I must turn myself in on July 24th at 10:00 AM (Thank you, David Dover).  Granted I am turning myself in at the Elite Circle Grill so how bad can it be.  You can donate online on my MDA page.  Here's the skinny:

 Please Help Me!!!  I have been arrested and will be put in jail for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Lock-up.   Don’t even bother asking what crime I have committed – it’s not really that important.  I just have to raise my bail of $2000.00 before the Lock-Up and they will go easy on me, but I need your financial assistance to post my bond.  Please lend your support during the: 

2007 Waco Mission Possible Lock-Up at the Elite Circle Grill 

Your 100% tax-deductible donation will help MDA continue research into the cause and the possible cure of the 43 neuromuscular diseases they cover.  Your support of the MDA Lock-Up will also help MDA provide wheelchairs, clinic visits and summer camp for the families served by the Association in our local area.

It happened again this morning. On my way in to the church I was listening to the morning talk on the radio and my ears perked up when I heard something about Southern Baptists.

 

This week the Hispanic Baptist Convention, which is comprised of Hispanic members of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is meeting in Austin at Hyde Park Baptist Church. They unveiled today a national program to help immigrants, legal and illegal, with such things as citizenship and legal status. The gist of the talk this morning was along the lines of "how can Christians aid illegals when it says in the Bible we are supposed to uphold the laws."

 

It is true, we are admonshed to "obey our leaders and submit to their authority" (Heb. 13: 17). We are instructed that, perhaps except for where men have run amuck, we are to affirm that authorities established where done so by God (Romans 13:1). There are, however, a myriad of passages admonishing Chritstians to act in compassionate and redemptive ways. There is even passages telling us to obey God rather than men when men "run amuck." But, have men run amuck on the issue of setting boundries for legal and illegal residence in our country?

 

It is good for a country to have expectations of those who wish to join with it and share in its prosperity. It protects those that are citizens and rasies citizenship to a loftier place. Especially in a time such as this when the porous nature of a country's boarder could potentially invite those who desire to do harm. 

 

It is the government's job to protect its citizens. It is the church's job to act compassionately and redemptively. This, the purpose of each, is where the problem of assisting illegals is resolved. As Christian citizens we need our government to act to protect this country which allows us to be Christian. That is what goverment does best: provide for an orderly and safe society. We support our government and participate as Christian citizens to maintain a good public society. As members of God's body Christians in churches do best acting compassionately and redemptively. Yes, they may be here illegally, but they are people of worth and a creation of God that we are responsible for. As much as is in our power we must help in their present situation regardless of how they got into it. For some that will also mean helping them to a legal status. For others it will also mean assisting in sending them back to their country of origin, but doing so in a compassionate way.

 

The "separation of church and state" is a necessary thing. There are too many examples of men running amuck when the two are confused or joined. They deal with two separate worlds: the physical, temporary, earthly world and how it allows or retards people's entrance into the spiritual, eternal, heavenly existence. Allowing Christians to minister to the needs of those who do things illegally in our country, or to get into our country, reveals that as a people Americans have a heart. Supporting and participating as citizens in a govenment that has laws to maintain order and protection reveals that Christians beleive God is at work in America.

 

ARTICLE: Baptist General Convention of Texas, Buckner to offer nation's first church-based immigration ministry by John Hall

SBC Resolution: 6. On The Crisis of Illegal Immigration, June 2006

There is no easy way around it.  There are times churches just drop the ball, and sometimes in a big way.  Many things can be said, like, "Membership goes both ways."  That and some other things are true, but...  I had just read about this kind of thing happening a couple of days before.

 

Last week we lost two members of our church.  It was not on the highways in an accident or due to some evil deed.  It was right across the street from the church.  The two loved each other very much.  In their old age and deteriorating health they made a pact with each other wishing to face everything as one.  Instead of waiting to be seperated by death they ended their earthly lives together in their home. 

 

I say they were members of our church.  They moved their letters (that is one way Baptists do it) the first part of the 90's.  They are, however, not on any Sunday School class list, homebound list, really no list at all except a card in the roladex.  No one I asked knew who they were or that they were members of our church.  Even I, having typed all church members names, addresses, phone #s, etc. in my computer did not know their names.  For whatever reason, they were never connected to the "community" of our church.

 

I attended the funeral today.  It was all I could do to sign the guest book.  I did not know the family.  The family does not know me.  I don't even know if the family knew the two had been members at Park Lake.  A gentleman I do not know presided at the funeral.  In a difficult time he led the service well.  Family members who spoke admitted the couple had become very reclusive, focusing upon each other and the love they shared.  They did everything together.

 

While it can be said "community takes both sides", community lost is not what a God who knows us each intimately had in mind.