This semester my students are helping refugee families in the Chicago area. They help them with learning English, regular chores, school work, etc. Some of them are from Bhutan- Hindu Nepali refugees who were persecuted and expelled from Buddhist Bhutan. Yet, others are from Congo- refugees of infighting between Hutus and Tutsis, because of the policies of the Belgian colonial rule. Others are refugees from Myanmar- Muslim and Karen refugees from a Buddhist country. Yet others are from Syria.
These refugees have experienced so much pain, persecution, and rape.
My students are learning much from them.
The Great Lent scripture readings- the life of Abraham and Proverbs clearly respond to the question, “What must be done about the global refugee crisis?
Abraham’s life was the life of a sojourner and a refugee. He was a “wandering Aramean.”
The Bible simply says,
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; (Gen 12:1-4 NIV)
The context of Abraham’s journey, roughly 2000 BC, gives us a very sad picture of global society and religions. Not very much unlike the religious persecutions we see today. A minority of human beings- Egyptian, Sumerian, Chinese, Aryan rulers, began declaring themselves as gods. They began coming up with religions, which dehumanized the majority of the people in their nations, and enslaved them. Enuma Elish, a Sumerian religious document, e.g. claims complete control of common people by the divine king Marduk. To teach common people a lesson he destroys and dismembers the body of their leader Tiamat, who is portrayed as a demoness. Then he “kneads her blood into common human beings.” These common human beings were formed to be slaves to the high divine-kings, and divine-humans. (Enuma Elish VI:5-8, 30-40). Similar religions appeared in China, India, and Egypt, around the same time. The religions of this time were designed to enslave the majority of peoples groups in these ancient civilizations.
When these divine-kings conquered other peoples groups, the people were enslaved with a far more merciless force.
Abraham was sent with a mission in this context.
He heard the word of God and set about the mission.
On the way he gathered allies- good kings like Melchizedek, King of Jerusalem. This was a king who sought the justice (zedek) of God in society. He worshipped the God Most High, El Elyom, the creator of heaven and earth. (Genesis 14:18).
Abraham’s life is summarized by a simple, yet powerful sentence, “Abraham believed the LORD, and he was regarded as a justice oriented person.” (Genesis 15:6, my translation)
In the context of blessing Abraham, the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and afflicted there for four hundred years. (Gen 15:13).
This indeed did happen. And, at the end of the 400 years of enslavement, they were saved under the leadership of Moses.
Moses then taught them they should always remember that their forefather Abraham was a wandering Aramean, and that they were also slaves in Egypt. This was the only way in which they would treat immigrants and refugees among them well. Every year they had to remember this historical reality when they went into the Temple to offer the Firstfruits offering. They had to say:
“My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” (Deu 26:5-10 NIV)
In addition to this experiential dimension of their life, God also gave them laws which reminded them never to treat a foreigner harshly, and to take care of them, and the poor in the land:
Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exo 22:21 NIV)
Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exo 23:9 NIV)
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God (Lev 19:10 NIV)
You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.'” (Lev 24:22)
Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. (Deut 24:17-22 NIV)
The laws of the Torah provided several safeguards against poverty for everyone-strangers and the poor:
“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. (Lev 25:23 NIV)
The Great Lent Readings from the Book of Proverbs also constantly underlines this theme:
Sadly, in society, “The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. (Pro 14:20 NIV)
However, “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, and blessed is the one who is kind to the poor. (Pro 14:21 NIV)
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Pro 14:31 NIV)
It seems clear that God of the Bible, is always the God of the poor and the strangers.
What is the answer to the global refugee crisis today?
May we always remember that we are all strangers and foreigners.
If we remember this, then we will always treat “strangers and foreigners” with dignity, care and justice.
If we remember this then we will always care for the poor, the widows and the orphans.
I think the reason why there is a refugee crisis is because to care for someone and to selflessly leave something behind so that another person, who needs it more, can have it, demands greater humility from us. The experience to walk together with the refugees each time I visit them lets me catch a glimpse of that humility. Sacrifice is hard and we are selfish creatures. To be a small person so that other may shine above you is not an easy task but it is needed nonetheless.
