"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 33-34 (NIV)
On Friday, January 27th, President Trump signed a document that put a temporary immigration and travel ban on several countries, and banned Syrian refugees from entering US soil. This came as a shock to thousands upon thousands of people, and there have been numerous accounts of praise and backlash for Trump's decision. While many are split on this issue, I find hard to believe that Christians can be in support of this ban.
As Christians, God commands us time and time again to welcome the stranger into our arms and show them hospitality. In Leviticus He commands us to treat foreigners among us as equals and native-borns. In Romans 12:13, we are told to "contribute to the needs of the saints" and to "extend hospitality to strangers." In Hebrews 13:1-3, the LORD states that we must "keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters" and that we "do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those ... who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
How often we open our arms to those who are suffering that are similar to us, but shun those in need who come from different cultural, religious, or racial backgrounds. We are quick to turn a blind eye to those in pain and poverty when we feel as though their problems have nothing to do with us, no matter how many times in the Bible we are taught that all suffering is our suffering. Jesus states that whatever one does "even to the least of them, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25: 40). In fact, the LORD states in Malachi 3:5 that those who "oppress the widow and the fatherless" and those who "deny justice to the foreigner" will be in His judgement. If we as Christians do not show love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, do we really know the LORD (1 John 4:8)? How can we display Christ's love when we turn away refugee families and force them to stay in war-torn lands and destroyed homes?
Now, if you are Christian but are in favor of the ban for your own and your loved ones safety, I understand. From the way media and the news has been portraying recent terrorism in the world and been highlighting the dangers other countries are facing, it seems logical to want to keep ourselves separate from this. However, by looking at statistics and again looking back on Scripture, one can see how flimsy that argument is. Firstly, I would like to point out that if you are worried about being attacked, it is important to realize that in 2016 over 11,000 Americans were killed by gun homicides by their own fellow Americans, and only 54 people were killed by Muslim-terrorist attacks, 49 of these deaths being by one attacker in the tragic Orlando shooting. Since 9/11, the majority of major attacks on US soil have been by Americans, not refugees. In fact, most countries on the banned list have not had one of their citizens commit a terrorist act or been arrested for plotting attacks within the past 15 years, including Syria. Your chances of being hurt by a refugee are incredibly miniscule. On top of this, when the United States does welcome refugees, it is not done so carelessly. All refugees must first go through an intense screening process through numerous government departments before entering the country. Lastly, and it is saddening that I have to purposely remind others of this, but nearly every single refugee is a mother, father, child, elder, or orphan. They are families and individuals in search of a safe home for themselves and for their loved ones, not terrorists searching to harm you.
To stand with refugees is to stand in alignment with the gospel message. Don't be influenced by false media and unrealistic fears. Instead, open your heart and extend Christ's love to those who need it most at the moment.
