An Open Letter to the Caravan (and Those Helping Them)

An arena in Guadalajara

To whom it may concern:

I pray this letter somehow reaches the thousands mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador who are traveling through Mexico towards the American border.

First, I don’t blame anyone for wanting to come to the United States. As a natural-born American citizen, I’m thankful for the prosperity we have here. I also recognize my nation was largely founded by immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families. All my ancestors came over from Europe many years ago.

There’s a missionary house in Florida I often stay where I’ve met many immigrants originally from Spanish-speaking countries. As far as I know, all of them came to the United States legally. Videos I’ve seen of some caravan members forcing their way into Mexico indicate they have little respect for authority. I don’t want people like that entering my country. We have enough crime here as it is.

You should be warned here in America our citizens have the right to bear arms. If I lived near the Mexican border and illegal aliens were crossing or camping on my property, I’d have every right to defend my home. At the very least, I’d fire warning shots reminding them they are trespassing. Other Americans with guns may not be as sympathetic and will respond with force if attacked with rocks and other weapons.

Recently I watched a documentary revealing 90-95% of the migrants are men. Only a small percentage of them are women and children. Support for the caravan has come from various organizations including one called “Pueblo Sin Fronteras” (People Without Borders) that flouts American sovereignty. I also read how the Mexican government offered shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to the migrants if they agree to stay in southern Mexico but most of them turned that down. Therefore, I question the motives of you continuing on with the caravan.

To those of you giving aid to the caravan, I agree with doing that to a point. You may be familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. If Jesus was with the migrants, I believe He would minister to their needs but also remind them to obey the laws of the land (Romans 13:1-2). If you’re encouraging migrants to illegally enter my country, you are in sin!

In closing, I encourage you to give your life to Jesus Christ if you haven’t already done so. What good would it be to have a better life in a foreign country but not be allowed to walk through the Pearly Gates after you die? I would also ask the Lord where He wants you to live. Just because the United States has more opportunities doesn’t mean you’re supposed to come here. There is a reason God had you born in your country of origin. It could be His will for you to go back and help your nation become a better one.

Where God guides, He provides!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” - Psalm 37:23

A Nation Going to Pot

Debates are going on right now in the U. S. regarding the legalization of marijuana. In recent years, a few states have decriminalized pot to varying degrees. Some allow only small quantities for medical usage. Others such as Colorado and Washington permit recreational usage of cannabis if purchased from authorized dealers.

While in high school I heard this saying: “Man made booze, God made grass. Who do you trust? God.” Even some Christians try to justify marijuana usage because of what God said in Genesis 1:29, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” Keep in mind this statement was made before the Fall of Man.

Not every plant is beneficial if taken internally. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poisonous mushrooms are also plants. The latter is good for breaking down dead wood but certainly bad for eating. Even cocaine originates from green leaves.

Hemp is good for making rope but contrary to medicinal claims, there are health hazards connected with smoking it such as brain damage and an increased heart rate. According to new figures from the Washington State Patrol, more drivers there have tested positive for marijuana since the drug was legalized. This may have contributed to more car accidents.

American Center for Law and Justice founder Jay Sekulow has said, “If anyone tells you that you cannot legislate morality, remember that legislation is morality.” Additional marijuana legalization will result in more people using drugs that wouldn’t otherwise. As we get closer to the return of Christ, drug addiction will continue to increase. Revelation 9:21 says, “And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” The Greek word for sorceries is pharmakeia. One of its definitions is “the use of or the administering of drugs.”

Some say imprisoning people for drug usage is a waste of tax-payer dollars. I can somewhat agree with that. I believe heavy fines would be enough of a deterrent. The drug users who really should go to jail are the pushers. Society would benefit if they were off the streets.

Sometimes I’ve been approached by drug dealers while evangelizing. Whenever one asks me, “Hey, man...are you straight?” I answer, “Yeah, I’m going straight to heaven. How about you? If you died right now, where would you go...heaven or hell?” Usually these drug dealers take off running.

Three months ago, one woman asked me to sign a petition to legalize medical usage of marijuana in Florida. I replied that Jesus was my healer. This woman got a little persistent until I asked, “Does marijuana raise the dead?” Sylvia then revealed she was looking for a church and thought being a good person would get her into heaven. Eventually she prayed to get born again.

There is a better alternative to drugs: getting high on the Most High God.

“That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.” - Psalm 83:18