Who Would Jesus Hire?

While filling in for Hugh Hewitt this afternoon, Jed Babbin sparked a firestorm by bringing up the subject of illegal immigration. Caller after caller--conservative, Republican and Christian by their own statements--took Jed to task and said they had no alternative but to hire illegals for their small businesses. "We don't have a choice" ran the constant refrain.

Illegal immigration is a huge issue, both from the standpoint of our national security during the war on terror, and from the standpoint of the enormous financial and societal costs it entails. Yet one after another, people were lining up to defend illegal immigration--and more specifically hiring illegals--in the name of necessity.

Frankly, it's time to apply some "supply side economics" to the problem. If we cut off the supply of jobs, most of the immigration problems would take care of themselves. And while this is something the government could do a lot to fix, it is also a problem that people who describe themselves as "conservative, Republican and Christian" could work to fix as well. Yes, it would require considerable financial sacrifice. Yes, it might mean they would have to change their business model and practices. But isn't living the Christian life supposed to require sacrifice? "Take up your cross" and all that?

Would Jesus hire an illegal immigrant to save a few bucks? I submit that the One who paid taxes even when He didn't owe them to ensure He maintained His testimony would not.