Church as a Sanctuary?

[MrJim]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/19/activist.sanctuary.ap/index.html

What do you think?

[ZiSunka]

I absolutely believe a church should be a sanctuary and a mediator between a person seeking refuge and the police, unless that person is a violent criminal.

But the church's pastor or other person should work to negotiate a resolution to the problem and should not just be giving housing.

[MrJim]

And I can tell you are speaking more than just a church building as a hideout--rather, the Body of Christ as sanctuary.

You are right about the pastor--should be able to handle it....

[ZiSunka]

Yes, that's right. The church should not harbor criminals, but it should be a place where people can know they will be treated with respect and fairness, even if they have broken the law or are unjustly accused of breaking the law, and where they will get help in negotiating a nonviolent surrender.

[Jehane]

Traditionally the church building was used as a sanctuary, which didn't stop several of the kings of England violating the sanctuary. I believe even criminals, even violent criminals, have something of the divine in their nature - Genesis never said anything about only some being made in God's image - so all should be treated with respect & given the opportunity to repent.

I also think when those who are the body of Christ are walking with Him as they should others, even outsiders, sense that & they come like homeing pigeons even though they don't know what it is they really seek. I've seen that happen numerous times.

[ZiSunka]

Let me amend what I said. When I said except a violent criminal, I was talking about people who try to use the church as a sanctuary from which they can harm other people, like shooting people from the windows or doors of a church, then claiming they can't be arrested because they are in a church.

[vespasia]

In the UK it is not only the anabaptist churches that act as sanctuarys for such groups of people.

Got to admit the open brethren by NOT acting in condemnation of where and what I had ben demonstrated Christ in HOW they lived it made hearing Christ in what they said so much easier.

We have three in similar situations that my church supports not simply in prayer but my people opening thier homes providing real scriptural hospitality to those in greatest need whilst those trained as lawyers help them find good advice.

[Danfrey]

In the UK it is not only the anabaptist churches that act as sanctuarys for such groups of people.

Got to admit the open brethren by NOT acting in condemnation of where and what I had ben demonstrated Christ in HOW they lived it made hearing Christ in what they said so much easier.

We have three in similar situations that my church supports not simply in prayer but my people opening thier homes providing real scriptural hospitality to those in greatest need whilst those trained as lawyers help them find good advice.
Sounds like what Jesus was talking about when he speaks of visiting the prisoner. They sound like an interesting group of believers.

[MadFingerPainter]

but what about the fact that she came back and was using a false social security number? isn't that wrong?

[vespasia]

Sounds like what Jesus was talking about when he speaks of visiting the prisoner. They sound like an interesting group of believers.
They are, it is lovely to have meet a group who know they do not have everything right, try to adhere to scriptures and will change (eventually after months/years of angst prayer and debate)

See God knew what he was doing sending me there even if to everyone else it looked like the one place I would stand out like a sore thumb.

[ZiSunka]

but what about the fact that she came back and was using a false social security number? isn't that wrong?

Yes, there is no question that she has done wrong. There's no question she broke the law.

She just wants a little more time to try to work out a conclusion that will allow her to stay in this country with her son, an American citizen.

I think it's a good test case, to see if illiegal aliens are entitled to stay with their children if they are citizens. If they are, then jillions of illegals are going to start having babies in the US. If they aren't then it will make it harder for deportees to resist deportation.

[MadFingerPainter]

i guess sometimes i have a hard time trying to understand why they want to come here. i look around at the US and the goings on and i just don't see what is so wonderful about this place. it has it's disadvantages like anywhere else in my eyes.

[ZiSunka]

It's the money. American is still a land of great opportunity for employment, especially if you aren't picky about your job.

[MadFingerPainter]

that's just awfully sad.

[MrJim]

We have lots of Mexicans where I work. The stories of poverty and corruption down there are pretty bad.

[ZiSunka]

Poverty is a horrible thing.

[Jehane]

When people are prepared to spend days in a leaky, open boat to travel hundreds of miles across open sea with inadequet food & fresh water, risking pirateering, storms & sharks I figure what they are leaving behind must be pretty bad - & our govt., still refuses them entry!

[ZiSunka]

When people are prepared to spend days in a leaky, open boat to travel hundreds of miles across open sea with inadequet food & fresh water, risking pirateering, storms & sharks I figure what they are leaving behind must be pretty bad - & our govt., still refuses them entry!

As a Christian, I think the best thing is to work for improvements in their home country. Education, economic development, hygiene and nutrician are the basics of life and the things Christians have the best chance of improving. We can send teachers, doctors and nurses, engineers, accountants and business people to teach their skills and make life dramatically better for even the poorest people.

[Jehane]

We do. Our govt., spends millions each year on aide to Aisa yet some of the Asian govt's get upset if it's Christian aide & I believe it can get pretty nasty even though the Christian workers aren't trying to convert anyone, just make things better. The recent tsunami is a case in point.

[ZiSunka]

We do. Our govt., spends millions each year on aide to Aisa yet some of the Asian govt's get upset if it's Christian aide & I believe it can get pretty nasty even though the Christian workers aren't trying to convert anyone, just make things better. The recent tsunami is a case in point.

I'm not really talking about aid to foreign governments, I'm talking about the people of God sending skilled representatives to do the work of improving the community through education, economic development, medical care, etc. Those people can get into closed countries without objection about their faith. That's how Nepal is being evangelized, among other closed countries.

Foreign aid sent to the governments has a way of ending up in weapons and limosines, instead of vaccinations and schools.

[MadFingerPainter]

I'm not really talking about aid to foreign governments, I'm talking about the people of God sending skilled representatives to do the work of improving the community through education, economic development, medical care, etc.

this would be nice.

[Jehane]

Parts of Asia has problems with this too. They want the aide but get really upset if they even begin to think a Christian is attached to it. I find it strange but many seem quite xenophobic.

[MrJim]

Parts of Asia has problems with this too. They want the aide but get really upset if they even begin to think a Christian is attached to it. I find it strange but many seem quite xenophobic.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) often sends missionaries to these parts of the world to do relief and infrastructure building.

MCC catches alot of flak because many are not aggressive evangelists, but then, I guess that is how they can get into some of these countries.

http://www.mcc.org/

[ZiSunka]

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) often sends missionaries to these parts of the world to do relief and infrastructure building.

MCC catches alot of flak because many are not aggressive evangelists, but then, I guess that is how they can get into some of these countries.

http://www.mcc.org/

Very true.

I have known several MCCers that went into areas normally closed to Christians and built drinking water resevoirs, established clinics, opened schools, gave classes in business and distributed micro-loans to help people in poverty establish profittable businesses. Even in areas where Christians are not usually welcome. Even in areas where other Christian missionaries have been refused.

MCC evanglizes by addressing the problems of the community, then speaking about the God that sent them to do it, in a very low-key way.

[Danfrey]

I believe this is the best way to evangelize. When people see someone living as Christ lived they will eventually ask why. So often we want to plant the seed, water it, force the increase and harvest it ourselves. We never know when a kind word might be the seed planted that will sprout years later.

[theAmishGirl]

I agree- hopefully I can work with MCC one day or someone very much like them. I love the idea of "sharing through caring" as one of my professors put it.