Dr. Boaz, as you have referred to in this blog, I really appreciate when the Lord places several times in the Bible not to be harsh to the foreigners. It is interesting to me that the Lord put this several times in the Bible, because it shows me that the Lord already foresaw that humans would be unpleasant to outsiders, and it shows that God is not like that with people. People who are not a part of the the Kingdom of heaven, the Lord is still kind to them. In the same way, even though people are not a part of where we came from, we should be kind to them and take care of them. This is so special to me, because although America is continuously portrayed as a melting pot, I feel as a foreigner in this place. I appreciate different Americans who are kind to me and helpful to me.
I think that pain is necessary in order to realize the love that the Lord has for us. Speaking for myself, I have been through many painful situations physically and emotionally. Having lived since the age of 3 with an illness that has caused physical pain in my life, I have often times asked myself why I must have such pain in my life. After examining myself thoughfully over the years, I realize that the Lord gave me such pain to only make me stronger and to be a light to others and someone others can look up to. God never gives us things that we cannot handle!
I believe that Refugee crisis is mainly to use yourself as a tool for others that are in need. This refugee crisis can be something negative but it also brings positive actions. The positive part of it is that people act selflessly and not focus on themselves but help others. Putting your needs behind and be able to put others before you isn’t something easy to do but to see that person develop and become successful is the greatest feeling. Humanity can be selfish but it takes guts to put pride behind and help those in need.
I find this a very interesting perspective when looking at the refugee crisis. I think that in many situations, including the refugee crisis, it is important to remember that we are all refugees in some manner. If we keep in mind that we all are equal, even if we have not experienced the same situation that they have, it allows us to have a more caring and personal approach to helping those in need. It is important to keep this same mindset in mind when dealing with issues of gender and equality as well. This attitude can help in many areas of people’s lives and I think that if we uphold it, the world can definitely see a change for the better
It is unfortunate that the refugees are going through this, and it is a difficult question to answer on what should be done about the global refugee crisis. What we can answer is that we should continue welcoming the refugees with open arms. If we try to solve the problems of why the refugees are being persecuted it can only lead to more suffering. If we can continue to help them in the lives their are trying to create here we could in part offer some relief to the trials they are going through. As we give them small blessings ,we in turn will be blessed too.
I like the over arching idea that we are all to remember that we are all “strangers and foreigners” and that by treating each other with dignity, justice in many ways can be achieved. The suffering that occurs to many of the refugees currently and in the past days, and those that enter a situation as the minority is heart breaking. Though individuals come from a different background and may not agree in everything that one does, why must people punish them for having free thinking? Instead we belittle and shun those that are in a time of transition and pain and all they need is acceptance. In some ways we are all foreigners and strangers. When you first come in contact with a new person, judgement is often the first thing to occur. Then there is the slow process of learning about who that person is and to learn their story. After that occurs then we allow ourselves to become vulnerable, loving, and accepting. We are not strangers to God as He knows each and everyone of us and desires to love and give us the dignity we need in order for us to be able to go and show the same love and dignity to others. Thats why having compassion and the open arms to accept the hurt and the broken, as we all with have some degree of such is vital to creating the Christ like community even in the midst of such horrific events.
Reading this has brought me back in time. When I cam into the United States I came as a refugee. Coincidently the place, which brought me hope and a new sense of freedom, is less than a mile away from North Park University. The place is (or was) called World Relief. I met wonderful and humbling people throughout the time my family and I were under the care of world relief. I specifically remember this African family from Angola; they had a girl around the same age as me throughout that time. Even though we had a language barrier there was a sense of understanding and compassion between both my family and theirs. I knew that during that time Angola was having hardships since the peacekeeping treaty was ended; in addition, I knew one of my family members was sent to Angola to do doctoral work because of their hardships. It is a humbling and peaceful moment knowing that their oppression along with ours had ended.
