One of the promises of our new
President that most troubles me is the promise of building a wall between the
U.S. and Mexico. I oppose the building of a wall, in part because of my
orthodox Christianity.
The concept of a wall between
us and Mexico is problematic on a number of counts. The idea grows out of the
broader notion that we should put America first in all things and that the
building of this wall to secure our border will somehow make us better off. Though
I am opposed on religious grounds, let’s also look at some historical and
economic ones as well.
For me talk of a wall conjures
up the images of the Berlin Wall, the wall between North and South Korea, and
the wall that the Israelis built to keep out the Palestinians. Are the
relationships that were and are represented by these walls the kind of
relationship that we want to have with Mexico? Do we believe that Mexico is our
enemy and that we should have armed guards along the border wall that shoot
first and ask questions later? I have not personally been to any of these
walls, but I have known many who have. They describe a palpable tension and
sense of animosity attached to those walls.
Walls do not, in fact, seem
to make good neighbors. What would make for good neighbors? I suggest that
reasonable, fair immigration and foreign worker policies would help. I suggest
that good relationships with our neighbors will make us far safer than any
wall. Why do I think this? Think about
Canada.
As far as I know, no one is
suggesting a wall along our border with Canada. Why don’t we need a Canadian
wall as well as a Mexican wall? Perhaps because we have good relationships with
Canada. I know some will argue that Canadians don’t come to the U.S. in large
numbers such as those we see from Mexico and that is true. Immigrants from
Canada tend to be wealthier and better educated than those from Mexico. But if
anything, we might should build a wall with Canada to keep our citizens in. Canada is quite welcoming to folks
from the U. S. who have specialized skills or who are entrepreneurs willing to
invest in their country.[i]
Are we “putting America first” when we allow our valuable citizens to leave the country?
From a further economic standpoint,
Mexican immigrants, legal and otherwise, are actually good for our economy. According to the Economic Policy Institute:[ii]
Unauthorized
immigrants are a net positive for public budgets because they contribute more to the system
than they take out.16 Unauthorized immigrants generally cannot receive benefits
from government programs, except in some cases, such as when unauthorized
immigrant children receive public education, and in some states that allow
unauthorized immigrants to attend state colleges at in-state tuition rates.
Nevertheless, most of these unauthorized immigrants will still pay taxes. The
vast majority pay sales taxes in states with sales taxes, and property taxes
through properties that they own or rent. Additionally, most unauthorized
immigrant workers also pay payroll and income taxes. The Social Security Administration
estimates that 75 percent of unauthorized immigrants are actually
on formal payrolls, either using fraudulent Social Security numbers or Social
Security numbers of the deceased.17 Unauthorized immigrants pay into Social Security via
automatic payroll deductions, but they can never claim Social Security
benefits. In 2005, it was estimated that unauthorized immigrants paid about $7 billion per year in Social
Security taxes that they will never be able to reclaim.18
I would expect that money
spent on a wall and the resources to guard it are going to eat into the net
positive effect of immigrants.
The historical, political,
and economic reasons that I oppose the wall are important, but what is most
important to me is the religious/theological aspect. Rev. Jeffress used
Nehemiah as an example of a “builder” that God called.[iii]
From reading the book of Nehemiah his takeaway is that “You see, God is NOT
against building walls!” But let’s look at Nehemiah in some detail and see if
the comparison to Donald Trump is warranted.
Nehemiah was not a builder by
profession. In fact, he was cupbearer to the King of Persia. When he heard of
the disrepair of Jerusalem - not only
the walls but the city and the temple as well – he wept and prayed. Here is his
prayer:
4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and
mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, "O LORD God of
heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with
those who love him and keep his commandments; 6 let your ear be attentive and
your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you
day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of
the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family
have sinned. 7 We have
offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the
ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you
commanded your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among
the peoples; 9 but if you
return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are
under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the
place at which I have chosen to establish my name.' 10 They are your servants and your
people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be
attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who
delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant
him mercy in the sight of this man!" At the time, I was cupbearer to the
king.
