We know today that every human being is genetically 99.9% identical. Physically the things that make us different from one another are Cosmetic differences. God appreciates infinite variety. It makes racism obsolete. Jesus doesn't like racism! We know this from the parable of the Good Samaritan. So the conversation with the woman in today's gospel reading is unexpected.

Jesus was passing through an area called Decapolis, the Ten Towns, a bad neighborhood. A generation earlier … well to use one public figure’s language…. “a swarm of immigrants had flooded in there. They didn’t share our faith, they weren’t our sort of people. They keep pigs! (The lowest of the low to a Jew)..’ Sound familiar? On the surface it appears Israel had an immigration and racism problem.

Jesus was in this area when a Gentile mother, begs Him to help her little girl. Jesus answers, “It is not meet to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs”. Ouch, is that a racial slur? The exact term he used was the Greek diminutive kynaria, which meant puppies, household pets, not feral dogs, but still? Was Jesus being racist? No, the color of her skin, or race, was not the issue! The Jews called Samaritans dogs and despised them, yet Jesus made a point of visiting them. The difference was religious, Samaritans worship God. The Gentiles however were idol worshippers. Some worshipped demons, some just lumps of wood carved by man, but much of their worship practices were appalling, involving everything from immoral sexual behavior to human sacrifice of children! Jesus was looking for the right answers from this woman, to show a Gentile was capable of true faith, and that they were worthy of his ultimate sacrifice. She had true faith in Jesus ability to heal her daughter with- her brilliant yet humble answer, her faith and persistence paid off.

The world has an immigration problem, Christians must realize that Islamaphobia is valid for us. Islam is NOT a peaceful religion it is a dangerous and violent ideology, with an appalling historical record of barbarism and human rights abuses, and an over-abundance of radicalized fanatics who want all Jews and Christians converted or dead. In particular their treatment of woman and children, sucks! Non-Muslim girls/woman are viewed as prey. This is evident in Islamic history, and current events, with the grooming gangs of the UK and with the increase in sexual crime in Europe since the influx of Muslim immigrants (worryingly mostly young men). There are 'honor killings' in the UK and the USA, and those who should pick up on and prosecute abuse are looking the other way, writing it down as cultural norms. DON'T ACCEPT IT! We must be prepared to UPHOLD the basic humanitarian and Christian values of our society and hold Muslims accountable to our standards, NOT the other way around. If they have come into our countries they should acknowledge and accept our values.

The Christian community reaches out and embraces and supports new immigrants to New Zealand, especially refugees. It is right that we do so, but every western country accepting immigrants from anywhere, should be teaching them proper western values. Especially that the worst DISHONER in a family is to kill or abuse a child. As Christians, pray for them that along with freedom and safety from war they will find the truth in Christ!