“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2, NIV)

Once a month I am able, after my paid work is done, to see patients at a healthcare center for the uninsured. On one such evening, a young woman presented for an upper respiratory infection, not very ill. Her hair was thinning and she suffered from acne. I was able to communicate with her through a telehealth translator on a portable iPad. I treated her sinus congestion and was about to leave when she asked me, “I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and have not had medicine since I left my country. Can you help me?” This was way outside my field of expertise, so I encouraged her to set up a regular appointment with a physician in the clinic. She agreed. The wait time was about one year for new patients.

Someone else’s country. Someone else’s language. Someone else’s healthcare.

And now, fear enters the mix with new immigration enforcement. This week, no immigrants showed up for my evening clinic.

It is vividly clear God deeply loves those who are in need and who have come to our country from foreign lands. God realizes their vulnerability, just as He did mine on the cross. God has made it clear to me that I should seek His heart in my concern for such, regardless of legal issues. In Leviticus 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19, God demands we care for “the foreigner,” not simply because we can use their labor, but because they deserve to receive God’s love through us. In the Old Testament book of Ruth, we see this acted out in a beautiful way when Boaz provides more than the law requires for the foreign Moabite woman. As individuals, and as healthcare professionals, this is where we should be focused: loving and caring in deliberate and active ways, with grace, like God does.

At the same time, God desires order in our nations and has stated clearly in His Word that we are to respect and obey our “governing authorities.” In our country, more than any other, we should respect and honor our law as the best the world has to offer. We should obey our laws unless we are faced with any that oppose our understanding of God’s will, an understanding that must be guided by His Word, His Spirit and His church.

Rarely should the interface of law and mercy affect the way we love and care for immigrants. If conflict does occur, somehow, we must seek to blend, “Give back to Caesar what is Caeser’s…” (Mark 12:17, NIV), with, “I was a stranger and you invited me in…” (Matthew 25:35b, NIV), trusting the living Lord to guide us. In a highly charged political environment, that blending may not be easy, but it’s Christian.

Dear Father,

Let me show your grace to all. Bless the vulnerable; guide our country.

Amen