Can We Love Jesus and Turn Away the Stranger?

What if the call to address societal issues wasn't just for pastors, but for every single follower of Christ? This is the challenging question raised by the Duke Divinity School's recent declaration, urging pastors across the U.S. to preach and speak out against the spiritual and moral decay eroding our nation. They've labeled it a pastor's "obligation," but as a follower of Jesus, I believe this is a mandate for all of us. Today, with the U.S. facing unprecedented social, political, and spiritual unrest, the Church is once again being called to be a lighthouse in the storm. I'm here to speak on a controversial topic, one I know many fellow believers may disagree with, but it has weighed too heavily on my heart to remain silent.

Immigration is arguably one of the most polarizing topics in our nation today. From the heart-wrenching stories of deportations to the grim reality of El Salvadorian prisons, or the agonizing decision to send people back to war-torn nations, this issue is undeniably complex—but only from a societal and political standpoint. Spiritually, the path is clear. The Bible provides an unmistakable guide for how we, as believers, should approach the often-heated rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum. Let's explore the foundational biblical principles that should shape our convictions on this critical issue.

How the Bible Instructs Us to Treat Foreigners

1. The Old and New Testaments unequivocally command how we are to treat foreigners in our homelands.

   • Hospitality: More Than Just a Welcome Mat. (Exodus 22:21, 23:9, Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19) The recurring divine command for ancient Israel was to treat foreigners with the same love, compassion, and legal standing as "natural-born citizens." This wasn't a suggestion; it was God's direct instruction. Why? Because the Lord never let Israel forget their own bitter experience as foreigners in a strange land. For centuries, the children of Israel knew what it was to be landless, despised, and persecuted. This deep-seated empathy was to define their treatment of the outsider.

   • One Law: No Dual Justice System. (Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22, Numbers 15:15-16) God's directive was crystal clear: extend the exact same law to foreigners as to native-born citizens. No exceptions, no second-class status. Here in the U.S., our Constitution promises "all persons" the same protections. This isn't just a legal nicety; it's a reflection of God's unchanging standard of justice.

   • Provide for Them: A Divine Mandate to Care. (Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19-22, Deuteronomy 14:28-29, Deuteronomy 10:18) The Lord demanded more than just tolerance. He commanded His people to actively provide for the essentials of life for foreigners, particularly the most vulnerable among them. Imagine: God commanded a portion of the tithe not to the temple, but to city storehouses, ensuring that everyone, including the foreigner, had food. This is radical generosity, rooted in divine compassion.

   • Love: The Ultimate Command. (Leviticus 19:33-34) This is not complex theology; it's a simple, yet profound, instruction: "Love the foreigner as yourself." How can we claim to love God if we fail to love those He commands us to embrace?

   • Justice: God's Fierce Defense of the Alien. (Malachi 3:5) This warning is for every believer: The Lord explicitly states He will personally "testify against" those who deny justice to the foreigner. This is not a passive judgment; it is God Himself standing as the accuser. Can we truly stand before Him if we have participated in, or stood silent while, injustice is done to the immigrant?

2. How we treat foreigners is a direct reflection of how we treat Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:31-46). In the powerful parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus shatters any illusion that our faith is purely personal. He unequivocally states that our treatment of "the least of these"—including the stranger—is our treatment of Him. To advocate sending desperate individuals to dire prisons or turning them away from safety, while claiming to love Jesus, creates a profound spiritual contradiction. And to those who raise the question of "criminals," remember Jesus' radical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: we are called to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. Our compassion cannot be conditional on perfect behavior.

3. Your allegiance as a believer is to God and the Bible, not to your earthly country (Philippians 3:20-21). Many believers prioritize their identity as Americans, viewing immigration through a nationalist lens. But our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. The Bible is not merely a guide for personal morality; it's a blueprint for how we engage with the world, challenging us to align our views with God's perfect justice and boundless compassion, even when it clashes with popular political narratives. We cannot use the Bible to justify prejudice or weaponize our worldview against the vulnerable.

Conclusion

As believers, our sacred duty is to be a refuge and advocate for the foreigner in our nation. The increasingly harsh rhetoric from high-ranking public offices should not merely concern us; it should compel us to action. My challenge to every believer this week is this: deeply reflect on your own heart's posture toward this complex issue. Pray for God to reveal His truth to you and to empower you to be an instrument of His love and justice. Let us strive to draw not only the foreigner to Him, but also those around us who are watching our response. Remember: your identity as an American is secondary to your eternal identity as a citizen of heaven.