Are We Oppressing the Immigrant and the Homosexual?

Many religious right folks who oppose homosexuality tend to use Leviticus 18: 22 and Leviticus 20:13 and claim that it still sticks.  A week ago on Friday, April 23 on the Larry King Show when he was talking about being gay and Christian, one of the protestant ministers was trying to say that when Christ died, rose again and ascended, the New Testament had abolished the old law except for homosexuality.  Therefore Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 still stands as is.  

However, I have yet to hear anyone from the religious right talk about Leviticus 19: 33 to 34 and say that it still applies.

"When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.  The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God."

Before I continue writing this blog entry, I want to reach out to my friend Michael Moll who brought up this Scripture verse on Facebook yesterday in relation to the horrible anti-immigration law that has been introduced, passed and signed into law in Arizona.  Thank you, Michael for bringing this Scripture verse to our attention.

Well, what is the Christian's excuse here?  Before we go saying that this is the Old Testament and not the new, remember what Jesus said in the Gospel about welcoming the stranger. Read Matthew 25: 31 to 46 for a reference.  In the early Church there was also Heretic named Marcion who was condemned for suggesting that because we now had the New Testament we no longer needed the old.  While I cannot now condone the idea of killing someone for such an extreme point of view, I think we should be careful about making ourselves self righteous on what the early Church wisely frowned upon.

I think it is fair to say that the immigrant and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered person are experiencing roughly the same treatment.  Because we are not totally American, who is Caucasian, and heterosexual we are to be seen and judged on our value because of the American, Caucasian, heterosexual male who is so privileged.  Yet the Scriptures such as Leviticus 19: 33-34 are very clear that those of us who are so "alien" to the status quo are to be "the citizen" among the rest, and "loved" like people love themselves.  Yet it is interesting how American, Christian minded individuals find the Bible and the Gospel as their resource for enforcing racial profiling and religious based discrimination.

What is going on in Arizona in the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the call for a vote on ENDA and the repeal of DOMA, as well as the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is a major wake up call.  It is a call to see the face of the Risen Christ in the immigrant, the LGBT and understand that the good stewardship of the earth is every child of God's concern. 

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of our people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease and death as their constant companions.  Have mercy upon us.  Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors.  Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all.  And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).