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End of Year 2015
on... Immigration: Are We To Care?
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Do we give much thought biblically about the highly charged immigration and refugee issues facing the world today, asking what the purposes of God might be to the center of it all? Or are our thoughts and concerns mainly toward "security," as was brought to my attention recently in a dialogue with a well-informed individual? I have been deeply challenged this year on account of both my summer experiences (click here to hear the sights and sounds of our life-changing experience), as well as my research from a deeply contemplative Christian Ethics class where I batted ideas around with six global leaders on immigration and refugee issues. Needless to say, God is at work in me.
The Bible has much to say about foreigners and strangers, two terms I personally resonate with as having lived the reality for more than half my adult fifty-six year life (can it really be?). Purview the Old Testament and you will realize the Hebrew word ger is translated a number of different ways... alien, foreigner, immigrant, sojourner, or stranger. Leviticus 19:33-34 reads:
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34, ESV, italics mine).
While this text does not specifically address undocumented or illegal aliens (one does need to show care here however, so as not to read or study the Bible in an anachronistic manner), it is nevertheless, a passage calling for the exercising of justice, righteousness and love in such a way the outsider does not feel excluded, nor in fact rejected. It is a passage whereby Almighty God calls for the renunciation of such practices. Much, much more could be said of God's Old Testament expectations regarding this, but we move rather to Jesus and his understanding.
From the outset let it be said one is well served to do some reflecting during the Christmas season (and sadly few have, or will do so) on the fact that Jesus, in his childhood, was an immigrant. Within hours of his birth he was being carried to Egypt in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, Hosea 11:1. The Gospel of Matthew records the event and prophecy:
"Now when they [wise men from the east] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15, ESV).
Granted, Jesus probably did not remember much from that event as he was taken back to Israel as a child by his mother and father (Matthew 2:20). However, one is left contemplating why the importance in God's Kingdom purposes that Jesus, His One and Only Son, be called out of Egypt. It's a fascinating exercise in reflection. Could this not be God's way of reminding us all of the importance of foreigners and immigrants in our midst? Is this reality of foreignness somehow intrinsic to our sense of belonging and dependence upon God, contributing finally to the understanding our days are only fleeting moments juxtaposed God's everlasting sovereignty (cf. Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:9-11). Might this not have had something to do with Jesus' later "Kingdom of Heaven" eschatological teaching when he taught to care for the disenfranchised here and now was actually to care for Him? To the righteous with their godly social concerns Jesus vicariously identifies with all the downtrodden who received some care from them, so as to say, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35, ESV, italics mine). It does seem, at the very least that earnest consideration might be given to finding God's heart for the stranger knowing such welcoming will be met at last with God's welcome par excellence. "Security" might not be the final most important consideration, but rather getting in line with an economy of a Kingdom ethos quite foreign to this world. Your and my position, as well as daily decisions on this issue must reflect biblical thoughtfulness, so it will be well worth the time you give to reflect on the forty passages above in the 40 Days of Scripture & Prayer devotional forming your own opinion and conviction. Will you join us in the pursuit of God's heart on this matter?
The Bible has much to say about foreigners and strangers, two terms I personally resonate with as having lived the reality for more than half my adult fifty-six year life (can it really be?). Purview the Old Testament and you will realize the Hebrew word ger is translated a number of different ways... alien, foreigner, immigrant, sojourner, or stranger. Leviticus 19:33-34 reads:
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34, ESV, italics mine).
While this text does not specifically address undocumented or illegal aliens (one does need to show care here however, so as not to read or study the Bible in an anachronistic manner), it is nevertheless, a passage calling for the exercising of justice, righteousness and love in such a way the outsider does not feel excluded, nor in fact rejected. It is a passage whereby Almighty God calls for the renunciation of such practices. Much, much more could be said of God's Old Testament expectations regarding this, but we move rather to Jesus and his understanding.
From the outset let it be said one is well served to do some reflecting during the Christmas season (and sadly few have, or will do so) on the fact that Jesus, in his childhood, was an immigrant. Within hours of his birth he was being carried to Egypt in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, Hosea 11:1. The Gospel of Matthew records the event and prophecy:
"Now when they [wise men from the east] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15, ESV).
