Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. Hebrews 13:3
Are the prisoners that we should remember only those who are being mistreated, or should we also remember those who are believers who have legitimately broken the law, or have been caught in a legal/political grinder? I have been thinking lately about how the principle of this passage might apply to dear believers I know who are also undocumented migrants living in a world of legal uncertainty. I conclude that if I am going to err, I will do so on the broader interpretation of the passage.
Every day now more stories are hitting the news about mass deportations under the new Trump administration. This should be no shock. This is exactly what President Trump said he would do during his campaign. We were living under an immigration crisis, and the steps necessary to resolve that crisis will be painful. When we step back from the principled political rhetoric, we must address a very different perspective on the ground in everyday ministry.
I once called a dear believer I know.
“How are you doing with all the talk and action regarding deportations going on across the country?”
“Pastor, I am trusting God with this. I am doing better than I deserve. I have been working with a lawyer for years to get all my papers in order. I believe that we are very close. All I can do is the best I can and trust God.”
Biblical Baptists must understand that some of the many congregations across our country have large numbers of undocumented migrants worshipping with them—especially those congregations that focus on reaching multiple language groups. If your church does not reach migrants, this might shock you. If you are not a soul-winning church, this might sound strange. But churches in major metropolitan areas (that are majority Hispanic especially), and churches that have ethnically focused ministries understand this. …
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