A Letter from Bishop Chris

How should Christians think about and respond to refugees?

With the increased focus in our nation on refugees, immigration, deportation, and the specter of ICE raids even at churches, it’s no wonder that I have received this question multiple times in recent weeks. Let me start by saying, as Christians, we must seek to think biblically and prayerfully, and then respond accordingly, when it comes to refugees.

Now, before I go any further, let me offer several preliminary thoughts. First, I’m not seeking to make a political statement nor to advocate for one party over the other; though invariably, some will assume that’s what I’m doing. Such are the times in which we live. Second, I don’t pretend to be a public policy expert regarding refugees or immigration.  That’s not my lane and there are others far more qualified than me to speak about such things. Third, governments have both the right and the responsibility to determine policy with regard to the number of refugees allowed into a country and the ways in which that happens. That’s part of a government’s duty and charge.

What I want to do is to lay a basic biblical foundation with regard to refugees that helps us think and pray, and then gives us a lens for discernment so that as the Holy Spirit leads, we can follow Him in what we do. This will usually involve practical actions and personal or public engagement.

To begin, it’s important to remember that Jesus was once a refugee. A refugee by definition is someone who has been forced to flee their country due to fear of persecution, war, or violence.

In the case of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, they fled Israel in response to God’s leading following King Herod’s order to massacre all male infants in Bethlehem. Their lives were in danger, and they sought refuge in Egypt to escape violence and persecution.

Matthew 2:13-14 recounts: "When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.”

Because they were fleeing from danger and violence to find safety in a foreign land, this makes the Holy Family, including the Lord himself, refugees in the true sense of the term. Their journey from Bethlehem to Egypt fits the common definition of a refugee seeking asylum in a different country to escape threats to their lives. This is an important and basic fact to remember when we think about refugees. The Lord and Savior we follow knows personally what it means to be a refugee. This is worth meditating upon deeply.

Next, the Scriptures have much to say about refugees and immigrants. The Bible frequently speaks of welcoming the stranger, especially those who are marginalized or oppressed. In the Old Testament, God commands His people to treat foreigners fairly and with kindness and hospitality:

Leviticus 19:33-34: "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 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.”

This command reflects the fact that God loves and cares for people and our treatment of others, especially those from different backgrounds or who find themselves in vulnerable situations, is an expression of our love for God. As His people, we are called to reflect God's compassion in all aspects of our lives, including how we respond to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disasters. This may well include our sisters and brothers in Christ who are fleeing religious persecution in their home countries, but it is not limited to them.

God commands His people to act justly, defend the vulnerable, and protect those who cannot defend themselves. The call to justice is not ancillary to our faith. It fills the Scriptures including the Torah and the Wisdom writings. The Prophets nearly shout this including the importance of defending the oppressed:

Isaiah 1:17: "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

For faithful Christians, responding to refugees is not just an act of charity but a matter of justice. We are called to care for people and to advocate for the rights of the oppressed so as to ensure that their dignity is upheld. This includes not only offering immediate assistance to a person in need but also may include advocating for their long-term well-being.

When we look to the Gospels, we see that Jesus included ministry to the oppressed as central to his mission. Quoting Isaiah 61, Jesus said:

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

It’s important that we recognize that Jesus was speaking holistically when he said this. As the Messiah, his ministry affected both the spiritual and the natural realms. He was offering freedom from sin and doing so to people living under harsh and oppressive conditions. He calls us to do similarly. We must preach the Gospel to those who are captives to the spiritual bondage of sin so they can be free. And we must seek to bring hope and liberty to those who are oppressed within a world system that is often hostile to the ways of God.  Christians through the ages have lived and acted in this way. It’s what caused St. Francis to leap from his horse and embrace a leper. It’s what led Martin Luther King Jr. to insist upon love and non-violent resistance in the civil rights movement.

Jesus emphasized the importance of showing mercy and compassion to others, particularly the marginalized, oppressed and vulnerable. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells the story of a man who, despite cultural animosities, extends mercy to a stranger in need:

Luke 10:33-34: "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."

The Samaritan’s actions represent true compassion, going beyond cultural divides and showing mercy without hesitation. Similarly, when we encounter refugees, we are called to extend the same compassion, offering help without judgment or prejudice regardless of belief, nationality, color, or gender.

Jesus’ life and ministry exemplify love for all people, regardless of their background or status. In Matthew 25, He identifies with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, and the oppressed:

Matthew 25:35-36: "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..."

Our love for others, and especially for the marginalized, is a direct reflection of the love Jesus has shown to us. Through welcoming the stranger, showing mercy to the poor, defending the oppressed, advocating for the unborn, protecting the vulnerable, and emulating Christ’s love, we become vessels of God's grace and love in a broken world. Our faith calls us to respond with open hearts and hands. In all our actions, may we reflect the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

I am aware that this is a particularly challenging season for our congregations in DOMA (and around the ACNA) who connect most closely with immigrants in our country. This is a time when people are experiencing a deep sense of insecurity. You are in my prayers and especially those clergy and people seeking to serve parishioners and neighbors who feel most vulnerable in these days.

As we begin a holy Lent, I pray that each of us will take the time to be attuned to the heart of God and to one another as we seek to serve with open hearts and hands.

Blessings,

+Chris

P.S. If you would like to dig deeper, here’s a helpful resource from our ACNA Provincial Justice and Mercy ministry, the Matthew 25 Initiative. I would also encourage you to consider making a donation to Matthew 25 during this Lenten season as you seek to practice almsgiving.