Immigrants, Matt 25:38-39, Trump/Vance

[sun rise]

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Who is the "stranger". Literally that means "foreigner", immigrant. And I'm thinking of legal immigrants right now. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian but signs on to the demonic fear mongering of Trump/Vance/others is not someone that to me is not following what the Bible says Jesus said.

These stories stood out for me from religious sources:

Pay attention to what Trump lies about most​

Lately he has portrayed them as inmates of prisons and insane asylums, members of terrorist organizations and gangs, all coming to do us harm.​

...​

In truth the people seeking to come to America are those Jesus told us to welcome. In the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says how we welcome the stranger, demonstrates how we welcome or don’t welcome him. The word “stranger” in the gospel text literally means “immigrant” and “refugee.” Jesus says, “As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.”​

'Morally sick': Ex-Southern Baptist leader condemns Trump and Vance's lies​

Former Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore sees "the devil at play" in Donald Trump and J.D. Vance's stories about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.​

...​

"This is part of the moral sickness that we see around us right now," said Moore, a former high-ranking official in the Southern Baptist Convention.​

And Vance? He's proud of his lies which to me are even worse than lies - they are deliberate gaslighting to stir up fear and anger.

‘Remarkable Confession!’ JD Vance Absolutely Floors Observers With Comment That He’s Been ‘Creating’ Stories About Migrant Pet Eating​

And what evil are their lies causing?

Turmoil erupts in Pennsylvania town after Trump spreads false claims about Haitians there​

One woman claimed that she got a flat tire driving through Charleroi and her car was "surrounded" by about "15 Haitians." She said she was "scared."​

...​

The group got her car unstuck and changed her tire.​

 

[sun rise]

On the other hand, many ordinary people are supporting the Haitians (and others in other places). It's way past time for our politics to reflect the good will of so many.

Photo Shows Packed Haitian Restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, Following False Claims​

​

 

[crossfire]

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Who is the "stranger". Literally that means "foreigner", immigrant. And I'm thinking of legal immigrants right now. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian but signs on to the demonic fear mongering of Trump/Vance/others is not someone that to me is not following what the Bible says Jesus said.

These stories stood out for me from religious sources:

Pay attention to what Trump lies about most​

Lately he has portrayed them as inmates of prisons and insane asylums, members of terrorist organizations and gangs, all coming to do us harm.​

...​

In truth the people seeking to come to America are those Jesus told us to welcome. In the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says how we welcome the stranger, demonstrates how we welcome or don’t welcome him. The word “stranger” in the gospel text literally means “immigrant” and “refugee.” Jesus says, “As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.”​

'Morally sick': Ex-Southern Baptist leader condemns Trump and Vance's lies​

Former Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore sees "the devil at play" in Donald Trump and J.D. Vance's stories about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.​

...​

"This is part of the moral sickness that we see around us right now," said Moore, a former high-ranking official in the Southern Baptist Convention.​

And Vance? He's proud of his lies which to me are even worse than lies - they are deliberate gaslighting to stir up fear and anger.

‘Remarkable Confession!’ JD Vance Absolutely Floors Observers With Comment That He’s Been ‘Creating’ Stories About Migrant Pet Eating​

And what evil are their lies causing?

Turmoil erupts in Pennsylvania town after Trump spreads false claims about Haitians there​

One woman claimed that she got a flat tire driving through Charleroi and her car was "surrounded" by about "15 Haitians." She said she was "scared."​

...​

The group got her car unstuck and changed her tire.​

Yeah, I saw where he admitted to "creating stories." Brazen.

 

[The Hammer]

"If I have to creat stories..."

What a tool.

 

[Ebionite]

Who is the "stranger". Literally that means "foreigner", immigrant

The point that you are missing is that the verses are about brethren.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Matthew 25:40

Knowing how to distinguish brethren from others is essential in order to avoid empowering a potential predator.

 

[sun rise]

The point that you are missing is that the verses are about brethren.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Matthew 25:40

Knowing how to distinguish brethren from others is essential in order to avoid empowering a potential predator.

That's not what the religious figures in the OP said it meant.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

The hospitality displayed in the verses was not novel, I don't think, in the context of ancient times. I would think that the new testament had a very broad custom as a source, where it was smart to offer food and lodging to travelers who could be an important source of news. They didn't have the internet. That said, the context of these verses is also that of ancient Israel, where Rome was trying to colonize it - if not in terms of property, then probably in terms of fealty. I'm not saying that this is occurring now, I just think it's a curious pair of verses for Jesus to say in the midst of his historical situation

I suggest that modern issues are far more novel than these ancient verses can address. The ancient world never ran out of work, and never had a real overpopulation issue, if most people died early of dental infections or something. We can keep taking people into this country, but what are they going to do? That really is the major question of the day, and also.. where are they going to live? The politicians talk about food prices rising.. Well we have very fertile land, why are we chewing it up with new housing developments? Also, if businesses just want to use temp workers, and use the immigrants for that, then chances are they aren't going to make enough to buy a house. How is that a win for leftism?

The left and the right want to eat up what open space we have left in the country, whereas I think space is pretty great. They want to constantly grow the population, because that has something to do with expanding GDP numbers. But traffic increases, and congestion.. actual home ownership decreases.. and what happens to the environment, and the fertile land that was available?

 

[Ebionite]

That's not what the religious figures in the OP said it meant.

Much of religion is error.

 

[Spice]

It's a repeated instruction...The Bible also says that foreigners or refugees should not be oppressed. The word "gēr" appears almost 50 times in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Leviticus 19:33-34
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself".
Exodus 22:21
"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Hebrews 13:2
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".

 

[Pogo]

Much of religion is error.

Much? Please enlighten us as you have done on so many other topics.

 

[Ebionite]

It's a repeated instruction...The Bible also says that foreigners or refugees should not be oppressed.

No, it's not repeated. Oppressing someone is not the same thing as not assisting them.

Leviticus 19:33-34
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself".

Sojourn means a short stay or a visit, like a house guest or a tourist, not someone who intends to stay permanently as an immigrant would.

 

[Spice]

No, it's not repeated. Oppressing someone is not the same thing as not assisting them.


Sojourn means a short stay or a visit, like a house guest or a tourist, not someone who intends to stay permanently as an immigrant would.

How was Abraham told to treat his people as he picked up various nomads throughout his wanderings?

And set all this aside, what did Jesus say was the second great commandment? Are there any stipulations?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

How was Abraham told to treat his people as he picked up various nomads throughout his wanderings?

And set all this aside, what did Jesus say was the second great commandment? Are there any stipulations?

In my opinion, nomads should have rights, and such a lifestyle can be less invasive on the environment. I follow youtube channels that have nomads, and it's bad watching them struggle. But I don't where in the world it is that real nomadism is encouraged a lifestyle, and it also something that not many people want to actually do. Immigration where it involves the settling of land, is not really nomadism, in my opinion..

 

[sun rise]

It's a repeated instruction...The Bible also says that foreigners or refugees should not be oppressed. The word "gēr" appears almost 50 times in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Leviticus 19:33-34
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself".
Exodus 22:21
"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Hebrews 13:2
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".

Thanks for that confirmation.