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You missed some of the posts on this thread?
The Good Samaritan has already been addressed.
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I see everyone jumped on board my comment about all of the caveats Jesus had about helping people and when we should not be helping people; when we should not be showing love and concern for them.
Well! I finally found the verse!
Here's the one where Jesus says "ONLY help people's whose circumstances you entirely are aware of in order to keep yourself safe:
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"Matthew 25:40
And here's the one where Jesus story about Jesus chastizing an enemy of the people of Israel who had the unmitigated gall to help someone in need:
And I'm sure Jesus expects more righteous acts from his enemies than from his followers.
Using "wisdom" is not the same as having baseless prejudicial thoughts against someone you don't know that prevent you from helping them. I can guarantee that 80-90% of the refugees from Syria have had experiences equal to or WORSE than the woman you chose to help.Hiding one's head in the sand is turning a blind eye to evil, and thus perpetuating that evil, which God finds abominable. To not address the evil that is the cause for any refugees fleeing from the gitgo, is contributing to it and perpetuating it by being an arm of the very evil that is creating the need for refugees to flee.
I am an advocate for the downtrodden, the cast-aside, the abused, the "invisible". Always HAVE been. I give money (whatever is in my pocket) to the homeless, sleeping under and on top of piles of rags, blankets, etc, and i get to know them, speak out on their behalf and advocate for them in whatever dire need is most pressing. Many are veterans. It's tragic.
Once a woman from Ethiopia who spoke no English, was battered, had two small children, needed HUGE advocacy. I connected her with varying agencies, got her legal assistance, delighted with her when she learned yet one more English word (her husband would not allow her to learn English and he had nearly starved her before the police intervened), and she eventually got a job in an Ethiopian restaurant, got her house, and just shown (beamed) as she survived the trauma that she had endured.
I've worked closely with all kinds of agencies that intervene in dire dire refugee situations.
However, we would never ever allow even a hint of danger to filter through in some twisted way.
Wisdom, discretion, and clarity is a GOOD thing.
It is likened to sanity and good judgment.
It's a "God" thing.
It pleases Him brother, for us to utilize His wisdom in all situations.
Using "wisdom" is not the same as having baseless prejudicial thoughts against someone you don't know that prevent you from helping them. I can guarantee that 80-90% of the refugees from Syria have had experiences equal to or WORSE than the woman you chose to help.
No. Instead you turn a blind eye to people suffering because people who don't hold the same beliefs as other people who are trying to kill them (and also don't share your beliefs), can't be trusted.Faith in God is not the same thing as foolish.
I know that God will provide for me, yet I get up and go to work everyday, and I don't leave my front door wide open in "faith" thinking that God will protect my belongings.
We don't have brainless compassion, and we don't tempt God. We don't walk across a highway blindfolded thinking God will protect us.
No. Instead you turn a blind eye to people suffering because people who don't hold the same beliefs as other people who are trying to kill them (and also don't share your beliefs), can't be trusted.
All of your examples are earthly examples from which Jesus provided no direction AT ALL. Jesus never said that God will protect your material possessions. Jesus also never said if you put yourself in imminent danger, Jesus would swoop down and save you.
Jesus DID say, help the poor and down trodden.
Period.
End of sentence.
No caveats.
Jesus DID say to show love to everyone.
Jesus DId say that whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.
I have to wonder if you all think that Syrian refugees do not fit the bill of what Jesus is referring to in the last paraphrase there.
I think everybody omitted that.What interestingly enough, you have omitted, is what "caused" the refugees to flee in the first place.
I didn't but I've seen the same answer given about 12 different times.you didn't read all the posts, did you?
It has been covered. Poorly.From your response it appears that you did not read all the posts or perhaps did not understand them.
It's been covered already.In detail.
Practically no one will even do what Jesus says for brethren (yes , even for brethren) in their own home town.I wonder: Who here believes God would rather have us die serving others, or live ignoring their plight?
You mean the fact that ISIS, their own government, and upwards of 16 other pro/anti-government factions are bombing the heck out of them? Yes, I'm sure those refugees will be VERY quick to throw their support behind ISIS; or that they would be motivated to attack the people helping them in favour of the people who bombed their homes and killed their neighbours.What interestingly enough, you have omitted, is what "caused" the refugees to flee in the first place.
I didn't but I've seen the same answer given about 12 different times.
We are not called upon to help Syrian refugees because:
1) That is showing "wisdom" ([several posts on this thread] prejudicial thoughts against the downtrodden does not constitute wisdom in my books).
2) Refugees are dangerous and cannot be trusted (#54...you're comfortable with throwing the baby out with the bathwater)
3) Muslims are plotting an evil world take over and therefore can never be trusted (#41)
I wonder: Who here believes God would rather have us die serving others, or live ignoring their plight?
Lastly, I find it FANTASTIC that Canada has let in sooooo many refugees given the blessing we are constantly showered with.
OK. So I actually did read all the posts and I stand 100% by what I said. There is no confusion and there really hasn't been much of useful, rational discussion. You guys are parroting and back patting each other and not really addressing in a substantive way people who provide rebuttals (myself included).Thus why there seems to be confusion.
Perhaps you should read all of the posts to alleviate any confusion and at least give you a handle on how far the conversation has come.
You mean the fact that ISIS, their own government, and upwards of 16 other pro/anti-government factions are bombing the heck out of them? Yes, I'm sure those refugees will be VERY quick to throw their support behind ISIS; or that they would be motivated to attack the people helping them in favour of the people who bombed their homes and killed their neighbours.
OK. So I actually did read all the posts and I stand 100% by what I said. There is no confusion and there really hasn't been much of useful, rational discussion. You guys are parroting and back patting each other and not really addressing in a substantive way people who provide rebuttals (myself included).
I will wait for the replies but I'm not prepared just yet to say I'm looking forward to it.
My emphasis. This is what it this argument comes down to, in its entirety, for me.Just out of curiosity - is this the general feeling in the US? When I was in the UK most people I know were quite eager to welcome refugees, though the government not so much. However, Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury) took in some refugees.
Other European countries have taken in a lot of refugees. I know quite of few have converted to Christianity, which is good - though sadly there has been some controversy around it as some suspect not all converts are sincere, but convert in order to get visa more easily.
I'm very positive to the refugees. I think the claim that ISIS cells are hiding among them is, whilst possible, borderline selfish considering we're talking about many people's lives who are fleeing from terrorism and oppression. Many of which are Christians and hold the heritage of being the first church in the world. We ought to care for the poor and the needy and lay our lives down for them, in line with the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And it goes on. And on. And on. Non-stop.
THIS is the issue. It IS especially fiendish to use refugees as a smoke screen to enter other countries for diabolic reasons.
footnote to look into later: Do you, or "you do" realize, perhaps, that this has been directly going on for over 50 years ? (with basically no official resistance and basically NO recognition by anyone that it was going on, save for the few elect (as God provides and reveals) )
My emphasis. This is what it this argument comes down to, in its entirety, for me.
I understand (intellectually, AND emotionally) the rational behind not wanting Syrian refugees to come in. Intellectually, I think their argument is flawed and essentially, a HUGE waste of emotional energy (given the kind of violence that already goes unchecked in the US, it feels, actually, a bit maddenning that people are SO concerned about syrian refugees; Americans treat each OTHER poorly enough) but I understand the logic behind it.
But IMHO, the intellectual reason AND the emotional reason both get trumped by the bolded command from Jesus Christ. It's a matter of trusting God's plan of showing His love to all and then whatever happens, happens.
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