I've seen some people say that supporting the refugee ban is unChristian. But this is really a misunderstanding of what and who is the church. This view is a liberal Christian view that the government is the church. But government isn't the church. Funny how liberals say they believe in the separation of church and state, but then want the state to act for the church.
Government isn't a charity. Since there are children dying in Africa, Asia, South America, should we bring them all here too? We can't take in all of the world's poor. Christian groups are already there helping people. They are already all around the world helping people. Charity is the role of the church not the government.
What the government can do to help these people is set up safe zones for them. They can also defeat ISIS. At this point it doesn't matter if you think Bush or Obama is to blame for ISIS. We now have to destroy ISIS, then we can help those refugees in their own home. Help them rebuild their lives there. Without putting lives in America also in danger. There was a very similar ban in 2011 that both Obama and Clinton supported, but there was no outrage.
The government has the right to denie anyone into the country if they believe it is to protect the citizens. This is a temporary ban on countries that the government views as a potential threats. The ban is so the new administration has time to look over our vetting process and make their own determination if the vetting is good or needs improvment. A government's responsibility is to protect its citizens. When immigrants used to come to America in boats to NYC, if a child had a simply ear infection they would be turned away. Not because America was mean, but because the government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from disease or terrorism.
Jesus never looked to the government to take care of people he looked to the church which are his followers. The church can and does help these people and many around the world through missions. But the government isn't the church. Are you a bad Christian if you don't allow a homeless person who you don't know come live in your home? This is the problem with the view that I'm helping the poor by voting or protesting that the government do something. It means I gets to feel good and righteous without getting dirty.
Jesus called on the church to help widows and orphans, not able-bodied men who should be fighting for their own country. And ask yourself this when was the last time you checked on a widow in your life like your mother, grandmother, an aunt, or a neighbor down the street? When was the last time you volunteer at the Big Brothers and Big Sisters or even checked on that family you know that are struggling to make ends meet. Instead too many of us expect the government to do it.
