The news is saturated with broadcasts about the children coming across the southern border of the United States, particularly at Murrieta, CA. I could not help but think of a Christian poster we produced several years ago based upon the scripture passage in Matthew 18:3 niv “And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I couldn’t help but think of the children coming to this country and thinking that compared to where they were coming from, this IS heaven.
Coupled with all the newscasts, and listening to the critics on both sides of the issue, I attended a concern last Thursday night at New Covenant Bible church. The program featured patriotic music and a narrator who walked us through the history of this great country of ours. I was touched by the program and the music and it helped me realize again what a privilege it is to live in the USA. It was an emotional night for me. Tears and all.
I kept asking myself, after 2000 plus years, why are we still having wars, child abuse, and the threat of terrorism? Why haven’t we learned to love our neighbors.
In Murrieta there are thousands of children who are being shipped to the border of the greatest nation on earth, they are being asked to take the risk of the journey, where I have read 1/3 of the girls are raped on the way, some are even killed, they are not being asked to become like little children but to “grow up, risk your life, because it’s better in United States, than what you have now.” How sad!
Why wouldn’t we be like Jesus and welcome them with open arms? Take them in, feed them, clothe them, love them and THEN figure out a way to unite them with their parents. Because the are coming here illegally some would say, and we are a nation of laws and everyone must abide by the laws. Others would say it might cost $35 Billion, which is nothing compared to the trillion we spent on the last war.
For some it’s a difficult question. What is right? What is fair? What is compassionate? For me it’s easy. Jesus said it best in Matthew 19:14niv
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”