I have always loved the sci-fi genre and stories. Whether it be books or tv shows or movies, if there was an alien luking around in the background, I was hooked. I have especially been a fan of the old campy 1950's sci-fi classics. There usually was some telling truth or wisdom proverb whether it was War of the Worlds or the Time Machine. Christians have typically speculated not only is there intelligent life "out there" but can people really believe that humanity is really it?
Some people even go futher and suggest that Aliens have already been here and yes, they might be living next door to you unawares. I am sure angels have been to planet earth with most people unawares but I quess you can call me a skeptic even with my great love for a good sci-fi story or late night movie.
But what should be a Christians response if their were aliens? I will ask an even more practical discipleship question, what should be a Christian's response or the church's response to illegal aliens? I will have to say that as a middle-class white American law-abiding citizen, I am disappointed in either the lack of charity on one side and the lack of wisdom that appears at times on the other side. Whether we like it or not, the Hispanic community will one day probably be the largest majority in America. How the church responds now will have great impact for good or for ill when it comes to our attitudes and actions towards this mushrooming group of Americans and yes, illegal aliens.
Here are some questions that beg for answers:
1. What do we do with children who are illegal aliens? When they turn 18, are they instantly criminals?
2. It seems that the problems in our laws are legion. Either we don't follow the laws we currently have or we have bad laws or laws that do not make distinctions in tough and complicated situations. One thing many people agree on is radical reform is desperately needed!
3. How can we encourage people to work with getting citizenship rather than hiding from the authorities? Should people be illegal aliens indefinitely? If there are common law marriages without people doing the legal thing, should there be common law citizenship for people who have lived in this country for a long time?
4. Is there a way to reward people to apply for citizenship and discourage those who go around or against the law or must it be an either/or thing? Is there a better middle ground than what we have today?
5. Some Christians argue that there should be no borders at all? How should the church respond?
How shall we then live?
Some people even go futher and suggest that Aliens have already been here and yes, they might be living next door to you unawares. I am sure angels have been to planet earth with most people unawares but I quess you can call me a skeptic even with my great love for a good sci-fi story or late night movie.
But what should be a Christians response if their were aliens? I will ask an even more practical discipleship question, what should be a Christian's response or the church's response to illegal aliens? I will have to say that as a middle-class white American law-abiding citizen, I am disappointed in either the lack of charity on one side and the lack of wisdom that appears at times on the other side. Whether we like it or not, the Hispanic community will one day probably be the largest majority in America. How the church responds now will have great impact for good or for ill when it comes to our attitudes and actions towards this mushrooming group of Americans and yes, illegal aliens.
Here are some questions that beg for answers:
1. What do we do with children who are illegal aliens? When they turn 18, are they instantly criminals?
2. It seems that the problems in our laws are legion. Either we don't follow the laws we currently have or we have bad laws or laws that do not make distinctions in tough and complicated situations. One thing many people agree on is radical reform is desperately needed!
3. How can we encourage people to work with getting citizenship rather than hiding from the authorities? Should people be illegal aliens indefinitely? If there are common law marriages without people doing the legal thing, should there be common law citizenship for people who have lived in this country for a long time?
4. Is there a way to reward people to apply for citizenship and discourage those who go around or against the law or must it be an either/or thing? Is there a better middle ground than what we have today?
5. Some Christians argue that there should be no borders at all? How should the church respond?
How shall we then live?
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