Why are most christians against asylum seekers?

[The Portuguese Baptist]

I think that is a very reasonable view. There are many, many "refugees" who are exploiting stupid policies to get ahead, and in doing so make matters worse for everyone. Solutions should be practical. Not extremes like Merkel and the EU who endanger everyone's lives with blind open-hand policies, or Trumptonians […]

Thanks! I agree with you. Neither a fully open-door policy, like Merkel's (because it will cause most migrants — including non-refugees — to flood to specific countries and burden them economically), nor a strong opposition to them, ignoring their struggles and attempts to flee from war, like the far-right nationalist parties. However, between both evils, I actually prefer Merkel's approach as more humane.

Nevertheless, this open-door policy should just close its doors a tiny bit, so as to: 1) attempt to filter out lying migrants and send them back to their countries, which are not at war; and 2) force them to be distributed, proportionally, according to each country's financial ability to sustain them, rather than allowing them to choose their destination. It is still an open-door policy, but with some degree of controlling and filtering — an improvement of Merkel's position.

The problem is that positions like mine go largely unnoticed, with the far-right focusing on attacking Merkel, leaving little room to express my intermediary position — which is, nevertheless, closer to Merkel's than to the far-right's.

I still agree politically with her. I identify with the same political party as she.

[…] who, non surprisingly, support views that are only upheld by folks such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. When North Korea is your friend, that should wake you up to a bit of a problem there. And the KKK.

So, Putin, Kim Jong-Un and the KKK have all expressed support for Trump? Wow! I have never heard about that! All I know is that Trump said he would ‘get along very well’ with Putin. I need to see that!

By the way, speaking of North Korea, that does remind me of something. In Portugal's last presidential election (January this year), the candidate of the Communist Party was asked whether he considered North Korea a democracy. He did not answer, and turned around the question. And, still, around 4% voted for him.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

Do you understand that there is no such thing any more
in America? The Democrats, since the 1990s have gone
full socialist/humanist. They have no room any more for
moderates, much less conservatives or Christians.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/opinion/have-democrats-pulled-too-far-left.html?_r=0

I do not live in America. What on Earth made you think that?

You seem uninformed about Christian Democracy. Here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_democracy.
And here is also a link for my party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDS_–_People's_Party.

 

[HighwayMan]

So, Putin, Kim Jong-Un and the KKK have all expressed support for Trump? Wow! I have never heard about that! All I know is that Trump said he would ‘get along very well’ with Putin. I need to see that!

By the way, speaking of North Korea, that does remind me of something. In Portugal's last presidential election (January this year), the candidate of the Communist Party was asked whether he considered North Korea a democracy. He did not answer, and turned around the question. And, still, around 4% voted for him.

Yep. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...mp-and-urges-us-voters-to-reject-dull-hillary
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...mp-and-urges-us-voters-to-reject-dull-hillary
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ku-klux-klan-imperial-wizard-endorses-donald-trump-president-1557734

 

[pat34lee]

I do not live in America. What on Earth made you think that?

You seem uninformed about Christian Democracy. Here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_democracy.
And here is also a link for my party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDS_–_People's_Party.

I had wondered if that were the case. Still, the topic centers
around American politics, so the information about the party
of Democrats here never hurts.

Your party sounds a lot like the Reagan Republicans and
blue dog Democrats in the US. Less government, more
freedom, lower taxes, pro-life.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

Yep. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...mp-and-urges-us-voters-to-reject-dull-hillary
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ku-klux-klan-imperial-wizard-endorses-donald-trump-president-1557734

Hmm… Interesting…

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

I had wondered if that were the case. Still, the topic centers
around American politics, so the information about the party
of Democrats here never hurts.

Granted!

Your party sounds a lot like the Reagan Republicans and
blue dog Democrats in the US. Less government, more
freedom, lower taxes, pro-life.

I am unfamiliar with the terms ‘Reagan Republicans’ and ‘blue dog Democrats’. However, the policies you have mentioned are really the ones I agree with.

