Fellow Friday: Justice Is Our Mandate

  Editors Note: Every Friday, we will try to feature one of our G92 Fellows as guest contributors. G92 Fellows are a group of college students who are committed to mobilizing their campuses around the country for immigration reform. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 clearly states that justice is a huge issue on the heart of God and therefore should be a huge issue on our hearts as believers as well.  Justice is our mandate.  Before this year, I never really considered immigration as a social justice issue.  I was more focused on raising awareness for human trafficking, the AIDS crisis in Africa, and the water crisis all over the world.  I didn’t realize that immigration is a social justice issue that needs to be dealt with in my own country. Immigration is an opportunity for believers to seek God’s justice. Jeremiah 22:3 says, “This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” The Lord sees the issue on immigration as equally important to the issues of the fatherless and the widows.  The foreigner is very close to the heart of God. Spiritually, we are all foreigners. We were dead in our sins and had no way of coming to God because of how just and holy he is. Our sins put a chasm between us and the Father.  Thankfully, God is quick to be compassionate towards us.  Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  By the grace of God, and the grace of God alone, He made a way for sinners to enter his kingdom.  We were strangers to him but because of Jesus, we are now a part of his inheritance.  We are called to be like Jesus and so welcoming the foreigner and making a way for them to have a part in our country should be something that Christians care deeply about. On Monday, March 24, 2014, I shared with Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Western State Colorado University about my heart for the issue of immigration. Because I knew that everyone had different backgrounds politically and even spiritually, I was worried about how everyone would respond to the message that the Lord had laid on my heart.  To my surprise, the group responded with excitement towards the issue and was eager to find ways to engage the problem.  We will be writing a letter to our Senators and Congressmen about how and when immigration reform will happen and advocating on behalf of the undocumented.  Even beyond addressing the issue politically, we talked about ways that we can reach out to the undocumented.  One member of the group brought up an opportunity for volunteer work at the Community Recreation Center. We would take a few Monday nights (the nights that the group meets on) and go to the Recreation Center and teach children that are either undocumented (or have parents who are undocumented) how to swim. Immigration is an issue that the church needs to step up and respond to.  Not only should we go before our government and plead for reform, but we should reach out to the undocumented and let them know that there are people who care and who are willing to speak for them when they do not have a voice. Finally, and most importantly, we need to take this issue before the one who holds everything in his hands. Prayer changes things, and prayer can make a difference in the issue of immigration. Lindsay Weaver is a sophomore at Western State Colorado University majoring in Strategic Communications. She lives in Gunnison, Colorado but was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Please note that the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of everyone associated with G92 or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.  We’re always looking for new guest bloggers; please check out our Guest Blog Submission Guidelines if you’re interested and email blog@g92.org.