INTRODUCTION
60 years ago, after the PT 109 boat was destroyed and the 11 survivors swam to a nearby island, young JFK Walked back out into shark infested waters with a battery-powered strobe to try to signal for help and rescue.
As we lift the strobe of God’s Word today, this sermon ventures out into some shark infested waters. Pray
I. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION (High Sensitivity - We Are A Nation & Church of Immigrants)
A. What Would Jesus Say To Us? - Honestly, I’m Not Sure! Reasons I’m Not Sure. I find my thinking…Muddied, Unclear, Tainted, Clouded, Confused
1. Muddied by much political controversy surrounding the present issues
2. Muddied by my past experience and present experience
3. What I’ve also seen that disturbs me is what I see in myself - growing resentment, stereotyping and prejudice
4. Before you judge me, judge yourselves - I’m already judged / I’m already guilty
5. I stand before you with honest, open, tarnished – not whole heart
B. What Would Jesus Say To Me?
1. Reality says to me - it’s not an issue that’s going to go away anytime soon - no matter how it’s handled in the political arena, the controversy & consequences are not going away
2. In many ways I feel powerless to do much about it
3. Yet certain things are within my control
4. Above guarding your borders, guard your heart & spirit
5. Above guarding your economy, guard the economy of your mind & attitudes
6. Above guarding your official language, guard your tongue
7. Here’s The Risk - If you don’t guard heart, run risk of becoming an “alien” yourself – illegal – trespassing against God’s character - alienating yourself from the heart of God
II. THIS IS AN ANCIENT PROBLEM
A. In Addition to Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Other Texts:
Ex 22:21 "You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Lev 19:33-34 ’And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Deut 23:7-8 "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
C. “Stranger” meant “Foreigner”
1. “gare” – foreigner, alien, sojourner, stranger
2. Israel’s had problem with strangers - because she failed to do everything God originally commanded
3. As an infant nation, she would be a nation of the rule of God & His law & His order
4. Now, part of that rule of law was compassion to the “stranger” or foreigner
D. What That Didn’t Mean For Ancient Israel
1. Didn’t mean stop guarding the gates of the city (the boarders & boundaries)
2. Didn’t mean abandon the rule of law to accommodate the stranger
E. What It Did Mean For Ancient Israel
1. Don’t mistreat the stranger or take advantage of them – rip them off, cheat them, hurt them
2. Treat them humanely – give them basics - food & clothing if needed
3. Policy summed up as “Compassion, without Compromise”
F. Temptation For Ancient Israel To Forget That They, Too, Were Once Aliens – Foreigners
1. Forget that, then you will mistreat others
2. Forget that, then you will withhold basic humanitarian stuff
3. Forget that, then you loose a part of yourself and you become alienated from your own roots & your own past
G. “For You Were Once Strangers” = Common Motivational Theme In God’s Law On This Subject
Ex 22:21 "You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Lev 19:33-34 ’And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Deut 23:7-8 "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
Deut 10:19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
III. WHAT WOULD GOD SAY TO CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA
A. Whatever You Do, Don’t Forget That You Were Once Strangers
1. Not talking political, immigrant sense – nation of immigrants. We have such a disconnect with our historical past that it doesn’t motivate or influence us here much
2. Think spiritually – we were once strangers - alienated from God. We were never entitled to God’s grace. We were trespassers. Romans 5:8 “while we were unlovable, Christ died for us”
3. There are unsaved among the illegal immigrants - regardless of how everything shakes out politically, there are spiritual issues (souls above our pride & prejudice), there is the issue of your personal witness.
B. Whatever You Do, Don’t Forget That You Are Still Strangers – Spiritually
1. You are citizens of the Kingdom of God – this world is not your home
2. We are pilgrims – Read Hebrews 11:13-16
3. I think this is the key to any compassion I might muster in my heart – to override the resentment or prejudice that’s taken root
4. I know how I feel in this world as a spiritual pilgrim. This world – it’s customs & culture are not my own. I don’t belong. I’m seeking a better life, a better home. At the age of 16, I made a huge decision – to leave my old life and customs and “land” and cross a spiritual border that I did not deserve.
5. It’s a spiritual pilgrimage – akin to that of Abraham’s when he left all that was familiar and to that of the Hebrews when they crossed the Jordan into a new and unfamiliar land.
6. In this world I still feel out of place - I yearn for a homeland
7. People in our own community have left so much that’s familiar to find a new life – a better life, a better home. Some have made huge decisions, life & death. Although first act upon entering this country was an illegal act they are here. They are as “lost” and “displaced” as I am
8. In this I find a point of connection & a real place of prayer for them
C. How Deuteronomy 10:12-22 Shapes My Attitudes On This Subject
1. “No longer be stiff necked” - stiff necked = refusing to turn my head – a stubborn, one-track focus, so stiff it’s hard to bow my head & pray for them. To “unstiffen my neck” – doesn’t mean compromise. I can have compassion, without compromise
2. “Circumcision of the heart” - cutting away at the negative feelings - feelings that would estrange me from God, feelings that would poison my attitudes, feelings that would otherwise cause me to become an “illegal alien” before God spiritually
D. There Are Borders And Boundaries In My Life God Expects Me To Control
1. Certain attitudes I must never let cross over into my life - prejudice, racism, stereotyping, resentment, etc.
2. The INS, US Boarder Patrol and National Guard cannot guard the borders of your heart – only you can do this.
3. Legislators cannot guard the economy of your mind and spirit – only you can.
4. Elected leadership cannot shape the language (the words that come forth from your mouth – words that heal or words that wound) only you can.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Again, I Don’t Hold The Light Of God’s Word As One Who’s Totally Arrived
B. Like Lt. John Kennedy & The Men Of The PT 109
1. I’m feeling a bit shipwrecked – wounded and undone on this subject
2. I hold up the strobe of God’s word, not as one who is perfect, but one in need of rescue and healing on this issue – just like so many others
C. As A Footnote: For JFK And The Men Of PT 109 - Help Came From An Unexpected Source
1. Not from a US Warship passing through the area
2. But by way of 2 “Strangers”, “Foreigners” – native scouts from Solomon Islands area - Aaron and Biuku Gaza
3. Had they not come along – US History may have been very different.
