected to immigrations. Obviously, we cannot recommend any solution or even offer any advice, it is not our obligation; however, we can try to see the whole problem from a different viewpoint and take the teachings of the Bible into consideration. As it has been stated before, complicated questions do not have easy answers, complicated problems do not have simple solutions and complicated theories do not have quick explanations.
LIFE WOULD BE SIMPLER IF ALL OF US WERE SIMILAR AND WOULD BE IN THE SAME SITUATION.
It is a reality that more and more people wish to come to America, work and live in the United States, enjoying the freedom, democracy and higher living standards. If we were in the predicament of the citizens of a poor nation, wouldn’t we also wish to improve our lives by immigrating into a richer country? However, the question is given: how many immigrants can our economy assimilate and employ? We hope this dilemma will be solved to the satisfaction of as many people as possible by our officials.
THE KEY WORDS ARE “MORE and FEW” AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HELP US THINK OBJECTIVELY.
Between five and 10 million citizens are added to the population of the United Sates every year; from this statistics it is obvious that more and more people should live in the same geographical area, since the territory of our country will not grow.
What does it mean for our government as well as for our society that more and more people wish to live and work here?
n More needs and expectations. Think about medical, social and educational services.
n More frictions among the various groups based on ethnic, language, cultural, religious and economic differences.
n More confusion since the problems are deep-rooted and multifaceted.
n More conflicts because there is no easy and fast solution.
n More violence because life is a power struggle and brutal force is used easily.
FROM WHOM OR WHERE CAN WE EXPECT HELP?
n Our government tries to regulate the immigration through legislation; however, it is not so simple. First of all, the liberal and the conservative legislators prefer different approaches, and some suggested solutions are financially prohibitive.
n Scientists may have their own ideas, but can they agree? We should see together the miserable situation of the poor immigrants and the economic impact they create.
n Free enterprise and fair distribution of wealth and goods are not in harmony.
WHAT CAN THE CHURCHES (RELIGIONS) SAY AND/OR DO?
Let us see first what kind of spiritual laws or instruction do we expect, we like and willing to follow? Please study or scripture reading the Ten Commandments and our text the Golden Rule. I do not want to be critical or judgmental, only hope that you will agree with me, as I mention these observations:
n We do not want many and strict rules from God, just a “few guidelines” will do it. In the Ten Commandments we find our duties to God and our duties to our fellow men.
n The spiritual commandments, instructions, expectations should be short and simple. We are not educated in legislation or law enforcement, we are ordinary people.
n What God expects of us should be easily applicable without much sacrifice. Is it true in the spiritual life also that we receive what we pay (make sacrifice) for?
n Concerning us, God should be long-suffering and forgiving, and in respect to our adversaries, he should be quick and just.
With simple, short and easy divine instruction we prefer, we will hardly be able to solve the complicated and difficult problems of the world.
We should treat, judge and help others keeping in mind that all of us are God’s children and we are a big family, thus Apostle Paul admonition is still timely: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26-27.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.