“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner (refugee), giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 10:18-19

Human Dignity and the Image of God

As Christians, we believe that every human being is created in the image of God, endowed with inherent worth, dignity, and deserving of respect. This belief is central to understanding God’s love for all people. The Bible affirms, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV). This profound connection unites us as a human family, as we are called to be God’s children through Jesus Christ. Jesus himself emphasizes the importance of mutual love: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34, ESV).

The Call to Love Our Neighbor

To comprehend God’s will and His call for compassion, Jesus clarified to the Pharisees that all the law and the prophets hinge on the commandments to love God and one’s neighbour: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:37-40, ESV). Our relationship with God necessitates an active concern for our world and our neighbors, as we commune with the God who loves them deeply.

Welcoming the Stranger

Throughout the Old Testament, God is portrayed as the protector of exiles and persecuted refugees. Scripture commands, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34, ESV). This strong moral imperative of hospitality permeates the Bible, framing salvation as a narrative of welcome and grace.

Jesus is known as the “friend of sinners” and frequently describes heaven as a place of lavish, gracious, borderless hospitality. The writer of Hebrews urges, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2, ESV). Grace received compels us to extend grace to others, with hospitality as a fundamental expression of this grace.

Challenging Unjust Systems

Scripture and Christian tradition call us to stand with and care for the marginalized, oppressed, and persecuted. Isaiah exhorts, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV). Jesus also teaches, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:40, ESV). From its inception, the Christian church has sought to manifest God’s love through acts of service and care for those in need.

In his ministry, Jesus challenged societal and religious structures that marginalized individuals. He associated with and ministered to those rejected by respectable society. Following Jesus’ and the prophets’ example, the Church is called to address systemic injustices. Archbishop Desmond Tutu emphasized this by stating that Christians should not only rescue those in dire situations but also confront and change the systems that create these injustices. This advocacy is an essential aspect of our mission.

Refugee Week, 16-22 June 2024.
Special Focus on 16th June 2024