Granted, Jesus probably did not remember much from that event as he was taken back to Israel as a child by his mother and father (Matthew 2:20). However, one is left contemplating why the importance in God's Kingdom purposes that Jesus, His One and Only Son, be called out of Egypt. It's a fascinating exercise in reflection. Could this not be God's way of reminding us all of the importance of foreigners and immigrants in our midst? Is this reality of foreignness somehow intrinsic to our sense of belonging and dependence upon God, contributing finally to the understanding our days are only fleeting moments juxtaposed God's everlasting sovereignty (cf. Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:9-11). Might this not have had something to do with Jesus' later "Kingdom of Heaven" eschatological teaching when he taught to care for the disenfranchised here and now was actually to care for Him? To the righteous with their godly social concerns Jesus vicariously identifies with all the downtrodden who received some care from them, so as to say, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35, ESV, italics mine). It does seem, at the very least that earnest consideration might be given to finding God's heart for the stranger knowing such welcoming will be met at last with God's welcome par excellence. "Security" might not be the final most important consideration, but rather getting in line with an economy of a Kingdom ethos quite foreign to this world. Your and my position, as well as daily decisions on this issue must reflect biblical thoughtfulness, so it will be well worth the time you give to reflect on the forty passages above in the 40 Days of Scripture & Prayer devotional forming your own opinion and conviction. Will you join us in the pursuit of God's heart on this matter?
Why Do They Not Care?
Why do they not care? For the burden I still bear;
Of my childhood lost; little fun, scant joy,
All I ever wished for was one small toy.
Still looming large is we were all forced to leave;
We had nothing, took nothing, yet my father achieved,
To gather us twelve, all crying and cold,
To make our run by night; I was four years old.
To my sister I asked “Why do they not care?”
I remember she answered, “They're unable to share.
“Wanting all for themselves... the land, minerals and power,
“Leaving us nothing but our God, who now must be our strong tower.”
To a new world we traveled, arriving by-and-by,
A new start, how exciting! Emotions were high!
But this world was so different, and alas and awry,
I remember my mother beginning to cry.
As we sat in cold rooms and strived to understand,
The words from the mouths, with those waves of the hand;
Strange smells, dark corners, faces grimacing at our gaze,
Left me the idea we had entered a new dark phase.
“Why do they not care?” I asked my father out loud,
His silent blank stare still to this day a black cloud,
My sister perked up, “We are unwanted here too.”
“Oh the hardships we faced; if they only knew.”
At that I remember my young heart full of sorrow,
As I asked myself what the day might hold for tomorrow.
Why do they not care?
K.R.G.
November, 2015
Why do they not care? For the burden I still bear;
Of my childhood lost; little fun, scant joy,
All I ever wished for was one small toy.
Still looming large is we were all forced to leave;
We had nothing, took nothing, yet my father achieved,
To gather us twelve, all crying and cold,
To make our run by night; I was four years old.
To my sister I asked “Why do they not care?”
I remember she answered, “They're unable to share.
“Wanting all for themselves... the land, minerals and power,
“Leaving us nothing but our God, who now must be our strong tower.”
To a new world we traveled, arriving by-and-by,
A new start, how exciting! Emotions were high!
But this world was so different, and alas and awry,
I remember my mother beginning to cry.
As we sat in cold rooms and strived to understand,
The words from the mouths, with those waves of the hand;
Strange smells, dark corners, faces grimacing at our gaze,
Left me the idea we had entered a new dark phase.
“Why do they not care?” I asked my father out loud,
His silent blank stare still to this day a black cloud,
My sister perked up, “We are unwanted here too.”
“Oh the hardships we faced; if they only knew.”
At that I remember my young heart full of sorrow,
As I asked myself what the day might hold for tomorrow.
Why do they not care?
K.R.G.
November, 2015
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First name: KR
Last name: G
Personal account #: 004527
Project account #: 024527
Last name: G
Personal account #: 004527
Project account #: 024527