Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'- Matthew 25: 37-40

Politics and religion simply do not mix. That is because one is supposed to deal with things eternal while the other is obsessed with things temporal. It seems however that some Christians never learn this lesson. Their affiliation or affinity for one political persuasion inevitably poisons their witness for Christ. The Bible then becomes something to use to prove a carnal point as Jesus is recast to fit their voting block and their view as to what compassion really is. Case in point is an article today in Charisma News by Larry Tomczak entitled, "Confessions of a Compassionate Conservative: 3 Steps to Solve Immigration the Jesus Way." After reading the article it appears that Mr. Tomczak, a Christian leader for several decades, does not understand the "Jesus way."

For those who do not watch the news, we have had a humanitarian crisis on the southern border of the United States for several weeks now. Parents from destitute and dangerous Central American countries have been sending their children unaccompanied to the border, where they willfully surrender to border agents. Thanks to a 2008 law, signed by then President Bush, these children cannot just be turned away. They must be processed first. This law was enacted to curtail sex trafficking. The result is what we have seen over the past few weeks where in Murrieta California angry mobs of residents screamed at buses of women and children and refused to allow them in, once again, to be processed. I understand the vitriol from the world. I expect the world to have factions of uncompassionate people who think intimidating busloads of children is somehow akin to patriotism. What I never seem to expect however is when people claiming the mantle of Christianity line up right next to them. This devotional is aptly titled because this sad story of haughtiness in the face of human suffering leaves me wondering - who would Jesus deport? According to Larry Tomczak, apparently everyone.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/heres-the-deal/44629-confessions-of-a-compassionate-conservative-3-steps-to-solve-immigration-the-jesus-way

The above link will take you to the article in question where Tomczak starts as most in his beliefs system do - by changing who Jesus is:

For those harboring images of Jesus as a meek and mild religious figure with naked baby cherubs encircling His frisbee-haloed head, the following biblical event may be challenging to consider.

Yes, we who view the Messiah as kind and compassionate must all be collectively nuts. My Bible says that Jesus was led like a lamb to slaughter. That He remained silent before His shearers and did not open His mouth. Tomczak represents the barbed wire Jesus. You know, the one that carries an AR-15 and watches Duck Dynasty. You know, the one that never existed. What story by the way did Tomczak use to defend this nonsense? The story of the little children coming to Jesus.

After touching them as a token of affirmation and blessing (today He'd most likely give them a fist-bump and a high-five!), Jesus did what He always did after ministering to children -- release them back to dad and mom.

Yes beloved, you simply cannot make this stuff up. Because Jesus did not kidnap these children, Larry Tomczak believes that refugees seeking help escaping poverty and death should be returned to their poverty and death. Tomczak was not done though on this ridiculous point:

Though the case could be made that these little ones would certainly fare better leaving parental ties to enjoy a better way of life by following the One who could heal any sickness, feed multitudes and provide extraordinary instruction, Jesus Christ modeled a maxim throughout His ministry: Express compassion. Honor authority.

The little children would have been better off following Jesus? The man who told people who wanted to follow Him that He had no place to even lay His head? And you think that because He let the children go that He did so because He was "honoring authority?" Really? So you really believe that Jesus thought, "Gee I would love to kidnap these kids and drag them all around with me but I respect authority too much to do so?" Lunacy beloved. Sheer lunacy. Unfortunately, he was far from done:

Jesus did not try to meet every need in every place at every time. Need does not necessarily constitute ministry! Like Him, we need to be discerning plus determine available resources in dealing with people's legitimate needs.

Yes. That is the Jesus I remember so well. The one who was counting His shekels before deciding if He was going to minister to someone or not. Tomczak should have left it there because now he goes into Scripture to try and prove his point. Here are five horrific examples of misusing the Word of God to prop up your political opinion:

1) "Multitudes came together to hear and be healed by Jesus of their infirmities but he withdrew to a lonely place and prayed." (Lk. 5:15--16). If we operate out of sentimentality, Jesus appears to be uncaring and inconsiderate, doesn't he?

No Larry. The text does not make Jesus seem uncaring at all. It also does not state that anyone went unattended. It does not state that any went home with their needs unmet. It does not indicate that the people were not in some of the prayers even offered by Jesus.

2) In Mathew 22:11-14 Jesus told a parable of a man desiring entrance to an event but refused entrance because of not honoring the requirements.

In Matthew 25:1-13 He told of 10 young maidens desiring to gain entrance to a special occasion and yet five were turned away and called "foolish" because they did not fulfill the requirements.

You cannot be serious. The story of the great banquet is a picture of salvation. The man without the proper attire was refused entrance because he was unsaved, not because he didn't "honor the requirements." Likewise the story of the ten virgins is also a story about those on the right and wrong side of salvation. They were not called foolish because they "didn't fulfill the requirements." They were unprepared for the coming of the Bridegroom. To use these end times parables dealing with matters of heaven and hell and use them to support an uncompassionate political stance of turning our backs on the neediest people is reprehensible.

3) That same chapter cites individuals being given different "talents" but one who failed to do what he was told was called "lazy," had the gift taken away and was barred from the estate.

Yes. The big take away from a powerful parable about using the resources of God is that one of them was "lazy." What Mr. Tomczak fails to realize is that he is now this lazy servant. He is taking the resources God has given him and he is burying them. He is twisting the Bible because he has a political ideology that comes first.

4) In 2 Cor.8:12 we have the record of the early Christian community being reminded that giving to the needy in Jerusalem was "according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have." In other words, there are times we need to be realistic regarding our resources.

