Thinking Christian: A Counter-Culture WorldviewSample

GOD is JUST

Two of the big political issues today are immigration and refugees. Recent polls of Christians reveal that less than 20% say their views are primarily influenced by the Bible. Instead, media, family, friends, and personal experience are shaping their opinions. How can we think “Christianly” about this issue?

Let’s begin with the character of God. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself to be JUST. Not only does He act with justice, but His people declare Him to be just. Biblical justice is an interesting concept. At first glance, it might seem like it’s the opposite of mercy. But it’s not. Mercy is God’s unconditional grace and compassion His covenant loyalty. Mercy is loving someone beyond what they deserve. In Micah 6:8, justice focuses on action, while mercy has to do with the motive behind the action. We often think that mercy means letting someone off the hook while justice means bringing down the hammer. But instead, we must see mercy and justice not as opposites but as two sides of the same coin. An attitude of merciful love will overflow in actions that bring about justice. Simply defined, justice is making wrong things right.

Let’s consider what that means for the issues of immigration and refugees.

The Bible does not prescribe a particular set of immigration policies for the United States or any other country outside of Israel during biblical times. It does, however, lay out God’s heart for immigrants and the values that should define how we view and respond to immigration issues. God specifically and repeatedly calls his people to care for foreigners who, as newcomers to the land and its social systems, can easily fall victim to marginalization and injustice. After all, as God often reminds the Israelites, they were once foreigners too. Biblically speaking, when you look at all the instances where the Bible talks about caring for the forgotten, several classes of people continually come up. In fact, there are 4 groups that have been called “the quartet of the vulnerable”: widows, orphans, refugees, and the poor. God moves and acts with justice toward all of them, and He calls His people to do likewise.

Here is a summary of biblical truths:

-The Bible is a story of immigrants (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Israelites, Ruth, etc.).

-Governments are ordained by God to maintain order and protect its citizens. (Romans 13:1-7)

-The Bible distinguishes between citizens, resident aliens, and foreigners. God explains why the foreigner was not afforded the same rights and privileges of a natural citizen or, at times, resident alien (Exodus 12:42; Deuteronomy 15:3, 17:15). In many ways, it was because the foreigner refused to live by the culture and beliefs of the nation they had entered.

-Christians should advocate for reforming immigration laws while acknowledging that actual policy-making is complicated.

-Christians should default to hospitality over hostility. (Luke 10:25-37)

-Christians should give special consideration to those fleeing persecution.

Ask Yourself:

-What does it look like to love my neighbor in tangible ways where I live, learn, work, or play?

-Are there organizations or individuals in my community that are doing the good, often hard, work of advocating for justice? How can I support them?

Pause to Pray:

Use Mary’s prayer in Luke 1 to pray for God’s justice and mercy to flow through you and your community.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:50-53

Take a Next Step:

Look for an opportunity to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God today. (Micah 6:8)