Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Immigration and the great commission.
God delivered to us, on our doorstep, the great commission and we are too busy to notice. The noisy political and legal discourse of the immigration issue has distracted us from the words of Christ. Jesus Christ said to love and help those in need, even your enemies! Has your church thanked God for bringing the mission field to your doorstep? Is your church training it's members for this wonderful opportunity to serve? Or would it be easier for you to travel & serve in a third world country?
Maybe we can step back, take a deep breath and ask, what would Jesus do? When it comes to immigration, Jesus would first take care of the poor. The debate on what is a reasonable and sustainable immigration policy is important and needs to take place, while we are meeting the needs of those who are with us and are desperate for a better life.
Can you imagine a greater opportunity to introduce people from impoverished nations to the teachings of Christ, the concepts of a constitutional democracy, and the principles of financial independence? When we engage in that role, with those within our own families, churches and cities, we will be learning how to meet the needs of the third world also.
Isaiah 58:
10 Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. 11 And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too;
Matthew 25:
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me."
God delivered to us, on our doorstep, the great commission and we are too busy to notice. The noisy political and legal discourse of the immigration issue has distracted us from the words of Christ. Jesus Christ said to love and help those in need, even your enemies! Has your church thanked God for bringing the mission field to your doorstep? Is your church training it's members for this wonderful opportunity to serve? Or would it be easier for you to travel & serve in a third world country?
Maybe we can step back, take a deep breath and ask, what would Jesus do? When it comes to immigration, Jesus would first take care of the poor. The debate on what is a reasonable and sustainable immigration policy is important and needs to take place, while we are meeting the needs of those who are with us and are desperate for a better life.
Can you imagine a greater opportunity to introduce people from impoverished nations to the teachings of Christ, the concepts of a constitutional democracy, and the principles of financial independence? When we engage in that role, with those within our own families, churches and cities, we will be learning how to meet the needs of the third world also.
Isaiah 58:
10 Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. 11 And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too;
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me."
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