May 23rd, 2021: Caring for Foreigners



It is indeed evil when politicians use illegal migrants as their pawns to advance their political agenda. It is irrelevant whether we build the wall or not. Our politicians should not play around with the safety of many people who want to seek their new lives in our nations. We saw that the PM of Canada a few years ago. Many came, and we were not ready for them. The same thing has been happening in the US since the declaration of the new president. That is not how we should welcome newcomers.


Have we forgotten that we are nations with law and order? Have we become so indifferent towards the pain and suffering of others? Canada is indeed in need of immigrants, and we should honor the system we have in bringing them in with the proper process. The US has more troubling issues. We should first deal with the millions of illegal residents. Many of them are living without in the US without any legal status.


It takes a serious effort to help immigrants and their families to settle well in our nations. Our care and hospitality for them have to be comprehensive. It is more than just a political ploy. It demands an honest commitment to care for people when they enter our countries. It is not beneficial for anyone when new immigrants continue to live in poverty after entering our countries. Here is the quote from www.canada.ca :


"Almost two-thirds (61%) of the racialized immigrants living in poverty came to Canada in the previous ten years, between 1996 and 2006. ... Among non-racialized immigrants living in poverty, a smaller number (37%) immigrated to Canada in the previous ten years."

(Racialized means non-white)


It is indeed a Christian calling to welcome strangers into our lands. I got involved in ministry with International students from 1986 to 2000 because I believe in that calling. There are more than just international students who would like to settle in our nations. There are refugees, migrants, immigrants, displaced people, stateless people, and asylum seekers. Hear what God has to say about caring for foreigners in our lands:


"Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners because you were foreigners in Egypt." - Exodus 23: 9


"The foreigners residing among you must be treated as native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." - Leviticus 19: 34

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