Illinois church branded hateful for ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws’ sign amid immigration row

[Michie]

New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, “Heaven has strict immigration laws, Hell has open borders.”

The criticism comes as a coalition of progressive Christian and Jewish groups, including the Episcopal Church and the Union for Reform Judaism, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a recent move by the Trump administration to rescindguidelines that limited immigration enforcement in "sensitive" areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.

Critics of the New Hope Community Church's message contend it is hateful and politically charged as it appears to be in support of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. However, the church insists that its message is strictly about the Gospel.

Continued below.

Illinois church branded hateful for ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws’ sign amid immigration row

New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, Heaven has strict

www.christianpost.com

 

[rebornfree]

Well I think it was a bit naive to use the word 'immigration' as it is such a sensitive topic. Also I think it would be better to show the love of God and how He has made a way to Heaven for us. Maybe something like "All are welcome in Heaven but you need to find the Way." To say that Heaven has strict immigration laws implies that the Lord only wants certain people there, which seems contrary to scripture including John 3 v 16 and 2 Peter 3 v 9.

 

[jacks]

Our nation has completely lost our sense of humor.

 

[Palmfever]

New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, “Heaven has strict immigration laws, Hell has open borders.”

The criticism comes as a coalition of progressive Christian and Jewish groups, including the Episcopal Church and the Union for Reform Judaism, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a recent move by the Trump administration to rescindguidelines that limited immigration enforcement in "sensitive" areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.

Critics of the New Hope Community Church's message contend it is hateful and politically charged as it appears to be in support of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. However, the church insists that its message is strictly about the Gospel.

Continued below.

Illinois church branded hateful for ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws’ sign amid immigration row

New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, Heaven has strict

www.christianpost.com

"Hell has open borders."
I like it.
Not sure I would push it in that fashion, but it is true.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Well I think it was a bit naive to use the word 'immigration' as it is such a sensitive topic. Also I think it would be better to show the love of God and how He has made a way to Heaven for us. Maybe something like "All are welcome in Heaven but you need to find the Way." To say that Heaven has strict immigration laws implies that the Lord only wants certain people there, which seems contrary to scripture including John 3 v 16 and 2 Peter 3 v 9.

Reminds me of the narrow way and the broad path, probably a reflection on that.

Our citizenship is in heaven.

 

[NBB]

Bad saying, heaven is free and a benefit, to go to USA legally i guess you need either money/status, or to wait a lot of time and go through complicated transactions.

 

[FireDragon76]

Bad saying, heaven is free and a benefit, to go to USA legally i guess you need either money/status, or to wait a lot of time and go through complicated transactions.

Some people will wrangle the basic meaning of Christianity to try to turn it into a political slogan.

 

[Laodicean60]

Well I think it was a bit naive to use the word 'immigration' as it is such a sensitive topic. Also I think it would be better to show the love of God and how He has made a way to Heaven for us.

I agree, Christians should be above the tit for tat and we wonder why the world hates Christians. Yes, this is a sensitive subject for many so much for loving a neighbor.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Well I think it was a bit naive to use the word 'immigration' as it is such a sensitive topic. Also I think it would be better to show the love of God and how He has made a way to Heaven for us. Maybe something like "All are welcome in Heaven but you need to find the Way." To say that Heaven has strict immigration laws implies that the Lord only wants certain people there, which seems contrary to scripture including John 3 v 16 and 2 Peter 3 v 9.

God only does want certain people there.

The jihadist Muslim isn't going to heaven.

There's no open border in heaven. Christ is the Way, The Truth and the Life and NO ONE can come to the Father but through Christ.

1 Way, 1 Truth that we will ALL be judged by. It's narrow and limited.

Hitler didn't make it.

If you don't tell people that you are not speaking to anyone in Christian love.

What you're talking about is that God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). You can say that while stating the above truth.

The Gospel does need need sensitivity training. People need to know the Gospel.

