There is a story that has gone ‘viral’ this past week that has its origins here in San Francisco at a local Giants baseball game; perhaps you’ve seen it? During the game broadcast, the TV cameras cut away to a woman who was making her way back to her seat, carrying a load of concession food with her daughter strapped to her as well. She seems to be maneuvering her way through the seats where her husband takes the food from her, but doesn’t seem to be overly helpful in helping her get settled in. The TV broadcasters then unload on this guy, and from there…the story takes off across social media platforms as people weigh in and continue the dog piling as they unload on this dude for being a pathetic excuse for a man. Days later, the wife/mom responds…to set the record straight and it is the perfect example as to how ignorant humans can be in their rush to judgment based on what little they know, see, or hear. (I’ll post a link to the story below in the comments if you care to read)

There’s a reason God likens us humans as ‘sheep’, even calling us stupid and foolish (Jer. 4:22).  Would you take a moment and go make sure you have 1 John 5:19 and Rev. 12:9 underlined in your Bible, please.

I’m continuing on today with some troubling observations in which many in the ‘conservative Christian community’ have been quite vocal with their feelings of opposition regarding two growing segments in our population here in America – undocumented immigrants and people within the Muslim community who are actively practicing their faith, even building mosques in their towns, heaven forbid. Some of these Muslims have had the audacity, as American citizens, to get involved in local and national politics. And ‘American Christians’ are not happy about any of this.  On one hand, we don't like when people break laws by sneaking into our country, but then on the other hand, we don't like when people of another faith who are American citizens exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion. And both groups are being perceived as 'threats' to our way of life here in America.

Let me plead with you once again…to try not to read this as a ‘political’ message, and at least hear me out…because we are walking on some dangerously ‘thin ice’ and I will clearly make the case from scripture why that is.

The main focus of my message has to do with ‘why’ God has either ‘allowed’ or perhaps even ‘brought’ these people here into our country, and why our heartfelt responses to both groups is a ‘test’ of sorts in which God is watching closely…and this will be a ‘pass or fail’ test. But first, allow me to simply point out briefly, two glaring points in our response regarding both groups of people we are confronted with, beginning with undocumented immigrants, or as many like to refer to them as: ‘illegal aliens’.

First of all…I know how the ‘enemy’ likes to work, given we are ‘not ignorant of his devices’ (2 Cor. 2:11). The minute anyone tries to step in and ‘defend’ these ‘illegals’, there is something that wants to rise up within us and immediately fire back, maybe even using some ‘salty words’ and demand: “So should we just open up the **** borders and let everyone in who needs a house and a meal and drain the bank and put them on the gov’t payroll’? Do you honestly know anyone who is advocating for that?

And have you ever noticed how just a handful of ‘news stories’ can spread like wildfire where cases of isolated abuse within the system has you convinced that ‘anyone and everyone (especially undocumented immigrants) on SS/welfare is a fraud and a cheat, or dead weight simply milking the system’? Why are we so easily convinced and quick to conclude this is the case? Is there no room for rational thought and discussion to examine the facts…or do we just want to believe what is convenient for us to believe at the time, sort of like so many did with that the 'low-life' husband in the viral story I mentioned at the start today?

Oh, but every single person who crossed the border ‘illegally’…broke the law; and because we are a nation of laws and order… these people who broke the law must all be rounded up and shipped back to their countries, because breaking the law has consequences!

And this is where I want to ask those who make this case, and it seems to mostly be professing ‘Christians’ who do…’Do you not readily admit to ‘sinning’ …almost on a daily basis? Do you know what ‘sin’ is? It’s ‘breaking God’s law’ (1 John 3:4). May I ask: “What’s wrong with this picture?” Are you familiar with the story of some folks who wanted to stone a woman for ‘breaking the law’, in John 8:1-11?

Let me be clear…I am not here to ‘defend’ anyone who ‘breaks the law’, nor am I suggesting ‘mass immunity for all’, or that we should have ‘open borders’. But for all the perceived ‘threats’ that so many feel when it comes to the ’20 million folks who crossed over during one administration’…and the subsequent drastic slowdown of illegal crossings under the current administration…how has either scenario affected your life personally these days, good or bad? Are you sleeping better at night? Cost of living gone down for you? Has your physical/mental health improved? Is all well in the world now? Can you point to any significant ‘data’ that suggest your life changed before/after ICE arrived and all these detention centers sprung up? As we like to ask ourselves…’are you better off these days?’  And friends, I honestly have no problem with our country having laws...and enforcing those laws.  Please read that last sentence again.

And speaking of ‘perceived threats’, when it comes to a growing Muslim population, that seems to be getting more attention these days…how are these folks threatening your ‘way of life’? Why do so many professing ‘Christians’ feel so …threatened by them? May I ask: “How big …or small is your God?” Seems I read somewhere that Jesus made it quite clear that those who were in His ‘church’…had no reason to worry, given He has equipped us with ‘power over all the power of the enemy’ (Luke 10:19) and that the ‘gates of hell would not prevail against His church’ (Matt. 16:18)…and that ‘anyone who is born of God no longer sins and the evil one can’t touch them’ (1 John 5:18).

So what is the real source of all this worry and anxiety and fear and dread, and where is it coming from? But let me go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt here and agree  with you (for a moment) that the threat is legitimate and the ‘enemy’ is real and here already…and if we don’t ‘act accordingly’…then we are doomed. Could it not be seen as a sign of God’s ‘judgment’ on this country?

And if that is indeed the case…since when does God withhold His judgements because His people ‘voted accordingly’? What happened to this thing called ‘repentance’ and ‘seeking His face’…and ‘turning from our wicked ways’? (2 Chron. 7:14).

Friends….that wasn’t a word for the a lost world of sinners…that was a word to HIS people!

But when it comes to this idea of a country coming under God's 'judgement'...do you know how God often carries this out?  He 'removes the hedge'...and allows the 'enemy' to 'come in like a flood'.  And our 'enemy'...is NOT...'flesh and blood'. (Eph. 6:12). I'll be back tomorrow, Lord willing.

[link to viral news story I mentioned at the start:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DdufWREkb-S/?img_index=3

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/a-multitasking-mom-went-viral-at-a-baseball-game-her-balancing-act-ignited-a-debate-012346460.html