On Relationship with Refugees & Immigrants–from the Bible
Principle One–People have equal value
People of every nation, ethnicity and gender are equal image bearers and co-governors of earth–no one is better than his or her neighbor
Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
All ethnicities and genders work together, in all sectors, but especially within church.
Principle Two–Love foreigners as yourselves; do not mistreat them in any way
Exodus 22:21 “You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”
Benson Commentary: A stranger must not be abused, not wronged in judgment by the magistrates, not imposed upon in contracts, nor any advantage taken of his ignorance or necessity, no, nor must he be taunted, or upbraided with his being a stranger; for all these were vexatious. For ye were strangers in Egypt — And knew what it was to be vexed and oppressed there. Those that have themselves been in poverty and distress, if Providence enrich and enlarge them, ought to show a particular tenderness toward those that are now in such circumstances as they were in formerly, now doing to them as they then wished to be done to.
Leviticus 19:33-34 “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: “The Israelites were to hold out encouragement to strangers to settle among them, that they might be brought to the knowledge and worship of the true God; and with this in view, they were enjoined to treat them not as aliens, but as friends, on the ground that they themselves, who were strangers in Egypt, were at first kindly and hospitably received in that country.”
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: “Hired servants in the East are paid at the close of the day; and for a master to defraud the laborer of his hire, or to withhold it wrongfully for a night, might have subjected a poor man with his family to suffering and was therefore an injustice to be avoided.”
Jeremiah 7:5-6 “I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners…”
Principle Three–Make sure foreigners have food and clothes and a clear means to them
Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”
Matthew Henry commentary: This command “establishes the legal rights of the poor to a portion of the produce of the soil, and thus releases him from private charity, which, in its exercise, might have been capricious and tyrannical.”
Some ceremonial laws show us how to apply the ten commandments. People with a means to provide food are to show themselves holy by providing foreigners and needy people with a means to provide food for their families. Everyone could see the gleaning places and the available produce and access them. “How are you providing for your family? Can I assist you in finding a job?”
Deuteronomy 10:18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 26:12 Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.”
Principle Four–Protect foreigners from harm
Protect them from having property and possessions taken. Give fair hearings.
Deuteronomy 1:16 “At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions.”
The laws that constitute “denying justice,” are a call for the justice system to give the needy and foreigner protection from harm and from having his property taken. And to be perfectly fair is to judge impartially and equitably.
John Calvin Commentary: Judges are “forbidden to ‘acknowledge faces.’ For there can be no greater corruption than to judge from personal appearance.”
Deuteronomy 27:19 ‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Principle Five–Invite foreigners into your home
Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.”
To befriend a stranger, to share a meal and invite him or her into our home, is to invite Jesus into our home.
Principle Six–Extend mercy and healing to those not in your religious or political group
Luke 10:30-37 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant[ walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Showing mercy to an enemy or one from a people group or political group not my own is to obey Jesus. And when we care sacrificially for our national or natural enemies, we show that we truly love God.
Principle Seven–Enjoy other cultures and ethnic groups
Praising God with people of other ethnic groups will enlarge your view of God.
Philippians 3:20 “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” And Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Before God’s throne, we have the same need for salvation from the King. We bring our unique cultures and languages to form united praise to him. When we enjoy what is best in each other’s cultures, our eyes are opened to the beauties of God and we see him writ large as God of the universe. Then he is not in our minds diminished to the God of my universe; otherwise our faith remains small.
In Praise And Love For God
Let’s refresh our knowledge of God’s character, our passion for him, and our obedience to him by bringing people from other lands into our homes and meals, listening to their stories and learning from their culture and customs. Then let us watch how God sheds his love abroad in our hearts. Let’s generously share the produce of our land: food and clothing, jobs, medical help, and police protection. Let’s lead and manage our neighborhoods and churches together–as joint governors of creation and sharers of the Good News. Let’s sacrifice ourselves to protect and provide for refugees and immigrants–physically and spiritually as Jesus did –until we worship God with one voice before his throne.