Saturday, April 24, 2010

God’s Relationship With (and His Feelings Towards) the Poor and The Alien!

     The recent law passed in the state of Arizona the other day is causing grave concerns for many people, while many in the state (and throughout the country) are ecstatic and overjoyed that the nation is becoming more tough on a segment of society they believe is corrupting their land. Those who support the passage of the law cite many reasons the law was needed, to enforce more aggressive action to identify and remove (back across the Mexican borders) any individuals who cannot prove they are American citizens.

     Among those reasons are (allegedly) that immigrants (whether legal or illegal) are draining US resources, such as taxes, jobs, education, medical assistance, and that they are also responsible for the majority of the crimes that are increasing throughout the land.

     Rather than debating the issues one by one, and it can be proven that the reasons cited are based more on emotion than fact, we will try to show how God feels about the entire issue of the poor and the alien, one that is extremely important to Him. Most certainly, we agree that people, who commit crimes against the populace should be arrested, convicted and force to pay the price for their crimes.

     Yet the jury is still out from a moral and even legal perspective as to whether it is a crime to cross the border if the purpose is solely to seek work to feed your children. Borders do not appear to be of any concern to God because it is He and He alone who owns the land and allows various people to use that land as a gift from Him. Yet, throughout history (especially in America) borders have been erected on both the north and the south of this land, and certain laws have also been enacted to govern the flow of people in and out of this country for its own economic gain.
     Some of these laws are pernicious to the morale of those nationals affected by it, to say the least and, during certain periods throughout history, the laws were nary enforced. For that matter, during the building of much of this country’s foundation and infrastructure (such as its railroads, dams, paved roads and highways, agriculture, mining, forestry, etc.) was built primarily on the backs of immigrants from other countries (especially Mexico) who were highly encouraged to cross the border into America to provide cheap labor. This was an obvious plus for the country.  
     However, during hard economic times, immigrants become the scapegoat and Americans turn their back on these fellow human beings and create situations to deport them back to where they came from. Unfortunately, many of those people who became naturalized citizens or citizens by virtue of being born in this country, have been caught in the same net as those presumed to be here illegally.
     Sadly, the wisdom and worthwhile action of our governing fathers (and mothers, too) have failed to come up with a just and wise law to deal with this burgeoning phenomenon, thereby creating an aura of distrust, disgust and down right hateful attitude towards their neighbors from the south. Many believe the recent law was like striking a match to the short fuse of chaos and possibly another civil (race) war, that almost destroyed this country over 160 years ago.
     In our effort to bring a certain degree of calm until this issue can be resolved, we hereby remind American citizens, especially Christians and other religious people who accept God as the creator of the world and mankind as well, what are God's exact feelings about this whole matter. Frankly, we are surprised to find many, many self-professing Christians on the front lines of protest and either heading or supporting organizations that vigorously promote the insensitive gathering up and forcing aliens to leave the country.
     These are the same Christian who have been told over and over that God will provide all of their needs and He will never abandon them (Romans 8:28). They are the same Christians who have been taught from the Bible to help the poor, to love their enemies, to forgive everyone who breaks any of God's laws, to esteem others above themselves, to turn the other cheek, yet they always find ways and means to justify solving their problems through political involvement. They do not have enough faith in God to provide for their respective needs as He has promised; therefore, instead, they form political-minded groups to intimidate and put pressure on those who only care about staying in office, and the current administration, to rule in favor of extricating aliens from the good old USA!
     You may think the following list of Bible verses (over 190) is a little too long, but we recommend that you read each verse to get a heads up where God and Jesus stand on the matter. Read and listen with your heart as Jesus Himself defends the poor and alien. He doesn’t use any legal mumbo jumbo; He merely tells it like it is. End of story! He says it, we need to believe it.
     And more importantly, all people have to recognize that failure to abide by His feelings brings with it great, and more horrific consequences than can be imagined. The millions of self-professing Christians, who are at the front lines of the movement to eradicate illegal immigrants through brute force, will respond that they have a personal relationship with Christ, and many believe that God is on their side.
     However, it is an easy thing to say they know God; even the devil makes that claim. But, saying that you know God and doing what He commands are two entirely and distinctive issues. They wholeheartedly claim that they not only know God’s word, but that they have a personal relationship with God and know Him very well. Those, to whom all went well, didn’t just claim they knew Him, they did what He commanded!

 
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 22:16)


Bible verses concerning the poor and the alien



Leviticus 19:10
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.


Leviticus 23:22
" 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'


Leviticus 25:35
" 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.


Deuteronomy 15:4
However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,


Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.


Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.


Deuteronomy 24:14
Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns.


Deuteronomy 24:15
Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.


1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.


Esther 9:22
as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.


Job 5:16
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.


Job 20:10
His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.

Job 20:19
For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.

Job 24:4
They thrust the needy from the path and force all the poor of the land into hiding.


Job 24:5
Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go about their labor of foraging food; the wasteland provides food for their children.


Job 24:9
The fatherless child is snatched from the breast; the infant of the poor is seized for a debt.


Job 24:14
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief.


