Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 6/25/2010

Question
I have been attending a Methodist church for about a year and a half and serve there on Sunday's making coffee for the congregation and love the church and the people. I am becoming more aware that the Methodist do support people that come into this country illegally breaking the law. While I do love all people as I love myself, I do have some trouble about supporting people that break the law. I the bible tells us to love the traveler as we would yourself, but it also say that the traveler must obey all laws of the community.
I find myself wondering if I am joining the right church or if I would find a Baptist church more to my liking as I have not found where they give actual support to the illegals. Although I believe all church's and myself can say we love those people it is the supporting of criminals I'm against.
If you do not want to answer this I will understand.
God bless you for the work you do on here as I have learned much reading the questions and answers on here.
Your Brother in Christ,
Bill

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

The question of illegal aliens in the US has become a divisive issue among many in the country and the church.  From a legal standpoint, I believe that illegal aliens should be deported back to their original country, no matter what country they are from.  The US has a system for allowing people into our country.  If we allowed open boarders, our entire economic system would collapse.  

As Christians we are told to help any of "the least of these."  That means we help give a cup of water or food, and share the gospel with everyone regardless of where they are from or whether or not they are illegal.  

So we have a problem.  Do we follow the law of the land, which says they are illegal or do we help them any way we can?  Well, I believe that we it comes to basic needs (food, water, shelter and salvation) we must do what we can to help.  But we should not aide the illegal in illegal activities (finding a job, putting down roots, bringing more illegals in).  You aren't breaking the law when you feed the hungry but if you are helping an illegal find a job, then you are breaking the law.  

Baptists tend to be more conservative politically, so you would find that a majority of Baptists are against amnesty for illegal aliens and are for closing the boarder.  Methodists tend to be more liberal than baptists politically and theologically.