Good Morning.
You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:21)
As I shared yesterday, the Bible is adamant that God’s people should not oppress or mistreat those who are strangers among us. We should treat all people in the way that God wants us to be treated — with kindness and respect. At the same time, the Bible makes it clear that those who are strangers are expected to reciprocate by following the same standards and laws as the home born citizen. In other words, no one should be mistreated nor should they be given special favor just because they are a stranger.
While it is true that the powerful tend to take advantage of the weak, it is also true that, at times, the weak try to exploit their weakness for gain as well. For example, in today’s world, gays and other minority rights activists have greatly exploited the willingness of a society who have made concessions to them. Instead of being pacified by these concessions, they have used them as a springboard to impose their philosophy and lifestyle on the rest of the world.
The point is that, while God’s people are to treat our fellowman with kindness and consideration, we are not to compromise His other standards in the process. Let’s put it this way: we love our children and want to do everything we can to help them. However, if we’re not careful to teach them correctly — and sometimes with discipline — we don’t really help them become better people, we enable them to become rebels. In today’s world, in an effort to extend “justice” to those considered to be oppressed, society has kicked justice and righteousness to the curb. Rather than shaping a great society of “equal justice under the law,” we have enabled social justice warriors to foster a lawless society.
As God’s people, we must resist lawlessness and injustice wherever we find it, even if it claims to be “inclusive, tolerant” and “just.” Our King’s standards are to be our measuring rod and plumb line, and so, He expects that we will be kind and compassionate to others. He also expects that we will be true and faithful witnesses for His Kingdom and His Righteousness. Let’s not enable bad behavior with good intentions; let’s present a standard before all men that brings glory unto our Father.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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