I did not jump to the conclusion I made. Muslims do exactly this when they become the majority population. Convert or die. Their plan is Sharia Law for the whole world.
A country is not a country if it cannot control who enters.
I am quite weary of being told that we must allow our country to accept and encourage immigrants, legal or otherwise, or else we will be consumed by fire. I think people may be consumed by fire for neglecting to protect and care for family members. It will be Jesus who will judge us.
I suppose my problem, then, is two-fold:
1) I thought we were talking about people coming in through our southern border, predominantly those from Latin America. And, last time I checked, all of the Latin American countries are predominantly Christian, not Muslim.
2) Having a rudimentary understanding of Islam, and the diversity that exists within Islam; I find the idea that Muslims entering the country will be putting sharia into practice in the USA to be, frankly, absurd. That's post-9/11 anti-Muslim hysterics. When, in the strictest Muslim nations it is often Muslims themselves who suffer the most; and Muslims seeking life elsewhere are doing so precisely because they want to live somewhere that is religiously tolerant. Muslims, therefore, who come to the US are, therefore, quite devoted to principles of democracy and religious freedom and tolerance. In America, the thread of the US becoming an Iran or Saudi Arabia is--well--about as likely as pigs sprouting wings. The reasoning for which I say this is actually quite simple, and it goes back to my rudimentary knowledge of diversity within Islam. The religion of Islam is not a monolithic religion; not only can Islam be divided into two major branches: Sunni and Shi'a, but there are other forms out there as well; and within Sunni and Shi'a there is a multitude of traditions; the term "denomination" could be borrowed here, but that doesn't quite work. If you think, for example, than a Sunni in America would permit the country to be turned into a Shi'ite nation; or a Shi'ite would permit the country become a Sunni one, then you'd be crazy. This would be like a Catholic being completely okay with America becoming Fundamentalist Baptist, or a Fundamentalist Baptist being completely okay with America becoming Catholic. As though a Fundamentalist Baptist would ever accept, for example, if devotions and petitions toward the Virgin Mary become the law of the land; or a Catholic could ever accept belief in Transubstantiation becoming illegal and punishable. That's the sort of thing we're talking about here.
America becoming a Muslim theocratic state just ain't in the cards. It's an irrational fear that is rooted in "Muslims are the boogeyman" rhetoric that took hold after 9/11, in which it was easier to simply hate Muslims without bothering to understand the more nuanced issues of terror in extremist groups; and that failure has allowed us to homebrew our own forms of religious extremism right here in the United States. And while there is no equivalent to the Taliban here in the US, all it would take is the right set of events; because the extremism, the rhetoric, the anger--it's all there. All the ingredients have been there stirring for decades, slowly stewing. And it won't be a Muslim group that takes America hostage, burns the Constitution, and destroys a nearly 300 year experiment in modern democracy; it will instead be a group waving an American flag and singing Amazing Grace.
1 Timothy 5:8 And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Safety is a basic need of all humans.
So whose love of their family is more important; mine or yours? Because here's the flipside: The person trying to make a better life for their family is doing just that. And, as you yourself just said, "safety is a basic need of all humans". Here's the question that I hope you ask yourself in the mirror: Why do you recognize the idea of safety as a basic need of all humans, but then not consider this when it comes to others?
When I talk about dehumanizing. This is what I mean. This isn't a problem unique to any person or any one group; the failure toward recognizing the intrinsic and basic humanity of others is, arguably, one of humanity's arch-sins. How else could Cain slay Abel, except that Abel ceased to regard his brother with fraternal affection, as a fellow son of Adam; a fellow image-bearer of the Creator.
As those who call ourselves by the name of Christ, while we are never immune to the deepest and darkest passions of our flesh, ought to at least be able to recognize the evil and wickedness of our passions.
Did not the Apostle himself say, "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? Shouldn't we, who stand in the midst of the world claiming to be the city on a hill, the beacon of truth, who profess to follow He who is greater than every saint, prophet, sage, and philosopher; who has no parallel, for He is the very Son of God, the Divine Word HImself, come down from heaven and made in our likeness by way of the Virgin Mary; the Messiah, the Long-Awaited One. If we call ourselves this, say this, and with every audacity say the truth is in our midst and all ought to see this light, receieve their sight, and come to the waters of Holy Baptism, if nothing else, at least, be honest, consistent, and truthful about right and wrong, and about ourselves in our own struggles?
If salt loses its flavor, what use does it have anymore?
If we do not stop what is happening to our country now, Christianity will be outlawed by the globalist one-worlders, communists, or Muslims.
And if you believe that, then you are spending far too much time listening idealogues and pundits, and not enough time listening to Christ, who speaks to you through His Word and in His Church.
You think that where Hell itself can't prevail that "globalist one-worlders, communits, or Muslims" will succeed? Christ our God said to St. Peter, "On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it". Do you have so little faith in Christ, in His Church, or in His word?
Have you been so willing to believe the lies of men that you would turn a deaf ear to Christ?
If we do not change the trajectory of our country now, in a hundred years, no Christians will be alive to write poetry.
Persecution of Christians in the year 2019:
Link:
Countries Where Christianity Is Illegal 2024
Religious freedom is not a given in many parts of the world. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 80% of the world's governments interfered with their citizens' religious worship in some way in 2019.
Hover over a country on the map and you will find the 2019 status of freedom for Christians in that country.
Since 2019, so-called first world governments used Covid to restrict Christianity, but not strip clubs. Slippery slope is getting much slipperier.
And the solution to the problem of religious intolerance is not Christian Nationalism. But, and here I do speak of policy and politics, being strongly on the side of the freedom of all people in a republic that doesn't discriminate.
Do you want your religion to dominate, or do you want democracy to flourish? You can't have both; and Christian dominionism is anti-Christ.
So if I have to choose sides, between de-humanizing immigrants and following in the way of antichrist; or confessing our mutual humanity which comes from God then it is a very simple choice I make.
-CryptoLutheran
