WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE!

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE!


As CHRISTIANS=we are ACCOUNTABLE
For our actions
And our DECISIONS


Today we have a PASSAGE
That ADDRESSES the continuous debate
In the UNITED STATES about HOW
To RESPOND to the immigrants and
The refugees among us


Today's SCRIPTURE reminds us
That it is NOT just a matter
Of public policies-but that God
Will HOLD us accountable
For our response


“We shall not molest
Or oppress an alien


For you were ONCE aliens-
YOURSELVES-in the land of EGYPT


You shall NOT wrong
ANY widow or orphan-
IF you ever wrong them


And they CRY out to me
I will surely-
HEAR their cry” Exodus 22:20-22


WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE!
Let us WELCOME them
As ourselves=with COMPASSION


My grandparents were ONCE
IRISH IMMIGRANTS=and they were welcomed
In New YORK CITY by signs


“NO IRISH NEED APPLY”


Let us welcome the NEW IMMIGRANTS
With COMPASSION


“As a FATHER
Has compassion on his CHILDREN


So the Lord has COMPASSION
On those who fear him” Psalm 103:13


“Yet the LORD-
Longs to be GRACIOUS
To you


Therefore he will RISE UP
To SHOW you compassion
For the Lord


IS a God of JUSTICE-
BLESSED are all
Who WAIT for him” Isaiah 30:18


JESUS points out that
We MUST LOVE our neighbor
As ourselves


Let us IMAGINE-
HOW it would be like
To be TEATED as newcomers
In a brand new country


MOST of us probably CANNOT remember
How our family was treated
In a new country


But TRY to imagine-
WHAT it would be like
If a natural disaster
Or civil UNREST=
Forced you to relocate


WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE!
Try to welcome these NEW PEOPLE
With compassion=like the Lord
Would want


LOVE THEM as yourselves=like the
Second commandment says=for
We are accountable!=to the LORD
OUR GOD


“NOW we know
That whatever the LAW says


It says to those
Who are UNDER the law


So that every mouth
May be silenced
And the WHOLE WORLD
ACCOUNTABLE to God” Romans 3:19


YES=the whole WORLD=
Is ACCOUNTABLE to God
And to EACH OTHER


Or at least=WE SHOULD BE!


In the names of Jesus OUR LORD=and HIS
MOST HEAVENLY FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
10-28-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mark Neilsen