This is in response to https://www.hermancain.com/what-does-the-bible-really-say
What Does the Bible Really Say About Taking in Syrian Refugees
Before using Romans 13 to defend
your support of a refugee and Muslim ban, I ask that you consider the historical
implications. The Bible has been cherry-picked for centuries to justify slavery,
segregation, racism, genocide, and a myriad of other evils. Many of these evils
were considered acceptable at the time, but history tells a different
story. Specifically, Romans 13 was used in South Africa to support apartheid.
Yes, there are a myriad of Bible
verses that many of us have used to justify welcoming refugees, and yes, I
believe that it is a moral imperative that we do just that. I admit to my
participation in scripture picking. Frankly, I have chosen scripture intending
to rebuke those who disagree with me. So, there is a plank in my eye that I am
removing- I should certainly be more careful in the future with my use of
scripture.
I get the need to protect our nation,
I really do. But this ban is not designed to protect, only to exclude. The
President, during his campaign, in response to a domestic terror attack, called
for a ban on all Muslims entering the US. After his election, he commissioned
Rudy Giuliani and a handful of others to make a Muslim ban legal, they chose to
focus on a country ban.
I don’t believe this is the last
word. It’ll take one attack, not even a big one, and I can only imagine the
fallout for the American-Muslim community. I pray I’m wrong.
The effect of this ban has only
helped Jihadists prove their point that there is a war on Islam with the West, which will
only help with recruitment. The fact that the President said he will prioritize
Christians only solidifies the point. Directly after the ban a mosque in
Victoria, Texas was burned down, then there was an attack on a Canadian mosque
on Sunday.
I have actually never felt less safe to
be an American than I do now. A host of Republican and Democrat security experts
with decades of experience, who have served in Republican and Democrat
administrations agree. I believe we are closer to war now than we have been in
a long time.
Much has been presumed about me and
others who agree with me. We’re just libtard snowflakes who can’t get over
losing the election. We’re unpatriotic and unAmerican. We hate veterans and
what they fought for. We’re disruptive crybabies. We should just support the
POTUS because… Romans 13. I’m sure the Christians in Rome during Nero, Jews in
Nazi Germany, those fighting in the Civil Rights movement in the 60s, Japanese-Americans during WWII, slaves in colonial times, and many South Africans
might disagree.
According to Herman Cain, we are just
more “leftists” and it’s “easy for those who only crack a Bible when they're
looking for something to justify an agenda”. One should be careful of their
presumptions. I’ve been quite conservative for a long time. I just don’t think
my way of life should be forced on others and it certainly shouldn’t be the law
of the land.
I’ve evolved quite a bit through
prayer, Bible study, personal experiences, serving others, reading, the
movement of the Holy Spirit, and listening to others. I’ve learned that just
because I don’t understand something doesn’t mean I should reject it, fear it,
or hate it. I’ve learned that the Bible is not just an “instruction manual”
filled with rules. Through reading the scripture, prayer, service, and listening
we come closer to understanding the heart of God.
Welcoming and caring for strangers is
always a risk, but without risk we become weaker. The saddest part is that
caring for and welcoming refugees is considered part of a “leftist agenda”. I
always thought it was a Christian agenda or at the very least an American one.
