I am terrified at what I am seeing. ISIS is dangerous and frightening, right? But I'm not talking about that right now; I am talking about the fruit of what some now seek to sow in the west.
What is the difference, after all, between taking a sword and hacking the head off of children ... or shutting children out out by means of our governors, knowing they will freeze to death because they have no shelter from the bitter cold of winter?
I'll tell you the difference: It would be far easier to die by the sword.
It was recently proposed that America should form an agency to promote Christian values, particularly so that those values may be observed by the east.
What an enormous and tragic irony in the making! Because right now, as I write this, the foundation of Christian values - the chief cornerstone - is a Syrian child in need and knocking at our doors. There is no greater test of Christian values; indeed, there is no other test that matters.
Listen, Jesus said that first. I'm only repeating what he said. If we are defining Christian values, probably Christ should weigh in.
If we turn him away because of our fear, if we obey our terror instead and shut out those families in need, our values are not merely anti-Christian, they are rendered utterly valueless - on grounds both religious and humanist. We will cease to be human in any enlightened or divine or even civilized sense of the word and will become like beasts.
Maybe people acting this way is the very beast John was talking about in Revelations.
What stuns me is how many people are pulling themselves in such completely polar opposite directions - they want to promote Christian values, but they now refuse to do the very thing that Jesus insists they must do to have any part in him or his salvation - and don't realize it.
The story about the Pharisees is in the Bible for a reason. The Pharisees were not stupid. And I have often wondered, until recently, how they could be confronted with so much truth ... and still crucify him.
It is my feeling that this is in the Bible to warn the leaders of God's church today. I hope they are listening. The Pope said we should take the refugees in - like Jesus says. Isn't he right?
I understand about fear - it is perfectly reasonable. They are called terrorists for a reason. But I have a serious observation and question to put before my Christian friends:
Jesus, the man whom you believe is now alive and rules with God - and I believe this as well - assures us, with great clarity and gravity, that if thirsty children do not drink because we refuse to give them water, it is Jesus we leave thirsty; and that same man goes on to say that those who shut up compassion and mercy will be shown no mercy, but will be cast into outer darkness, and that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It will be Jesus who is hungry, thirsty, cold, crying and dying. Jesus will be the mothers and fathers watching that happening to their kids. Jesus said this - it is all written down.
Christians, if we really believe he is God and no liar, shouldn't we be more terrified about that?