Why Show Mercy to Immigrants?

 

What happens when you ask a president who says he has Christian values to govern using Christian values? You are witnessing it every day. Trump and his followers promote the idea that their actions are CHRISTIAN, advancing BIBLICAL standards for godly living. I say they have forgotten or choose to ignore Romans 3:7-8, "For if the truth of God has INCREASED through my LIE to His glory, why am I also STILL judged as a sinner? And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come?" - as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just."

In other words, you can't do horrible things even if it is for the good of the church, kingdom, or Christian body.

Taking President Trump at his word, that he stands with Christians, particularly Evangelicals, Rev. Budde issued a simple request. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Diocese of Washington, made a direct appeal to Trump during a post-Inauguration prayer service (January 2025) he attended, asking him to show mercy to members of the LGBTQ+ community and migrants who are in the country illegally.

Referencing Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from assassination (July 13, 2024, at 5:11 PM CDT), Budde preached, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”
Trump and his supporters did not hold kindly to being asked to show mercy towards people who may be fearful of his administration's future actions regarding immigration. Who becomes upset about being asked to be kind? Who needs to be asked to be kind in the first place? Both answers to the questions: Donald Trump and his supporters.

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, a prominent Trump supporter, was at the service and posted on X that Budde “insulted rather than encouraged our great president” and “there was palpable disgust in the audience with her words.” What was the reverend asking Trump to have mercy on? The way he will go about HANDLING immigrants. Why the disgust at the notion of being kind?

The executive orders signed on the first day of President Trump’s second term radically expand the legal authorities used to enforce immigration law against immigrants already in the U.S., while calling for an equally radical expansion of the infrastructure that would be needed to accomplish the "mass deportations" the president has promised. Furthermore, they signal efforts to immiserate unauthorized immigrants living in the United States, depriving them of the ability to work legally and punishing them for being unable to “register” with the U.S. government—something they have no way of doing.

While addressing the ongoing immigration problem, the Trump administration is not acting with MERCY, stripping a people of their DIGNITY and HUMANITY, forgetting many immigrants are fleeing their country riddled with poverty, war, and violence. Many immigrants flee poverty and violence from countries in Central America, including El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. These countries are among the most impoverished and violent in the world.
Wanting immigrants to enter the United States legally is the desire of the majority of Americans.

Very few people are in favor of people out and out breaking the law. What many people are taking exception to is the WAY the illegal immigrants are being treated. Donald Trump painted an apocalyptic picture of a country being "occupied" by hordes of criminal foreigners in his campaign speech. Trump has super-charged concerns by claiming an "invasion" is underway by migrants he says will rape and murder Americans. Donald Trump vowed to “rescue” the Denver suburb of Aurora, Colorado, from the rapists, “blood thirsty criminals,” and “most violent people on earth” he insists are ruining the “fabric” of the country and its culture: immigrants. The former president has escalated his xenophobic and racist rhetoric against migrants and minority groups he says are genetically predisposed to commit crime. This type of rhetoric leads to fear and violence.

          America proclaims to be a Christian nation. If it truly is, it would choose to be guided by the                 Christian Bible adhering to its principles; all NOT some of them. There are several passages                 guiding the Christian in how they are to treat foreigners. 

Love foreigners

• Leviticus 19:33-34: Treat foreigners as you would your own people, and love them as you love yourself
• Deuteronomy 10:18-19: God loves foreigners and provides for them with food and clothing 
• Matthew 25:35: Jesus says that welcoming strangers is a way to show that you are his follower 

Provide for foreigners

• Deuteronomy 14:28-29: Store tithes so that foreigners and Levites can eat 
• Isaiah 58:10: Feed the hungry and satisfy those in need

Show mercy to foreigners

Zechariah 7:9: Show kindness and mercy to foreigners, orphans, and widows
Deuteronomy 24:17-18: Do not deprive foreigners or orphans of justice
Deuteronomy 27:19: Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from foreigners, orphans, or widows

 

Donald Trump and Racism (Vote)

 

WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY EVANGELICALS, DOING SUPPORTING TRUMP?

I have been left bewildered by people who continue to support Donald Trump. I just don't get why people back a man who is ruled by greed and motivated by racism and sexism. They can no longer deny his flawed character and turn to the Bible and say God has always used flawed people. I'm sorry. As a Black person, there is not enough of Christian-splaining to get me on board with an outright racist.

