The Christian Response to the Refugee Crisis

It is fairly easy to be moved with compassion when we hear of orphans in need or widows in need. We find it harder to be moved with compassion for aliens in our land, especially if they are of a different race and language. Over and over again in the Bible, aliens are included with widows and orphans. They must be cared for (Deuteronomy 24:17, 19 and 27:19, Psalm 94:4-7).

It is not an absolute rule, but normally you can tell which is the relatively righteous nation by watching which direction the refugees flee. This year there are millions of refugees fleeing from South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria. If these people flee towards us, and we are not moved with compassion and do not treat them as the Bible requires, then we are violating the clear teaching of Scripture.

Written October 1980; revised August 2019.

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