The parable of the wicked immigrant
In the early 1600's religious separatists fled their country from fear of persecution. The location was known to other explorers, but an epidemic had left the native population decimated and weak. The immigrants considered the epidemic and the stores of food left behind as God's blessing. However, they suffered terribly adjusting to the new world, nearly half of them died. The indigenous people had mercy on them and helped those remaining.
Other immigrants came and joined the struggling outpost. They made treaties with the people who owned the land and cared for it for hundreds of generations. Then they violated those treaties, over and over and over. Not one treaty was kept. Natives were captured and sold into slavery in the sub-tropics where they died. Since they were no good as agricultural slaves, african slaves were imported. The natives were continually pushed out of their land, even the ones who converted to the immigrant religion.
Natives were promised an entire territory and forced to move there, until the immigrants wanted to farm that land. Natives who were used to free movement up and and down the west coast and the Rocky Mountains were suddenly divided by a political border they had been given no input.
Yet these natives continue to volunteer for the immigrant foreign wars. Their native tongue served as an unbreakable code. The immigrants divided over slavery. They paid for their sins with a million white souls. Both sides called on their gods to forgive them and grant them victory.
Forgiveness was granted. God always forgives.
Over the decades, immigrants arrived in a great surge of humanity. Mine came from Germany, fleeing famine and war. They came through Texas ports, signed their names, and moved up to Iowa to resume farming. They did not have green cards or immigration papers, like all the Europeans who immigrated. Mexicans moved freely between the border, helping the farmers during harvest time, then returning home. But they were sick of being exploited and unionized, demanding better treatment. The government responded by imposing restrictions on their movement over the border. Now when they come, whether to work, or because they are fleeing persecution or atrocities at the hands of their government, just like the separatists 400 years ago, they are denied. They are separated from their children. They are imprisoned. Their basic human rights are denied, human rights affirmed by the descendants of the immigrants who repeatedly dishonor their treaties.
How does the immigrant's god feel about this?
"So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds." — Matthew 18:21-35
Their God wants to be known for mercy, but they want to be known for rigid law keeping, which is the same attitude that resulted in their God being killed on a cross. Irony is dead.
Other immigrants came and joined the struggling outpost. They made treaties with the people who owned the land and cared for it for hundreds of generations. Then they violated those treaties, over and over and over. Not one treaty was kept. Natives were captured and sold into slavery in the sub-tropics where they died. Since they were no good as agricultural slaves, african slaves were imported. The natives were continually pushed out of their land, even the ones who converted to the immigrant religion.
Natives were promised an entire territory and forced to move there, until the immigrants wanted to farm that land. Natives who were used to free movement up and and down the west coast and the Rocky Mountains were suddenly divided by a political border they had been given no input.
Yet these natives continue to volunteer for the immigrant foreign wars. Their native tongue served as an unbreakable code. The immigrants divided over slavery. They paid for their sins with a million white souls. Both sides called on their gods to forgive them and grant them victory.
Forgiveness was granted. God always forgives.
Over the decades, immigrants arrived in a great surge of humanity. Mine came from Germany, fleeing famine and war. They came through Texas ports, signed their names, and moved up to Iowa to resume farming. They did not have green cards or immigration papers, like all the Europeans who immigrated. Mexicans moved freely between the border, helping the farmers during harvest time, then returning home. But they were sick of being exploited and unionized, demanding better treatment. The government responded by imposing restrictions on their movement over the border. Now when they come, whether to work, or because they are fleeing persecution or atrocities at the hands of their government, just like the separatists 400 years ago, they are denied. They are separated from their children. They are imprisoned. Their basic human rights are denied, human rights affirmed by the descendants of the immigrants who repeatedly dishonor their treaties.
How does the immigrant's god feel about this?
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Pieter Coecke Van Aelst |
"So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds." — Matthew 18:21-35
Their God wants to be known for mercy, but they want to be known for rigid law keeping, which is the same attitude that resulted in their God being killed on a cross. Irony is dead.
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