Of Wheat and Weeds ...

"We're not against the ones that work,' the writer said.

... in response to a piece I wrote about the GOP and it's irrational fear of someone somewhere getting a handout.

I've been thinking a great deal about the response, with some questions: Does anyone not work? Even street people work hard all day long, with their limited means of mind and body and soul to survive. I guess folks on the bottom of the heap who might turn to crime might be a problem, but there numbers aren't all that high. Who in the world doesn't work?

Who in the world lays around all day? Enjoying a government handout? (We could have some fun with this one ... visit a high-end gated community, or country club - but, hey, they work hard, too ... and much of their work depends heavily on government handouts - but that's a discussion for another day.

As I thought about the writer's comment, a Jesus Parable came to mind - the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 23.24-30).

When the weeds were discovered, the workers were eager to get into the fields and pull 'em up, but the owner offered wise advice. "We have to wait until the harvest; if we try to separate them now, we'll pull up the good with the bad and ruin the entire field."

Right now, conservatives are fretting and fussing about the "weeds" as they see them, and their running two and fro across the fields trying to pull out the weeds, and they're yanking up the wheat along with the weeds.

In the end, says Jesus, to his all-too eager disciples, "we can trust history; it'll work itself out. In the end, we'll know, but for now, let 'em all grow together."

With regard to immigration, we have slowed it down, and if we identify criminals, deport them. But right now, we're yanking up the good with the bad, whole fields of humanity, entire families and communities, and for every "weed" we'er pulling up, we're yanking up thousands of viable wheat plants.

We're behaving with the worst kinds of instincts, driven by irrational fears and anger at these "strangers in our midst." Spiritually and politically, Jesus offers sage counsel.

Immigrants and the Christian Family

A lot of Christians apparently ignore the fact that most of the multitude of immigrants from Mexico and other nations to the South are Christians.

Ignoring this reality violates what Paul wrote to the Galatians: "So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith" [Galatians 6.10].

It seems that the "family of faith," for some, has borders with fences and guns. Some family, huh? "Send 'em packin'; we don't want 'em. Who cares - they're illegals!"

At what point, does a Christian affirm "citizenship in heaven" over citizenship in any given land. American Christians do well to hear Moses in Deuteronomy 15. For the people crossing our borders are part of the family, if not the family of faith, then the human family, a family created by God, loved by God and welcomed by God.

In my mind, talk of borders and guards and illegals with regard to "keeping people out" should never pass the lips of a Christian. Never! From the God who adopted us, not for any reason inherent in us, but only out of love, comes the message of welcome.

I will not worry about our border - there are plenty of folks who do. And this I affirm: where there is love and welcome, there is the blessing of God!

It's high time that folks began to ask again: WWJD.

This I know: He wouldn't send anyone away!

And for those churches that display both the American and the Christian Flag, let the Christian Flag, the banner of self-sacrifice and peace, trump all other flags!

God's Peace for those who are open to it for others ... and a troubled heart and mind for those who love boundaries and defend them with guns!

Jesus and His No-Borders World ... and the Children

Jesus and Paul demolished forever the reliance upon borders to define God's People.

One God, one world, and we're all sisters and brothers, one to another.

Let the little children come unto me.

This is not some spiritual thin soup, but realty - how many times Jesus watched adults push children away.

For me, I say, LET THEM COME ...

I bet our brightest people and most compassionate of leaders will find solutions.

I'm willing to say that if we can fly to the moon and mount trillion dollar wars, we can find ways and means of providing for these children and their families, and maybe doing something constructive for the economies of Central and South America that our crazy trade-practices have ruined.

As for "God's Christian People," here is a place for us to make our Christian voice heard - defending borders is the talk of war and violence. In Jesus' world, there are no borders - when some would have gone around Samaria, Jesus went through it, and met the woman at the well.

His bold hometown sermon talks about God's prophet's crossing borders for widows and healing the foreigner. No wonder the hometown folks, who thought he was pretty cool, suddenly turned on him when he dismissed their beautiful boundaries.

In a world where borders were everything, Jesus makes it clear: he has no borders, nor should there be any for those who follow him. For God so loved the world ...