How should a Christian view refugees?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Christians’ treatment of refugees rests on the recognition that refugees are image-bearers of God and should be afforded the dignity due every human being (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14). Old Testament Mosaic Law specified that sojourners were to be treated justly (Deuteronomy 24:17), given food, and allowed to provide for themselves through gleaning (Leviticus 19:9-10). Ruth is an example of someone who did that (Ruth 2:3). Christians should view refugees as people in need the way our ancestors in the faith also experienced this need (Exodus 22:21). The Bible depicts many of the faithful who were also refugees since they were forced to flee their homes: Abraham (Genesis 12:10; 26:1), Jacob's sons (Genesis 47:4), and Naomi (Ruth 1:1) fled due to famine; Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 4:4) and Rahab (Joshua 6:25) left due to war; and David (1 Samuel 21:10), Elijah (1 Kings 19:3), and the holy family (Matthew 2:13–15) fled due to persecution. Spiritually, every person is a refugee in need of God's rescue to become a welcomed citizen of His kingdom (Ephesians 2:13, 2:19). Understanding ourselves as strangers to God should help us love the refugee as God would have us to.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Our treatment of all human beings, including refugees, is grounded in them being image-bearers of God. Genesis 1:27 tells us that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Everyone bears the image of God and, thus, has inherent dignity. Each person is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14).
• God exhorted the Israelites to remember their own plight as strangers among Egyptians so that they would treat sojourners well: ". . . you shall love him [the sojourner] as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:34).
• God forbade His people from oppressing sojourners and commanded the Israelites to be just toward them (Zechariah 7:10; Deuteronomy 24:17).
• The Israelites were also to share their food with sojourners (Deuteronomy 26:12) and allow them to provide for themselves through the practice of gleaning (Leviticus 19:9–10). Ruth did this for Naomi and herself in Boaz's field (Ruth 2:3).
• Malachi 3:5 warns God's people saying, "I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against . . . those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Showing love and kindness to strangers is not a concept exclusive to the Old Testament. Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
• Jesus indicates that those who know Him will demonstrate mercy toward others: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me" (Matthew 25:35–36).
• God uses this concept of foreigners and citizenship as a metaphor for how He rescues each of us. Paul explains in Ephesians 2:12, "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." He continues, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . . So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:13, 2:19).
• Refugees should be treated justly and have legal standing when they have been wronged. Romans 13:1-4 says that government has "been instituted by God . . . [as a] servant for your good." Good governments should ensure that refugees have freedom from oppression and legal recourse when they have suffered injustice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Imagine being named after your father’s experiences. Maybe you would be called “Victor” if your father was a sports champ. Or you might be called “Miles” if your dad was an airline pilot. Moses called his son Gershom, which means “stranger there” because, as Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a strange land” (Exodus 2:22 KJV, 1611). In fact, that describes Moses’ whole life: He was a Hebrew who lived among Egyptians and the Midianites and then a wanderer for forty years. We can only wonder how Moses must have felt as he wrote the many verses of the Mosaic Law in which God speaks of the provisions and rights His people must extend to sojourners.

We are to show mercy toward those in need, including refugees. Besides, all Christians share citizenship in God’s Kingdom. And even when we encounter refugees who are not Christians, we can invite them into that citizenship by sharing the Gospel with them. We must remember that we, as believers, are refugees awaiting our spiritual abode, looking forward to God welcoming us home. That truth should shape how we view and treat each person we meet.

UNDERSTAND

• Like all human beings, refugees have inherent value as image-bearers of God.
• Our attitude toward refugees should reflect God’s biblical standards of justice and mercy.
• All Christians are citizens of God’s kingdom.

REFLECT

• How does your life reflect your citizenship in God’s kingdom?
• What are some ways that your treatment of refugees can reflect the love of Christ?
• What biblical examples help you in your interactions with those who are not citizens of your country?

ENGAGE

• How can believers ensure they’re maintaining biblical standards amid politically charged issues, like immigration?
• How can we show the love of Christ toward refugees?
• In what ways does understanding our spiritual citizenship in God’s kingdom influence our treatment of refugees?