Job 29:12
because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.


Job 30:25
Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?


Job 31:16
"If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,


Job 34:19
who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?


Job 34:28
They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.


Psalm 14:6
You evil doers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.


Psalm 22:26
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever!


Psalm 34:6
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.


Psalm 35:10
My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD ? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."


Psalm 37:14
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.


Psalm 40:17
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.


Psalm 68:10
Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.


Psalm 69:32
The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!


Psalm 70:5
Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.


Psalm 74:21
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.


Psalm 82:3
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.


Psalm 109:16
For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.


Psalm 109:22
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.


Psalm 112:9
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.


Psalm 113:7
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;


Psalm 132:15
I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food.


Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.


Proverbs 13:7
One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.


Proverbs 13:8
A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.


Proverbs 13:23
A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.


Proverbs 14:20
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.


Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.


Proverbs 17:5
He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.


Proverbs 18:23
A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly.


Proverbs 19:1
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.


Proverbs 19:4
Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him.

Proverbs 19:7
A poor man is shunned by all his relatives— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.


Proverbs 19:17
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.


Proverbs 19:22
What a man desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.


Proverbs 20:13
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.


Proverbs 21:13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.


Proverbs 21:17
He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.


Proverbs 22:2
Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.


Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.


Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.


Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.


Proverbs 22:22
Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,


Proverbs 23:21
for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.


Proverbs 28:3
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.


Proverbs 28:6
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.


Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.


Proverbs 28:11
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.


Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.


Proverbs 29:7
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.


Proverbs 29:13
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.


Proverbs 29:14
If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.


Proverbs 30:9
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.


Proverbs 30:14
those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.


Proverbs 31:9
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."


The Wife of Noble Character
Proverbs 31:20
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.


[Advancement Is Meaningless ] Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.


Ecclesiastes 5:8
[ Riches Are Meaningless ] If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.


Ecclesiastes 6:8
What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others?


Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.


Ecclesiastes 9:16
So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.


Isaiah 3:14
The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.


Isaiah 3:15
What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.


Isaiah 10:2
They deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.


Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.


Isaiah 14:30
The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.


Isaiah 25:4
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall


Isaiah 32:7
The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.


Isaiah 41:17
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.


Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


Isaiah 61:1
[The Year of the LORD's Favor ] The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,


Jeremiah 2:34
On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this


Jeremiah 5:28
and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor.


Jeremiah 22:16
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.


Jeremiah 39:10
But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.


Jeremiah 52:16
But Nebuzaradan left behind the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.


Ezekiel 16:49
" 'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.


Ezekiel 18:12
He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.


Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.


Amos 2:7
They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.


Amos 4:1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, "Bring us some drinks!"


Amos 5:11
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.


Amos 5:12
For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.


Amos 8:4
Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,


Amos 8:6
buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.


Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'


Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.


Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."


Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."


Mark 12:42
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Mark 12:43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

Luke 6:20
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.


Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.


Luke 11:41
But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.


Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.


Luke 14:13
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,


Luke 14:21
"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'


Luke 18:22
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."


Luke 21:2
He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Luke 21:3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

John 12:5 Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "John 12:6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.


John 12:8
You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."


John 13:29
Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.


Acts 9:36
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.


Acts 10:5
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.


Acts 10:31
and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.


Acts 24:17
"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.


Romans 15:26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.


1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.


Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.


2 Corinthians 9:9
As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."


Galatians 2:10
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.


James 2:2
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. James 2:3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"


James 2:5
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?


James 2:6
But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?


Revelation 3:17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

If you made it this far, your life could very well change and begin heading in a different direction, on a raod that willbring you closer to God than ever before!

Welcome to the Kingdom of God!

For more information about this blog and Joe's books The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House), click here >Joe Ortiz Web Sites and book information.



2 comments:

  1. As usual, Bro. Joe, you are hitting where people can feel it and I for one am glad. You inspired me to look up some other verses and here is what I found:
    Lev. 19 says that "the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself."
    Deut. 10:19 says "Love ye therefore the stranger."
    Matt. 25 says that when we do something good for a "stranger" it is the same as doing it for Jesus himself!
    Bro. Joe, I am glad to see you exposing the silly pre-tribulation rapture view. The millions (maybe billions) that churches and church people spend on pre-tribulation rapture books, videos, etc. should have been given instead to the poor - and I believe that Jesus will soon punish the Christian church for this robbery and abuse of the poor! I thank the Lord for you and your much needed ministry to awaken the many sleeping Christians.
    Jasmine

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  2. As Christians, we should remember that our Kingdom is not of this World, and when the state goes against Kingdom principles, we should take a stand against it. Take Nazi Germany for an example. Hitler convinced most of the populace, including Christians, that the Jews were evil and should be wiped out. He used all the right buzzwords and even proclaimed to be doing God's will. Christians in today's America are becoming just as naive as Nazi Germany was. Yet, there were Germans who stood against the evil regime and helped and sheltered their Jewish neighbors, at the risk of losing their own lives. We must take a stand when the state goes against God's principles and pray and do what we can to make sure that evil laws and policies don't succeed. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. This law has no borders and neither should we.

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