I just finished reading a Christian book called the Heavenly Man which is the story of a Chinese pastor by the name of Brother Yun. In the book brother Yun goes from one torture session to another day in and day out for teaching others about Jesus Christ in China. Once you read this book you start to wonder if we in the west really believe in Jesus and do we believe in being doers of the word as the scriptures teaches. I read the book in one day after having the book in my study for two years.
What I found out was just how far we have gotten from bible based Christianity and toward a Christianity of man made ideas and doctrines. It does not help us that most of our politicians claim to be born again Christians but have no idea what the bible says on most of the subjects that they speak on. For instance the bible is clear on how you are to treat the aliens living among us. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
When asked what the greatest commandments were, Jesus told the teachers of the law in Mark 12:29-31 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31 the second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Jesus was saying that the greatest commandment was to God and then to your neighbor who you are to love as much as you love yourself. He did not ask what nationality the neighbor was or what the color of his skin was. These are the commandments of Jesus which we hear very little of. What we hear is that we need a bigger wall to keep out certain people and more laws to keep out certain religions we might not like. When asked who the neighbors were Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke10:30-37
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Notice that the Levite and the priest who are people who spend their days speaking great things about God did nothing to help the needs of the stricken man, they had no mercy. But the Samaritan who was one of the despised people of the times took great care of him. So it is in this age we live in. Every one claims to love Jesus and be a follower but few love the next man or their neighbors. The lack of empathy gets even worse with people who are in prison or sick and yet again Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that he who has not done something good for one of these has not done it for him.
Matthew 25:37-40
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

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