The Southern Baptist Church said they don't "necessarily agree (with) or oppose the new law," but they will continue to minister to anyone inside their church.More often than not I am a critic of the resolutions adopted by the BGCO. I commend them for passing this resolution -- timid, as it is, in opposing an unjust law.
"As Christians, that should be our No. 1 focus -- God first, government second. While we will obey the law to the best of our ability, when people come to our church to worship with us, we are not going to ask for proof of citizenship," said Baptist General Convention spokeswoman Heidi Wilburn.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Oklahoma Baptists Oppose Immigration Law
A resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma gave notice that Baptists would continue to minister to undocumented immigrants despite a new law making it a felony to associate with them. Here's a quote from a news report:
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4 comments:
I'm a little shocked at some of the implications of this law. Does it mean that you can't take someone to the emergency room if you know they are in the country illegally? It also seems disproportionate for it to be a felony, when being in the US illegally is only a misdemeanor.
Doesn't the law restrict free exercise of religion? But what struck me as most ridiculous was seeing one of the authors of the law talking about Oklahomans not being willing to give welfare to the world. Considering that Oklahoma is a net recipient of federal money (ie, we receive "welfare" from the rest of the country), it's a little disingenuous to take that line, isn't it?
Anyway, I agree with you - Oklahoma Baptists need to be commended on their stand (even if it isn't strongly worded enough).
I'm shocked and delighted to see the Dixie Baptists taking a Biblical stand on immigration.
It is encouraging to think that they have apparently opened the Bible they regularly thump to find out what it says and to take it seriously. Way to go!
We have the same problem with the attitudes to asylum seekers and immigrants in the UK but no one's proposed anything as daft as this yet. Good luck in opposing this studid law - I wish our churches would speak out more forcefully on this issue, maybe if we get such a stupid law here it'll help us to wake up to the gospel and its demands.
Bruce,
I believe your title for this article is inaccurate. In the resolution, it states that we are neither for or against it. How can you spin it that Oklahoma Baptists are against the immigration law?
By the way, there are good Oklahoma Baptists who support this law and are concerned about a growing problem with illegal immigration in this country. We are also concerned about national security and the threat that our open borders create. By the way, what is your solution to 12 million illegals within our borders?
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