How should Americans deal with the issue of immigration? That seems to be the “million dollar question.” Or should I say, “billions of dollars question”? The Center for Immigration Studies estimates annual services and assistance costs for post-1969 immigrants is aproximately $92.67 billion. Even though immigration issues are often remedied by government, Christians too have a responsibility toward caring for immigrants.
The current crisis at the southern border provides us with the opportunity for reflection. Should immigrants be welcomed into our country? Should they be allowed rights afforded to American citizens? What happens if illegal immigrants flood our cities, overburdening our school systems? What about the children, women, and men being human-trafficked? Not to mention drug and arms dealing. These issues are indeed complex.
America is still the wealthiest country in the world. Consequently, American Christians are the wealthiest Christians in the world. Today, 736 million people live in extreme poverty. Ten percent of the world’s population lives on $1.90 a day. Many of the world’s poorest want to find a way out of poverty by coming to America.
Today, people from every corner of the earth have come to live in America. Though this reality is riddled with difficult complexities, it too should stir some excitement in our hearts. Why? Because Christ came and died to redeem people from every tribe, tongue, nation and people. As mentioned in one of my previous articles, ethnocentrism is contrary to our gospel witness. Rather, we should welcome the stranger and foreigner.
People from every nation live in America.
The Reality of Immigrants
I came to America at age 18 to study at Ouachita Baptist University. I felt like I had the lottery. Especially since my scholarships were worth thousands of dollars. After going through the legal process, taking tests, doing interviews, going to the US embassy, filling and filing tons of paperwork, I arrived in America. Through the legal process I was able to attain American citizenship.
But this is not the reality of the vast majority of immigrants who live in America. Most come out of desperation. Some are trying to escape poverty. Immigrants from war-torn countries seek asylum from persecution. And many come to America to raise their families to live comfortable lives. In the end, however, everyone living in America need to learn to coexist within a pluralistic and diverse society.
Brazil, my country of birth, is very diverse. However, it was not until I came to America that compassion for the nations grew in my heart. Today, some of my best friends are foreigners. I have good friends from Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Europe. My friendships were all developed in America within the past 18 years.
A Christian Response to Immigration
Now, though the Bible does not address every issue known to men, it does explicitly address the issue of immigration. In my upcoming book, Guess What? You’re a Foreigner, I address this topic at length. The basic gist of my argumentation is that we are all foreigners. Feelings of superiority and ethnocentrism have no place in the life of believers.
In the Old Testament, God often reminded the Israelites to treat the foreigner with respect. Why? Because they too were once foreigners in Egypt. For instance, Leviticus 19:33-34 says, “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.” We too were foreigners.
The Bible tells us that everyone is a foreigner. The question is, what kind of foreigner are you? A redeemed-foreigner or a non-redeemed foreigner? Regardless, the Fall of mankind (Genesis 3), made every single one of us foreigners. We were created in the image of God. Therefore, we have intrinsic value. However, we are still foreigners on earth.
The Bible tells us that our home is in the new heavens and the new earth, not in this present broken world we live in. This gives us hope that one day we will all finally arrive at home. Immigrants are sojourners in search of a home, a better place to live, a place where they can settle and flourish.
Opportunities
A good portion of the population of America is composed of immigrants. Immigrants, like all Americans, were created in the image of God. Each one of them is valued by our creator. Let us not forget that The Declaration of Independence gives three examples of inalienable rights, in the well-known phrase, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” These fundamental rights are endowed on every human being by his or her Creator and are often referred to as “natural rights.” As believers, we should champion the idea of human intrinsic value, because it is God given.
Americans have been given unique opportunities for gospel ministry. Instead of looking at immigrants as a nuisance, we should celebrate the fact that the nations are not at our footsteps, but already living inside our contexts. As redeemed-foreigners we can make an impact among the nations that will last for eternity. Here are a few ways we can together solve immigration issues:
- Practice hospitality – invite people from different ethnicities into your dining room. Not only will you be able to bless them, you too will be blessed with great fellowship, food, and fun.
- Get involved in refugee ministry if you are able to. One example is a ministry like Refugees Hope Partners, who ministers to refugees in need in their local community. Rebecca Camplejohn, who is the wife of one of our elders, is involved with this wonderful ministry and making a tangible impact among immigrants.
- Help immigrants find justice and peace. One of my dear friends Jenni Jordan works with a ministry called Justice Matters. They are on the frontlines against human trafficking. They provide legal help and hope for victims exploited for sex through human trafficking.
- Visit local communities where the majority of the people living there are immigrants. One of my friends Jeremy Porras is the president of the Raleigh Dream Center, which helps people in minority neighborhoods impacted by poverty, often times immigrant communities in Raleigh, NC.
- Be part of a congregation that not only celebrates diversity, but is multiethnic. This may be difficult depending on which context you live in, but if possible, become a member at a church that is not ethnically homogenous.
- Stop talking about immigrants as second class citizens. Rather, practice the second greatest commandment – love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).
- Don’t believe everything the media tells you. Also, do not fall into the trap of hatred toward immigrants. You can be angry at the government for its handling of immigration issues. But we must learn to separate issues from individuals who are created in the image of God.
Finally, heed the words of our Savior,
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven –– Matthew 5:13–16
Written by Daniel Messina
