For your consideration MrBillPro...........

"ro 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;"

Here is what Matthew Henry says about this Scripture.........

"As for the sin of stealing, if a man were brought to it by extreme necessity, if he stole meat for the satisfying of his soul when he was hungry, though that will not excuse him from guilt, yet it is such an extenuation of his crime that men do not despise him, do not expose him to ignominy, but pity him. Hunger will break through stone-walls, and blame will be laid upon those that brought him to poverty, or that did not relieve him."

I think folks in dire poverty, longing to enter into this country, should rather the more be pitied. If one knew the history of Texas and California and how it was attained, perhaps one would not be so hard on our impoverished neighbors to the south. We can be sure that God knows the beginning from the end and looks through eyes of love and mercy..............bro Frank

I agree that we should be merciful.

They are not coming over here because of evil intentions. They are coming because they see an opporuntity to better themselves or have a better life.

SOME of them are malicious and drug dealers and sex-traffickers, but not the majority. The majority want a better life.

I know it is illegal, but can you blame them when they see that, clearly, they will be better taken care of in our holding cells than they would free and in their homes back in their countries? I can't blame them.

I agree our borders should be secure. I definitely don't want people flooding our country and bogging down our system.

But I also don't want lots of things to happen, and they do. I should not withhold compassion from them, because I myself am a stranger in this land, as are all believing Americans.

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Bill

I don't think any Scripture trumps any other Scripture. God's will is perfect according to Romans 12. All of it fits together into perfect harmony.

If we EVER come to a place where we are pitting one scripture against another, then we are badly deceived.

If a man comes into this country to try to rescue his family, even if it is illegal, should we not extend some degree of mercy? We do not have to condone illegal actions in order for us to extend mercy and love.

Do you disown your children when they do what is wrong? No.

Did Jesus condone our actions by saving us? No.

If I feed a poor man, do I condone what wicked things he has done in his life? No.

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Now just to be perfectly clear, do not expect a lost person to even think about obeying the Scriptures. It takes being born again for anyone to even begin to bring themselves into submission to the Scriptures and the commandments of God.

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Bill

The proverb is about our attitude towards the thief who is desperate, seems pretty clear MrBillPro that God may have some dealings with those whose attitudes are not in line with His. We are servants who have been forgiven a great debt by the King, yet we like to go out and get a hold of folks and , at the very least, not extend them the gracious mercy that we ourselves received., no trumping no contradictions............bro Frank

Brother Frank, I should have mentioned this from the beginning, I can't condone or condemn this "at this point", I am just here to get some scriptural feedback so I can "maybe" turn the page on this. Sorry I did not say this in the beginning.

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Bill

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Bill

MrBillPro,

I am not talking to someone who doesn't know a lick of scripture. I am just saying that we, as Christians in general, should not decide truth based on parring up one verse against another. It all flows. It all makes sense together.

No one here understands everything, but if we approached any verse or verses with the attitude of "God's will is perfect, what does he say I should do?" any time we find what appears to be a contradiction, it is much better.

I really don't want to jump off of the OP, but brother, we've got to maintain sound doctrine. That doesn't mean perfection--although we should strive for it--it just means that we be like the bereans and diligently search the scriptures, because there IS a right answer and there IS an attitude that is pleasing to the Lord.

edit:

I am just trying to prevent treating the Scriptures like you would treat a hand in a poker match.