Immigration has emerged as one of the top international issues in recent years. In America, it is one of the top domestic issues that divides the nation. Because the bible reports several stories of major characters (e.g. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Israel, Jesus, etc.) who lived as aliens in foreign lands, we should not be surprised to learn that God has given many commandments about how to relate to strangers and aliens. For lack of understanding of the meaning of these stories and God’s commandments, some religions and political movements (including Jews and Christians) consider immigrants to be their enemies. This attitude is contrary to God’s commands.
Jews and Christians will recognize that most of the statements below are paraphrases of scripture. People who are not familiar with the bible, and even people who do not believe in God, however, will not be handicapped in their ability to recognize that these statements are practical, common sense guidelines for how to relate to strangers, aliens and enemies. They don’t need scripture references to know in their hearts that these statements describe the qualities of both good and bad character.
Because God spoke these statements, they are his laws about how to relate to strangers, aliens and enemies. Obedience to God’s laws define the standards of righteousness and justice. Therefore, failure to obey these, laws is injustice which can also be labeled as sin because the definition of sin is lawbreaking. .
It is also worth remembering that denial of justice to immigrants is an example of favoritism and partiality which is also defined as sin. This confirms that failure to obey God’s commands about how to relate to strangers and aliens is also a sin.
Perhaps the most common application of these laws for most people is in the context of politics and voting where opposition to immigration of foreign aliens can be the defining issue that informs who people vote for. God judges people based on the content of hearts — not on politics or policy preferences. This is an important fact to remember when Choosing Friends, Making Alliances and Voting. Candidates for office who relate to strangers, aliens and enemies in ways that are consistent with God’s commands are worthy of receiving the votes of discerning voters. Candidates who relate to strangers, aliens and enemies in ways that are inconsistent with God’s commands are not worthy of receiving the votes of discerning voters. While American democracy gives citizens freedom to have opinions that are unpopular with other Americans and to vote according to their conscience, the same freedom does not exist in God’s kingdom. The hearts (i.e. consciences) of New Covenant disciples will not allow them to vote for candidates who break God’s laws.
| HOW TO RELATE TO STRANGERS, ALIENS AND ENEMIES |
|