I know that America has been a land for refugees to confide comfort and a new start. Strangers and foreigners create most of the United States; this is what allows us to be diverse country—a melting pot. We should treat these foreigners with dignity, care, and justice because we don’t know the hardships they have been through, which for some are unbearable. As mentioned in Deuteronomy 10:18-19 “For the Lord your God…loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” We should always help those in need when we can or try out best to. What kind of humans are we if we punish the poor? We should help and guide them not punish or belittle them.
Refugee crisis demand humility from everyone, in order to help those who need it. The Lord still helps those who don’t believe in him, so this shows how great the Lord is. Everyday in our lives we tend to interact with people who aren’t like us maybe in their religion, gender or where they come from, but at the end of the day it’s important to unite with one another and help others in need. We are equal even in the case of a refugee crisis, and the most important thing is to see that we are equal thus making the world a better place. If we help the refugees we can offer relief to them.
Refugee crisis demand humility from everyone, in order to help those who need it. The Lord still helps those who don’t believe in him, so this shows how great the Lord is. Everyday in our lives we tend to interact with people who aren’t like us maybe in their religion, gender or where they come from, but at the end of the day it’s important to unite with one another and help others in need. We are equal and even in the case of a refugee crisis, and the most important thing is to see that we are equal thus making the world a better place. If we help the refugees we can offer relief to them.
When we look at the migration of peoples due to various reasons( government, economical and more), we need to understand it’s all happening under the governance of God. And God is doing it for a reason. He has plans for everybody and we should not forget that he might be doing this so we as humans can seek for God by helping others and by going though all these new experiences to be closer to God.
I feel it is important that foreigners and strangers are mentioned throughout the Bible on many occasions. Since are reminded not once, but many times how we should treat foreigners and strangers, it must be pretty important. And we are not only instructed on how to treat foreigners and strangers, but we are also reminded of the fact that we indeed are foreigners and strangers too.
When it comes to discussing the topics of immigration and refugees within the political realm, I find it sickening how many influential leaders within the U.S. act opposite to what the Bible says in respect to the foreigners and strangers. And it’s especially troublesome when these same leaders call themselves Christians.
The refugee crisis has always been an issue that has gone unnoticed. To name the obvious, it is difficult for the countries struggling with these issues to gain stability and the leaders in our government with the power to act on the cause choose not to help.
I think it is important for us to realize how the refugee crisis to a surprising number is left unfamiliar. Also, for those who are educated on the issue (some being Christians) don’t act as God in the bible acted to those who were unfamiliar to us.
Treating people with dignity and living with dignity can shine light on this issue and bring life to us as children of God and to those gone unnoticed.
The refuge crisis has been an issue that has always been pushed under the rug and not really addressed. It’s a very sensitive topic that many avoid speaking about because of the variety of options and views. However, this particular topic is discussed all throughout the Bible. It’s unfortunate that people around the world still are experiencing this today, but I believe that this topic is addressed in the Bible to remind us and to be cautious of those who are less fortunate and that have experienced hardships. We may not be able to provide our help to every single person, but if we truly take the time to acknowledge someone who is in need and at least be able to help and support one person, then as the lord said to Abram “I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” Through this perspective, Dr. Boaz has enlightened us not to forget about the “strangers and foreigners” and to always treat them with respect and justice.
I found this read interesting, in consideration to the discussion of refugees. I think that it is sad that people in America are discussing their plan of action to leave the united states and live in another country if Donald Trump is elected president, all the while there are people being denied of refuge who are residing in war zones, such as Syria. I think that ignoring a problem because of privilege deals the communities left behind a bad hand of cards. And the house card will always win. The people leaving are those who may actually have a chance at making a change, leaving the voiceless to fend for their own with nothing to gain.
These blog posts are extremely relevant and a convicting message for us today. With all the immigrants seeking refuge in the US and other countries, it is easy to find the appropriate response in Scripture. It hurts my heart, however, when I see my fellow believers getting caught up in politics and believing that we need to keep refugees out of the country. As Christians, we should be willing to give our space, time, and money out of our own pocket for those seeking a new home. Let us take our attitude from Philippians 2:5-8.
