"When did we see You a stranger and take You in" (Matthew 25:38 NKJV) - a Christian message

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus lists what He expects his followers to do is an important message for every Christian. Let's pray that it be an inspiration and guide to all of us in the choices we make in life.

timewerx · Nov 6, 2018

How we treat the least of our brothers and sisters - Christians who are struggling with their lives, struck with poverty, losses, facing troubles, persecutions is how we treat Christ.

This is even made worse if we have the resources to help but would rather spend our time and money on worldly things. It is evidence of the lack of love for the Father. - 1 John 3:17-18

It's rather disturbing to find many Christians today, instead of helping, they would even blame the problem-stuck Christian, especially those facing poverty.

creslaw · Nov 6, 2018

There are many ways we can "take in strangers". Unless you were certain the stranger would do your family no harm, there would be more prudent ways of helping those in need.

Tolworth John · Nov 6, 2018

mcarans said:
Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus lists what He expects his followers to do is an important message for every Christian. Let's pray that it be an inspiration and guide to all of us in the choices we make in life.

Then as now hospitality is duty carried out with almost fanatical zeal.
When a visitor comes everything stops in order that the visitors needs are attended to.

It is a careing for others a valuing of others that we no longer have.

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

creslaw said:
There are many ways we can "take in strangers". Unless you were certain the stranger would do your family no harm, there would be more prudent ways of helping those in need.

Jesus doesn't mention taking in strangers only if you're certain they won't do your family harm. It also says in the Bible "“Judge[a] not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?..." (Matthew 7:1-3) You'd have to be pretty sure before making such a judgement of the stranger and not be basing it on stereotypes or worse.

creslaw · Nov 6, 2018

mcarans said:
Jesus doesn't mention taking in strangers only if you're certain they won't do your family harm. It also says in the Bible "“Judge[a] not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?..." (Matthew 7:1-3) You'd have to be pretty sure before making such a judgement of the stranger and not be basing it on stereotypes or worse.

Jesus tells us to judge wisely, not by what a person may appear to be (John 7:24). God expects us to protect our family from harm.

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

creslaw said:
Jesus tells us to judge wisely, not by what a person may appear to be (John 7:24). God expects us to protect our family from harm.

The John verse is a good one - it is saying don't stereotype.

creslaw · Nov 6, 2018

mcarans said:
The John verse is a good one - it is saying don't stereotype.

It is also saying don't be taken in by a person's appearance. IOW, use wisdom in deciding whether a person can be trusted.

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

creslaw said:
It is also saying don't be taken in by a person's appearance. IOW, use wisdom in deciding whether a person can be trusted.

Yes, to give examples:
If a well dressed rich looking person and a person dressed like a beggar approach your door, you should not look at appearances, trust the well dressed person and invite them in, while turning away the poorly dressed person as presumed untrustworthy.
If two people come to your door, one who looks like you and one who doesn't, you should not look at the one who looks similar to you and assume that they can be trusted while looking at the one who looks different and assume they cannot be trusted.

creslaw · Nov 6, 2018

mcarans said:
Yes, to give examples:
If a well dressed rich looking person and a person dressed like a beggar approach your door, you should not look at appearances, trust the well dressed person and invite them in, while turning away the poorly dressed person as presumed untrustworthy.
If two people come to your door, one who looks like you and one who doesn't, you should not look at the one who looks similar to you and assume that they can be trusted while looking at the one who looks different and assume they cannot be trusted.

TBH, it sounds foolish to me to trust everyone who comes to your front door. That is why most people lock their doors. It is necessary to learn something about a person first, and for you to evaluate that information. What a person looks like has nothing to do with this process.

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

creslaw said:
TBH, it sounds foolish to me to trust everyone who comes to your front door. That is why most people lock their doors. It is necessary to learn something about a person first, and for you to evaluate that information. What a person looks like has nothing to do with this process.

All of that is sensible in worldly terms and most people would do that including me even though I don't think it's in the spirit of what Jesus wants us to do. Our lack of trust can easily be unwelcoming to strangers or worse can turn into hostility towards them.

creslaw · Nov 6, 2018

mcarans said:
All of that is sensible in worldly terms and most people would do that including me even though I don't think it's in the spirit of what Jesus wants us to do. Our lack of trust can easily be unwelcoming to strangers or worse can turn into hostility towards them.

It was Jesus who used the expression "wolves in sheep's clothing".

mcarans · Nov 6, 2018

creslaw said:
It was Jesus who used the expression "wolves in sheep's clothing".

Jesus was talking about false prophets in particular not strangers in general when he used that expression. False prophets claim to be Christians but promote a different agenda, for example anti-semitism or fascism.

"When did we see You a stranger and take You in" (Matthew 25:38 NKJV) - a Christian message

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