There is a certain incongruity that some of the most vociferous animosity toward refugees who have come to the United States seeking help from war, persecution and hunger arises among so-called “Bible Christians.” The Bible could not be more explicit about the obligation that the people of God have to care for the stranger in our midst. The LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, … befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. No talk of legal or illegal — the commandment is to befriend the alien, period. The reason given– for you were once aliens — for the commandment should resonate among citizens of the United States in a particular way. Except for native Americans we are a nation of immigrants who depended on the others befriending our ancestors when they were aliens. There can certainly be lively debate about how best to befriend the alien nowadays but the obligation do to so is Biblical and absolute.
