Given By Rev. Madison Shockley March 18, 2018

Current events have inspired today’s sermon. The President came to San Diego this week to view the prototypes for the wall to be built along our southern border. Upon reflection, the passage from Luke came to mind. It is a story of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus who sat at the rich man’s gate. There is a vast difference in the quality of life  between the rich man and Lazarus. We also experience this difference when we compare parts of our society and the poorest countries. We are the rich man in this parable. The President wants to build a wall between us and the Lazarus nations of the world. If we are followers of Jesus, we need to say something. One of the reasons for the wall is suppose to be trade deficits. Yet trade deficits are not a sign of unfair trade practices. Nations do not trade; people do. It is about individual choices. We should not allow our taxes to shut other people out and abuse these relationships to gain more concessions. Another reason is immigration. The president is trying to shut the door for those from the poorest nations. This parable is not just about the after-life but a judgement on the life we lead now. All of the world are God’s children. God’s blessings belong to all.

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