The current immigration crisis in the United States can be difficult for a Christ Following member of His church to know how to react. I think of Isaiah 58: 1-14. (You might want to read it before continuing.) Is that talking about we Christians here in the USA? Should I just love the world so much to allow any and all comers entry without restriction? Should I be concerned about the dilution of my wealth? How should I think about those very wealthy celebrities who live in mansions worth 10’s of millions of dollars and tell me all of this illegal immigration is good? They tell me that we should no longer have any ICE or other border controls.

I am torn! I am a strong conservative. I believe that the founders of this great country did so with a lot of guidance from God’s word. I believe that the founders could not have come up with the Constitution and Bill of Rights, written in a way that it contained protections for all in every circumstance, without knowing His word. It was so well thought out and I believe that only God could have put those particular men together to accomplish such a task. We see, by our history of slavery and segregation, and women’s suffrage and other actions, that we as a country still struggle with granting the true freedoms the Framers wrote into that document. Am I now to trash this document and this thinking and move even more so away from a representative republic to a socialist society. Is that what is meant in Isaiah 58? Is that what God is asking me to do?

I have feelings for the poor of this world. I don’t know why God placed me in the USA instead of Honduras or Uganda or another 3rd world country. He has said through His word that he has a purpose and plan for every one of His creation. I believe that we, His followers, are the ones He has chosen to speak to through his Word. I also know that Isaiah 58 is not talking to the World but is instead talking to His followers. We are the ones He is telling “Remove the weight of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading rumors. Feed the hungry and help those in trouble.”

Does that mean I should expect my neighbors to pay the cost of illegal immigration into this country? Certainly not! Nor does it mean that our personal abilities to generate wealth and food and technology should be squandered only on ourselves. I also don’t believe He is asking the USA to be the home of everyone. He is simply asking that His followers to do the things He has instructed through his prophet Isaiah.

So how do we do what Isaiah instructed. There are many ways. For the past 25 years my wife and I have been traveling to Honduras, Haiti, and Belize to provide relief and medical and eye care for the people there. We have lived in Honduras to care for some children and eventually brought one of them to our home so that we could provide a college education for him. Many people who were unable to go for whatever reason have supported us with financial aid, material items, and prayer. These are just some of ways how you can “loose the chains of the oppressed “ When you receive a request or see a need, don’t walk past it. Ask God what you can do. Maybe go, maybe contribute or maybe just encourage. It does not have to be a third world country…there are many in need of some of these things right where you live. Adopt a child, be a Foster Parent, help in a clothing drive, help at a recovery center or a Women’s center.

As for the immigration crisis, who would not want to come here and have what we have. Shelter, refrigerators, vehicles, adequate food, education and a Government that encouraged self improvement ( at least it used to ). But if it was not for the lack of these things, how many would want to leave their home and country.

So when it comes time for that new dress or that vacation, If your heart really wants to follow this request of God. First take that money or time and support a 3rd world child enabling the child to grow healthy and educated. Travel there to help with a project. Better yet do both. I promise that you will, as a Christian, never have a better vacation.

I am still torn. I see the people streaming here, I know God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams simply by being born here. I also know that my grandparents were immigrants who were blessed by God to come here legally. But I know that part of the solution to this crisis is to help by helping directly those in other less fortunate countries with our time and finances and prayers. I believe we should donate and/or serve through trusted child support organizations and not through governments.

If we all did this, what would the world look like? More importantly, will I/we still be able to do this if the government that God helped set up is no longer able to support all that come illegally to our country?