Be a Bridge Builder.

The Bible contains numerous passages that emphasize the importance of welcoming strangers and foreigners. Here are a few examples:

Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV): "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 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."

Exodus 22:21 (NIV): "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."

Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV): "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."

Hebrews 13:2 (NIV): "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

Matthew 25:35 (NIV): "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."

Romans 12:13 (NIV): "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

1 Peter 4:9 (NIV): "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."

These verses emphasize the biblical mandate to treat strangers and foreigners with kindness, love, and hospitality. They remind believers of their own experiences as foreigners and the importance of extending compassion and care to those who are in need of refuge or assistance.

Yes, there are several biblical examples of hospitality towards refugees or immigrants.

Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18): Abraham and Sarah welcomed three strangers who appeared near their tent in the plains of Mamre. They showed great hospitality by offering them water to wash their feet, providing food, and offering them rest. These strangers turned out to be angels, and one of them conveyed the promise of the birth of Isaac to Sarah.

Ruth and Naomi (Book of Ruth): Ruth, a Moabite woman, demonstrated remarkable loyalty and hospitality towards her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the death of their husbands. Ruth left her homeland to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem, where she embraced Naomi's people and their God. Through her humility and dedication, Ruth became an ancestor of King David and, according to the Bible Jesus Christ.

Joseph and Mary (Matthew 2:13-15): When King Herod sought to kill the infant Jesus, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child. Joseph immediately obeyed and took his family to Egypt, where they found refuge until Herod's death. This demonstrates God's provision for the Holy Family as refugees in a foreign land.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): While not specifically about refugees, the parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the principle of showing compassion and hospitality to strangers in need. The Samaritan, despite ethnic and cultural differences, showed mercy and care for a wounded traveler whom others had ignored.

The Bible addresses the responsibility of individuals and communities to provide assistance to those in need, including refugees, through various teachings and principles. Here are some key aspects:

1. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself: Jesus emphasizes the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). This principle extends to all people, including strangers, foreigners, and refugees. It encourages believers to treat others with compassion, kindness, and empathy.

2. Hospitality: Hospitality is a recurring theme in the Bible, with numerous examples of individuals and communities offering hospitality to strangers and travelers. The Bible instructs believers to show hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9) and to practice hospitality to one another (Romans 12:13). This includes welcoming refugees and immigrants into one's community and providing for their needs.

3. Caring for the Vulnerable: The Bible places a strong emphasis on caring for the vulnerable and marginalized members of society, including widows, orphans, and foreigners. For example, James 1:27 states, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." This principle extends to refugees who are fleeing persecution, violence, and hardship.

4. Justice and Compassion: The Bible repeatedly calls believers to seek justice and show compassion towards those who are oppressed and marginalized. Isaiah 1:17 instructs, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." This includes advocating for the rights and well-being of refugees.

5. Sharing Resources: The Bible encourages believers to share their resources with those in need. Acts 2:44-45 describes the early Christian community, saying, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need." This principle of sharing and generosity applies to refugees who may lack basic necessities and require assistance to rebuild their lives.

Overall, the Bible underscores the importance of showing love, hospitality, justice, and compassion towards refugees and all those in need. It calls individuals and communities to actively engage in providing assistance and support to refugees, recognizing their inherent dignity and worth as fellow human beings created in the image of God.

While there are no direct stories in the New Testament of Jesus specifically addressing refugees or displaced persons, his teachings and actions provide principles that are relevant to how individuals and communities should treat those in need, including refugees. Here are a few examples:

1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): In this parable, Jesus illustrates the concept of loving one's neighbor as oneself. A Samaritan, considered an outsider by the Jewish community, stops to help a man who has been beaten and left for dead on the side of the road, while others pass by. The Samaritan demonstrates compassion and care for a stranger in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. This story encourages believers to show kindness and mercy to all, including refugees and displaced persons.

2. The Judgment of the Nations (Matthew 25:31-46): In this passage, Jesus speaks about the final judgment, where the righteous are commended for their acts of compassion and care towards the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Jesus identifies himself with the marginalized and vulnerable, saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). This teaching emphasizes the importance of providing assistance and support to those in need, including refugees and displaced persons.

3. The Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15): When King Herod sought to kill the infant Jesus, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child. Joseph immediately obeyed and took his family to Egypt, where they found refuge until Herod's death. This event highlights the vulnerability of the Holy Family as refugees in a foreign land and demonstrates God's provision and protection for those who seek refuge from persecution and violence.

While these teachings and stories may not directly mention refugees or displaced persons in the modern sense, they convey principles of compassion, hospitality, and care towards those who are vulnerable and in need of assistance. They provide guidance for believers on how to respond to the plight of refugees and displaced persons with love, empathy, and practical support.