If I haven't said it lately, I'll say it now. I am a Christian first, second, and last. As a practicing Christian I use the Bible as my guide for daily living. It instructs me in 2 Timothy 2:15, King James Version (KJV) "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Christians have a DUTY to correctly understand the Scriptures, live by a correct understanding of the Scriptures, and to teach sound doctrine in regard to Scripture. If people see Donald Trump as a man chosen by God, what is the KINGDOM mission, or message Trump has?

I have heard on many news programs whether God figures into a candidate's choices and motivations. Christians are encouraged not to make any decisions in their public or private life without prayer and making sure that the decision is in line with "What Would Jesus Do" or "What Would God have me to do." I must say that I am offended by people speaking sarcastically about this religious practice. But a person's individual religious practice should not be forced on others. People should be able to see by a person's actions whether that person is living out the faith they proclaim.

If there was a list made of sinful things Donald Trump does and Godly things Trump does, which list would be the longest? The way he speaks about minorities, like at the Black Conservative Federation and about E. Jean Carroll would not go in his Godly column.

Trump: “These lights are so bright in my eyes. And I can't see so many people out there. But I can only see the black ones, I can’t see the white ones. That's how far I’ve come.”

It saddens me to read our Black youth saying they have no plan to vote. Their grandparents fought so hard for them to enjoy freedoms, and they WILL lose them checking out of politics because they are at PRESENT able to live without being arrested, harassed, targeted, for being Black. People ask, "How could humans ever have owned humans?" Simple. People never believed people would go that far. Religion, sadly, has always been the 'entry' card to gain power and do evil. Exactly what the Republican Party is doing now, and minorities and women cannot envision themselves being treated inhumanely by other humans. Our history is proof that it happens. YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU MUST VOTE!!!

The Republican Party is taking the lasting respect of Christianity down. People pointed to Christianity as crazy at times. Take speaking in tongues for example, which my denomination does not do, seems crazy to many denominations and outsiders. Speaking in tongues does not make Christians crazy, a little scary like the Scriptures says they would appear to others, yes, but not psycho. The TRUTH about speaking in tongues is a Christian is not to speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter present to tell the listeners what is being said. As I said, interpretation of Scripture has been a point of contention between denominations and speaking in tongues is one of them. The original meaning of 'speaking in tongues' does not mean a gibberish language, but different languages from different parts of the world (Spanish, French, Italian etc.). Speaking in tongues does not send anyone to hell unless it is used as a measuring stick for salvation. This truth in Scripture has been divided in many different ways and 'wrongly' at times.

Donald Trump is on the world stage and never passes a microphone without speaking. He name-call people, belittle people, constantly complain, elevate himself above others, lie compulsively, demonstrate greed, and panders to the worse emotions of his followers. I ask again, what is his Kingdom mission for God? Trump is for Trump and the people who support him are also for self.

Philippians 3:7 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." This is not Donald Trump. This is not the Republican Party. Each try to outdo the other as the most hateful. Democrats are not perfect either, but they are not malicious, racist, or sexist. YOUNG PEOPLE YOU MUST VOTE!!!

I keep using the word sad when I speak about the United States' political climate. I'm also in disbelief at how my sisters and brothers in Christ are behaving. It causes me pain to hear and see how people use and try to manipulate Christianity for their own purposes. This should be the issue that affects Evangelicals the most: What kind of ambassador for God have we become?

Why do I continue to speak on this subject? Because it is my duty as a Christian. Matthew 18:15-17“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Young people, you have a duty to continue to ensure everyone in America is safe from racism and sexism and all other "isms." America is your house, and you would never allow horrible things to happen in your home. Black men and women declare themselves KING and QUEENS. Well, it's time to defend your kingdom and make sure those you rule are taken care of. VOTE.

TEXAS: Civil War/Secession

The great state of Texas, where everything is bigger, is in the spotlight. The Supreme Court gave a ruling they found out-of-line regarding their problem with illegal immigrants entering their country. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, January 22, 2024, ordered Texas to allow federal border agents access to the state’s border with Mexico, where Texas officials have deployed miles of concertina wire to prevent people from crossing the border. Texas is REFUSING to comply.

Twitter has been on fire with posting saying Texas should secede, leave the Union or launch a Civil War. The point has also been made that when the Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade, there was not such an extreme reaction of defying a federal ruling or threats of "war."

The chatter Texans (and others) are making, draws attention to their "RED" state and the character of those who loudly and proudly identify themselves as Republican and Conservative. The Republican Party has been labled as being comprised of 'extremists' and with tendencies of being violent. Because of these particular labels, government tends to handle them with kid gloves. Their tendency to be 'extreme' makes it difficult to prosecute their chosen "instigator" Donald Trump, least they become completely unhinged as demonstrated by the attack on the Capitol January 6, 2021.

