Thursday, August 3rd, 2017

President Trump and a pair of Republican Senators laid out an ambitious immigration proposal yesterday, seeking to limit the total number of legal immigrants per year to our country, as well as encourage English-speaking and financially stable immigrants. This policy proposal is sure to receive both praise and criticism over the coming days. Elevated Discourse does not exist to make judgments on political policy, but to encourage more Jesus-centered discourse between opponents in belief that the closer we all are to Jesus, the more truth, love, and positive outcomes we will see. Healthy debate strengthens our nation, but when debate devolves into trench warfare, we all suffer. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul lays out some instructions for Christian living, and one of them is “do not give the devil a foothold.” What does the devil want to do? He wants to divide our communities and then isolate each of us. A hate-fueled debate does the devil’s work for him. In the days ahead, remember that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light and that no one comes to the Father except through him. Ask Jesus to guide your thoughts, words, and actions and you will see a better, more loving community form around you.

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." -- Ephesians 4 : 25-27