Lawlessness Isn’t Righteousness

            One of the many disreputable antics of the amnesty supporters is trying to enlist God as an advocate of their cause. For some religionists in particular, rewarding lawlessness is a form of righteousness.

            Recently the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), an umbrella organization for 40 conservative Protestant denominations endorsed amnesty for illegal aliens, i.e. legal status for illegals and the pathway for citizenship for them. A spokesman for the organization tried to give the impression that this was the consensus of opinion within the organization and the denominations it represents.

            Said Rev. Leith Anderson, the president of (NAE) “We actually had a vote today on this resolution leaders in the [NAE] and there was no dissent. . . . On the board, there were 75 who represent the heads of denominations.”

            In recent years some younger leaders of evangelical groups have tired of criticism from the fashionable media, and have sought to ingratiate themselves with the likes of The New York Times and MSNBC by proclaiming more liberal viewpoints. Support for amnesty seems to be one of them.

            Nevertheless, it is clear that the majority of people in pews have no such aspirations to be trendy. After the NAE made its proclamation, many called their office to protest. At this point the organization tried evasion. When AIC contacted the NAE, the woman who answered said that the organization was not endorsing “amnesty.” But when questioned further she conceded that the NAE was for legalizing illegals and giving them a path to citizenship. She claimed this wouldn’t be amnesty because the illegals would have to meet certain requirements to become legal.

            This is a standard dodge by amnesty advocates, but it holds no water. To illustrate, everyone called the first amnesty in 1986 an amnesty, but it had standards for applicants to meet. And, we should point out, these were standards they often slipped around and evaded. Indeed what else should one expect lawbreakers to do?

            Now it has come to light that support for amnesty is not by far the unanimous conclusion of NAE’s members. As The American Spectator noted (10/21/09), “The NAE website shows only 11 of [its] over 40 member denominations endorsing the immigration stance. And only eleven individual signers, though reportedly 75 NAE members voted for it." In point of fact, several denominations have explicitly stated that they oppose amnesty.

            Thus when certain religious leaders speak for amnesty in particular and mass immigration in general, it’s good to consider that they do not necessarily represent their congregations, much less the will of God. As they promote lawlessness, confusion and strife, they speak either from a misguided humanitarianism—or from other motives far less than righteous.