In order to solve the refugee crisis, we need to be cognizant of the poor but also the greater macro situation as a whole. First of all, why do we have a refugee crisis to begin with? It is because of the destabilization of the Middle East and the civil wars in Arab countries that have followed. The past decade of foreign policy decisions have objectively failed to achieve their strategic goals. The West needs a new, perhaps less interventionist foreign policy.
Given we cannot change the past, how can we address the current refugees? Many should be brought into western countries, the 1967 refugee convention requires signatories (that include the US) to care for refugees. It’s also worth considering the communities they will be moving into, however. Refugees tend to be placed in areas that are already economically strained, it would do both groups some good if they were settled in more affluent communities more often.
This is a pretty interesting read and something to really think about. The refugee crisis is a on going world topic and can really be looked at in the upcoming presidential election. The United States is taking in some of the least amount of refugees throughout all the other countries in the world and it is sad. But for those who are housing and helping the refugees shows that putting yourself second and others before you can be hard at times but it can be the most rewarding feeling at the end of the day.
I think that the refugee crisis is incredibly sad and humbling, it reminds us to be grateful for the things and people we have in our lives. This topic is extremely relevant in our society today, especially in the U.S. This is a major human rights situation that should be handled with respect and dignity that at times it isn’t given. And to me this is incredibly heart breaking.
The refugee crisis is really sad and heart breaking. Someone I met a while ago mentioned to me that she is a refugee in the U.S. She is not a believer or God and doesn’t not believe in the same beliefs as does her country. Therefore, she cannot go back to her country because she believes that they may kill her due to the fact that she does not believe in a higher being. Like it was stated in the blog, it is always important to remember that we are all strangers and foreigners, and that we should always treat them fairly with dignity and care.
I think the reason we see a crisis in refugees is because we as people don’t tend to help one another in becoming more of a unified world. It is sad that not everyone is willing to help because if we would the world wouldn’t be so bad. The fact we all have at least once felt like we didn’t belong or feel strange/foreigners is what should make us more empathetic to others, instead of making them feel more worse about coming to a different country.
I love the Bible’s clear perspective on immigrants, that we are all strangers in a foreign land. I personally have not experienced the journey of moving to a new country, with new customs, new values, and new languages, so I cannot say that I understand what it’s like to be a foreigner. However, I do know what it’s like to be ostracized for my faith, rejected because of what I believe. It’s a terrible feeling, even though it passes momentarily. The more time I spend reading the Bible, the more we are all indeed strangers in this life.
People are so comfortable in what we are known to, it is simply habit for all of us. And xenophobia is a “threat” to the comfortable habit we have, where the thought of the refugees crisis as a “threat” to our everyday life. Xenophobia, really isn’t practical nor have any support (unless Europeans coming to the Americas, yikes!) We talk about being strangers in foreign lands, but a lot feel like strangers in their own homeland. We are all strangers in one way or the other. And the refugees would flee to anywhere that is better then fearing for their lives. Unfortunate, people are everywhere today, on a bigger scale than ever before. No matter where they go, people will fear they will change their comfortable habit. But, some people always assume that the word “change” is either good or bad, which isn’t necessarily true.
I find the fact the Bible commands a standard of treatment to foreigners to be so telling. Like all commands in the Bible, they are there not only for the people of the time, but for people today. God knew the Israelites would not be the only ones to struggle with this concept; He knew man would forever struggle to be inclusive. Not only are all foreigners in their land in the recent aspect of time and conquerings, but man is an inhabitant of God’s creation. Earth was not to be owned or ruled, rather borrowed and taken care of. It is God’s earth and therefore each of us is only here for a short while in a place that does not belong to us
I think the greater issue is one of attitude and mentality. Many believe in a right to things, and things the way they want them. There is an inherent societal selfishness that excludes any sort of change as beneficial. While I believe that not all changes are good, I strongly feel there needs to be a mentality shift from self-comfort to a greater focus on adding to the comfort of those who have none.
