SB1070? Jesus Provides a Place for Foreigners

Most people are well aware of the recent SB1070 law here in Arizona, which has caused quite the controversy within the state and around the nation. It is a law that I believe is only a physical cultural reproduction of the unfortunate sentiments that many of our fellow nationals hold towards our country's immigrants. So while immigration reform in the politics (physicality) is an essential part of solving this problem; a deeper immigration reform is needed in our hearts. And luckily, we don't need to only speculate on what God would do... we can look at what the Lord did.

A Place for Foreigners

²¹ “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. ²² You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.²³ In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign LORD. ~ Ezekiel 47:21-23

In Ezekiel, we get a very clear picture of what the Lord's will is for the 'foreigners' and 'non-native-born'. There is a whole chapter dedicated to the division of the land, with specifications for high priests, where the boundaries are and where the boundaries of the new city is, which should be called 'The Lord is There.' But, even when there are specific boundaries for land that is for each individual tribe, they are reminded that it is not only for them. The inheritance is not only for themselves, but also for the 'foreigners'. They are called to 'consider them as native-born Israelites.'

Now, this is a huge deal for two reasons. 1) In these days, there were clearly defined rules for who among the family would get the family inheritance. The eldest son, typically? We can even remember the conflict this caused between Esau and Jacob. So, "sharing" and "giving" your inheritance to a complete stranger, a foreigner, a non-native born, an "other" would be an extremely 'foreign' concept, you might say. 2) They were also to live among them and treat them as one and the same. They were being asked not only to give the foreigners the same 'political' and official rights, responsibilities and privileged... the Lord was asking them to look past the differences and recognize each other as native-born. Again, for a "chosen people" who had been waiting for this promised land, this was a shocking command. But, the Lord was already showing a different way of living that would be for all people.

And note that these passages about foreigners are not few and far between. In fact, far from it... there are many commands about protecting the foreigner.

A Heart for Foreigners

¹¹ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. ~1 John 3: 11, 16-18, 23-24

And this message of love is carried through into the new testament. In fact, John references its consistency and persistence, stating that "this message has been with you from the beginning." That message is the command to love one another. And further in this chapter, it is even stronger. For we ought to lay down our lives for them. We ought to give them what they need. Our love must go beyond our words. This directly relates to God's response in the previous passage to those 'foreigners' among the Israelites. The Lord, as an example for His people, 'gave' what was needed to the 'foreigners'.

Then I cannot help but believe that God would have us protect and love and give to the immigrants, the foreigners among us, instead of creating laws that make life even more difficult. If we follow His example, we would welcome them, giving them not only the rights and responsibilities of every U.S. citizen but a place in our hearts, considering them as native-born.

I know that many of us may not be in AZ, and may not have the opportunity to love our friends from other countries. However, we are all in a position to love as Jesus commanded, not just in words. What is needed is not always land or possessions. What we might need to give to those around us might be a smile, an encouraging word during Finals, a brownie, an unexpected word of praise, a 'thank you', an invitation to coffee. What do those around you need? Pray about it, and you might find that an e-mail or a facebook message might work.

Make a place for the foreigner, for the friend, for the enemy in your heart today. Remember, "this is the message we have heard from the beginning, you should love one another" (1 John 3: 11).