By Mike Chaffin
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
While illegal immigration is breaking the law, and every country has the right to secure borders, xenophobia is wrong. Xenophobia is the fear of and hostility to, and a disdain of, foreigners, people of unfamiliar cultures, and strangers. Christianity forbids this behavior.
Xenophobia doesn’t conflict with a secure border and the problems created by illegal aliens and criminals destroying lives and communities. However, if in our zeal to protect our border, we hate our neighbor or fear to help those in need, we sin.
33 “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 34 Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:33-34
Of course, the argument can be made that this command in Leviticus was only for the Israelites and doesn’t apply to us. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18
Jesus summed up the whole law and prophets with these two commands; to love God with everything you are and have, and to love your neighbor as yourself. We shouldn’t be afraid of those different from ourselves. We should show them God’s love and tell them about Jesus. The Apostle Paul elaborated on this issue in several of his letters. Here in Romans he wrote,
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
We shouldn’t think of someone of a different race or nationality to be an enemy. But even if we did, Jesus commands us to love them as He would. Don’t get me wrong, illegal immigration is a fundamental problem that is has dire consequences around the United States. This is due to the failings of the leadership in the White House or their complicity to allow our country to be overrun by drug dealers and criminals. But even those who don’t belong here need to hear the good news of the gospel. Jesus can transform lives.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help to understand people who are different than me. Help to love them and not fear or hate them. I pray for our nation that criminal activity brought under control wherever it takes place. In Jesus’ name, amen.