This is an interesting read, and is an important reminder for people today. It is important for people to think about putting themselves second and caring for others. Helping others in need is beneficial to everybody, and it is sad that this has been such an issue in society today. It definitely reminds people to be thankful for what they have and encourages me to be more selfless and generous with what I have been fortunate enough to have.
Unfortunately, the refugee crisis has brought to the forefront the xenophobia that tends to develop when nationalism flourishes. All too often, pride in one’s country results in an us vs. them mentality. It is a shame that we so quickly abandon the love for neighbor we profess in response to a few fear-mongering soundbites. Perhaps we’ve come to a point where loving one’s “neighbor” only means loving those who share our culture. Reading the scriptures, one finds that the message over and over again is to love, to serve, and to pursue justice for all, especially the marginalized and the most vulnerable. May we do so in light of louder, xenophobic voices.
It is Unfortunate to see this type of struggle to have a life. It is even more unfortunate that a lot of the refugees are kids. Kids aren’t suppose to go through pain, persecution, and rape. Kids are suppose to be having fun, running around, and laughing. This topic is should reminds us to be grateful for living in a country that gives us opportunities to be free. This is human rights problem that should be taken care of and it is sad how today we are still going though these problems.
The Refugee Crisis is a very sad topic of discussion. It is mostly sad to listen to ignorant people talk about how his/her country should close the borders so that people cannot come in. These people often forget that their ancestors who came before them, were once refugees in a new land. Thus, we need to act more like servants of God and extend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters so that they may find the refuge they so desperately desire.
I think that the refugee crisis is one of the biggest crisis we have. That people who need to flee from their homes because of danger and that not get accepted to enter a safe country, is very sad. All people have the right for a safe home where they can live without fear. It is our duty as humans to care for one another and to help others in need. The refugee crisis is a very relevant theme in today’s society, and we need to do more to help. Many of the refugees are kids who never have lived a life in safety. It is our job to make sure that they get to live a life where they can be safe, play and where they do not need to walk around hungry and thirsty.
After reading this post, I feel more aware of the refugee crisis that is happening today. I feel that eery refugee deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and love. I feel there is a need to treat others with much love and show others the love of God through us. It is also important to treat these people in need with care and kindness, for they have experienced many things that in some way or another impact their lives forever. I feel whenever we are in contact with refugees just as we encounter our friends and family is to let them experience what friendship is, what love is, and give them an experience that there are good people who want to help and lift them up from whatever situation they may find themselves in.
In Syria, amid some of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time, millions of peaceful civilians are being forced to leave their homes in the desperate search for safety. How do we, people living in another hemisphere, even begin to understand how refugees cope with that? From your class I’ve learned that perhaps the answer is, first we must be still and mourn, and then we must be engaged.
Even Genesis 23:2 states that Abraham wept for his wife, whom he truly loved: “And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.”
If we have the love of Christ in us, we should lament alongside those who are facing oppression — mourn the loss of their homes and displaced families — because we love them also. Then, with the many freedoms that we’ve been given, we must use our love for the world towards worthwhile pursuits, because there is hope when we do so. Isaiah 12:2 states that for the oppressed, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
And when Christ followers join in on God’s Kingdom work of saving and redemption, joy will overtake sorrow. Isaiah 35 demonstrates this process: “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (v. 8-10).
So whether it is the Syrian refugee crisis, or the remnants of war in the Congo, or even the exploitation of children in Cambodia, God simply wants our hearts to break for what breaks His; to not turn our backs from the darkness of history, and to remember that at one point, we, too, were once foreigners and refugees seeking asylum and sanctuary.
In that, alas can we begin to fully immerse ourselves in God’s restoring work.
