God and Immigration

God’s Word and Immigration

When Mike Huckabee announce a more detailed immigration plan yesterday, it made me want to research what God's word had to say. So here are my thoughts.

The alien must follow the laws to participate in the benefits the citizens enjoy.
Exodus 12:48 and others

Aliens are not to be oppressed or mistreated.
Exodus 22:12 and others

Law abiding aliens are entitled to benevolence (though this is on a personal level as opposed to a federal level).
Leviticus19:10 and others

Law abiding aliens are to be treated like a native-born.
Leviticus 19:34 and others

Aliens are subject to the same laws as citizens.
Leviticus 24:22 and others

Illegal immigrants by definition have not and are not obeying our laws. So as God-fearing people the only thing that we are morally obligated to do in regards to the illegal immigrants is to not mistreat or oppress them. I find definitions helpful so here are two from http://www.dictionary.com/.

Oppress- to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power.

Mistreat- to treat badly or abusively.

Though I know that many will disagree with me, I say that sending people back to their home country is not cruel or abusive unless they are in danger in that country. In which case, I suggest they have political asylum. As for those that have children (citizen or otherwise), they can take their children back with them to their home country. Under Gov. Huckabee's plan, illegal immigrants that comply would have an opportunity to come back to this country legally. This is better for them and us. None of these things are cruel or abusive. Cruel or abusive would be something along the lines of beating them up or torturing them or something. Sending people back to where they came from seems fair and reasonable.

I think that the US does a good job of allowing those naturalized citizens or those with green cards the same benefits as life-long citizens. If you are qualified, have the proper paperwork, and can do the job, I think most Americans don’t care where you came from or where on the path to citizenship you are.

We do care about law-breakers. Many people (including Christians) have a distorted view of love. So before I go on let me clarify. Love is doing what is best for a person. Love is not about doing what makes people feel good. The government is resposible to do what is best for the most people. The perfect example of love is God being willing to sacrifice one person (Jesus) for the sake of many (all of us). As far as immigration goes, I think it is the President’s job is to do what is best for the most people. It is more compassionate to think of all the people (about 300 million) that will be benefited when immigration is under control in this country. The needs (or wants in many cases) of the 10 million do not out way the needs of the 300 million.

Huckabee Full Speed Ahead in Iowa

Newsweek has release some amazing new polling information.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has vaulted over his major GOP challengers to take a commanding lead in the race to win the Iowa caucuses, while Barack Obama continues to edge ahead of Hillary Clinton among Democrats likely to participate, a new NEWSWEEK poll shows.
The most dramatic result to come out of the poll, which is based on telephone interviews with 1,408 registered Iowa voters on Dec. 5 and 6, is Huckabee's emergence from the shadows of the GOP race into the front runner's spot in just two months. The ordained Southern Baptist minister now leads Romney by a two-to-one margin, 39 percent to 17 percent, among likely GOP caucus-goers. In the last NEWSWEEK survey, conducted Sept. 26-27, Huckabee polled a mere 6 percent to Romney's 25 percent, which then led the field.

Huckabee has also opened up a wide margin over the next three leading candidates, who all show signs of fading in Iowa: Rudy Giuliani, who dropped from 15 percent in the last survey to 9 percent in the current one; Fred Thompson, who fell from 16 percent to 10 percent; and John McCain, who slipped from 7 percent to 6 percent. "You rarely see anything like [Huckabee's surge]," says Larry Hugick, who directed the polling for Princeton Survey Research Associates. Hugick added that the reason has as much to do with a leeriness of the other candidates among Republican voters as Huckabee's folksy success on the stump. "He's filling a vacuum," Hugick said. "Nobody on the Republican side was getting strong support."

I cannot wait for January 3rd. Thank you God for this momentum. Thank you all you loyal Huckabee supporters.

HUCKABEE All Alone in 1st!

Yahoo! Mike Huckabee is all alone in first place in the latest Rasmussen tracking poll. Praise God!!!

While enjoying an amazing surge, Mike Huckabee has earned support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Three points back, at 17%, is Rudy Giuliani. That’s the lowest level of support ever recorded for Giuliani in the tracking poll and represents a seven-point decline over the past week. Huckabee has gained eight points during the same time frame (see recent daily numbers).