 

[OrthodoxForever]

In my mind, and this may be an unpopular opinion, but most of the Christian refugees who are being effected, like most of the Christians in the middle east in general are Orthodox, a denomination unknown to most people in the west. Most people in the west know nothing about us, let alone our Syrian brothers and sisters and the Christians in the political groups and movements more likely to be against immigration, are also more likely to be against Catholicism, which at fist glance we appear similar to, combine that with the level of pervasive ignorance and they just don't care, in the middle east my people pray in the Arabic language so we are also sometimes confused with Muslims. In short, out of pure ignorance, our struggling, persecuted brothers and sisters are despised by most westerners.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

In my mind, and this may be an unpopular opinion, but most of the Christian refugees who are being effected, like most of the Christians in the middle east in general are Orthodox, a denomination unknown to most people in the west. Most people in the west know nothing about us, let alone our Syrian brothers and sisters and the Christians in the political groups and movements more likely to be against immigration, are also more likely to be against Catholicism, which at fist glance we appear similar to, combine that with the level of pervasive ignorance and they just don't care, in the middle east my people pray in the Arabic language so we are also sometimes confused with Muslims. In short, out of pure ignorance, our struggling, persecuted brothers and sisters are despised by most westerners.

I honestly doubt that is it. We know who Orthodoxes are and we do not hate them. And, of course, people who confuse Arabs with Muslims are simply just stupid.

 

[OrthodoxForever]

I honestly doubt that is it. We know who Orthodoxes are and we do not hate them. And, of course, people who confuse Arabs with Muslims are simply just stupid.

I don't doubt that you don't hate us, but I've known enough evangelical and Anabaptists, who do very much hate us, hate middle easterners, immigrants in general, and pretty much anyone who dares have a different culture or different expression of Christianity. Those that I have met want to change us, want us to assimilate, they're willing to bring people in and then if they don't completely abandon their roots within about the first ten years their generosity turns straight to suspicion, prejudice, and loathing. Of course that has something to do with it, it at least has everything to do with why people are not standing up on mass and demanding that the US and other governments around the world show these people compassion and launch a humanitarian effort to relocate and help them.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

I don't doubt that you don't hate us, but I've known enough evangelical and Anabaptists, who do very much hate us, hate middle easterners, immigrants in general, and pretty much anyone who dares have a different culture or different expression of Christianity. Those that I have met want to change us, want us to assimilate, they're willing to bring people in and then if they don't completely abandon their roots within about the first ten years their generosity turns straight to suspicion, prejudice, and loathing. Of course that has something to do with it, it at least has everything to do with why people are not standing up on mass and demanding that the US and other governments around the world show these people compassion and launch a humanitarian effort to relocate and help them.

I have sympathy for you, because of the hatred you receive. But do not forget what is written about haters: ‘Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness’ (1 John 2:9).

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

I don't doubt that you don't hate us, but I've known enough evangelical and Anabaptists, who do very much hate us, hate middle easterners, immigrants in general, and pretty much anyone who dares have a different culture or different expression of Christianity. Those that I have met want to change us, want us to assimilate, they're willing to bring people in and then if they don't completely abandon their roots within about the first ten years their generosity turns straight to suspicion, prejudice, and loathing. Of course that has something to do with it, it at least has everything to do with why people are not standing up on mass and demanding that the US and other governments around the world show these people compassion and launch a humanitarian effort to relocate and help them.

I've butted heads with evangelicals over orthodox or catholics numerous times. I'm surprised they haven't expelled me from liberty university yet, because I am mission minded, but I won't waste my time trying to convert someone who is already christian because they have a different denomination. I didn't know how blind most americans are to orthodox until a couple years ago when that marine beat up a orthodox priest in florida years ago because they thought he was muslim.

 

[OrthodoxForever]

I've butted heads with evangelicals over orthodox or catholics numerous times. I'm surprised they haven't expelled me from liberty university yet, because I am mission minded, but I won't waste my time trying to convert someone who is already christian because they have a different denomination. I didn't know how blind most americans are to orthodox until a couple years ago when that marine beat up a orthodox priest in florida years ago because they thought he was muslim.

Thank You for being tolerant of us and not trying to convert us. May I ask what your thoughts are on the document released by the Baptist church about how to convert people of an Orthodox background?

 

[rjs330]

I have sympathy for you, because of the hatred you receive. But do not forget what is written about haters: ‘Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness’ (1 John 2:9).

Amen and well said. I know a lot of Christians who have been trying to help believers in the middle east get out. The US government is not interested in taking in middle eastern Christians but they are interested in taking in Muslims. Such a shame really.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[OrthodoxForever]

Why are they only interested in helping Muslims?

 

[ken777]

But do not forget what is written about haters: ‘Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness’ (1 John 2:9).

The same word for hate is used in Luke 14:26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple."

It seems to me that we are told to "hate" whatever - or whomever - is an evil influence.

Whether the "hate" is interpreted as not allowing one's personal beliefs & behaviour to be influenced (my view) or whether this "hate" is interpreted in action to prevent society being affected by non Christian influences, may vary according to the reader.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

The same word for hate is used in Luke 14:26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple."

