Refugees

In the Old Testament there were refugees. At least I think they were refugees. There were a whole raft of rules and regulations concerning them.
I did try lookinginto them a while ago, but got a bit bogged down.

If someone is able to sort through that and explain what they had to do, that would be great.

I may not have it right biblicly, but I am trying to.

To my mind, and I could be wrong, a country is not expected to accomodate all the other populations of the world [exageration, but what if 150 countries want to go to Europe[that would include migrants as well as refugees, at present at least]].

"The point isn’t that Europe should take on all the misery of the world – framing the debate that way fans the fearmongering that needs to be defeated. The task at hand is to manage, practically and humanely, a crisis of unprecedented dimensions. Drawing up a common European asylum policy is urgent, and so is finding the resources to back it up. Just as important, legal channels must be created for refugees to claim asylum without undergoing deadly voyages across the sea or hidden in trucks. The longer-term solutions are about anti-trafficking cooperation and development policies for Africa, the Balkans and other places where dire economic circumstances persuade young people that the only way to a better life is to emigrate.

EU summits in the coming weeks must grapple with all this detail. But Mrs Merkel has sent a timely signal that the lowest instincts must now be confronted. She has reminded Europe that it was built on values, including the imperative of “never again”, which flows directly from 1930s memories of Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria being shunned by other nations. Some will see other special reasons why Germany is proving more willing than others to open up to refugees, such as a rapidly ageing population, which strengthens the economic benefits of inward migration. But don’t dismiss Mrs Merkel’s indisputable point, which is that Europe must come together on a strategic issue that cannot be wished away.

More such language is needed, more vision and more bravery, from other leaders – not shallow slogans of rejection, which solve nothing and deliver only collective shame."

From a Guardian article today, supporting what MargaretX says about Angela Merkel.

You are wrong all the way through on the refugee crisis, soon.
Fortunately for the refugees, not everyone thinks like you.
Why do you not stop thinking of the bible and think for yourself?
I cannot remember whether it was whitewave or Anniebach who said she thinks what would Jesus do, but you do not appear to think that at all, otherwise you would think like them.

Anniebach, I did think it said 2 years.
Having read the beginning of Matthew and Luke, going by the way it is worded, he appears to have still been very young when he returned.

Only in your opinion, durhamjen. Do stop trying to force your views onto everyone else.

Why is it OK for Anniebach to say she thinks what Jesus would do, but not for stb to say she tries to see what the Bible says? Not all Christians have to think the same way - just as atheists don't.

The Bible is still often a template today, so instead of guessing, the answer is there. It becomes a matter of doing it and carrying it out.
Guessing can involve, and probably does, doing something the easy way or what you want to do.

soon, if you are living by the Old Testament then can I assume you accept your husband having two wives and two concubines
.

I am sorry I don't understand your interpretation of the teachings of Our Lord, these refugees are homeless , hungry, frightened , they have endured the most horrific time at sea. I ask what would Jesus say and I don't think his reply would be yours , do you ?

I have tried to google the biblical way of doing it, but I didnt get very far.

I can see that I am going to have to put some time to the exercise.

I was hoping that the refugee crisis would have abated or slowed down, but unlike durhamjen, I dont see the end of the queue. Or of course, the refugees then wanting millions of family members to join them. And who can blame them?

Thanks Ana.

It might be somewhere in between the two of us.

I presume you go by the psalms and proverbs in the Old Testament Anniebach?
In the same way, refugee ideas?

Perhaps you could look as well into how this matter was dealt with in the Old Testament?

Some things got changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament, which I am sure you are aware of.
As far as I know, there is no mention or certainly not much mention of refugees in the New Testament, so there probably is only some Old Testament guides to go by.

soon, I like the psalms if read from the King James, as I read poetry . But I try to do what Christ asked me to do, i don 't understand how you can turn to the Old Testament for guidance on how to live or how to react to other people. I doubt you approve of stoning a woman for committing adultery . Did Christ turn away or feed the hungry ?

