Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'- Matthew 25: 37-40
Politics and religion simply do not mix. That is because one is supposed to deal with things eternal while the other is obsessed with things temporal. It seems however that some Christians never learn this lesson. Their affiliation or affinity for one political persuasion inevitably poisons their witness for Christ. The Bible then becomes something to use to prove a carnal point as Jesus is recast to fit their voting block and their view as to what compassion really is. Case in point is an article today in Charisma News by Larry Tomczak entitled, "Confessions of a Compassionate Conservative: 3 Steps to Solve Immigration the Jesus Way." After reading the article it appears that Mr. Tomczak, a Christian leader for several decades, does not understand the "Jesus way."
For those who do not watch the news, we have had a humanitarian crisis on the southern border of the United States for several weeks now. Parents from destitute and dangerous Central American countries have been sending their children unaccompanied to the border, where they willfully surrender to border agents. Thanks to a 2008 law, signed by then President Bush, these children cannot just be turned away. They must be processed first. This law was enacted to curtail sex trafficking. The result is what we have seen over the past few weeks where in Murrieta California angry mobs of residents screamed at buses of women and children and refused to allow them in, once again, to be processed. I understand the vitriol from the world. I expect the world to have factions of uncompassionate people who think intimidating busloads of children is somehow akin to patriotism. What I never seem to expect however is when people claiming the mantle of Christianity line up right next to them. This devotional is aptly titled because this sad story of haughtiness in the face of human suffering leaves me wondering - who would Jesus deport? According to Larry Tomczak, apparently everyone.
The above link will take you to the article in question where Tomczak starts as most in his beliefs system do - by changing who Jesus is:
For those harboring images of Jesus as a meek and mild religious figure with naked baby cherubs encircling His frisbee-haloed head, the following biblical event may be challenging to consider.
Yes, we who view the Messiah as kind and compassionate must all be collectively nuts. My Bible says that Jesus was led like a lamb to slaughter. That He remained silent before His shearers and did not open His mouth. Tomczak represents the barbed wire Jesus. You know, the one that carries an AR-15 and watches Duck Dynasty. You know, the one that never existed. What story by the way did Tomczak use to defend this nonsense? The story of the little children coming to Jesus.
After touching them as a token of affirmation and blessing (today He'd most likely give them a fist-bump and a high-five!), Jesus did what He always did after ministering to children -- release them back to dad and mom.
