We have been sharing the above group of scriptures with friends, neighbors and relatives (actually, with the entire general public) through this blog, making the case that government bodies (local, statewide and national) cannot supersede God's laws. Those folks who are vehemently and adamantly opposed to immigrants in this country, always use (as their last resort and feeling it's) the most powerful argument in their political arsenal, that immigrants who cross the border to this country are law-breakers, therefore they need to be punished.
If anyone presents logical or common sensical arguments that proposing new laws such as H.R. 2885 and SB1070 that was enacted by the government of Arizona does not address the concerns they have about American unemployment, terrorist fears or drug trafficking, (such as Doris Meisner's article that appeared in the Washington Post on May 5, 2010, which more than sufficiently argued that immigration problems are more myth than fact), proponents of the law always come back and say, "Regardless, they are breaking the law."
When we point out that there is a greater principle to this immigration saga, they poo poo the scripture we send them (we have posted over 190 Bible verses on my other blog last year) that clearly state that God has a special place in His heart for the poor and the alien, and He will punish those who mistreat these people.
Yet, they come back stating that God does not favor law-breakers, therefore "Illegal Immigrants" must be arrested and pay for their crimes (of crossing the border without documentation to find work to feed their family)."
Well, folks, what can we say? If they don't believe what God most clearly states through His spoken word, maybe they will believe someone else. As we were pondering this matter, we see printed in today's Internet an article that more eloquently states our case; one that reminded us of a statement Jesus made when He delivered a parable concerning Lazarus and Rich Man to His disciples.
As the parable went, Lazarus was a beggar who died and the angels carried Him to Abraham's house (heaven) and when the rich man died he was sent to hell. The rich man is seen pleading for mercy, asking that at least Abraham will send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he is in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27" He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29" Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'31" He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "(Luke 16:25-31)
The point in the parable by Jesus is that people basically are very hard headed when it comes to things of God. Most don't believe in authorities (like Moses and the Prophets) and many are so thick-headed, they won't believe even Jesus who rose from the dead.
But, not Christians! Right?
They believe in Jesus' resurrection, which (for the most part they claim) guarantees their right to spend eternity with Christ when He returns to rule and reign on earth forever!
Unfortunately, that belief seems to be the only thing they cling to and many of them also feel that they don't have to obey God's laws anymore because they now have salvation, by grace. Not only individual Christians believe this way, but many governments, whether it be companies, churches and all (local, state and federal) governing entities, believe thus because they possess the power to enact laws to suit their own purposes, based on the "cash-heavy" contributors who assured their elections. They stir up the emotions of the public by using their media manipulators (from both the left and the right sides) to eventually do their bidding, and then they claim the people (their constituents) demanded these new laws!
These politicians and their contributors (largely major corporations and very wealthy donors, who control most media) pretty much dictate how laws are enacted in the US, in order for them to benefit their compatriots' pocketbooks. And, many times those laws they enact actually negate the proverbial laws established by the same person who gave and clearly set forth their duties of governance. Hallelujah! Instead of governing the body as God intended, they rule the way they want to, feeling they now know better than God!
Well, they don't believe Moses, nor the Prophets, and most certainly do not believe nor obey (as Jesus stated in the parable) someone who rose from thedead!
OK! OK! Let's give this proclamation effort one more human try.
The writer of the following article makes some powerful points in regards to what the governing bodies' responsibilities are all about, and one thing they most definitely should not do, is to supersede God's immutable laws.
Let's Bring Down Political Gods!
By Gary DeMar | Published: May 7, 2010
Rep. André Carson, an elected official from Indiana’s 7th District, believes that people who are involved in calling this present civil government (both Democrats and Republicans) to account are similar to Islamic terrorists. Here’s an exchange between Washington Times reporter Kerry Pickett and Carson:
KERRY PICKET: Do you think the people outside are generally dangerous or no?
REP. CARSON: Oh absolutely. I worked in homeland security. I’m from intelligence, and I’ll tell you, one of the largest threats to our internal security…. I mean terrorism has an Islamic face, but it really comes from racial supremacist groups. . . . It’s the kind of thing we keep a threat assessment on record [for].
PICKET: From groups like this?
REP. CARSON: Oh absolutely.
Does Carson offer any evidence of terrorist acts? No. He doesn’t have to since he believes that to question what this (his) government is doing is by definition a terrorist act. Criticism and the warning of removing someone from office through the electoral process are terrorist threats for the simple reason that government has become a god, and as such, “No other god can be put before it.” To criticize god, is to blaspheme and commit treason.
Rep. Carson needs a lesson in civil government from God’s perspective. God established civil government to be an avenger who brings wrathupon those who practice evil. The civil government's power to use the sword is legitimate in certain limited cases. The Bible has mandated that the power of the sword is to keep the peace, to protect those who do what is right. Civil rulers are said to be “ministers of God” similar to the way pastors are “ministers of God.” They are God’s “deacons” in their designated governments, one ecclesiastical and the other civil.
Not all rulers live up to the honorable title of “minister.” Paul is speaking of the ideal. Not everyone who rules is ministering in the biblical sense: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock ... I know that after my departuresavage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:28–30).
What’s true in the church is equally true in civil government. Not every ruler who seizes power or who is elected to office will minister in a just way (e.g., Pontius Pilate, Herod, Hitler, etc.). Paul is describing what a ruler’s proper function is. The apostle is not making a moral judgment about any particular ruler or political policy. Rather, his words describe what civil governments ought to be and ought to do. Every ruler should seek to minister as Christ ministered.
Jesus called Herod “that fox” (Luke 13:32). Jesus was not calling the legitimacy of civil government into question. He was making a value judgment about the government of Herod. This shows that it is biblically proper to criticize a ruler. Of course, our own Constitution gives us that right in that we can petition the government for a “redress of grievances” (First Amendment) and vote anyone out of office for any reason.
The typical ruler of Jesus’ day was a tyrant. “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them” (Luke 22:25). The distinguishing characteristic of true leadership is that of a servant. The ministry of the civil magistrate does not exist to serve its own end; it’s not a god. The true minister (servant) exists to serve others, but never apart from the laws of God. This means that the citizenry should not appeal to the magistrate to govern outside his designated ministerial duties.
The rulers in the realm of civil government must rule according to God’s law, the standard of good and evil. No government has the freedom to rule by some arbitrary man-centered standard of good and evil or the “will of the people.” The civil magistrate is a true minister when it operates according to biblical guidelines. The additional duties of civil governments are the well ordering of society and the maintaining of peace so that Christians are free to worship God, unhindered by forces hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The State has the duty to preserve law and order so that the Church is free to spread the gospel of peace. The civil government must be made to realize that there is no real peace without the presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
This climate of peace can only be accomplished by administering justice and righteousness to everyone. Justice and righteousness are defined in terms of God’s law. Civil rulers are commissioned to represent God as the judge. They act in such a capacity when they punish those who do evil (i.e., break God’s laws), as well as publicly commend those who do good (Romans 13:3–4).
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Thanks Gary DeMar! They laugh when we try to point this fact to them. Hopefully, your eloquent article will resonate. As we stated above, they no longer listen to the words of Moses nor of the Prophets, nor of the one person who sacrificed so much just to give His creation the opportunity to live with Him forever!For more information about this blog and Joe Ortiz' two newly published books, The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House), please click here Joe Ortiz