If people are disappointed that someone is telling Mr. jihadist that he isn't going to heaven when he straps on the suicide vest they are maybe not understanding the Gospel themselves. Salvation is found in no other Name but Jesus of Nazareth.

 

[Laodicean60]

The Gospel does need need sensitivity training. People need to know the Gospel.

So the turn-or-burn message, pointing out everyone's sin message or the Jesus message. Which ones would Jesus prefer?

 

[Laodicean60]

I don't know the phrase turn or burn.

I don't understand what you're saying.

This is something I've heard and said in the past "If you don't accept Jesus you going to hell" Maybe a '90s thing.

 

[Laodicean60]

Well, but people are going to hell if they don't come under Christ.

It's sort of an important point, it's the reason we share the good news of the Gospel of Christ with the lost, because we want them to be saved.

Are you saying mentioning this is bad?

We are saved from the wrath of God, not anything else. We are then reconciled to God.

You are correct in everything you say and I'm having a hard time explaining my thought.

 

[RDKirk]

That message is the wrong tone, and it's tied too firmly to the politics of this world.

To be a Christian should be like being an American diplomat in the old Soviet Union. The message is to attract defectors, to give asylum to those who wish to escape the politics of the world.

"You gotta jump through hoops" is a different message from "My burden is easy and my yoke is light."

The truth is that nobody can get through the gates of heaven if they're still loaded down with the politics of this world.

 

[Laodicean60]

No one wants to share the Gospel because it's hard to accept, so people want to skip around anything that bothers people and pretend it's not really there right?

No, Peace Out

 

[Michie]

@Hazelelponi

I read your post. The way you communicate online is fine. Don’t worry about it. *hugs*

 

[rebornfree]

God only does want certain people there.

The jihadist Muslim isn't going to heaven.

There's no open border in heaven. Christ is the Way, The Truth and the Life and NO ONE can come to the Father but through Christ.

1 Way, 1 Truth that we will ALL be judged by. It's narrow and limited.

Hitler didn't make it.

If you don't tell people that you are not speaking to anyone in Christian love.

What you're talking about is that God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). You can say that while stating the above truth.

The Gospel does need need sensitivity training. People need to know the Gospel.

If people are disappointed that someone is telling Mr. jihadist that he isn't going to heaven when he straps on the suicide vest they are maybe not understanding the Gospel themselves. Salvation is found in no other Name but Jesus of Nazareth.

I totally agree that the only way to Heaven is through accepting Jesus as your Saviour, which is what I meant in my post #2 "All are welcome in Heaven but you need to find the Way." and why I put "Way" with an initial capital letter. Repentance and acceptance of Jesus as your Saviour is the Way.

However I do believe that God wants everyone to come to salvation as Peter says in 2 Peter 3 v 9 ".....He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance." and we know from John 3 v 16 that God loves the world i.e. everyone. So if Hitler had repented he would have been saved; if the jihadist repents and accepts Jesus' death in his place and ceases to do evil he will be saved. Salvation is open to everyone, but it is only through Jesus (the Way) that we find it.

 

[soldier of light]

Whether you agree or disagree with illegal immigration, it has no place in the church.

 

[FireDragon76]

That message is the wrong tone, and it's tied too firmly to the politics of this world.

To be a Christian should be like being an American diplomat in the old Soviet Union. The message is to attract defectors, to give asylum to those who wish to escape the politics of the world.

"You gotta jump through hoops" is a different message from "My burden is easy and my yoke is light."

That was Jesus bumper sticker slogan he chose, unlike his detractors, who prided themselves on their exacting interpretation of Torah.

 

[RileyG]

Our nation has completely lost our sense of humor.

Many comedians are now considered offensive because they’re not “politically correct.”

 

[Michie]

Many comedians are now considered offensive because they’re not “politically correct.”

Oh yeah. And they know it. I saw a female black comedian discussing this very thing a few days ago. Sheryl something or other…?