Illegal alien arrivals now greater than American births?

[JohnH]

I invite anyone who would like to discourse with me to PM me and give me a phone call (and invite someone else to the call, if you wish) and we can talk about ways to live out the gospel in the hurting, sin-stained world around us.

[mike]

And I choose not to attempt to substantively influence those laws, as I feel the whole system is of the worldly kingdoms and cannot by definition operate according to Christ's laws of love.

Why not advocate for them to bit by bit create policies that are in harmony with and build the kingdom of God? Can't we, wherever possible, advocate and affirm those pieces that are in harmony with God's kingdom, wherever we find them or wherever they could exist? And who knows, if bit by bit, as with Wilbeeforce, things will turn ever so slowly God's direction and come under his reign and rule?

In what substantial way would this sort of advocacy differ from the garden variety political activism of both the Christian left and right that we've seen for years, and which some say is making increasing inroads among Anabaptists? If we're just going to be politically engaged, then fine. There are any number of Christian lobbying organizations we can join that have been operating for years and that probably know what they're doing.

And what are the chances that taking up advocacy for government policies will have as much influence on us as it does on the government? Is it really something Jesus would do?

[joshuabgood]

And I choose not to attempt to substantively influence those laws, as I feel the whole system is of the worldly kingdoms and cannot by definition operate according to Christ's laws of love.

Why not advocate for them to bit by bit create policies that are in harmony with and build the kingdom of God? Can't we, wherever possible, advocate and affirm those pieces that are in harmony with God's kingdom, wherever we find them or wherever they could exist? And who knows, if bit by bit, as with Wilbeeforce, things will turn ever so slowly God's direction and come under his reign and rule?

In what substantial way would this sort of advocacy differ from the garden variety political activism of both the Christian left and right that we've seen for years, and which some say is making increasing inroads among Anabaptists? If we're just going to be politically engaged, then fine. There are any number of Christian lobbying organizations we can join that have been operating for years and that probably know what they're doing.

And what are the chances that taking up advocacy for government policies will have as much influence on us as it does on the government? Is it really something Jesus would do?

Yeah...what the advocacy could look like is a fair question. I don't think I am envisioning Anabaptsit PACs or active voter partciipation.. So that is a good question...

[Szdfan]

Is this moral? Is this Christian?

[JohnH]

Is this moral? Is this Christian?

Can you please make your political posts in the Politics forum?

Thanks.

[Szdfan]

Is this moral? Is this Christian?

Can you please make your political posts in the Politics forum?

Thanks.

I’m not asking a political question. I’m asking a moral one. Is it moral or Christian to make jokes about feeding immigrants to alligators?

This is the result of dehumanization like “replacement” language.

[JohnH]

I’m not asking a political question. I’m asking a moral one. Is it moral or Christian to make jokes about feeding immigrants to alligators?

Of course not. Why do you even need to ask this question? (Although there is some room to make jokes about escaped prisoners ending up in trouble - I don't see what's wrong with that; it's reasonable to expect prisoners not to try to escape. That's the whole point of a prison.)

Are you asking in good faith, or are you trying to bring up a political discussion?

[Grace]

Is this moral? Is this Christian?

Can you please make your political posts in the Politics forum?

Thanks.

I’m not asking a political question. I’m asking a moral one. Is it moral or Christian to make jokes about feeding immigrants to alligators?

This is the result of dehumanization like “replacement” language.

Let's stick to the truth. I have yet to hear a Christian make jokes about feeding immigrants to alligators. Neither did I hear anyone say officials WILL feed the immigrants to the alligators. That whole premise is a lie. Immigrants will NOT be fed to alligators. If an escapee gets eaten by an alligator it will be the consequences of someone making a conscience effort to escape the facility. That falls on no one but the escapee, not on the officials.

Yes Trump (I do not consider him a Christian) did make light of the fact that if criminal immigrants attempt to escape the compound, they might get eaten by alligators. The way it was presented I find detestable as it isn't anything to make light of. He should have made a strong and serious warning that if criminal immigrants escape from the facility, the consequences could be that they might get eaten by alligators.

Suggesting that officials will feed immigrants to the alligators is dehumanizing as well.

[Szdfan]

I’m not asking a political question. I’m asking a moral one. Is it moral or Christian to make jokes about feeding immigrants to alligators?

Of course not. Why do you even need to ask this question? (Although there is some room to make jokes about escaped prisoners ending up in trouble - I don't see what's wrong with that; it's reasonable to expect prisoners not to try to escape. That's the whole point of a prison.)

Are you asking in good faith, or are you trying to bring up a political discussion?

I asked this question because jokes that treat immigrants as alligator food are both the result of dehumanizing language and they help normalize that dehumanization. This is the same logic behind “replacement” language which treats immigrants not as human beings, but as invasive threat to a culture. This is the type of language that empowers cruelty and violence towards vulnerable people.

My question isn't about politics, but whether Christians are willing to name that this kind of language that rejects the dignity and humanity of the strangers among us.

This is question is morally and theologically consistent with my objection to your "replacement" framework. This is the center at what we've been talking about.

[JohnH]

As far as I know (from checking Wikipedia), Laura Loomer is Jewish, not Christian, although I’m not sure how devout she is. So I would agree she should accept Christ’s gospel of peace which includes showing kindness towards everyone, even violent criminals escaping prison who intend to do you harm.