How Does God See Immigration And Foreigners?
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| Instead of allowing religion to change the heart to love, it is often used to reinforce darkness. Christ has embraced all people in all places, yet some men only open their arms to those who look like them. |
Consider how the laws authored by men usually contradict the Law of God.
Consider how ethnic identity usually overrides religious virtues, instead of the other way around.
Christ chastised the religious zealots of His time (Pharisees) for making up laws that benefitted them and promoted their prejudices.
Such efforts attempt to nullify God’s Law.
John had a vision of heaven and saw something those holding prejudices should consider:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
- Revelation 7: 9-10
They were not only Hebrews / Jews, or of any particular 'color' or ethnic group... but all mankind.
So why do men hold onto prejudices and things exterior when God has spoken of things spiritual?
It seems men's hearts are disconnected from love, and religious men easily become the most dangerous of persons.
When it comes to a nation's secular laws, written by men looking through the lens of economics, ethnic prejudice, and pride in things earthly, no wonder God is blasphemed still today.
Men are, by default, beholden to earthly ideas mixed in with divine realities.
If a person views themselves according to the labels of men, instead of what God has taught them, they are likely very much confused.
People have historically moved from one place to another in seeking refuge, or food, or evading war and hostility.
It is politically expedient to label people as ‘terrorists’ or ‘invaders’, but heart-revealing when we consider abiding by God’s heart as taught in Scripture.
What is revealed in political rhetoric, and the religious who parrot that rhetoric, is that they are more beholden to state-branded religion instead of Christ.
They see with the flesh, but not the Spirit.
They are still pagan in heart, word, and deed… according to Scripture's description of them.
Regarding foreigners among you:
Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
- Exodus 22: 21
Regarding people entering your land:
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.
Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
I Am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 19: 33–34
Regarding harboring a bad attitude towards someone not 'like' you:
Do not despise an Edomite, for the Edomites are related to you.
Do not despise an Egyptian, because you resided as foreigners in their country.
- Deuteronomy 23: 7
Regarding a previous mindset how brought into the Light:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is Perfect.
- Matthew 5: 43–48
Regarding who, in fact, God considers to be your 'neighbor':
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’;
and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Yeshua replied.
“Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Yeshua, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Yeshua said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper.
‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Yeshua told him, “Go and do likewise.”
- Luke 10: 27–37
Can you find the borderline of God's kingdom on earth?
Do you suppose God's kingdom only resides where you live, or according to things you see?
Realize that your neighbor, the foreigner, whether far away or desiring to become your next door neighbor, is also made in His image and His likeness.
Consider how, when God is able to live inside others, you may be treating Messiah with hostility:
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
- Matthew 25: 44-46 (read the entire parable for greater clarity)
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