No matter how softly people tread when dealing with the ALT RIGHT, they seem hell bent on forcing their wants, without consideration for others, on the United States. There is something fundamentally OFF about the MAGA section of the Republican Party. When will they be seen as the danger they truly are? 

The ACTIONS of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, if it is a threat to the democracy, should be handled as a threat. Remaining SILENT and hoping "this too shall pass" is not the way to handle potentially dangerous threats made towards the government or its citizens. If the people are opperating SEDITIOUSLY under the guise of religion, the danger is even greater in my opinion. 

How does the everyday CHRISTIAN or American CITIZEN recognize a person is using religion in a way that is dangerous and for their own gain? Well the Bible has not left us without clear discernment of BAD fruit. It is time for Americans to operate in wisdom and that means acknowledging the facts and making decisions and choices based on those PROVEN facts.

Excerpts from my book: "The Politics of Prayer"

     WISDOM Truth, knowledge, and wisdom are only effective when put into action. 

Luke 2:52 states Jesus increased in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. Wisdom was his intellectual growth, stature was his physical growth, favor with God was his spiritual growth, and favor with man was his social development. Wisdom was a major part of Jesus’ life and should be a part of every Christian’s life as well. It takes wisdom to pray for our leaders and ourselves. It takes wisdom to make the right choices when engaging political issues. When making choices on political issues we may ASK ourselves: 1. Does it help my witness for God? 2. Am I motivated by a desire to help others to know Christ? 3. Is it against a specific command in Scripture and would thus cause me to sin? 4. Is it the best and most beneficial course of action? 5. Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person? 6. Am I acting lovingly or selfishly? 7. Does it glorify God? 8. Will it cause someone else to sin? 

WISDOM QUOTES “A wise old owl sat on an oak: The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” “The highest form of wisdom is kindness.” The Talmud “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.” David Starr Jordon “A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate the approximate depth of his ignorance.” Gian Carlo Menotti “We must become the change we want to see.” Mahatma Gandhi “Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.” Kahlil Gibran “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.” Cicero “One of the greatest pieces of economic wisdom is to know what you do not know.” John Kenneth Gilbraith “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” William James “The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom is a happy mind.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox “Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” Immanuel Kant “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.” Mohandas K. Gandhi “Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” Norman Cousins “Patience is the companion of wisdom.” Saint Augustine “The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to question, and by seeking we may come upon truth.” Pierre Abelard “I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.” Thomas Jefferson “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln “By three methods we may learn wisdom; first, by reflection, which is noblest, second, by imitation, which is easiest, and third; by experience, which is the most bitter.” Confucius “A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.” Chinese Proverbs.

King Solomon of the Bible, was considered the wisest man on Earth. God gave Solomon his wisdom along with a promise: “As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father, David saying; ”You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel” (I Kings 9:4-5). 

Solomon should have been a man to be envied. He was the first king to sit on the throne of a kingdom at peace. He had been given divine wisdom by God. He built a temple for God (a center of Jewish religion), and he was richer and more prosperous than any king in any surrounding nation. This should have been enough for the man who had it all, but it wasn’t. 

Solomon’s downfall came from within the walls of his home; his many wives and their many pagan religions. He married 700 hundred women for political reasons and consorted with 300 concubines (I Kings 11:3). Solomon, in his old age, began to do as his wives did and worshipped pagan gods and built high places of worship for those pagan gods. For Solomon’s sin, God said he would take the kingdom from the hands of his son; all but one tribe would he leave for his son for the sake of his father David. The lesson to be learned is to be mindful of our associations and how we conduct our private lives. Solomon was his own worst enemy in a time of success and grandeur, he destroyed himself. It is easier to blame our problems on government or others, but we must also look at ourselves.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” 

Proverbs 3:16-18 "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

REFLECTION I encourage you to incorporate prayer for your leaders into your daily prayers asking God to give them wisdom to lead. Wisdom goes beyond just knowledge; it encompasses the ability to make the right choice at the right time. Wisdom is only effective when put into action. Pray that your leaders, as well as yourself, will have the ability to know what is right and to do what is right. Make a PRAYER LIST FOR THOSE WHO NEED WISDOM, but recognize bad fruit, and throw it out.

My book The Politics of Prayer can be purchased on amazon.com. Please like, share and follow.