Posted on 02/07/2017 7:52:11 AM PST by 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."
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Thomas Aquinas was not an apostle of Yeshua, thus read him at your eternal peril.
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The Catholic Church has a parish just outside of Escalon, CA, on highway 120, whose congregation appears to be entirely composed of illegal aliens.
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This is being passed around on the net.
Mercy is not a political position.
http://www.mattpopovits.com/blog/dear-christian-mercy-is-not-political
elect - as in those chosen to lead. Not the more strict usage of elect - as in those going to heaven.
Minor difference in interpretation. Root word is Greek eklektos. Usage in the bible falls into three categories:
I) picked out, chosen
A) chosen by God,
i) to obtain salvation through Christ
Christians are called “chosen or elect” of God
ii) the Messiah is called “elect”, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
iii) choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
In my assertion, I was using it as in iii - meaning pastors who are chosen to lead the flock.
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’"—Acts 17
Refugees
In Numbers, giving regulations for offerings:
Numbers 15:
14 And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do. 15 One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. 16 One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.’”
= = =
Note these ‘strangers’ are to follow all of the offerings, ordinances, customs of the Isrealites.
Follow the law and The Constitution.
No sheera.
I agree that mercy is not a political position. However, when the government gets involved, it becomes political.
And when the government hand out money to organizations for “mercy”, it becomes even more political, to the point whether you don’t know if the organizations are there to glorify God, or the government, or just lining their own pockets.
He is mixing apples and oranges. He makes the same mistake a lot of people make. It stems from a kind of self-righteous naiveté. Or naïve self-righteousness.
As a Christian, you treat people with love and respect. That would include illegal aliens, whoever crosses your path.
That doesn’t mean you leave your door unlocked over night. That doesn’t mean that, as policy, you don’t lock up bank robbers, or secure your border against outsiders trying to come in without permission. You may have prison outreach but you still jail people who need jailin’. Help the poor without questioning their documents too closely, enforce immigration laws humanely, but enforce them.
You will occasionally notice that churches who support missionaries in muslim countries do not identify these people by name. There is a reason. In many muslim countries an evangelist will be immediately deported if he is not simply killed. For sure his local church members, if they are former muslims, will be subject to attack if not killed.
If Scott were involved supporting missionary work in any of the seven countries on the list, he would understand Trump’s policy. As it is, there is nothing wrong with the church reaching out to refugees who are here in the country, it is a good thing. As Christians you could not safely do that in their country, you can here because we have a border. You do not simply open the gate and let the people who murder Christians in Sudan or Somalia to simply stroll in as they please by the tens of thousands.
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So you think one not chosen of God can be part of “the very elect?”
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Churches started welcoming illegals years ago. Our old church even began a special service, just for them, en español.
They say it’s for community outreach...I wonder how many have assimilated....if they’re still attending the spanish service?
Question...who is funding this ‘outreach’?
Please stop trying to put words in my mouth.
I believe that Mat 24:24 warns us that even those that are the leaders of the church shall be deceived. Further, that even those chosen by God can be deceived and some will be deceived.
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The post to which you replied was a reply to the use of “very elect”
I didn’t put words into your mouth, your keyboard did.
This pastor should study John 6 where Christ chastised the people for being freeloaders. After that many left from following.
Perhaps Christ showed us the way.
“Trump’s Refugee Ban ‘at Odds With the Gospel,’
Um, buddy, so is lying, covetousness and bearing false witness.
Here in Franklin TN they all go to Spanish speaking masses 4-5 times a week
Some Catholic Churches in Nashville are virtually all Spanish
Incredible really
Maybe not
I’m sure the French ethnics in louzeeanna speak archaic French in some churches
But they are legal
The dude needs to re-read the Book.
You’d do more good preaching to the so-called Pope than you would preaching to Trump.
Catholic Charities Dallas
“Populations served: .... Individuals who are not in legal immigration status
“Languages spoken: Arabic, Burmese, English, Hindi, Malay-Indonesian, Spanish, Chin”
Your tax dollars at work.
“Catholic Church collects $1.6 billion in U.S. contracts, grants since 2012” (as of 2015)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/24/catholic-church-collects-16-billion-in-us-contract/
The Enemy is inside the wire. Pass it on.
No, I am not denying this. Indeed, you make a good point.
No
He preaches the gospel but he’s wrong on this’
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