Trump's Refugee Ban 'at Odds With the Gospel,' Says Megachurch Pastor of 30% Immigrant Congregation

Christian Post ^ | 2/6/2016 | STOYAN ZAIMOV

[Gamecock]

Pastor Dan Scott of Christ Church Nashville, 30 percent of whose congregation is made up of immigrants, says President Donald Trump's attempts at a travel ban for refugees is "at odds with the Gospel."

Scott told The Christian Post in a phone interview that Christ Church, a "spirit-filled evangelical Christian community" in Tennessee, has been helping refugees from different nations settle into the United States for many years now.

Christ Church, he explained, has been assisting many people from Nepal, as well as from a number of nations in Africa and Asia, along with Latin America, learn the language and other important things they need to know, such as the U.S. financial system.

"We help them with things like clothing, and just make friends with them, open up our church for them," so that they can "become members and part of our spiritual family here," he told CP.

Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 27 that temporarily suspended the U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days; indefinitely suspended Syrian refugees, and barred visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.

The travel ban was hit by U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, who halted the temporary measure. On Sunday, a U.S. appeals court denied a request from the Department of Justice to restore Trump's order.

Scott criticized the temporary ban for the lack of proper explanation, and for not giving people time to prepare for it, at least two weeks or so in advance.

"I think it was mean spirited, I think it represents a rising tide of nationalism that is at odds with the Gospel," the pastor said.

Speaking about the Christian responsibility when it comes to refugees, he argued it should always be one of "openness and kindness."

Scott said that in both the Old and New Testaments, Christian faith "as such does not recognize national boundaries."

"It is a nation without boundaries, it is an international nation itself. A kingdom. All Christian are dual citizens: where they reside, and the Kingdom of God," he continued.

"As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we ought to see all human beings as created in the image and the likeness of God. As Christians, we believe that Christ died for all, and we are to give witness to all, and kindness and consideration to all. We risk harm to ourselves in order to show care to others."

Another controvery arose when Trump suggested in an interview with CBN News last month that his administration would prioritize Christians and other religious minorities seeking asylum in the U.S. However, such language about prioritization does not appear in the executive order.

Some megachurch pastors, such as Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, have strongly backed Trump's attempts at a temporary ban and the suggestion to prioritize Christians.

"Nine out of the top 10 nations persecuting Christians are Muslim majority nations, which is why President Trump is absolutely correct in giving preference to Syrian refugees who are Christians," Jeffress said in an interview last week.

Persecution watchdog groups, such as Open Doors USA, have expressed mixed views on Trump's comments, backing him for recognizing the severity of Christian persecution, but also questioning whether the prioritization of Christians would actually be the right move.

"Expediting refugee entry for those intentionally targeted by ISIS, like the Yazidis and Christians and some Muslim groups, seems appropriate. However, cherry-picking one religion over another only exacerbates the already severe worldwide trend of religious persecution," David Curry, president of Open Doors USA, said in a statement.

Scott told CP that Christians have indeed been specifically targeted by radical groups in the Middle East.

"I think that Christians should be given consideration, and I think they have not," he said.

"I think that secularists often do not understand religious persecution."

The Christ Church pastor suggested that Trump's sentiments about prioritization "could have been explained differently," however.

He said that a nation "has a right, even responsibility to ensure safety for its citizens," but at the same time noted that the lone-wolf style attacks in Europe and the U.S. largely have not come from new migrants who have slipped through the vetting process, but from home-grown terrorists.

Scott added that sometimes "people who grew up as citizens have been radicalized, because they feel marginalized and discriminated against in these nations. Whether they are intentionally or not is another issue, but they feel that way."

[D Rider]

Well...at least he is a well meaning idiot.

[Just mythoughts]

I bet this turkey says Christ’s law, has been done away with too.

[Gamecock]

Pastor Dan Scott of Christ Church Nashville, 30 percent of whose congregation is made up of immigrants, says President Donald Trump's attempts at a travel ban for refugees is "at odds with the Gospel."

Really? Not seeing it here:

1 Cor 5:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day pin accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

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[JamesP81]

The infiltration of the church by the world’s spiritual rot is extremely thorough, moreso than we imagine. The lies always come dressed as truth and couched in terms of peace and love, but they only lead down the road to death, destruction, and damnation.

[AppyPappy]

The same Gospel that mentions “the narrow gate”.

[ExTexasRedhead]

What does the gospel say about burning people alive, beheadings, raping children?

[C19fan]

Scott said that in both the Old and New Testaments, Christian faith "as such does not recognize national boundaries."

Tell the Jews that they needed to roll out the welcome mat to the Philistines, Hellenic Greeks, and Romans. Those Muslims invaders coming through Spain, Sicily, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Balkans just let them come!

[mulligan]

Are they here legally? If not, then you are breaking the law.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

And bad for business.

[bigbob]

Opinions are like...

[ebshumidors]

Trump is at odds with his wallet.

[kosciusko51]

He is right, the Christian faith does not recognize any borders. No matter of where a person lives, he can become a Christian.

However, the Christian faith does recognize secular authority, and that the state has the ability to use the sword to exercise justice. And even a theocratic nation, such as OT Israel, can defend itself.

[MayflowerMadam]

When someone is “pastor” of a megachurch, he isn’t a pastor. He’s an events coordinator. You can be a preacher to a membership of that size, but a pastor is someone who has a personal relationship with the members which isn’t possible in a megachurch.

IMHO.

[TalBlack]

ONE OF THE SUBTLE BUT GREAT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE KORAN IS THAT THE KORAN HAS NO “ RENDER UNTO CAESER...” The koran is absolute control of earthly matters dressed up as Religion.

[Original Lurker]

End-times false church, no doubt.

[Nea Wood]

Scott said that in both the Old and New Testaments, Christian faith "as such does not recognize national boundaries."

Deuteronomy 32:8 states that, “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man [also translated Adam], He set the boundaries of the peoples.” Also, in Acts 17:26, God sets “bounds of habitation” among every nation of mankind that (in verse 27) “they should seek God…”

[Mr. Douglas]

Getting into politics kind of ruins a pastor’s credibility.

[jettester]

No one seems to be able (or, want) to answer this: Why does the Old City of Jerusalem have walls around it? Why did God allow Nehemiah the honor to go home and rebuild them?

[madison10]

It is NOT at "Odds with the Gospel." There are walls around ancient cities for a reason. Although the following is in reverse. It does make the point.

 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. 27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house. Mark 3:23;27 (WEB Jesus did NOT expect the strong man to not defend himself.

AND 36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me has an end.” 38 They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.”. Luke 22:36 (WEB) Again, He expected them to defend themselves.

It is not surprising that those who think it is fine to kill a defenseless baby are okay with not defending the country.