It is so important to show kindness to one another. It is even in the Bible, as a command from God. As Abraham’s example shows, we only will receive blessings as a result of our kindness. Abraham went from a very comfortable life, in the land he was living in. He was very rich. He had a nice house, with a sewer system, which during those times, was not something very popular. He left everything behind, as God commanded, and went to this strange, new place to fulfill God’s commands. As a result of his obedience, he was blessed indeed. This example personally teaches me the importance to obey and believe in God. God wants us to be kind and help those in need. So many people around the world are suffering and need help, as a result of others’ indifference. In God’s eyes we are all equal, no matter what background we are coming from. Because of this, we should always be kind to others, and help them with whatever we can, financially, spiritually, with our good words to them, etc., and in return all we will get will be blessings from God. It is very hurtful to see children suffering from such horrific things. I will pray for them, and I hope they find the strength to overcome their struggles with God’s help and love.
We are foreigners and strangers…what a realization! We do not belong to this world, it is not ours. Your words have definitely helped me to understand this in a different way. In the beginning of this year, a team of us went to New Delhi, India and experienced firsthand what it meant to be a foreigner. Many of us having never felt that feeling before, all of a sudden felt what it was like to be in the middle of the crowd and to stand out and sometimes feel unwanted. It amazes me how often it is talked about in the Bible to not treat our brothers and sisters across the nations harshly, to not turn away from them because we too are foreign. As it was an issue back then, sadly it still remains an issue today.
The world is not an easy place to live in, but its important that we help those who are in pain. Showing kindness and compassion to others is important in living in this world peacefully. A nice smile can even be a sign of great kindness or even a simple friendly greeting. I pray for those who are facing great suffering and I pray that God gives them the strength to overcome their suffering.
I truly love this post. It definitely hits home for me, as i myself am a foreigner to this country. I have been mistreated by some and honored by others. I don’t understand the mentality of the people who mistreat foreigners. i believe foreigners are a positive influence to the country. We all can learn so much from each other. Yes, we are different and our cultural differences can bring some dispute but nothing that should lead to the government having to segregate our country. Although North Park University is located in one of the most diverse communities in Chicago; chicago is still known as one of the most segregated cities in the united states. Transferring over to North Park University it seems that majority of the students are from the suburbs and they are different then city students. For some reason suburban students are more clicky or as to say they socialize closely with students they already have had a class with and speaking to new students is a little more difficult to them. It like they are afraid of strangers. The majority of the people i have spoken throughout this semester just happened to live in the city and those that are harder to talk to or to even start a friendship seem to come from the suburbs. With politics being the main attraction on tv it also shows how a candidate running for president expressed his hatred for foreigners and how in order to make america great again is to deport all the children and parents that Obama gave the opportunity to stay in this country through a program called DACA ( Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals) and DAPA. Almost twenty six states are suing the government for allowing obama to pass this program. These are high school and University students and not to mention graduates that have already established careers in this country through their hard work and dedication. Yet this presidential candidate wants to get rid of the program and deport all that have qualified for the DACA program. Some of these families came to this country to flee the horrors of a corrupt country that has no justice in search for a more peaceful life. The presidents are supposed to be good role models and help run a country that has peace and diversity. The answer to global refugee crisis is spread the literature of the bible. the peaceful words as described in the post
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exo 22:21 NIV)”
Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exo 23:9 NIV)”
As a country full of diversity this is something we should practice in our daily lives. if we can impact a community and we impact the world.
It is heartbreaking to know the refugees are going through this tragedy. The fact that people are being mistreated for being foreigners is repulsive, we are all human beings and we are equal no matter what our backgrounds are. This passage is very powerful, and I agree that we all need to be kind to one another.
This is a very good blog! I really like how several Bible references about foreigners and the poor were used, especially the one from Exodus 23:9. Being a foreigner is not always a matter of choice and many refugees coming into this nation and are forced to live a life which seems so foreign to them. Some people even fall into poverty in the process. I love how the Bible backs up foreigners and commands us not to mistreat or oppress them. The Bible also reminds us that we too were once foreigners and we wouldn’t have wanted to be treated harshly.
