God Welcomes Immigrants

Jun 16

We are living in an era of exclusion - not just in the U.S., but around the world. Hatred and indifference are endlessly justified along many grounds, including faith; remaining oblivious to the lived experiences of others, especially those on the margins, is seen not as a vice, but a virtue to emulate.

And yet our worship and embrace of separation is in direct opposition to God's call towards building beloved community. We cannot share our faith with others if we refuse to even begin with the first step - holding space for conversation. Jesus went to the forgotten and ostracized - engaging with them, instead of talking at them.

All week, I've thought about about the significance of one chapter in the New Testament which is a guiding light for all of us who choose to pray with our feet - Matthew 25, verses 35-40. Each sentence shared to awaken us to the face of Christ in all we meet, especially the most marginalized.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

This season on our Pray with our Feet podcast we have focused on Matthew 25:40 ("...whatever you have done for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."). But there's another part of this passage which is particularly relevant as we celebrate immigrant heritage month: "I was a stranger and you invited me in..."

Read the sentence again, and this time notice a key step for us as followers of Christ - "... you invited me in..."

As the daughter of an immigrant (my Dad) who came to the U.S. from Central America, these are not simply words, but a profound reminder: God cares deeply about people fleeing their home countries due to violence and instability whether they are from Haiti, Afghanistan, Central America, Nigeria, Jamaica or the Ukraine.

But what about us as the body of Christ? Do we care only when those fleeing look, act, worship, love and behave like us?

This is not the love of Christ dwelling within, but the divisions of this world.

May we each remember: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20

Support the work of orgs. on the ground:

We Choose Welcome
https://www.instagram.com/wechoosewelcome/?hl=en

Families Belong Together
https://www.familiesbelongtogether.org

Haitian Bridge Alliance
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce4NEOlJzm3/?hl=en

Each Step Home
https://www.eachstephome.org