Multiplying the Nation and Increasing the Joy: Immigration Cold Open
By Rev. Dr. Jason Curry, Columnist
In Isaiah 9:3a, the prophet writes: “You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy.” From Isaiah’s perspective, an increase in population should translate into an increase in joy. An increase in population that does not translate to an increase in joy is problematic for God’s prophet.
An increase in the U.S. population is not necessarily corresponding to an increase in “joy” for the people who are entering the country or for many citizens. An increase in population that does not increase joy for immigrants (undocumented or not) and for the U.S. citizen, is problematic for many people who love the Lord and are striving to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Mark 12:30-31).
One may argue: “If you decrease the population, you will increase the joy.” For those who argue in favor of a ban on immigration, I trust that their immigration philosophy extends to people from Europe (undocumented or not). After all, allowing people to immigrate from Europe while prohibiting people from immigrating from Central and South America would only highlight the racial bias of their immigration ban. If immigration is not permissible for people of color, then immigration should not be permitted for anyone, right?
Isaiah wanted people to experience “joy.” He believed that their “joy” was rooted in their willingness to turn their hearts back to God. I also believe that a measure of “joy,” as it concerns the immigration debate, might be found in turning our hearts back to God.
Recently, I read that the current administration lost a court battle which would have allowed custom agents to detain undocumented children in detention centers for an indefinite amount of time. Please take a moment to imagine spending your childhood in a detention center. To say the least, it would be an unpleasant experience. Your only crime for being in the detention center would be fleeing poverty, violence, and exploitation.
Like the prophet Isaiah, I believe that joy can be achieved when those with political, economic, and ecclesiastical influence turn their hearts back to God. When we recognize and embrace the humanity and inherent, the self-worth of people (undocumented or not), we will experience “joy.”
When we stop viewing immigration as a zero-sum game and recognize that most immigrants want to be contributing members to society, we will experience “joy.” When we acknowledge and disavow our racist beliefs which say that immigration is good for some but bad for others, we will experience “joy” and peace.
The goal of any society is to increase the “joy” or wellbeing of its citizens. This end is achievable if we strive to love God and our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).
The Rev. Dr. Jason Curry currently serves as the dean of the Fisk Memorial Chapel, an assistant professor of Psychology, and the Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditations at Fisk University. He is an ordained itinerant elder in the AME Church and has written various academic articles; a book, The Star Book on Pastoral Counseling; and is a columnist for The Tennessee Tribune.
