{"id":100,"date":"2011-02-08T07:40:41","date_gmt":"2011-02-08T07:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/activistfaith\/2011\/02\/thoughtful-engagement-on-immigration.html"},"modified":"2011-02-08T07:40:41","modified_gmt":"2011-02-08T07:40:41","slug":"thoughtful-engagement-on-immigration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/activistfaith\/2011\/02\/thoughtful-engagement-on-immigration.html","title":{"rendered":"Thoughtful Engagement on Immigration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest post from Activist Faith<\/a> co-founder, pastor, and author Daniel Darling<\/a> offering a balanced, graceful perspective on one of the most pressing issues in America today from my perspective–immigration. Read, dialogue, and enjoy!<\/p>\n

-Dillon<\/p>\n

+++<\/i><\/p>\n

\"girlimages.jpg\"<\/span>A few days ago I posted a blog expressing some of my frustration
\nregarding what I perceived as some callousness on the part of
\nevangelicals toward immigration. It provoked some discussion, mostly
\noffline, among friends. Having some time to reflect, I realized that my
\npost was written in haste, with little editing, and didn’t serve to
\nedify. So I pulled it.<\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span><\/span>hat
\nbeing said, God is really working on my heart on the issue of
\nimmigration. I really feel this is an issue we need to approach with a
\nGreat Commission perspective.
\nIncreasingly, the nations are coming to us, here in America. Most
\nevangelicals I talk to consider this a welcome thing, an opportunity for
\nevangelism, building community, and greater diversity in the body of
\nChrist.<\/p>\n

For some, it is a bit of a threat, as they see the fabric of their
\nneighborhoods change. I really think this issue is going to challenge
\nChristians in the coming years as we address this global reality.
\nI’m also being challenged about the plight of the undocumented worker.
\nThis is a very difficult, complex issue and there are good people on
\nboth sides. I think, increasingly, Christians are viewing the illegal
\nimmigrant as someone for whom God cares and loves and that as followers
\nof Christ it is our job to minister and love them because they were made
\nin God’s image. We should treat them no differently.<\/p>\n

And we might use our platform to advocate for a just solution to the
\nsituation, for more effective border control, more simplified
\nimmigration system, and a good solution to legalize and humanize the
\nundocumented workers who are here.<\/p>\n

I’m stilly trying to learn more about this issue, especially as it
\nrelates to the church’s role in serving immigrants in our midst, but
\nhere are a few thoughts on the issue:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n