Do you ever wonder what God thinks when He sees the world? First, I'm sure He sees the hurting masses, many of whom are oppressed, with little to eat. Then He sees America, a very rich nation, where even the homeless often eat more than the starving people of the world. Then he looks back at the thousands of hurting, oppressed people in countries with poor government, ruled by powerful people who get rich at the expense of the poor. I wonder, does God weep?
I think we forget that God is not an American. He loves all people and His heart breaks to see all the poor and suffering, while people who call themselves followers of Jesus, mostly living in ease, have very little faith that immigrants could be helped and it not hurt them.
So, let's consider how we Christians can respond to this situation in a way pleasing to God. First, what's the problem? We have large numbers of people coming from other countries, mostly walking across the border and asking for asylum. Yes, it’s illegal to walk across the border without permission, but it's not illegal to ask for asylum. Most of them don't know the correct, confusing protocal, so they're immediately in trouble. Too often, we Americans look at them as "bad" people simply because of ignorance. Yes, there are a great many of them, and, yes, the crowds looks very scary and intimidating, but are we not a huge, wealthy nation and don't we serve the God of the impossible?
So the question we need to ask ourselves is, what does God want from us? First, what does the Bible teach about refugees and foreigners? In the Old Testament there are over 30 verses teaching compassionate care for the foreigner. God told his people, "When a foreigner resides among you, do not mistreat them. The foreigner must be treated as your native born. Love them as yourself."* Later, Jesus said (in effect), "When you fail to help the hungry and when you fail to help the foreigner, you are failing to help me."** Wow! That's challenging! The Apostle Paul wrote, "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, . . . "*** So, we commit to following God's teachings. Then we pray for guidance and use the brains God gave us to follow that guidance. Pray, listen and think! We are a great nation with many resources and great creativity!
So, next thing, take care of the massive numbers of people on the border. We need someone in charge of getting families in and out of court quickly and settled in areas around the country where they desperately need workers. There are many such places. As I wrote in a previous article, the President should declare a national emergency and delegate a full time person to do two things: one, make sure there are enough courts with required personnel to quickly process the families; and two, send these families around our huge country to previously prepared groups in areas needing more workers, ready to find them housing and jobs.
To slow down the numbers coming, we need to sponsor more of the programs that work in or want to work in the countries of origin to help people want to stay. Most people naturally love their native land. Make it just a little bit more liveable, and I promise you they won't want to make the long, rugged, and dangerous trip to get to our country. There are many groups already working in these countries. Mercy Corps is one highly rated humanitarian group that is active in South and Central American countries, which have high numbers of refugees. We just need to expand their work.
There are also many Christian programs in these countries that both share the Gospel and have strong programs that educate the young and teach adults beneficial ways to make a living. Two such groups are Food for the Hungry and Food for the Poor. Christians concerned about the high numbers of refugees should think about financially supporting these groups to expand their work and effectiveness.
An aside note: When we look at the situations from which these people are fleeing, we'll realize that they are true refugees. The political situation in Venezuela has gone from bad to worse. Many people are barely existing on bread and water. In some countries, adults and adolescent boys are often threatened by gangs to pay them/join them or be killed. Many refugees coming here are parents just trying to save their children from lives of hunger and crime.
When you know that God is a loving God who desires that all people and all children live safe, healthy lives, there is no choice but to help the hurting and helpless. We are a big nation that has historically welcomed hurting refugees with open arms. Let's not listen to the lies of those who try to appeal to our selfish, sinful nature. The Enemy speaks through people wanting fame and power, who think they can gain favor by focusing on fear. Let's prove them wrong. Resist these lies and have faith in God!
*Leviticus 19: 33, 34
**Matthew 25: 42, 43, 45
***Galatians 6:10
When God Sees the World
Yes, yes! You make so many powerful points. We're used to hearing them as political points. You make them even more powerful when you help us seem them not as policies but as Christian mandates.
Another point that can be made is that there was the same fear and hostility toward immigrants and refugees in the past:
At one time, only English-speaking people were thought to belong.
Then came Germans, fleeing from revolutions around 1848.They did not speak English. There were whole Civil War regiments made up of Germans who spoke no English and had to be led by German-speaking colonels or even generals.
And of course, famously, the surge of Irish following Ireland's potato famine. They knew English but were nevertheless persecuted almost as much as Black people. ("No Irish need apply" were common signs.
Then people from Eastern Europe and Russia came and were feared.
There were people of great talent and ability in all of these groups. They contributed to scientific progress, and indeed in progress in every area.
Our nation was enriched by people in all the groups we welcomed.