losguerra
03-30-2008, 05:14 PM
What if different people from the Bible tried to immigrate to the US? What would be the response?
A movement has been developing for years within churches worldwide, as many see the errors of mainstream religion, which hasn't been very active in changing the world as it is supposed to. There are churches who now see fighting for social justice as one of their primary missions on Earth, similar to the Liberation Theology movement that surged in Catholic Churches throughout Latin America in the 70s. An acquaintance of mine who leads one of these modern "emerging churches" recently forwarded this liturgy which is currently being used in progressive, social justice-minded Christian, Jewish, and Muslim services around the US.
**************************
ADAM AND EVE: Our names are Adam and Eve. (Adam) We lied to the King of Kings and have been sent into exile to work the fields. (Eve) We are migrants forced to live off the land looking for work. (Both) Will you give us asylum?
CONGREGATION: you have no documents. you will take our jobs. Go away...The united States welcomes only persons with proper documents. you have not been persecuted...you are only hungry and have no place to live. We are sorry, but you must go.
NOAH: my name is Noah. there was a great flood! only my family and the animals — two of each kind — survived. our home is gone. Please take us in.
CONGREGATION: natural disaster is not grounds for asylum in the united States. We are sorry, but go somewhere else...our laws do not welcome you here.
ABRAHAM AND SARAH: God told us to leave our homes and to travel to this the place god has shown us. Will you give us asylum?
CONGREGATION: People who hear voices are not wanted here. you would be a drain on our medical system. We would have to pay for your health care. We are sorry, but go away, you have no legal right to be here. The united States is selective about who can come to our country.
JACOB: i am Jacob; my older brother has threatened to kill me. i can’t go home. Please take me in.
CONGREGATION: We have our own family problems. In the united States, domestic violence is not grounds for asylum. Our laws will not grant you sanctuary. We are sorry, go home and work it out with your brother.
JOSEPH: i am Joseph; my brothers sold me into slavery. i was brought to the united states. Please help me.
CONGREGATION: Slavery is against the law. We don’t have slaves in the united States. you are lying and you broke the law. you will go to jail and then be sent home. you have no legal right to be here. The laws of the united States do not protect you...we are sorry, but you don’t have grounds for asylum.
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS: We are Joseph’s brothers. there is famine in our land. We have no food to eat. Will you feed us and give us a home?
CONGREGATION: Famine and starvation are not grounds for asylum in the united States. you would eat our food and take our jobs. We are sorry, but our country’s laws will not let you stay here.
MOSES: My name is moses. i killed an Egyptian who was mistreating my people. i had to flee. Please, please protect me.
CONGREGATION: you are a criminal alien. There are laws against people like you. The united States doesn’t give asylum to criminals. We are sorry, but you will have to go home. you are not wanted here. We have enough of our own criminals.
RUTH: i am Ruth. my husband died, i followed my mother in law to her country, the united states. i have no family — only my mother-in-law Naomi. Please help me.
CONGREGATION: Naomi is welcome. She is a citizen, but you have no legal right to be here, you are not her daughter. daughter- in-laws don’t count. and you have no claim for asylum. you weren’t persecuted in your country, your husband simply died. We are sorry, but you will have to leave. by law, you are not allowed to be here.
MARY, JOSEPH, JESUS: i am Joseph, this is my wife Mary and our son Jesus. We have had to flee our country; the king is killing all the boys less than two years of age. We fled in the middle of the night we have nothing and we have no identification. Will you give us sanctuary and asylum?
CONGREGATION: We would like to help you, but there are laws that have to be followed. The united States’ law states that if you enter without documents, you have to seek asylum from prison. Since there are three of you, Joseph you will go to one prison. Mary, you will go to another, and Jesus, you will go to a third (until we find foster care for you, that is.) We are sorry, but that’s the law.
SAMARITAN: Please help me. i’m from samaria and i’m not documented. i saw a man, a united states citizen, being robbed. i stopped to help him. the police came, when they asked for identification, i ran...i just tried to help...please, please, help me...my wife is a u.s. citizen and our children will starve if i can’t work.
