CHICAGO, IL (March 31, 2014) — North Park University, together with churches and community organizations, is launching a campaign called “People Are Not Illegal” to raise awareness and support around the issues of immigration and mass incarceration.
The campaign will begin when Joshua DuBois, former head of White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, speaks at the North Park University College Life service at 8 p.m. April 13 in Anderson Chapel.
The next day, a worship service will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Anderson Chapel, and a march at 3:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago, which will be followed at 8:30 p.m. at the Cook County Jail.
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The biblical distinction is between what is true and what is false. The false dichotomy of “right and left” -redefined in every generation without fixed points of reference – has corrupted both exegesis and political discourse throughout my fifty years as a pastor and commentator on the human predicament.
Everett Wilson
Retired Covenant Pastor
It seems as if many of the speakers invited to North Park all represent one part of the political spectrum – left wing, possibly socialist (or in the case of Gutierrez, Marxist). People like Jim Wallis, Cornell West, Gustavo Gutierrez, and Mr. Joshua DuBois all represent one side of an approach to politics and interpretation of Scripture.
What seems to be absent, at least as based on Covenant Newswire releases, are speakers from other points of view. On many campuses there seems to be much talk of “diversity” but this is only permitted for people of a particular left wing viewpoint. I cannot help but wonder if during discussions of immigration Victor Davis Hanson would be welcomed to speak on his book Mexifornia? On questions of health care, would Ben Carter be welcomed to present his critiques (when he was not dodging attacks by the IRS that is). On liberation theology, would Michael Novak be invited to discuss his critique of this theology as found in his book Will It Liberate?
I ask these questions because there seems to be no indication of this as I read the Newswire. I would emphasize that I think Mssrs. Wallis, West, Gutierrez, DuBois should all be given opportunity to present their views, and indeed welcomed so long as there was a give and take discussion. But if opposite viewpoints are not given an equal footing, then instead of an education, North Park is providing more of an indoctrination.
Mike Cheek, ordained inactive
Thank you North Park University for living out your motto of preparing students for lives of significance and service and demonstrating with this bold action that you truly do believe that ALL lives are created for significance and service. May God bless you richly and all those that are being prepared at NPU.
The whole idea of not calling a person who sneaks into a country illegally an “illegal alien” is garbage because that is exactly what they are. In fact I’ll go as far as saying its kind because with illegal alien we are focusing on the action (which could be corrected) instead of just calling them criminals. This whole idea of condoning illegal aliens is supporting the breaking of laws and lacks biblical support. Those that are trying to support not calling this activity what it is, illegal (against the law), performed by an alien (someone who is not a citizen) is supported by Isa-Jesus methodology in scriptural interpretation and they need to be called out on it.
We need to go back to our roots, ask “where is it written” and then not let the content be taken out of context.
You are misunderstanding North Park’s intentions ( I am a student there so I feel compelled to speak on behalf of my school). NPU is not condoning immigrants’ action of coming to America illegally nor are we supporting them breaking laws. What North Park is supporting is the idea that a person’s name is not “illegal” and it is not “criminal” but rather the name they are given at birth as well as the many names God calls us by in the Bible. Paul the apostle used to go around persecuting the church and witnessing public executions, but God never called him criminal. In fact, God changed his name from Saul to Paul so that Paul could start a new, fresh life. God used Paul to do His work. If God does not call people criminals and we love and serve God, then we should not be calling people criminals or illegal. That is the point NPU is making. If after reading this, you still feel the same then that’s your opinion. At least NPU is not just sitting around talking but instead is actually getting up and doing something.
This is awesome! The Evangelical Covenant denomination is filled with compassion and a commitment to justice. Praise God, and may he be praised through this effort.
The incarceration statistics are appalling and need to be changed. Wish I could be there – more than a worthy cause!