Dear Editor,
Tim Farron MP (Politics and Policy, September en) is once again incorrect. The vast majority of illegal immigrants that have invaded this country are all young men of fighting age, single, and from a different tradition and mostly from an anti-Christian religion. In addition, his statement that we are not taking enough illegals in our country is also incorrect. England is the highest and most densely populated country in Europe. We have also less natural habitat, less forestry, less open spaces for recreation, than any other country in Europe including Belgium or the Netherlands.
For Tim Farron to encourage illegals into the country and filling the pockets of the people smugglers is a disgrace, especially in a Christian publication.
With every blessing
Grahame Bennett By email
Tim Farron responds:
I am pleased the comment has provoked thought, and thank you for writing in. It’s never illegal to claim asylum, and one day any of us maybe very grateful for this. I don’t advocate Britain taking all of the world’s refugees nor having open borders. But we must not be untruthful about the nature and scale of the problem, nor loveless in our approach to those seeking refuge. Above all we must be prepared to be obedient to God and His Word even if it is costly to us as a (rich) nation.
Referring to a fellow human being made in God’s image as ‘illegals’ is not on for a Christian. The whole point of the parable of the good Samaritan is that we see our neighbour as ‘everyone’ including – dare I say it – people we are instinctively fearful of or hostile towards.
I also believe that we should value evidence in these debates. You refer to many of these asylum seekers being ‘young men of fighting age’. True – which for many is the reason they are fleeing at all. The situation in Eritrea, for example, has meant many young men are fleeing because if they remain they will be forcibly conscripted to kill their own people. A significant proportion of these people are evangelical Christians.
My motivation in writing the article was that I fear that too many Christians who consider themselves orthodox and faithful in their theology, have actually been subtly persuaded by the false teachings associated with what many refer to as ‘Christian nationalism’. These beliefs encourage a confrontational ‘us versus them’ approach towards those who are different to us. It implies that they fall outside the reach of God’s love and grace, and justifies treating them in ways that we would find horrifying if they were our own friends and family. If this resonates with you, then please consider my article as a loving, brotherly but very serious rebuke.
I have found the following Bible verses of great help in thinking through this issue:
Deuteronomy 10:19; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Zechariah 7:9-10; Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 25:35; Acts 10:34; Romans 13:10.
Thank you again for writing, and I hope it is possible for this to be heard in the spirit of love in which I endeavour to write it.
Sincerely,
Tim.
