Thinking Theologically About Immigration
Some recent questions in my replies require longer answers than a mere "reply" can provide. One such query on immigration got me thinking and gave me an opportunity to think through this issue.
An interesting thing has happened since giving up Twitter for Lent. I have been finding much more inspiration for long form writing from your comments, questions and the back and forth exchanges I have been having on Substack Notes. Unfortunately, the stuff that actually pays the bills has been keeping me from writing this week. Hopefully the coming weeks provide more time at the keyboard. Responding to a Matthew Crawford piece on immigration, “Hospitality and the Political,” one of my subscribers, John Mullen asked the following question after reading my Note reposting the article with commentary:
There is a lot going on in this question, and it is worthwhile beginning at the beginning. I will try to keep this focused and avoid chasing down every rabbit hole that will inevitably crop up when burrowing deep into an issue. Many things will have to be left unsaid, for now. But let’s try to sketch out a Christian framework that can help you think through this problem as a Christian. But in the end, the answer is likely going to be: “It depends.” I know this is not the answer most will want to hear, but there it is. Immigration has become one of these litmus test questions where one must have a definite opinion and that opinion must be made to fit a predetermined political stance. Give the wrong answer and you are betraying the movement. But I see people, Christians, regularly torqueing scripture to arrive at a pre-determined political opinion on both sides of the debate.