Personally yes, there are times we need to be realistic about or resources. I am curious if Tomczak, who is on record as supporting the unbiblical notion of New Testament tithing, would apply the same standard when it comes to giving to the church. Either way, this verse has nothing to do with how to treat those in dire need during a humanitarian crisis. Tomczak now takes his article in a more deliberate political slant by declaring that he disagrees with President Obama on immigration and lauds Governor Rick Perry's request for national guard troops in a 2009 letter. This of course is a popular right wing talking point devoid of truth. It would not have mattered if our entire army was amassed at the border. All of the surrendering children would still have to be let in for processing because of the George Bush 2008 law regarding sex trafficking. Regardless, Tomczak quickly returns to butchering Scripture:

Here's the deal: Amidst all the turmoil and confusion, it's time to embrace scriptural counsel from the Good Shepherd who referred to himself as the "Gate" stating, "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of the sheepfold rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber" (Jn. 10:1).

So these five year olds are thieves and robbers now? Well Larry, here is the real deal. John 10:1 is a continuation from John 9 where Jesus is talking to the Pharisees about the Pharisees. This is about people leading the people of God falsely, you know, like you are attempting to do. The people sneaking over the wall of the sheepfold are false teachers, not six year olds from Guatemala. Tomczak outlines three steps to solve the crisis and they are: 1) Extend genuine love to all immigrants 2) Respect realistic limits 3) Obey the government & its laws.

When you read the details within which, what Tomczak is actually saying is - say some platitudes about loving your neighbor, then tell them you cannot afford to love them, and finally tell them they are breaking your laws and deport them. Because after all, that is what Jesus would do. I am going to skip over some of the political statements Tomczak makes despite their deceptive nature and stick to the Christian points. He states that if a lifeboat says the capacity is 12 and you try to save 25 everyone will drown. You're right Larry, Jesus would let those other 13 people drown. Convenient however that you make this observation from within the boat as one of the 12. He continues:

God tells us, "If you are willing (consent in your wills) and obedient (carry out the action) you shall eat the good of the land (reap abundant blessings)" (Is.1:19). One result of obedience is that immigrants shall not devour a nation's crops (see v.7). Sadly, hasn't this been happening?

Apparently his shamefulness knows no end. Isaiah 1 is God speaking to a rebellious Judah. The Bible does not refer to the people as "immigrants" but rather "foreigners." The judgment being visited is from outside nations destroying Judah, not eight year olds trying to escape poverty. The comparison is sickening; especially when you consider that many of these children are coming from Christian families in Central America. Tomczak heads to the close of the article with more demonization of people from other countries wrapped up in political talking points that are largely inaccurate before finishing with this gem:

Jesus loves all the little children of the world. He modeled the maxim of demonstrating love and honoring authority. We've squandered enough time and treasure trying things our way. It's time we humble ourselves and embrace the method of the Master.

Jesus was actually relatively indifferent to human authority but the larger point is which do you think His ministry embodied more? Love or honoring authority? Beloved, I do not know for sure what the solution is for the humanitarian crisis at our border. There can be differing secular opinions. I understand that some are more xenophobic than others and demand a fence along with a moat filled with alligators. I understand that others think we should just randomly let anyone in. The solution is probably somewhere in the middle.

The problem I have is because my citizenship is in heaven, not this country. So it bothers me when someone claiming to be a Christian leader hijacks my Lord and Savior for their own political ends. I am sorry but you cannot make a coherent Biblical argument to turn away 50,000 indigent children. Larry Tomczak tried and failed miserably. Take a good look at the key verses today. This is Jesus separating those who are going to heaven from those who are going to hell. What is the dividing line given here? As you did to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me - including welcoming strangers.

These verses do not have Jesus saying - check your resources first before you give someone who is thirsty a drink! He doesn't say - make sure you are not breaking any local ordinances before you clothe the naked, feed the hungry, or welcome the stranger! He does not advocate that we worry about what sickness they might have either. He doesn't suggest screaming at busloads of children on Thursday and then raising our hands on Sunday. He does not specify which countries are not allowed. What peoples are unworthy. He does not ask us to check the occupancy level of the lifeboat He has provided.

This is still the richest country in the history of mankind and we squabble over whether we can take care of 50,000 of the neediest people in the world. I get that from a carnally thinking world who protects what they got. I do not understand that from Christians who are supposed to feed the hungry and visit the sick. But preacher, times are tough. Yes they are but it was reported on the same day, that a mega church in Alabama spent tens of millions of dollars to build a 12 lane bowling alley and six giant connected domes hosting other fun activities for their community. We scream at the poor to get a job and then hand ten percent of our earnings to people who do not even represent Christ. Kenneth Copeland lives in a 6.5 million dollar mansion - tax free. Joel Osteen brings in over $600,000 every weekend. We attend "church" in old basketball arenas with waterfalls in the lobby and a Starbucks around the back but that seven year old from Honduras? She needs to get the hell out of my country. That's what Jesus would say after all; right?

If you want to believe that it is in our best interests to return all of these children without even trying to help them, fine. This country allows you to have that opinion. Just do not for a second think that Jesus Christ is on your side of this argument. The Bible does not support such a notion. Be careful your testimony does not end up as such:

I was naked and you spat upon me

I was hungry and you said - kitchen's closed

I was thirsty and you said - I checked my resources and I don't have enough

I was sick and you demonized me

I was a stranger and you shut the door and built a wall

I was in prison and you sent me right back

No matter how you try to dress it up - that is not the method of the Master.

Reverend Anthony Wade - July 14, 2014