The debate rages from the citizen on the street to state governments, to the halls of Congress on what to do about the people illegally in this nation. A lot of people want them to have citizenship without following the existing laws. Others want them to follow the law and not have any benefits that citizens enjoy. Let us look at the subject of citizenship in the light of biblical principles and teachings for membership in God’s kingdom, the church, and make application of the principles involved.

In order to enjoy the benefits of any group, church or otherwise, an individual must become a member according to the rules set forth for becoming a member. Acts chapter 2, verses 38-47, gives the requirements for church membership. It is obvious that anyone who doesn’t comply with that teaching can’t claim to be a member of God’s family. No matter how many demands are made to be a member, or how much twisting of the truth is done, such conduct won’t change God’s requirements.

Citizenship in the United States comes about by being born of citizens (discussion on this later in the article) or through naturalization. The Constitution makes a provision for naturalization (immigration) in Article I, Section 8, clause 4. The clause empowers Congress to make uniform laws for becoming a citizen under the powers granted to them to make laws in clause 18.

In recent days, the people in the United States illegally have demonstrated and marched for the rights enjoyed by citizens of this nation, demanding that our laws be made to conform to their whims and wishes with total disregard for the requirements of citizenship. Given that a church can't survive with the necessary purity if God’s requirements are ignored, in like manner, any nation that caves in to what amounts to extortion on the part of those who in violation of the existing laws, won’t long survive as a nation governed by those laws. All sorts of excuses are given by sympathizers, including President Bush and many members of Congress, to support  the illegal demands. A dilution of laws that set the means and method for citizenship cheapens our sovereignty and will eventually bring total destruction of the republic.

One of the most misunderstood Amendments to the Constitution is the 14^th. Not only is it misunderstood, that misunderstanding has led to an influx of illegals so that any children born here are automatically citizens. That is patently false and was never intended to mean what people think it says.  A search of the issue revealed that [the] Supreme Court rulings that followed after the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment confirms the [correct intent] understanding of the Citizenship Clause beginning with the Slaughterhouse Cases in 1873 where the court held that the Fourteenth Amendment excludes the children of aliens. Jumping to 1884, the court in Elk v. Wilkins 112 U.S. 94 (1884), held that he phrase "subject to the jurisdiction" requires "direct and immediate allegiance" to the United States, not just physical location. This is confirmed by the legislative history of the Fourteenth Amendment and the definition used by the Senate.”

(A Dummies Guide to Understanding the Fourteenth Amendment http://federalistblog.us/mt/articles/14th_dummy_guide.htm   by P.A. Madison)

A provision that should be easily understood and enforced is twisted and made to say that which it doesn’t say. To adequately understand the amendment, it is necessary to look at the history for the reason it became part of the Constitution (which the source cited above clarifies.) The Civil War was the impetus for the amendment so that all the laws of any state would apply equal to all citizens of a state. It doesn't include birth right citizenship for children born to illegals because the parents haven’t conformed to the naturalization laws and therefore aren’t subject to the laws that apply to citizens.

Just as meeting the requirements for membership in God’s kingdom will cause the receiving of all the blessings thereof, fulfilling the requirements for citizenship in the United States will bring all the great provisions this nation has to offer. There can be no other way if the nation is to survive as a nation under God, ruled by laws and principles that have stood the test of time.

© 01-24-2006 DEC

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