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Jesus And The Immigrants

            I never cease to be amazed at how people use Jesus and the Bible in an effort to make them agree with their agenda.

            It see some are contending that our government must receive all the refugees because that’s what Jesus would do.

            Whether the government should or should not accept the immigrants is one issue, but to inject “what would Jesus do” into the role of the government is another.  This line of thinking is derived from Liberation Theology and is a total perversion of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus.  This wrong thinking fails to distinguish between the role of the government and the role of individual Christians towards other individuals, our neighbors.  This is a crucial distinction and is evident in the words of Jesus that we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods. 

             Liberation Theology, which has permeated and distorted the teachings of most mainline denominations and is espoused by the World and National Council of Churches, perceives the secular government as a tool for peace and justice but in a social, secular and earthly sense.  The Gospel is ripped from the true meaning of the Kingdom of God that is not of this world, and of Salvation in the Church from death, sin and the devil, and is turned into an idea of an earthly kingdom much as the Jews had hoped for in Jesus and as the milleninalists still espouse and anticipate.

            According to our constitution our government is a secular government with vague references to God but careful to avoid the concept of any established religion.  Its primary function is to preserve and protect our life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and defend us from harm and danger by those who pose a threat to our way of life. 

             On the other hand, the parable of the Good Samaritan and the teachings of Jesus in general, show us how individual Christians are to routinely treat others in daily life.  We are to reflect the love of the Saviour with love, forgiveness, works of mercy, etc. 

              If you are going to advocate that the government act as Jesus acted why would you not also advocate that the government speak as Jesus spoke? If the government is to reflect Jesus and his Kingdom then the government must also speak the truth as Jesus spoke it.  If you are going to ask the government to follow Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, let’s also ask that it follow Jesus’ teaching to the Samaritan women when He told her that her religion was false and rebuked her for her multiple husbands/live-ins.  Let’s also insist that the government speak the words of Jesus that He is the only way to the Father and those who reject Him as the Messiah will suffer eternal damnation.  Or what about the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of St. John where He tells the religious people that contrary to their claims they are not the children of Abraham because they reject Him as the divine Son of God and Messiah contrary to Abraham’s faith.  Thus, Jesus called them hypocrites, whited sepulchers and vipers.  Why not advocate having the government use these words of Jesus also?  Why would you insist on some of His teachings while excluding others?

              And to be truly consistent, why not advocate that the government should treat all criminals with love and forgiveness?  Why not insist that the government say to murderers, rapists and thieves, “Go and sin no more” and forgive them seventy times seven?

              So it is easy to see what an absurdity Christianity is made to be when the true theology of the Church has been lost and everyone becomes a pope interrupting scripture as they see fit. 

               Where is the authenticity in the attempt to impose on the government the parts of Jesus’ teaching you like while ignoring the rest, or in failing to properly distinguish between the role of the government and the calling of individual Christians?