CONGREGATION: There are laws that have to be followed. you have no right to be here. Our government will send you back. you have no grounds for asylum or assistance. We are sorry, but you will have to leave the united States, and since your wife is a US. citizen, she and the children can stay here without you or leave and go with you.
JESUS: they call me Jesus. i come begging for help for my twelve friends. When we got off the plane, we asked for asylum. they were being persecuted in our homeland for following me. But the u.s. government officials didn’t believe us. everyone but me is in expedited removal.. .they are all being sent back. i managed to slip away and came here to this church to ask for help.
CONGREGATION: The united States has laws to keep terrorists out of our country. you are one of 13 Middle Eastern men. We heard about you. you meet in rented rooms, you go into the mountains for private meetings, no one knows where you get your money, and you travel by boat and meet with strangers. you are trying to organize the poor and the oppressed. The united States does not welcome Middle Eastern men, who meet in secret. you could very well be a terrorist. Expedited removal will make certain you can’t harm us. We are sorry, but you and the 12 other men will have to leave. It’s the law.
FIRST READER: Romans 12:9-13 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
SECOND READER: Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
JESUS: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the King will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
THIRD READER: Acts 5:29 Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
FOURTH READER: A Time to question... A Time to listen... A Time to act... A Time to speak out... A Time to love...
FIFTH READER: Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not covet”, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
SIXTH READER: Hebrews 13:1-2 Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
CLOSING PRAYER
Oh Brother Jesus who as a child was carried into exile,
Remember all those who are deprived of their home or country,
Who groan under the burden of anguish and sorrow,
Enduring the burning heat of the sun,
The freezing cold of the sea, or the humid heat of the forest,
Searching for a place of refuge.
Cause these storms to cease, Oh Christ.
Move the hearts of those in power
That they may respect the men and women
Whom you have created in your own image;
That their grief may be turned into joy,
As when you led Moses and your people out of captivity.
Liturgy adapted from one developed by Joan M. Maruskin, Church World Service.
A movement has been developing for years within churches worldwide, as many see the errors of mainstream religion, which hasn't been very active in changing the world as it is supposed to. There are churches who now see fighting for social justice as one of their primary missions on Earth, similar to the Liberation Theology movement that surged in Catholic Churches throughout Latin America in the 70s. An acquaintance of mine who leads one of these modern "emerging churches" recently forwarded this liturgy which is currently being used in progressive, social justice-minded Christian, Jewish, and Muslim services around the US.
**************************
ADAM AND EVE: Our names are Adam and Eve. (Adam) We lied to the King of Kings and have been sent into exile to work the fields. (Eve) We are migrants forced to live off the land looking for work. (Both) Will you give us asylum?
CONGREGATION: you have no documents. you will take our jobs. Go away...The united States welcomes only persons with proper documents. you have not been persecuted...you are only hungry and have no place to live. We are sorry, but you must go.
NOAH: my name is Noah. there was a great flood! only my family and the animals — two of each kind — survived. our home is gone. Please take us in.
CONGREGATION: natural disaster is not grounds for asylum in the united States. We are sorry, but go somewhere else...our laws do not welcome you here.
ABRAHAM AND SARAH: God told us to leave our homes and to travel to this the place god has shown us. Will you give us asylum?
CONGREGATION: People who hear voices are not wanted here. you would be a drain on our medical system. We would have to pay for your health care. We are sorry, but go away, you have no legal right to be here. The united States is selective about who can come to our country.
JACOB: i am Jacob; my older brother has threatened to kill me. i can’t go home. Please take me in.
CONGREGATION: We have our own family problems. In the united States, domestic violence is not grounds for asylum. Our laws will not grant you sanctuary. We are sorry, go home and work it out with your brother.
JOSEPH: i am Joseph; my brothers sold me into slavery. i was brought to the united states. Please help me.