(Neh 1:4-11 NRS)
Several things to note: Nehemiah’s first act in his prayer was to confess
his own sins and the sins of his family and his people. Have we heard such
confession from President Trump? We might say that President Trump has more in
common with the King of Persia than with Nehemiah, but that was not the
comparison made by Rev. Jeffress. Rev.
Jeffress also asserts that President Trump has been “called by God” and because
of that he has no need to “stop and answer [his] critics.”
However, this is not how God set up the monarchy in Israel. As it happens,
the monarchy was always subject to the “critics” that we call prophets. In
Deuteronomy, God makes it clear that the King of Israel was obligated to listen
to prophets: “I myself will hold accountable anyone who doesn't listen to my
words, which that prophet will speak in my name. (Deu 18:19 CEB)” The King was
not to listen to “prophets” who led him and the people away from the Lord, but
a true prophet was one who called the King to account. In the book of Jeremiah,
one of the great themes is false versus true prophecy. At one point Jeremiah
faces another prophet, Hananiah. Hananiah promises peace for Jerusalem; in effect,
he promises that the king will “make Israel great again.” Jeremiah’s response
is this:
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet
Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in
the house of the LORD; 6 and
the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD fulfill
the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon
the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. 7 But listen now to this word that
I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The prophets who preceded you and
me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many
countries and great kingdoms. 9
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes
true, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet."
(Jer 28:5-9 NRS)
Jeremiah also prophesied the death of Hananiah. That prophesy was
fulfilled, despite the fact that Jeremiah was the one who was thrown into the
pit by the King.
Does Donald Trump listen seriously to Godly men and women who oppose him?
Or does he, in essence, throw them into the pit when they speak words that he does
not want to hear?
Rev. Jeffress tells the President that “the true measure of a leader is what
it takes to stop him.” This may be true if what we call effective leadership is
someone who got done what he/she wanted to get done. However, there have been
many “effective” leaders who have not been on the side of God – at least from
my perspective. Herod was an effective leader. Hitler, Stalin, Osama bin Laden –
all effective leaders who were difficult to stop. According to Deuteronomy, the
ideal king is one who does not seek riches or exalt himself over others in the
community but studies diligently in order to teach the people the righteous
ways of God.
16 Even so, he must not acquire many horses for
himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since
the LORD has said to you, "You must never return that way again." 17 And he must not acquire many
wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he
must not acquire in great quantity for himself. 18 When he has taken the throne of
his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence
of the levitical priests. 19
It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so
that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words
of this law and these statutes, 20
neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside
from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his
descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
(Deu 17:16-20 NRS)
Well, President Trump is not a king (though he seems to think he is one at
times) so perhaps this should not apply.
In the New Testament, Jesus says this:
Whoever wishes to be
first among you must be your slave; 28
just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life
a ransom for many."
(Mat 20:27-28 NRS)
This would have been a good scripture to use for President Trump as a
reminder.
Finally, Rev. Jeffress does remind the President that he only has to call
on God for God to give help. However, when President Trump chants, “Make
America great again!” I don’t have the impression that he understands great in
the way that Jesus would.
If you want to know what Jesus would consider great, re-read the Sermon on
the Mount, Matthew 5-7. He says things like, “Pray for those who persecute you.”
(I am not mentioning the teaching on divorce!)
So how does all of this relate to being against the building of a wall? From
a Christian point of view, building a wall is simply not consistent with being
the kind of neighbor exemplified by the Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). It is not
consistent with shining our light for all to see. It is not consistent with an
attitude of welcoming the stranger, one of the most consistent commands in the
Old Testament. I acknowledge that we are not all Christian in this country,
and, in fact, would argue that this is not
a “Christian” nation and shouldn’t be seen as such. However, that said, I do
believe that Christians in this country have the responsibility to live out our
faith in the public arena. Even if that gets us in trouble.
So, if you are a Christian who places him/herself under the authority of
scripture, even if you don’t agree with the historical, political, and economic
reasons for opposing a wall and think that building a wall will contribute to making America great again, I would argue that
you have to oppose it on religious grounds.
If you choose to comment on this, I respectfully ask that you please keep
comments civil and debate me on my reasoning, not on my character.
Blessings,
Martha
