Yeah, the pic looks political. The topic looks political. But honestly, they’re not. Hundreds of refugees from Honduras headed north, seeking refuge from gang violence. A week ago, they arrived at the border, and the political discussion over immigrants has grown hotter. But while reading in Mark this week, I came across the passage where people brought young children for Jesus to touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for bothering the teacher (Mark 10:13-16).
Jesus got ticked at them, and instead welcomed the kids, saying the kingdom of God belonged to them. What got him so mad? That the disciples discounted the value of some people. Kids don’t really count, the original “be seen and not heard,” and Jesus totally disagreed. And here’s the point of this post. People count to God. All people. We tend to discount the value of some. Ones not like us. Ones that can’t help us. Ones from other countries. Ones that have hurt or wounded us. Ones not as intelligent or sophisticated as us. Ones from a different generation. Ones from another denomination or religion.
That’s wrong. Frankly, I care little about your position on immigration, legal or illegal. But I do care, and I believe God does as well, that we value all people to the same measure that God does. That value should guide all of our political positions. All of our spiritual positions.
God does that, in the classic verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Notice the pattern. God loved all. God acted for the benefit of all. Can we do less?
Honestly, if we sincerely apply this principle of loving all people to our political positions, I suspect God will be pleased. Regardless of where we end up. Why? Because we value people. All people. I kinda like thinking about how that can change our world.
Kick Starting the Application
Do you tend to discount the value of some people, or groups? Which? What has caused that? In crafting your political positions and relationships, do you intentionally think of how God values all people? Based on the passages in this post, do you need to make some changes in how you view some people? What would be a good first step?