Christians must welcome immigrants, reject Trump’s rhetoric — and demand a plan, too | Opinion
During a recent visit to Austin, former President Donald Trump said: “We’re like a garbage can for the rest of the world to dump the people they don’t want.”
He also falsely claimed that 21 million immigrants illegally entered the country in the last three years. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports 10.3 million nationwide “encounters” with immigrants, including millions who were immediately sent away.
Trump promised “the largest deportation program in American history.” But our country doesn’t need a deportation program. We need a welcoming program.
And yet, it seems that Vice President Kamala Harris has no viable plan to secure our borders, which means we’re not keeping our country safe nor truly caring for immigrants who are coming in.
We need our presidential candidates to change their rhetoric and their plans so we can live up to our nation’s history of welcoming immigrants.
In 1903 — an era in which 15 million immigrants arrived — this was the plaque we erected on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
Not all Americans — and not all Christians — agree with the rhetoric that has been snowballing over the last months and years.
We should agree, however, that all human life is precious and that we will do whatever we can to offer refuge and safety to anyone fleeing situations of persecution, violence and death. Border security in the U.S. is a real problem and warrants real solutions, but we’re also talking about real people. And people are not garbage.
Loving our neighbors and securing our borders are not mutually exclusive. I would argue that they complement one another. This presents our country, and us as Christians, an incredible opportunity to show the love and compassion of Christ to others.
As a pastor, I believe that no one is expendable because each person is made in the image of God and has intrinsic worth. Therefore, I am appalled at the hateful and harmful rhetoric I am hearing from Republican candidates towards migrants. The dehumanization of people leads to demonizing people which, in turn, will lead to harmful policies and laws. We will stop seeing migrants as human beings worthy of our care, compassion and love.
However, it would also be naïve to not acknowledge the logistical challenges immigration and refugees present to our country. Democrats are proposing policies that seem to completely ignore these challenges.
We equally have to understand, however, that followers of Jesus during this time cannot be led by hateful rhetoric or partisanship, because Jesus calls us to put His Kingdom first. We are called to love and serve people in our communities, not argue whether or not they should be admitted there.
Our Keller church, Northwood, is mutli-ethnic and multi-generational. Our members reflect all political persuasions and have varying opinions on these issues. However, we are unified in moving forward following the commands of Jesus to welcome and love the stranger. Throughout the Bible, Christians are called to care for the foreigner, the stranger and the immigrant. In the Greek New Testament, Jesus commands his followers to “practice hospitality,” which literally translates to “practice loving strangers.”
Over the past few years, in partnership with World Relief, more than 150 Northwood members have been trained and mobilized to serve the immigrant communities and have raised more than $200,000 to help resettle multiple refugee families from Afghanistan, Burma, the Middle East and Ukraine.
What we and many other churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are doing is not new. Historically, the church has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees, helping them get resettled. Candidates need to know that evangelical Christians are: a) against hateful and unhelpful rhetoric towards immigrants and refugees; b) for securing our borders; and c) against separating families.
In fact, research from Lifeway Resources shows that 91% of evangelicals agree with these priorities. That’s why I am calling on Trump, Harris and their running mates to show immigrants love and compassion as well through their policy decisions. I’ve recently signed a letter written by World Relief and Open Doors, endorsed by hundreds of other pastors and Christian leaders, to that effect.
Christ’s command to love the stranger supersedes the party we vote for. We see refugees and immigrants as neighbors whom our faith compels us to love. I am convinced that as a country we can both secure our borders, and offer refuge to the tired, the poor and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