Soon, there are 4000 refugees at Calais wanting to get to the UK, not millions.

I have been reading interviews with men in Calais. They have come by land or sea and eventually stopped at Calais to try to get to the UK. They are really upset at the way they are being treated, and quite a few of them say if they could afford to get back to Syria, they would, as they would rather die there than be treated like they are in Europe.
I find that quite appalling. Who's to say that they will not go back and fight for IS if they are going back to die anyway.
It's terrible that they believe these are the only choices available to them.

Ana, I am not trying to force my views on anyone. I do not have any Christian views, unlike soon who is always telling the rest of us to read the bible, but only the bits that suit her philosophy of not letting refugees in the UK.
However, I would hope, as Angela Merkel says, that humanitarian views would prevail.

I don't suppose any of them (well, very few) are in Europe by choice.

They would much rather be in their own homes, their own country, at peace.
That, however, is not possible and unfortunately will not be possible for the foreseeable future.
Some refugees may settle, some may wish to go home in the future if things change for the better, and to rebuild their shattered country/ies.

No soon, Christ said - give to everyone who asks you , treat others the same way as you want them to treat you. He said others he did not say some others . Why do you need to check the O.T. to find out what you as a Christian should do?

Why do you need to check the O.T. to find out what you as a Christian should do?
is that possible?

Yes rosequartz , some may want to return to their homeland

The Israelites were refugees when they left Egypt and trekked until they came to the land of milk and honey where they settled. How were they treated by the original occupants? How did they treat those already living there? I seem to remember a lot of battles . . .

That question is best asked of one from the Jewish faith surely Elegran

Do you try to do anything at all from the Old Testament Anniebach?

God does not expect countries to be swamped. Totally swamped.
[I know there are 4000, that is likely to be the start].

The bit in the Bible I have found so far, the edges of the fields were left for the poor and aliens[meaning alien to the country I presume].

I dont know how many there were.

On a personal level.I would hope that everyone at our church would feed hungry people and give them shelter etc etc if they were or are in our area.

"Hundreds of thousands are fleeing war zones and persecution in Europe’s worst refugee crisis since the second world war. The situation is not likely to change any time soon, and so it is welcome that someone with clout is taking the high ground, instead of pandering to demagoguery. Mrs Merkel has put it bluntly: “If Europe fails on the question of refugees, its close connection with universal civil rights will be destroyed.” Days after European opinion was shaken by the discovery of 71 decomposing bodies of migrants inside a truck on an Austrian highway, the chancellor is sending out a strong message. Mrs Merkel had already taken a unique initiative in announcing that all Syrian refugees would be eligible to claim asylum in Germany – unilaterally, and rightly, waiving the so-called Dublin procedures, under which displaced people must claim asylum in the first EU state that they arrive in."
Fortunately Angela Merkel is not waiting for the others to agree with her about what to do.

4000 migrants at Calais this week, then next week? next month? Its the cumulative numbers that bother me and show absolutely no sign of abating. Also this is just fire fighting its not doing anything to stop the actual cause of this wholesale migration to Europe. Sorting out ISIS is obviously an extremely complex issue but until this rise in muslim fundamentalism is checked there will be no end to the stream of people rushing to Europe.

Talking of the Exodus - there is a TV programme on the parting of the Red Sea at 9 pm on Yesterday tonight.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy.

Sermon on the Mount, soon.

Send them all back where they came from, then bomb them to get rid of IS?

soon, no I don't follow the teachings / laws of the Old Testament , i made this decision when quite young. How do I follow thou shalt not commit adultery from the same book which speaks of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ,their wives and concubines, which praises David who killed a man because he wanted that mans wife ,for me this is pick and mix faith, it is difficult trying to live as Christ wants , but for me I choose to do or rather try to do what he asks. I was brought up Baptist then became a member of the Anglican community,,so,my,knowledge of your church is little
Not that I follow all the teachings of my own church