The examples and accounts of injustice and oppression found in the Bible are an important reminder to treat our neighbors in a much generous and kind manner. Its an experience I can relate to, I myself have come from a different place to a strange country and is my message to others here long before me, that they must remember we have traveled a long distance in hope of a better life in search of opportunity just like many others. We have come to make this place that we call home better too, and like the passage promises: those who treat their neighbors with dignity will be blessed too. Diverse experiences enrich our lives and we grow as humans beings when we share the blessing of life.
My parents and sister are refugees. They escaped the terrible government of Vietnam after the Vietnam war. My father was in the war and was also a prisoner of war, until his release sometime around 1981 or ’82. It was around 1984 that my mother saved up enough money to send my youngest uncle, my father, and sister on a fishing boat to escape the country. From there they went to Malaysia and caught a plane to Chicago where a nice family was able to sponsor my family. It wasn’t until a year later that my mother was able to join them, and it wasn’t until two years later that I was born. I brought up the disparities of Syrian refugees who face multiple rejections from various different countries. My parents decided to apply to be sponsors for Syrian refugees (and are waiting to hear back). It makes me so proud of them because to open up their home and welcome complete strangers takes a big leap of faith. My father really wanted to give back by helping another family get back on their feet takes just as our sponsors helped my parents get back on theirs in the 80’s. My family truly emulates the teachings of God, to be kind to one another and to help where help is needed.
The topic of refugees is often forgotten so its very interesting to read through your thoughts. I personally have grown up around Colombian refugees in Ecuador. Our church had a “brother””sister” church in Colombia that would help to take them out of danger from the “guerrilas” and place them in Ecuador and prepare them for another move to another country. I remember as a child I saw no difference in who they “the refugees” and “us”, were. And personally that is how I think we should all view people, through a child’s eyes. They see no difference in social status, no difference in race, who is inferior or superior, and overall they don’t allow each others differences to create a barrier between them. It’s sad to hear that if Donald Trump won, people would consider leaving a place they called “home” because they feel unsafe. And its even more sad that so much controversy and so much is being sad, yet nothing is being done to change things.
Refugees have always been a part of history. I know many friends who’s parents have grown up to be or known a lot of refugees. My dads family actually moved from Bosnia to Austria with a car to escape the Bosnian genocide. There was always a threat and they felt the need to leave a place called home for something that inconsiderate people are doing. Even trump is fantasizing of a new addition to the US by adding a wall to separate Mexico. We need change fast. Feel the Bern.
The refugee crisis is an extremely hot topic issue right now, what with so many people not wanting to let them into their countries for the fear of a few terrorists getting into their country. It is extremely sad and disheartening to hear that people feel this way. At the end of the day we must look inward, and ask ourselves and think of what are feelings would be if we were fleeing our own country. How would we feel if somebody said that they would not take any women or children, because they are either harboring hate or fear of our group. How would we feel about this, there is no reason to ever turn away someone who is in need of help.
The United States has not done enough to help the recent Syrian refugees. President Obama has only pledged to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees and the process to come to the U.S. takes months. In comparison Canada has pledged to let in 40,000 refugees. It makes little sense for a large western nation to be so incredibly stingy when letting in refugees. I think that this is partly due to strong anti Muslim sentiment which is now in the U.S. The U.S. has previously let in many refugees of Vietnamese decent. We should do the same for the Syrians.
The refugee crisis is heart breaking. These poor people have to flee from their homes and are being shut out at every turn. It is sad knowing that the US has done little to nothing to help them. It shows how selfish we can be, and we let our fear a few psychopaths stand in the way of helping innocent people. We shouldn’t be a country that shuts people out. We should be the people who accept those in need with open arms.
I find it very unfortunate that many people in our country who identify as Christians fail to see the importance of taking in refugees. There are many great resources for understanding this act in the Bible, as many of the figures in it are refugees themselves. It is not only in the New Testament with the story of Jesus, but also in many places in the Old Testament as well. It is my hope that we as Christians can do everything we can for the sake of our struggling neighbors and that we would understand the richness of the biblical texts on this subject.