Would Jesus Be Welcome in the United States Today? [Opinion]
Would Jesus be welcome in the United States today? I would like to say yes, but it seems a bit more complicated than that. I'd like to say that a 30 something year old bearded man from the middle east would be welcome with open arms in a country that is, for the most part, a christian nation - but it's not so cut and dry.
The Washington Post reports that the White House is still fighting for the proposed 120 day travel ban to be implemented. Two separate measures so far have been blocked by judges before they could be put into use. These bans were designed to block people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the country in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks.
The bible tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived most of his life in Nazareth - both in Israel. So, with a proper Israeli passport, he should be able to legally enter the United States with no issues. He may not be too pleased with the NSA, though. You gotta think a radical religious leader from the middle east with a group of disciples is going to raise a a few eyebrows.
Once he got here, how welcome would he be? If you saw a bearded, middle-eastern man, would you invite him and his 12 friends in for dinner? I hope that I would.
“‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:35-40 NASB)