Samson's Jawbone

A friend of mine, who is a Christian musician who was prominent in the 1970's, wrote this on his Facebook page after President Trump issued his executive order on immigration; Compassion is a Christian value and I believe an American one as well.  Closing the borders of our country based on religion defies imagination.  I'm not naive.  I understand that terrorists are looking to enter our country, and I am for all the background checks and law enforcement we need to do to make sure they aren't allowed in.  But my faith, and I'd like to think basic human decency, demands that I not turn a blind eye to the suffering masses who are fleeing war ravaged regions of the world.  How exactly to meet their needs will be debated, but surely Christian folks can agree that Christ taught us to serve the least of these. Compassion shouldn't be a partisan issue.  The book of Matthew speaks to me today… "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and...

Since President Trump rescinded the Obama executive order giving federal benefits to children of illegal aliens once again many in the church have promoted a false view of what the Bible says about immigration. The Catholic Church has recently stated that Matthew 25 requires countries to allow any person in need into their country.  It says nothing of the sort.  We have addressed "the least of these my brethren," in another post. This passage neither advocates a social gospel nor requires an "unrestricted opening to immigration. I understand that the Catholic Church has a different understanding of biblical authority and hermeneutics then the Protestant one does, and frankly, while I disagree with their understanding of the text find the view consistent with some Catholic teaching. I am far more trouble when I some evangelicals talk about DACA. The ignorance of the Christian Church on this matter is startling. Recently Southern Baptist leader argued for a restrictive...