Terrebonne recreation reforms rebuffed
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Back to School!
August 17, 2017
President Donald Trump recently supported legislation that would reduce the level of legal immigration into the United States by proposing a skills-based immigration system. This goes against the words printed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
This proposed change not only goes against everything we stand for as Americans, it also goes against everything the Bible tells us is God’s will for believers. The following are some biblical quotations. In scripture, the word “alien” means an immigrant.
“Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.” (Gen 12:10) “There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.” (Ex 12:49 and Lev 24:22) Moses said, “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Ex 22:21)
Moses gave God’s law: “You shall not strip your vineyards bare … leave them for the poor and the alien.” (Lev 19:9-10 and 23:22) “When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev 19:33-34 and 24:22)
“Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether a citizen or resident alien.” (Deu 1:16) “For the Lord your God … loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deu 10:18-19)
“You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land …” (Deu 24:14) “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien … of justice.” (Deu 27:19) “If you do not oppress the alien … then I will dwell with you in this place …” (Jer 7:5-7) “Do no wrong or violence to the alien.” (Jer 22:3-5)
“The aliens shall be to you as citizens, and shall also be allotted an inheritance.” (Eze 47:21-22) “Do no oppress the alien.” (Zec. 7:8-10) “The messenger will bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien.” (Mal 3:5)
Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled Herod’s search for the child and went to Egypt as immigrants. (Matt 2:13-15) “… I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matt 25:31-46) “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none.” (Luke 3:11)– “Bring good news to the poor … release to the captives … sight to the blind … let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4:16-21)
“The mark of the true Christian:” … Extend hospitality to strangers.” (Rom 12:13) “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.” (Eph 2:11-22)
Abraham himself was an immigrant: “By faith Abraham … set out for a place … not knowing where he was going.” (Heb 11:8) “… show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels.” (Heb 13:1-2) “Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?” (Jam 2:5)
“What good is it … if you say you have faith but do not have works?” (Jam 2:14-17) “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” (I John 3:18) “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God … We love because God first loved us.” (I John 4:7-21)
This is our Judeo-Christian heritage. This is the will of God. Let’s inform our legislators.
‘This proposed change not only goes against everything we stand for as Americans, it also goes against everything the Bible tells us is God’s will for believers.’
