Biblical words to live by

Part of the Postville Iowa protest included an inter-faith gathering at a local church. It included rabbis (it was a kosher meat packing plant), a smattering of Protestant ministers, and the Catholic Archbishop leading the marchers.

According to the Des Moines Register there were some quotes from clergy, such as:
Lutheran Pastor Mark Anderson called for Congress to change the law, so it helps all workers. "Fix the legislation so people of faith do not have to choose between what is legal and what is righteous," he said.

Hmmm…is Pastor Mark suggesting that we screen people at the border and only include “people of faith?” George Bush uses that term quite a bit when talking about illegal aliens. I suppose the distinction is necessary to exclude the dope dealers, drunk drivers, child molesters, and wife beaters from the amnesty program. (At least the government is saving some of the work for our own.)

Another quote from The Register:
A minister quoted from the Bible: "You shall treat the stranger who resides with you no differently than the natives among you," he read. "Have the same love for him as for yourself, for you too were once strangers in the land of Egypt."

I believe he is quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. Chapter 10, if I’m not mistaken.

Aaah…Deuteronomy. If one verse is good, perhaps we ought to adopt the old ways in the rest of Deuteronomy as well.

Like chapter 22, where God condemns transvestites.

Or chapter 7, where He forbids inter-racial marriage.

Or maybe 15, where all loans are cancelled every seven years.

Or 19, capital punishment.

Or slavery, as found in 15.

Or 20, where God grants the spoils to invading armies. We could use some free Iraqi oil right now.

And back in chapter 7, God commands the Israelites to wipe out seven nations. In chapter 20, He tells them to kill the women and children as they invade.

I like the way Deuteronomy suggests we deal with stubborn and rebellious sons. Turn them over to the Elders of the city to be stoned to death. (chapter 21)

Speaking of stoning, the same fate awaits girls who aren’t virgins at marriage. Stoning is the remedy for adulterers as well. (chapter 22)

Yes, going back to the law of Moses sounds like a great idea to me. But I’m guessing that the rabbis and ministers stirring up the crowd in Postville will shy away from the finer points of the law found in Deuteronomy.