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Bible is clear on helping immigrants
abqjournal.com ^ | July 13, 2014 | Justin Remer-thamert / Program Director, New Mexico Faith Coalition For Immigrant Justice

Posted on 07/13/2014 7:53:34 AM PDT by moonshinner_09

Southeast New Mexico is facing a crisis that cuts at the heart of Christian faith and practice.

With Immigration and Customs Enforcement bringing some 600 Central American refugees to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, local citizens are rallying. Tragically, the most vehement response is exceptionally negative, couched in fear, fueled in politicized rhetoric and grounded in anything but biblical, moral and humanitarian concerns.

As faith leaders and pastors in Eddy and Lea Counties, we call for Christian grace, morality and common sense given the looming crisis. We commend events like a planned July 15 interfaith vigil at Immaculate Conception Church, 619 Copper NW in Albuquerque at 6 p.m.

Scripture repeatedly and unapologetically calls us to welcome the stranger, the orphan, the widow. Leviticus 19:33-34 recalls when the people of God were unwanted immigrants in Egypt. Central to the biblical narrative is the call to remember the treatment of the Hebrew people so we never return such inhumanity upon others.

Jesus emphasized this vital law of God’s grace and welcome. Most notably, Matthew 25 reminds us that salvation hinges on caring for “the least of these.” James writes that for faith to be authentic, it must prioritize our care for the orphans and widows in distress. As Central American women and children are brought to our backyard in Eddy County, Christianity demands compassion.

Extending hospitality to the stranger is not an easy practice. We fear what we don’t understand. Accordingly, many have expressed outrage at the decision to house these immigrants at FLETC.

(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Local News; Politics
KEYWORDS: aliens; immigration; nm
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How come God never demands love, not punishment for all these folks leaving their countries to come north to America ?. Also as the Pastor points out here- Let us seek to understand the immigrant’s reasons for coming and to work collaboratively for just and reasonable immigration reform. Where is this same pastor and the many more like him out there daily speaking of how the many,many like him that they clearly cannot see that Americans already here cannot find jobs.Where is the let us understand that millions of Americans already here are reasons that are stated here how illegals making Americans move from state after state only to find there is no work in any other sates just the way it is due south.Should Pastors like him stop and ask themselves we have over last report there are about 100 million Americans unemployed if and when they are employed the wages = slave wages..These faith leaders who not bring up the topic that we come together to speak with all the out of work Americans and Immigration and Customs Enforcement ,Congress,Obama intends not to put Americans first ?Why is it faith leaders like these listed here would dare not say anything regarding millions of Americans out of work yet can talk with you all day long about illegals who come here illgally and we speak about them and how we must help them in anyway we can..How come illeglas get dr's apointments right away and at the same time our vets must wait ,wait and hurry up and wait and wait and wait.
1 posted on 07/13/2014 7:53:34 AM PDT by moonshinner_09
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To: moonshinner_09

They are not orphans. Now, if they want to allow us to adopt them and sever all ties with their families that’s fine.

This thing reminds me of the person that stops traffic and risks serious accidents to let a car pull into traffic that could have just as easily waited for the next opening in traffic.

Sometimes there are consequences to helping. Like when my kids got head lice when we took in a green card carrying Mexican woman 20 years ago with her six kids. Never again.


2 posted on 07/13/2014 7:57:57 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: moonshinner_09

Well ... this would make perfect sense ... if the government and God were the same thing.

But they’re not.


3 posted on 07/13/2014 7:58:15 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("Harvey Dent, can we trust him?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBsdV--kLoQ)
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To: moonshinner_09
If we extend our largesse to these invaders, why stop there? There are millions of other "oppressed" people around the world. Why not open our borders to them too? In fact, why not become the garbage disposal for all the world's trash? Think of the service we'd be doing our downtrodden brothers and sisters if we took all their parasitic, diseased, criminal, insane, and barbaric refuse into our homes. Then those countries could proceed to build themselves up, knowing they had kept only the desirable elements because someone else was stupid enough to take the leavings.

America: the World's Landfill.

4 posted on 07/13/2014 7:58:31 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: moonshinner_09
I love it when Liberals turn to The Bible. God works in mysterious ways.

Say, Justin, how about doing a segment on what The Bible says about engaging in homosexual acts or about why a man and woman should leave their families and all that stuff.

That oughta be a fun read.

5 posted on 07/13/2014 7:59:39 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: moonshinner_09
Bible is clear on helping immigrants

Yeah, LEGAL immigrants, not illegal border-jumpers!

