Immigrants and Immigration: A Call to Gratitude – The Law of God and Public Policy

Immigrants and Immigration: A Call to Gratitude
The Law of God and Public Policy

Are we a nation of grateful—or grudging—immigrants?

“For the LORD your God is a God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore.…” Deuteronomy 10:17-19

We often hear it said that America is a nation of immigrants, and this certainly is so. Even the native populations, who have largely been displaced by immigrants from Europe and elsewhere, originally journeyed to the “new world” from their homes in Asia.

Immigrants have always been a feature of the American landscape, and we may expect that this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

What does this tell us about America?

At the very least it indicates that this nation is, and always has been, a desirable place. Its wealth of resources, beautiful and expansive lands, and abundance of opportunities have appealed to people from all over the globe. No other nation in history has captured the thrall and hopes of people from so many different parts of the world. The continuing press of immigrants to this country should serve as a reminder to Americans that, of all the nations of the world, our country has been most abundantly and lavishly blessed of God.

This observation did not escape the notice of previous generations of Americans as they reflected on the goodness of God to this country, and even today a kind of nostalgia of gratitude is in evidence. We see more flags flying outside private homes. Bumper stickers and T-shirts celebrate the greatness of America. “God Bless America” has replaced “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at many American ballparks as the favorite to be sung during the seventh-inning stretch (although the Cubs still hold out for the old ways).

But is this a sincere expression of gratitude, however primitive may be the understanding of “God” on the part of those who fly their flag, brandish their T-shirt, or join in the singing? Or is it simply a post-9/11 tipping of our hats to Someone few of us otherwise take seriously? And, if the latter, how long can we expect it to continue?

Visit our website, www.ailbe.org, and sign up to receive our thrice-weekly devotional, Crosfigell, featuring writers from the period of the Celtic Revival and T. M.’s reflections on Scripture and the Celtic Christian tradition. Does the Law of God still apply today? Order a copy of T. M.’s book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, and study the question for yourself.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T. M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.