What Would Jesus Do?

[Agent327]

Why are people taking personal claims and making it out as if Jesus told the government on how to act? I do wonder why Refugees have the right to go where ever they want and citizen don't have the same right.

Question is more why refugees shouldn't have the rights that 'ordinary citizens' have - notably freedom of movement.

I mean some citizens of Greece would love to live in Germany and live off the taxpayer, but th can't do that, so why do refugees get better treatment than citizens?

From what I read in the news refugees are nowhere getting 'better treatment than citizens'. That kind of comes with the quality of being a refugee, I reckon. I'm also reading Greeks prefer to be in Greece, so I fail to see the analogy.

But if Jesus were around he would know the hearts of the people trying to claim asylum and those coming here on false pretence he would return back to where they came from.

Doubtful. Jesus rarely commented on what 'the government' should do - he lived in an occupied country. But let's not pretend anybody here would know what Jesus would do. The good man isn't with us anymore and refugee issues aren't very prominent in the Scripture. (Unless you want to include that murdering bunch invading Palestine 'because the Good Lord told them to' and this was reportedly long before Jesus' time.)

 

[IglooDame]

But let's not pretend anybody here would know what Jesus would do. The good man isn't with us anymore and refugee issues aren't very prominent in the Scripture. (Unless you want to include that murdering bunch invading Palestine 'because the Good Lord told them to' and this was reportedly long before Jesus' time.)

It's kind of like telling people what the Founding Fathers' original constitutional intent was, right? Free speech and the right to bear arms in the age of internet blogs, Facebook, AK-47s, and nuclear bombs?

Jesus was big into helping his fellow man (and woman) no matter what their origin or criminal record, and not so much into security. That's why I think I have a sense of what he'd do here.

 

[Borachio]

No, actually, I'd expect a book to be better at predicting the past as it is about predicting the future ...

"Predicting the past". A very difficult one, I think.

About as difficult as looking back at the future.

I don't say either is impossible, mind. Just very difficult.

 

[REDY]

Jesus is not good role model if you dont believe in heaven. I do not want die young crucified and I have not even that superhero abilities.

 

[classical_hero]

It's kind of like telling people what the Founding Fathers' original constitutional intent was, right? Free speech and the right to bear arms in the age of internet blogs, Facebook, AK-47s, and nuclear bombs?

Well the founding fathers did make the constitution amendable so that it can be changed and it has been changed numerous times. I do think they were clear in what they wanted for the nation.

Jesus was big into helping his fellow man (and woman) no matter what their origin or criminal record, and not so much into security. That's why I think I have a sense of what he'd do here.

Again that is about interpersonal relationships not governmental relationships.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Jesus is not good role model if you dont believe in heaven. I do not want die young crucified and I have not even that superhero abilities.

I'm sure that the "water-to-wine" ability would be a hit in all the parties. In fact, probably this is how most of the initial followers probably came around.

 

[Leoreth]

I mean some citizens of Greece would love to live in Germany and live off the taxpayer, but th can't do that

How misinformed are you? There is freedom of movement in the EU. Germany saw significant migration from countries like Greece and especially Spain when the crisis was at its worst, and I'm very sure it still does.

 

[warpus]

Yeah, I could even move to Norway or Germany and work there if I wanted to, since I'm a EU passport holder. And I don't even live in Europe.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

I don't think Norway is in the EU...

 

[El_Machinae]

I think WWJD would be better interpreted as 'What Would Jesus have his Followers Do?'

In the story of the good Samaritan, there's no mention of 'looking into your cultural enemy's heart'. The Samaritan surely had family and friends who would have liked to have been given free oil and food.

But I think CH has a hint of an understanding. It's all government policy; and Christianity just gives no clues what to do. If I wanted to bring some refugees to my place. The anti-refugee would literally have to hire bureaucrats with guns to stop it from happening in order for it to not happen. If you insist it's not 'Christian' to make your government help, then it's also not 'Christian' to make your government not help or to stop others from helping.

A Christian should be willing to live the same quality of life as an average refugee in order to help the below-average refugees get to 'average'. It's an incredibly hard moral standard, and it's no wonder nearly no one can do it.

But it's a vastly easier moral standard to not spread memes that conflate Muslims with terrorists or to not spread memes that the refugees have it too good already.

 

[sophie]

Like with our southern border, I don't believe in bringing people here to solve their problems, rather help them solve their problems at home.

Want the whole world to have the American dream, especially America.

Isn't the American dream coming to America and making it?

 

[Berzerker]

Again that is about interpersonal relationships not governmental relationships.

I've noticed many Christians use that argument when they support policies Jesus would oppose but when they think Jesus is on their side they'll happily point to him to bolster their position. I wouldn't have bothered starting this thread if Christians didn't use their religion when formulating and supporting policy.

Our governor here in Kansas, Sam Brownback, is a big fan of Jesus... He even cited his relationship with Him when he got caught taking bribes from lobbyists for Indian casinos who wanted to block another tribe from opening a casino near Kansas City. It wasn't about the bribe, it was about Brownback's love of Jesus - thats why he opposed the casino. He was just being a good Christian...

So how many Christians tell their candidates to stop being a Christian when voting on laws? How did we get "blue laws" if it wasn't Christians using the state to impose their religion on the rest of us?

When Jesus chased the moneychangers out of the Temple was he addressing a policy or just an interpersonal relationship? How about stoning the adulteress? That was policy too... Violating the Sabbath? Another policy... When millions of Christians oppose gay marriage, like the county clerk from Kentucky, they do so based on their religion and what Jesus said about divorce.

 

[warpus]

I don't think Norway is in the EU...

It's not, but it's a signatory to a lot of the same treaties that binds EU nations together. Including ones that would allow me to work there, since I'm a EU passport holder. (unless I was lied to)

 

[El_Machinae]

I think that Jesus aggressively showed his dislike of government policies to help the poor when he roundly chastised his apostles for gleaning on the Sabbath.

 

[Berzerker]

I had to google gleaning on the sabbath

 

[Tigranes]

I had to google gleaning on the sabbath

Imagine how is it for the people whose English is their third language. El Mac's vocabulary skills are even more amazing considering he is not a linguist. High IQ and lots of reading, I reckon.

 

[Leifmk]

I don't think Norway is in the EU...

No, but along with Iceland and Liechtenstein we're part of the greater EEA which makes us semi-members and signatory to most of the "freedom of movement" stuff. Anyone with a passport from any EEA member country can live and work in any other member country without special permissions.

 

[warpus]

So maybe Jesus would move to Norway to try to find work. Or I suppose he'd end up in a refugee camp in Germany or Sweden somewhere instead since he doesn't hold a EU passport.

 

[Borachio]

I don't think Jesus would be up for looking for work, tbh.

After an early attempt at a carpentry career, I think he jacked it all in for a life of hippy freedom on the road with his mates.

For instance, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin".

Not particularly work-ethically minded, was your Jesus. (Which was understandable, given the imminent end of the world as we know it, and all.)

 

[Leifmk]

Wonder where that whole "Protestant work ethic" thing came from. Kind of suspicious, really.