Immigrants in the Kingdom of God

Immigration is a significant political concern in American politics. Over a dozen years ago the discussion was framed this way:

“. . . Without immigration, John F. Kennedy might never have been president . . . his grandparents were immigrants . . .
Without immigration, Albert Einstein might have died in a concentration camp in Germany . . . he was an immigrant . . .
Without immigration, ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi would have won Olympic gold medals for Japan instead of the United States, . . . her parents are immigrants . . .
Without immigration, schoolchildren today might not be able to sing “God Bless America” . . .its author, Irving Berlin, was an immigrant . . .
Without immigration, the Israeli doctor who saved my mother’s life might have been killed fighting in the Gaza Strip . . he is an immigrant . . .
Without immigration, the Vietnamese nurse who held my mother’s hand during the most painful moments might have been wading thorough rice paddies in Kheson. . . she is an immigrant. . . .
Without immigration, the man who employs 45 people, including my father, in his tree farm in Florida City, might have been killed in the civil war in El Salvador . . . he is an immigrant.”
Without immigration, I might have been an illiterate peasant in Nicaragua, instead of a young man yearning to fight and work for this country. I am an immigrant.”

The writer of the above quote is Santos Alejandro Lagos, then a ninth-grader.

For Christians, I would hope that the discussion is located within the context of the Kingdom of God. Christians claim to be a resurrection people—which, of course, means anyone who would claim the name Christian is an immigrant. Christians supposedly have made, at some point in life, a conscious decision to become a citizen of God’s Kingdom. They have taken upon their shoulders the mantle of discipleship. Through variations of initiation rites of baptism, confirmation and membership in the body of Christ, a Christian chooses to serve in the shadow of the empty cross.

Thousands each year cross the borders, reach the shores, hit the tarmac, . . . in pursuit of the American dream. Some are attempting to escape the worst kind of hell on earth. Others are desiring to be united with loved ones. Many dream of wealth. Often there is a clinging to the hope of freedom . . .from injustice and inequality and tyranny, terrible living conditions and human degradation. . . and the hope of freedom to grow and develop as a human being, to be creative and imaginative, to become a productive, valued, whole person.

Christians are no different. Christians sing praise to God precisely because God, through Jesus, has freed them from sin and guilt and bondage. In the light of the resurrection, Christians claim to be forgiven, and made whole. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, Christians are filled with hope for the future and embrace the unknown with the assurance of God’s love. And Christians come to Easter grateful . . .

Grateful that in God’s Kingdom, the borders are open, the shores are unguarded and the runway always has room for one more flight. Not only that, their King welcomes all with open arms. This is the theological framework in which all Christians consider the political issues of immigration. . . or is it?