That’s what I’m seeing. It’s being promoted across our country. And for those who want to pigeon-hole me politically, good luck. I’m to the left on some issues, to the right on others, so I’m not speaking out from a partisan point of view. In fact, I’m using other source material.

I sense such anger, self-interest, and fear of “those” people. (I know, drugs flow across our southern border…for American consumption, but the consumers aren’t innocent victims. Both buyers AND sellers are culpable, yet the latter get top billing as the bad guys.)

But I digress. Here’s what God had to say about foreigners in the midst of the Israelites in the Old Testament. (As a matter of fact, He said it over and over.) “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

Interesting twist on “me first.”

Regarding gun control, I hear “Me First.” It’s my right to own a gun. (True.) But in the Ten Commandments I read “thou shalt not kill.” Do guns have any purpose apart from killing (except for shooting cans off stumps for sport)? I’m not anti-gun for defense purposes, but easy access to guns makes it awfully easy for young people to kill rather than “fist-fight-it-out-by-the-flagpole-after-school” where nobody dies. With rights comes responsibility, apparently more responsibility than our society has been able to muster.

Regarding trade, I hear “Me First” but over and over in the New Testament I read “You First” messages. God wants us to take care of our own but not to the exclusion of others.

I’m not naïve about trade or the right to bear arms or immigration or any of these issues. They’re complex. I’m just trying to make a point about the anger and fear I see over “those” people and the swing toward ultra self-interest.

I just don’t see Jesus as a “me first” kind of guy.