Just as significant as the new leader is the amazingly competitive nature of the race. Five candidates are within ten points of the lead and all five could conceivably become the party’s eventual nominee. In addition to Huckabee and Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney are at 13%, and Fred Thompson is at 10%.

So, even though this is awesome news, Huckabee supporters please don't ease up. In the words of the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons, "Keep Moving Forward." Don't think we have it made until the inauguration. Even then, President Huckabee will need our continual prayers.

UPDATE: 12/7 numbers from Rasmussen

MIKE HUCKABEE 22%
Rudy Giuliani 18%

P. S. Fred Thompson slipped to 9% while Ron Paul is at 7%.

George Barna on 2008 Presidential Politics

A friend e-mailed me a link to this article in the Christian Post. I thought that this quote was especially interesting.

"It is a well-established fact that our society is continually re-inventing itself. The outcome of such innovation and change, however, is largely dependent on the guidance provided by cultural leaders," George Barna, chairman of the research group, noted. "It is the core function of a leader to help people apply their creative ideas and energy to reinvigorating society in alignment with a positive and preferable vision of the future. Without a shaping influence that produces a common good, we devolve into anarchy.
"Our society is running the risk of becoming so independent and self-absorbed that we will abandon our responsibility to society and to making the world a better place," he added. "2008 will be an important year as America chooses future political leaders, pursues new spiritual forms, and shapes critical social policies. The choices will greatly influence the character of America for years to come. Hopefully, Americans will choose to apply their levels of personal influence in ways that generate social good, not just personal security and satisfaction. Identifying what each of us can do to avoid radical self-interest in favor of a more compassionate and collaborative society should find a place on everyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions."

I think that Mike Huckabee is exactly the kind of leader that has and will help people apply their creative ideas and energy to reinvigorating society in alignment with a positive and preferable vision of the future. That is what his vertical politics are all about.

Huckabee Tied for 1st Nationally

Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has Mike Huckabee tied with Rudy Giuliani for first place nationally.

Giuliani’s support has fallen to 18% and four other candidates are within six percentage points of the lead. Mike Huckabee is enjoying an amazing surge and now shares the top spot with Giuliani at 18%. Close behind are John McCain at 14%, Fred Thompson at 13%, and Mitt Romney at 12%. Ron Paul attracts 7% of Likely Republican Primary voters nationwide and no other Republican candidate reaches 2%

I am so excited about this. I think Gov. Huckabee will just keep building steam right through the early caucuses.
Now for all you Christians and conservatives who a pragmatically supporting "someone who can win", what are you waiting for? Join us in supporting the most god-fearing, conservative candidate out there. You can find out more about Mike Huckabee at http://www.mikehuckabee.com/.

Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna intro

I am reading the book Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna. So far it is very encouraging and challenging. The book is based on the Barna Groups research into what common themes are found in families that raise spiritual champions.

One thing that I found to be a little sad was this quote from page xvi:

By spiritual champions, I mean individuals who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; accept the Bible as truth and as the guide for life; and seek to live in obedience to its principles and in search of ways to continually deepen their relationship with God. Spiritual champions live in ways that are noticeably different from the norm--even when compared to the average churchgoer.

The reason that I found this a little sad is that to me this describes a mature Christian. The ending statement tells me that most churchgoers (regardless of age) are not spiritually mature.

Anyway, it is also a challenging statement. It made me ask myself several questions. Maybe you should ask them of yourself too.
1. Am I embracing Christ as my Savior and Lord or am I just OK with Christ being my Savior and wary about him being Lord?
2. Do I accept the Bible as completely true, or do I look at it as a bunch of nice stories? (By the way, for Mike Huckabee's answer to this question click here.)
3. Do I use the Bible as a guide for my life more than friends, family, co-workers, and ministers?
4. Do I seek to live in obedience or do I float through life vaguely aware that I should be obedient?
5. Do I search for ways to have a deeper relationship with God, or am I satisfied with where I am?

O God, help us grow to maturity in you!

We're Moving on Up!

Here is the latest from Rasmussen.

Giuliani 22%
MIKE HUCKABEE 17%
Thompson and McCain 14%
Romney 11%

The YouTube debate has been a big help to Gov. Huckabee. Go Huckabee!