An Invasion from the South and the Rule of Law

Two weeks from today we will be analyzing the results of one of the most contested and important midterm elections of my lifetime.  Not just the control of Congress but the direction of our country will be determined on November 6.  The ideologies separating the two political parties could not be more polar opposites.  The political pundits and prognosticators who had been so confident a few months ago of a massive "blue wave" are now quietly speaking of a possible narrow "blue" victory in the House and possible "red" gains in the Senate.  But the real polling is already taking place and will conclude on November 6.  Let me remind you of how important this election is on both a national and a local and state level.  Some of you live in states where governorships will be decided.  And each of us will be asked to choose a Representative for Congress and perhaps a Senator or two.  Take time to carefully study the positions your candidates take on the important issues of today: immigration, national security, economic well-being, etc.  Do your homework and then vote your choice.  This is not an election to sit on the sidelines and be uncommitted.  Too much is at stake.  So, take time to vote. 


Speaking of immigration, all eyes seem to be focused upon a growing "mob" of people walking through the corridors of Mexico.  Estimates are between 7,000 and 14,000 people in this main body of Central Americans who are walking to the southern border of the United States.  They come from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Costa Rico.  From video footage, they are mainly men and women in their twenties and thirties, although I have noticed some "grandma and grandpa" types as well.  Included are many children - some accompanied by their parents or other family members, some are traveling alone. 


I am confident that many of those traveling have a story to share.  And, perhaps, many of those stories are legitimate ones.  Yes, they have lived under repressive regimes for many years.  Yes, they have endured a life of poverty, working hard just to eke out of meager living for themselves and their families.  Yes, many have lived in the shadow of a growing and often violent drug cartel and other gangs.  But many others within this group are coming in order to create chaos at the border.  Their stories have no legitimacy.  But how are the agents at the border to know which stories to believe?  That is the timely question. 


The timing of this "march" or "mob" however you want to describe it raises many questions.  How is it that all of a sudden thousands of Central Americans decided that they wanted to seek asylum in the United States?  Repressive regimes are not a new entity within Central American governments.  And why choose the weeks just before a major midterm election in the United States?  Could not this "march" have occurred last February or next January?  Who is providing food and water for all these thousands of people?  If they are coming with little finances of their own, somebody has to be feeding them?  Who is providing the medical treatment many of them have needed and will continue to need in their "march" to America?  Friends, a "march" of this magnitude does not simply happen spontaneously - a hundred people, possibly; seven thousands, absolutely not!  Someone has had to orchestrate and finance this "march."  And it is costing a lot of dollars to do so.  Perhaps it would have been better to simply give each person a $1000 and tell them to stay home. 


But, there is a method to someone's madness with this "march," or as one radio host calls it, "an invasion."  The ultimate purpose is NOT to better the lives of these people.  These people are mere pawns in a greater game.  The ultimate purpose is an assault upon the laws that protect the citizens of the United States.  Yes, we are a nation ruled by law.  I know that many within Congress would like to abolish the rule of law - except for those laws that benefit themselves.  If you listen carefully to their talk, they are for open borders - allow anyone to enter.  Abolish ICE so that we have no knowledge of who enters into our country nor of their intended purposes whether beneficial or nefarious.  Yet these people continue to live in their gated-communities.  They want to be protected from the same people they want to be allowed into our country. 


What is our President supposed to do?  His first responsibility is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  And, as part of that Constitution and laws based upon that Constitution, there is a legitimate process that is to be followed if a person desires to be granted entrance into our country.  Our borders are never to be opened to an invasion.  President Trump has said that he will call for the military.  Constitutionally that is what he should do.  The borders need to be sealed.  Entry points need to be few in number.  Laws need to be enforced.  These people need to be processed, given forms that can be completed and given instructions about submitting those forms to the United States embassy and/or consulate, and then returned to their respective countries.  We would then have a clearer understanding of those who had legitimate desires to come to America. 


Some of you might say, "Well, Max, that seems unfair.  After all, they have walked for weeks to get here, and you will just tell them to turn around and walk back home?  That seems so cruel.  No, what was cruel was the promise given to these people that when they arrived at the American border they could cross over into our country.  All that promise provided was an empty hope.  If the organizers of this "march" truly cared about these people, they would have provided information to help them get into our country legitimately.  So, I believe it is not cruel to send them away.  And, suppose we do allow them to enter - as we seemingly do for thousands each you; what message does that send to those who chose to enter our country legally.  It is a "slap in the face" to them.  It creates a two-tier level of immigration. 


What should a Christian do?  First, we should pray for these people - many of whom simply need a reason to hope for tomorrow.  Pray that they would receive Jesus as their Savior, knowing that He alone can bring true hope.  Second, we can support those mission organizations who are already working in those Central American countries - teaching people life skills as well as the Gospel message.  Third, we can support Fair Market ministries.  Marlys and I recently visited the Ark Encounter in Kentucky (I will share about that experience another time, but let me just say it was "a WOW!" visit) and in their gift shop was a section titled Fair Market - a collection of products produced by people living in the third world. 


Friends, America has retained its leadership of the free world because it has retained its commitment to the values and laws enshrined within our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Adherence to those laws is what has made America great.  Now is not the time to deviate from them.