At first I took no interest in the news that Kim Davis, the clerk of Rowan County, KY, had turned away a homosexual couple (two Davids— David Ermold and David Moore) who were seeking a marriage license. Ms. Davis claimed to be acting “under God’s authority.” As a result she spent five days in jail.
Then I happened to catch a few minutes of her speech after she was released on September 8 (Grundtvig’s birthday). She spoke at a rally: “I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied, and you are a strong people. “ Kim went on to assure her now vast audience that ”God knows where each and every one of us are,” so we should “keep pressing.” Apparently, if we want to please God and go to heaven, God is watching and we must keep pressing on the homosexual-marriage issue.
Then I happened to catch a few minutes of her speech after she was released on September 8 (Grundtvig’s birthday). She spoke at a rally: “I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied, and you are a strong people. “ Kim went on to assure her now vast audience that ”God knows where each and every one of us are,” so we should “keep pressing.” Apparently, if we want to please God and go to heaven, God is watching and we must keep pressing on the homosexual-marriage issue.
I feel sad for Kim Davis. She seems an extremely sincere person, whose faith means everything to her, and she clearly believes in what she is saying. However, she is pitifully wrong, and I would like to have a Biblical discussion about the Last Judgement with her and others in the right wing about it. In Matthew 25, there is a very clear prescription and explanation of what we need to do to inherit the kingdom, and be on the right side (as it were) at the Last Judgement! It is very clear and it says nothing about refusing marriage licenses to homosexuals or for that matter, abortion. What it says is to welcome the stranger and care for the poor:
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…."..Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." (Matthew 25 vs 35-36)
In other words, what we do for others, we do to Christ." (And what we not do—!) This all about judgement.
I wish Kim Davis and others would practice their religious freedom by insisting on helping displaced Hispanic migrants at our borders, lobbying to assist Syrian war refugees, providing food and clothing, or holding rallies and political fund raisers to help the tens of thousands of people who are suffering. Kim has the qualities to be a model for a Good Samaritan instead of denying people their rights.
Here in the United States migrants from Mexico and South American countries are encamped at the border and migrant issues remain unresolved. In the same September 8th news cast we see refugees, hungry teenagers, frightened children, weeping mothers, desperate men walking hundreds of miles, struggling to find a place to live in Europe. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to lose everything, to leave home and country with few resources. Pope Francis is calling for help, ministering to refugees and migrants. We see such acts of compassion on the news when volunteers bring food and clothing to the refugees, some even invite the refugees into their homes.
Germany has taken the lead in helping European refugees. Germans know the indelible harm that comes to the soul of a country when they ignore neighbors’ cries for help. Germany has agreed to accept and care for 800,000 refugees, equal to 1% of its population. Sweden has taken in 80,000 refugees, 1/3 are from Syria. Great Britain has committed to taking 20,000 Syrian refugees over 5 years. Lebanon has the highest per capita of Syrian refugees, with 1.5 million refugees out of a population of 4.5 million. Turkey has the most Syrian refugees—1.9 million. As I write this, the Danish government has refused to accept any refugees, but there are individuals in Denmark who are helping Syrian refugees.
And what about the United States? Although 4.1 billion has been spent on Syrian refugees, only 1500 Syrian refugees have been taken into our country. As I write this President Obama has announced plans for the United States to take 10,000 more refugees. We need to do more! Hopefully, we will do more! We contributed to the troubles of the Syrian people.
In order to "sell" their country a humanitarian response to helping refugees, Germany and Britain have found it necessary to talk economics. For the most part, this new wave of refugees is young and fairly well educated; many had good jobs and lived well prior to the war. People leaving for reasons other than the wars are defined as migrants; they are not refugees, and will not be registered or accepted. Refugees are expected to become good producers and consumers.
The Pope has asked every Catholic Church in Europe to help refugees. I hope Catholic, Lutheran and all other churches will respond. Christianity and Judaism is about showing compassion to those in need. I don’t know what the Danish government is doing, but I do know that many of the Danish people disagree with their actions in this regard.
At issue is how we perceive other people—not only those who are similar to us, but people who are different from us, people who need our help. This includes the two Davids who wanted to be married to each other. They may not have been hungry or thirsty, but weren’t they strangers who needed Kim’s help?
ji
Coverage on Kim Davis: New York Times 9/8/15
Statistics on Refugees: Los Angeles Times 9/8/15
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…."..Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." (Matthew 25 vs 35-36)
In other words, what we do for others, we do to Christ." (And what we not do—!) This all about judgement.
I wish Kim Davis and others would practice their religious freedom by insisting on helping displaced Hispanic migrants at our borders, lobbying to assist Syrian war refugees, providing food and clothing, or holding rallies and political fund raisers to help the tens of thousands of people who are suffering. Kim has the qualities to be a model for a Good Samaritan instead of denying people their rights.
Here in the United States migrants from Mexico and South American countries are encamped at the border and migrant issues remain unresolved. In the same September 8th news cast we see refugees, hungry teenagers, frightened children, weeping mothers, desperate men walking hundreds of miles, struggling to find a place to live in Europe. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to lose everything, to leave home and country with few resources. Pope Francis is calling for help, ministering to refugees and migrants. We see such acts of compassion on the news when volunteers bring food and clothing to the refugees, some even invite the refugees into their homes.
Germany has taken the lead in helping European refugees. Germans know the indelible harm that comes to the soul of a country when they ignore neighbors’ cries for help. Germany has agreed to accept and care for 800,000 refugees, equal to 1% of its population. Sweden has taken in 80,000 refugees, 1/3 are from Syria. Great Britain has committed to taking 20,000 Syrian refugees over 5 years. Lebanon has the highest per capita of Syrian refugees, with 1.5 million refugees out of a population of 4.5 million. Turkey has the most Syrian refugees—1.9 million. As I write this, the Danish government has refused to accept any refugees, but there are individuals in Denmark who are helping Syrian refugees.
And what about the United States? Although 4.1 billion has been spent on Syrian refugees, only 1500 Syrian refugees have been taken into our country. As I write this President Obama has announced plans for the United States to take 10,000 more refugees. We need to do more! Hopefully, we will do more! We contributed to the troubles of the Syrian people.
In order to "sell" their country a humanitarian response to helping refugees, Germany and Britain have found it necessary to talk economics. For the most part, this new wave of refugees is young and fairly well educated; many had good jobs and lived well prior to the war. People leaving for reasons other than the wars are defined as migrants; they are not refugees, and will not be registered or accepted. Refugees are expected to become good producers and consumers.
The Pope has asked every Catholic Church in Europe to help refugees. I hope Catholic, Lutheran and all other churches will respond. Christianity and Judaism is about showing compassion to those in need. I don’t know what the Danish government is doing, but I do know that many of the Danish people disagree with their actions in this regard.
At issue is how we perceive other people—not only those who are similar to us, but people who are different from us, people who need our help. This includes the two Davids who wanted to be married to each other. They may not have been hungry or thirsty, but weren’t they strangers who needed Kim’s help?
ji
Coverage on Kim Davis: New York Times 9/8/15
Statistics on Refugees: Los Angeles Times 9/8/15
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