The Alien Amongst Us

"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt."
Exodus 22:21

"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt."
Exodus 23:9

"Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 19:10

"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 19:33-34

"You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 24:22

"...the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants."
Leviticus 25:23

"The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD. The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you."
Numbers 15:15-16

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt."
Deuteronomy 10:18-19

"And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you."
Deuteronomy 16:11

"Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns...Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge...When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
Deuteronomy 24:14, 17, 19

"Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien."
Deuteronomy 27:19

"The LORD watches over the alien."
Psalm 146:9

"This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place."
Jeremiah 22:3

"'In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance,' declares the Sovereign LORD."
Ezekiel 47:23

"'So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty."
Malachi 3:5


Okay, okay, I know that was a lot of Bible verses, and most people will probably just skip over half of them. The point, though, is that the Bible obviously has something to say about caring for the alien in our presence. It is a no-brainer in my book and I am eagerly waiting to hear somebody tell me otherwise!

A recent AP article spoke of evangelicals being tightlipped over current immigration issues and the nation wide debates currently raging. The reason why, according to the article, is not what I would have expected. Apparently even I don't have a negative enough view of my evangelical brothers and sisters. The issue is that they want to support the legislation, but don't want to piss off their hispanic members. It has nothing to do with any sort of inner war within Dthem, wondering if maybe they should follow God's guidance rather than American racist policies.

Honestly it just makes me sick. I love Jesus, I really do. I do not know how much longer I can stand to live amongst those who ignore him, trying to be a subversive presence rather than an angry, outloud opponent of idolatrous patriotism and arrogant hatred. How could we do this with no shame or repentance? What will become of us? Biblically, it's a frightening concept to me.

Peace,
Matt

Currently Reading: Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris.