Bishop asks Trump to “have mercy” on immigrants and gay people: How should we see this issue through the lens of Scripture?

The Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service was led by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. On Tuesday, the bishop made a direct appeal to President Trump to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” referring to the LGBT community and immigrants. These issues are both biblical and political, with complex implications for our society today. Was this appeal the right thing to do, or was it a missed opportunity to preach the gospel? Today we discuss our call as witnesses to the world and those under our influence.About Denison Forum and The Daily ArticleToday's Daily Article was written by Dr. Jim Denison and narrated by Chris Elkins. You can read this article on our website. You may also receive it in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.NOTE: Denison Forum is a fully donor-funded nonprofit ministry. To support our calling, please donate today.As Dr. Denison notes in his book, The State of Our Nation: 7 Critical Issues, illegal immigration is a complex issue. Scripture teaches, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). The Bible consistently calls us to care for immigrants (cf. Leviticus 19:33–34; Deuteronomy 10:18–19; 24:19–22; Ezekiel 47:21–23; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5; Hebrews 13:2; Matthew 25:35). And we are told that God loves all of us, regardless of our place of origin (Galatians 3:26–29).