It seems to me that we are told to "hate" whatever - or whomever - is an evil influence.

Whether the "hate" is interpreted as not allowing one's personal beliefs & behaviour to be influenced (my view) or whether this "hate" is interpreted in action to prevent society being affected by non Christian influences, may vary according to the reader.

The same word may have two different meanings or two different nuances of meaning, may it not?

 

[PloverWing]

Thank You for being tolerant of us and not trying to convert us. May I ask what your thoughts are on the document released by the Baptist church about how to convert people of an Orthodox background?

It's clearly silly (and offensive) to try to "convert" an Orthodox Christian to Christianity. I haven't run across the Baptist document you mentioned, though. Can you give a reference to a place I can find it online?

 

[dude99]

I agree that there are many, many Christians out there that go out of their way to help the asylum seekers and aid programs for them. Even so I agree in today climate there needs to be border protection, and scrutiny on the asylum seekers backgrounds. Yet if deporting asylum seekers back to their home countries will result in greater harm than good, then there needs to be humane options available for them.

 

[Meowzltov]

Why it seems most Christians are against asylum seekers? For the political parties most Chrisitans support are the parties who are are openly stating to deport asylum seekers and even refuse to accomodate people that have fled their own countries due to war and persecution. Anyway Jesus Christ himself was a refugee.

It seems the people I personally know that are most passionate about the rights of asylum seekers are not Christian at all. Unlike some Chrisitans I come accross who believe that asylum seekers should be deported from the country.

Let me say first off that I am not against asylum seekers. I simply think we should screen them better. However, I do understand the concerns that people have, so let's see if I can articulate them for you.

They do not assimilate into Western Culture. They want to come here and maintain the culture they left. That is not like other immigrants. For example, Irish immigrants or Italian immigrants or Jewish immigrants of the past wanted to assimilate and become Americans. The fact that these Syrians have no intention of assimilate poses serious problems for Europe and America.

Their sexism is creating unique problems, even violence. I read one story of a place in Switzerland that was going to charge a lot of money in fines in order to force immigrant teenage boys to shake the hands of their female teachers, as is standard Swiss culture. Countries in Europe are being faced with the question of whether or not to allow burqinis at swimming pools or whether to insist on regular European culture (many places simply insist that you may not swim "while dressed.") But the real problem is the attitude of Syrian men towards western women in western clothing, especially swimsuits. They are considered "loose" and "asking for it." There has been real problems with rape, so much so that many places in Europe have simply banned all immigrants from public swimming pools.

Finally, there is no way to tell the difference between a regular immigrant, and a terrorist. Where do you think these terrorists are coming from that are attacking France, Belgium, and Germany? The immigrant population! Sometimes they come in already terrorists. But the immigrant population is also much easier to radicalize.

So the choice is difficult. To what degree do we help out the foreign oppressed at the price of endangering our own culture and people?

 

[dude99]

Let me say first off that I am not against asylum seekers. I simply think we should screen them better. However, I do understand the concerns that people have, so let's see if I can articulate them for you.

They do not assimilate into Western Culture. They want to come here and maintain the culture they left. That is not like other immigrants. For example, Irish immigrants or Italian immigrants or Jewish immigrants of the past wanted to assimilate and become Americans. The fact that these Syrians have no intention of assimilate poses serious problems for Europe and America.

Their sexism is creating unique problems, even violence. I read one story of a place in Switzerland that was going to charge a lot of money in fines in order to force immigrant teenage boys to shake the hands of their female teachers, as is standard Swiss culture. Countries in Europe are being faced with the question of whether or not to allow burqinis at swimming pools or whether to insist on regular European culture (many places simply insist that you may not swim "while dressed.") But the real problem is the attitude of Syrian men towards western women in western clothing, especially swimsuits. They are considered "loose" and "asking for it." There has been real problems with rape, so much so that many places in Europe have simply banned all immigrants from public swimming pools.

Finally, there is no way to tell the difference between a regular immigrant, and a terrorist. Where do you think these terrorists are coming from that are attacking France, Belgium, and Germany? The immigrant population! Sometimes they come in already terrorists. But the immigrant population is also much easier to radicalize.

So the choice is difficult. To what degree do we help out the foreign oppressed at the price of endangering our own culture and people?

read my post 318 and yes I do believe in border protection. Previous open border policies have setbacks....I like to point that there are many Muslim refugees are converting to Christianity in Germany.