In his speech, given during National Action Network’s March in Washington, D.C.*, Rev. Jesse Jackson commented on President Trump’s desired requirement for immigrants coming to the United States to speak English. Rev. Jackson further commented that “Jesus would not qualify to enter Trump’s country,” and that “Trump would not qualify to get into Jesus’ kingdom,” due to his (Trump) stance on immigration.

I must say, he is perhaps correct in his assumption; but not for the reasons he (Jackson) states. President Trump may indeed find it very difficult to enter Christ’s kingdom, but so will Rev. Jackson.

Will President Trump have difficulty getting into Jesus’ kingdom? Jesus told us, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” (Mar 10:25). Would Rev. Jackson not have the same difficulty; he is by no means that I know of, a poor man.

I am okay with Rev. Jackson’s comment, though I simply believe it to be more politically charged than grounded in love. I believe Rev. Jackson should be as concerned with his own access to Christ’s kingdom. As ministers, our commission from Jesus, is to help as many people as we can, get to the gates of His kingdom. However, let us not forget that Jesus is the only one who can grant or deny access.

I believe that Rev. Jackson left his ministry behind long ago. He has chosen to dedicate much of his life instead to advancing civil rights in a political arena. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I commend him for his many years in that regard, even though I may personally disagree on some of the ways he’s chosen to do so.

During my studies of the Old Testament, it has become obvious to me (with little interpretation) that God takes a hard stand not only on the “national issues” of Israel and issues of their borders and boundaries as well. As a matter of fact, the bible tells us that Israel didn’t even go as far as God commanded them, in securing their borders and boundaries. (See Joshua 23).

My point is, that people and Christians in particular, need to be more bible-literate before they aim to speak for God or on God’s behalf. While Rev. Jackson may me very bible-literate, he seems to overlook much of it as he, like so many of us, cherry-pick verses to base their comments on. Nowhere in the new Testament can one find Jesus contradicting God’s immigration policy concerning the nation of Israel.

No, we are not Israel. We have no knowledge of God directing the United States’ policy on immigration regardless of which way it leans. However, God’s revelation to us shows that He does in fact take a stand and He even gives us the reasons.

Though I have a myriad of opinions, I sit on the fence concerning our U.S. border issues and so refrain from posing them. Quite frankly concern of our borders is not my top priority, nor does it even make the top ten if I were to produce a list. My priority is to get into Jesus’ kingdom and to help as many as I can get there with me.

Another reason President Trump and Rev. Jessie Jackson may have difficulty getting into heaven’s kingdom is given in Mark 10:21, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” While they each might fulfill half of Jesus’ instruction, neither has sold “all” that they possess and followed Jesus. Keep in mind however, neither have we. Who shall cast that first stone?

*March Held on Monday, Aug 28, 2017

**The Daily Wire -Published Aug 29, 2017

http://www.dailywire.com/news/20415/jesse-jackson-confederate-statues-must-come-down-robert-kraychik#