Stopping The ICE From Forming

A recent article in World news highlighted how many churches went to court asking if their place of worship could be protected from the government. Although it is probably not what you are thinking. This was not a request involving religious liberty. This had nothing to do with abortion. They were not asking to be allowed to worship freely without intrusion. No this had to do with ICE (US Immigration & Customs Enforcement) coming into the church building. The article states, “The 27 plaintiffs on Tuesday asked a federal court in Washington to protect their houses of worship from raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The plaintiffs come from Baptist, Jewish, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Quaker, Methodist, and Universalist traditions. All of them feel called to minister to those in need, including individuals in the United States illegally, and seek to protect their houses of worship from ICE raids, the lawsuit said.”

Then this past week a judge granted their request blocking ICE from entering into places of worship. AP News reported, “A federal judge on Monday blocked immigration agents from conducting enforcement operations in houses of worship for Quakers and a handful of other religious groups. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chang found that the Trump administration policy could violate their religious freedom and should be blocked while a lawsuit challenging it plays out.”

Why did these churches feel this was the correct action to take? “The plaintiffs argue that they possess a First Amendment right not to have their houses of worship raided. They also argue that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act prevents the government from interfering with a religious institution’s services unless it can prove that it has a compelling government interest to do so and that it is using the least restricting means of achieving that interest.”

Putting aside the legal argumentation that is sure to proceed in court, let us look at this from a biblical perspective. For what the bible has to say about this is all that really matters. Wanting to minister and help immigrants is a very godly endeavor. In fact, it is not just good, it is biblical. There are many verses like Deuteronamy  15:11 that say, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” We also see the christians in the first church sell what they had in abundance and gave to those in need (Acts 2:45). We should want to help those less fortunate than us. This is how we actively show love to our neighbor. What better example is there than the good samaritan? So it is definitely biblical to help immigrants out if needed.

Now what about the interaction between the church and the government? Are we not supposed to stand up for God and His truth regardless of what the government tells us. Yes we are to submit to the government (See Romans 13:1-2 & 1 Peter 2:11-25). Yet are we to allow the governing authorities to tell us how to minister, help and evangelize  those in need?! Plus won’t allowing this prevent these people from coming to church?! If they know they could be picked up by the federal agents while attending church they may not go at all! In the AP News article, they made this very argument. “Many immigrants are afraid to attend religious services while the government enforces the new rule, lawyers for the congregations said in a court filing. ‘It’s a fear that people are experiencing across the country ,” plaintiffs’ attorney Bradley Girard told the judge during a February hearing. “People are not showing up, and the plaintiffs are suffering as a result.’” Should we not be standing up against the government when they are preventing people from worshiping God?

It is not as black and white as all that. What these churches have failed to see is that these people are criminals. They have broken the law. The reason ICE is even looking for them is because they have come into the country illegally. Yes we are supposed to stand up against the government when they go against our faith. But that is not what is happening here. A place of worship is not being raided because of what they believe or how they worship. They are coming into the building to look for a wanted felon. They are not being pursued because of what they believe. They are being pursued because of what they have done that has nothing to do with their religious beliefs.

On top of that, the church is now aiding the criminal in their criminal activity. They are harboring a fugitive. They are helping them hide out or avoid being arrested. What is Christian about this? This is not like when people hid Jews from the Nazis. They were being pursued because of who they were. Because of their ethnicity. That is not what is happening here. Now some may argue that this should not be a crime. That we should have open borders, but that is a different topic altogether having nothing to do with this. It is a law. It has nothing to do with religion. These immigrants have broken the law. And churches should not be helping them with their crimes.

Last point on this. The church should be helping these people with their faith. If a church really wanted to be helpful to them, they should be concerned about their soul, not their immigration status. And in helping them with their faith, they should be guiding them toward repentance. Anyone who wishes to have true saving faith will repent of their sins and continue on in a life of repentance. And so the churches should be counseling these people into repenting and facing the consequences of their actions. Does that mean deportation? Probably. But it also means forgiveness from God. Are you truly repentant when you are avoiding your sinful actions? If the churches really want to help them out they should not be hiding the immigrants. But instead guiding them to repent and turn themselves in. For when these people die and face God, it won't matter if they were able to live in the USA, but if they repented of their sins.