CONGREGATION: Slavery is against the law. We don’t have slaves in the united States. you are lying and you broke the law. you will go to jail and then be sent home. you have no legal right to be here. The laws of the united States do not protect you...we are sorry, but you don’t have grounds for asylum.
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS: We are Joseph’s brothers. there is famine in our land. We have no food to eat. Will you feed us and give us a home?
CONGREGATION: Famine and starvation are not grounds for asylum in the united States. you would eat our food and take our jobs. We are sorry, but our country’s laws will not let you stay here.
MOSES: My name is moses. i killed an Egyptian who was mistreating my people. i had to flee. Please, please protect me.
CONGREGATION: you are a criminal alien. There are laws against people like you. The united States doesn’t give asylum to criminals. We are sorry, but you will have to go home. you are not wanted here. We have enough of our own criminals.
RUTH: i am Ruth. my husband died, i followed my mother in law to her country, the united states. i have no family — only my mother-in-law Naomi. Please help me.
CONGREGATION: Naomi is welcome. She is a citizen, but you have no legal right to be here, you are not her daughter. daughter- in-laws don’t count. and you have no claim for asylum. you weren’t persecuted in your country, your husband simply died. We are sorry, but you will have to leave. by law, you are not allowed to be here.
MARY, JOSEPH, JESUS: i am Joseph, this is my wife Mary and our son Jesus. We have had to flee our country; the king is killing all the boys less than two years of age. We fled in the middle of the night we have nothing and we have no identification. Will you give us sanctuary and asylum?
CONGREGATION: We would like to help you, but there are laws that have to be followed. The united States’ law states that if you enter without documents, you have to seek asylum from prison. Since there are three of you, Joseph you will go to one prison. Mary, you will go to another, and Jesus, you will go to a third (until we find foster care for you, that is.) We are sorry, but that’s the law.
SAMARITAN: Please help me. i’m from samaria and i’m not documented. i saw a man, a united states citizen, being robbed. i stopped to help him. the police came, when they asked for identification, i ran...i just tried to help...please, please, help me...my wife is a u.s. citizen and our children will starve if i can’t work.
CONGREGATION: There are laws that have to be followed. you have no right to be here. Our government will send you back. you have no grounds for asylum or assistance. We are sorry, but you will have to leave the united States, and since your wife is a US. citizen, she and the children can stay here without you or leave and go with you.
JESUS: they call me Jesus. i come begging for help for my twelve friends. When we got off the plane, we asked for asylum. they were being persecuted in our homeland for following me. But the u.s. government officials didn’t believe us. everyone but me is in expedited removal.. .they are all being sent back. i managed to slip away and came here to this church to ask for help.
CONGREGATION: The united States has laws to keep terrorists out of our country. you are one of 13 Middle Eastern men. We heard about you. you meet in rented rooms, you go into the mountains for private meetings, no one knows where you get your money, and you travel by boat and meet with strangers. you are trying to organize the poor and the oppressed. The united States does not welcome Middle Eastern men, who meet in secret. you could very well be a terrorist. Expedited removal will make certain you can’t harm us. We are sorry, but you and the 12 other men will have to leave. It’s the law.
FIRST READER: Romans 12:9-13 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
SECOND READER: Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
JESUS: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the King will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
THIRD READER: Acts 5:29 Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
FOURTH READER: A Time to question... A Time to listen... A Time to act... A Time to speak out... A Time to love...
FIFTH READER: Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not covet”, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
SIXTH READER: Hebrews 13:1-2 Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
CLOSING PRAYER
Oh Brother Jesus who as a child was carried into exile,
Remember all those who are deprived of their home or country,
Who groan under the burden of anguish and sorrow,
Enduring the burning heat of the sun,
The freezing cold of the sea, or the humid heat of the forest,
Searching for a place of refuge.
Cause these storms to cease, Oh Christ.
Move the hearts of those in power
That they may respect the men and women
Whom you have created in your own image;
That their grief may be turned into joy,
As when you led Moses and your people out of captivity.
Liturgy adapted from one developed by Joan M. Maruskin, Church World Service.