Suppose we were walking through a field and discovered a mother and child suffering from dehydration, so weak and tired that they could not go one step farther.
Of course, we would immediately get them something to drink, right?
But what if we suspected they were illegal immigrants? Would that change our reaction?
Would we just refresh them and explain to them that it’s our duty to turn them in to the proper authorities, or would we listen to their story? Perhaps some of us would not dare even to give them a drink out of fear that we may be supporting them in their illegal activities.
What if the woman told us that her husband was shot down by a drug cartel and they were fleeing for their lives? What if she begged us not to report her? Begged us not to send her back because she would surely be hunted down and killed?
What would we do then? Shouldn’t compassion overrule compliance to immigration laws? What would Jesus do? I dare say Jesus would be more concerned with the need of the mother and child than an immigration law.
I think of Corrie Ten Boom and how much she suffered because she hid the Jews from Hitler. Protect innocent people or follow the law? She did what she knew Jesus would want her to do.
If laws force us to forget compassion for a needy human being, one of God’s own creation, then I begin to wonder if there is something wrong with the law.
I know. Sigh… Without laws, there would be chaos. But what if I did come into a situation like I mentioned? Shouldn’t compassion triumph over compliance to a law?
What would you do in this situation?
No comments:
Post a Comment