6 posted on 07/13/2014 8:00:16 AM PDT by Ken522
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To: moonshinner_09
Scripture repeatedly and unapologetically calls us to welcome the stranger, the orphan, the widow

It also has a few things to say about bearing false witness.

Look into it. You might be surprised.

7 posted on 07/13/2014 8:01:28 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: moonshinner_09

In 1500 BC, there were no immigration laws. The Israelites were invited into Egypt. They did not invade. When they did invade Canaan, they had to fight.

I’m all for helping the poor...in their own country. I support LEGAL immigration, although I wish we would write our laws to take in people who would help America instead of being a burden. My wife is a LEGAL immigrant from the Philippines.

What I oppose is an invasion of foreigners with different ideals and political beliefs flooding in from Mexico across the southern border. I object to the idea that people who wish to immigrate to the US legally have to wait their turn, UNLESS they come from Mexico or Central America. I object to having a flood of people entering illegally and trying to change our culture into one of never-ending entitlement to my money instead of supporting themselves.

I do, however, donate food, money and clothing to orphanages in northern Mexico...


8 posted on 07/13/2014 8:02:38 AM PDT by Mr Rogers
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To: moonshinner_09

Oh? They had tattooed gang members and drug cartels in Biblical times?


9 posted on 07/13/2014 8:02:58 AM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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To: moonshinner_09
Justin Remer-thamert / Program Director, New Mexico Faith Coalition For Immigrant Justice

Say, Justin, how much does that gig pay?

10 posted on 07/13/2014 8:03:06 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: moonshinner_09
They can't have it both ways. Liberals don't want and fight against every attempt to make America a "Christian" nation and have succeeded in turning America into a secular, humanistic nature whose laws are based on whatever popular opinion is.

They can't turn around and cite biblical examples of a true Godly nation, led by the Lord himself, and say that we have to do the same thing unless they're wiling to actually turn the government over to God.

11 posted on 07/13/2014 8:03:37 AM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: moonshinner_09

Bible is clear on helping immigrants

Pharaoh invited Joseph`s father and family to cross the border LEGALLY into Egypt.

Gen 45-17

“Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan, 18and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’…


12 posted on 07/13/2014 8:03:54 AM PDT by bunkerhill7 ("The Second Amendment has no limits n firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.")
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To: moonshinner_09

I hate when libs cite religion as a reason to do anything. The Bible is clear on many things, but as is often said we do not live in a nation governed by the Bible, and I think for the most part that’s a good thing.


13 posted on 07/13/2014 8:04:16 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: cuban leaf
The 'good' Catholic Nancy Pelosi says it is OK to murder babies in the womb, but we have to obey her and her ilk regarding illegal aliens. What a pile of crap.

Nancy Pelosi washes immigrants’ feet in humble Holy Week act — then promotes on Twitter

14 posted on 07/13/2014 8:04:17 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: moonshinner_09

These are ‘immigrants’?


15 posted on 07/13/2014 8:04:17 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
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To: moonshinner_09
So give them a hot meal, some shots, $100 and send them back where they came from.

Or, are we to rescue the entire world?

16 posted on 07/13/2014 8:04:29 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: IronJack

Don’t let Godless and Amoral Press like the Albq Journal lecture you on the bible. When the left does this they look for power over the Judeo-Christian majority here in America. It pisses me off when anyone tells me that Jesus would do this or that it is the Christian thing to do. REALLY?? Do they hold themselves in such high esteem that they know what God is thinking?? Our God is a Righteous God that believes in the FORGIVENESS of sins. He is not a TOLERANT God. In order to FORGIVE sins one must have committed a wrong—Which is NOT tolerated, but is forgiven for all.


17 posted on 07/13/2014 8:05:15 AM PDT by timlilje
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To: ClearCase_guy
Well ... this would make perfect sense ... if the government and God were the same thing.

But its easy to see how the statists would believe they are.

18 posted on 07/13/2014 8:05:58 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: moonshinner_09
Endangering your children with criminal gang-bangers and contagious diseases is “Christian.”

Right!

19 posted on 07/13/2014 8:06:06 AM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: moonshinner_09

Churches aren’t allowed in the camps, along with congressmen or cameras. But Big Br’O wants the Catholic Bishops’ help—as long as they don’t use the Name of Jesus.


20 posted on 07/13/2014 8:06:17 AM PDT by CharlesOConnell (CharlesOConnell)
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