Foreigners
All around the world, there is a problem with foreigners.
“Likewise when foreigners, who are not of your people Israel, come from a distant land because of your great name, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, may you hear from heaven your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigners ask of you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built. "If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause. "If they sin against you-- for there is no one who does not sin-- and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near; then if they come to their senses in the land to which they have been taken captive, and repent, and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, and have done wrong; we have acted wickedly' if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, to which they were taken captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to prayer from this place. "Now rise up, O Lord God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your faithful rejoice in your goodness. O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your steadfast love for your servant David." - 2 Chron. 6:32-42
In today's reading, Solomon is praying. He is asking God to bless the house he has built for Him, and in doing so, he offers it to the whole world.
Everyone from any nation who hears of the great name of Israel shall be welcome to come.
But he sets a condition for them. If and when they sin, they can be cast out until they repent.
Unlike so many examples today where countries all over the world are overrun by people fleeing oppression in their home countries, Israel under Solomon had conditions.
Obey God or be cast out until you do.
At the heart of this approach is the understanding that it is human nature to sin. So, there needs to be a path to redemption. That path is repentance and forgiveness.
No matter what someone has done, they can be forgiven and redeemed, but they have to repent.
Maybe this is the approach we should take at our borders.
If we follow Solomon's example, we can accept everyone who flees oppression, but then we need a way to make sure they obey our laws. If they don't, they can be deported.
If they do obey our laws, they can have a path to citizenship, and take on the responsibility of overseeing the compliance with our laws.
That's what missing in our example. We don't hold people accountable for their actions. If we did, the foreigners would know they have to respect the law.
I guess we have some work to do.
More to come...