The Church, Global Migration, and Reality
Global migration is impacting countries around the world at historic highs.
According to the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, there are more than 120 million forcibly displaced people in the world today, and every five seconds, someone else is forced to flee their home. These levels of migration have not been seen since World War II, more than 70 years ago.
Many of us cannot imagine what it must be like to abandon our home nation due to war, natural disasters, economic hardship, food scarcity, or lack of opportunity. Yet this is indeed the reality for many people from countries around the world, including in our communities. To protect and provide for their families, some have made the difficult decision to look for a new nation to call home. They risk their dreams in open boats, by foot across deserts, and by conventional transport only to meet the reality of systems that openly discriminate.
In 1969, three years after the island of Barbados gained independence from Britain, an economic downturn ensued, causing significant financial stress for the population. As the independence negotiations took place, white flight and capital flight had begun to undermine the stability of households across the country. The industrial complex was practically compromised. Almost sixty years later, the island has not recovered and now bears the distinction of being one of the six highest cost-of-living economies in the world. Such conditions lead to stagnation and stripped away opportunities from a well-trained workforce. We immigrated in 1972 with great expectations. After all, the Bible told us what to expect.
Consider Abraham and his family were told: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land I will show you”. Genesis 12:1
Consider Joseph: Joseph was enslaved in Egypt and became a viceroy in Pharoah’s administration.
Consider Moses: Moses fled Egypt and found refuge in Midian.
Consider Ruth: The story of Ruth, a Moabitess woman who moved to Israel to live with her mother-in-law, Naomi, is well told.
Consider Mary and Joseph, who fled to Egypt with Jesus as a baby.
The United Methodist Church upholds the practice of hospitality to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and others without regard to race, status, nationality, or religion.
The United Methodist Social Principles, found in our Book of Discipline, include a section titled Rights of Immigrants that states, "We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm all persons' right to equal employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination."
A resolution titled Global Migration, and a Quest for Justice affirms, "Christians do not approach the issue of migration from the perspective of tribe or nation, but from within a faith community of love and welcome, a community that teaches and expects hospitality to the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed," an echo of Jesus' parable of the sheep and goats Matthew 25: 31-46.
Another resolution, "Welcoming the Migrant to the USA," reads, "Welcoming the migrant is not only an act of mission; it is an opportunity to receive God's grace." This reflects what we are taught in Hebrews: "Don't neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).
But then there is THE LAW of this land that contradicts what God has charged us to obey.
"Welcoming the migrant is not only an act of mission; it is an opportunity to receive God's grace." (United Methodist Book of Resolutions)
Sources: UMC Book of Discipline
UM Book of Resolutions
Written by Gregory Harewood
According to the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, there are more than 120 million forcibly displaced people in the world today, and every five seconds, someone else is forced to flee their home. These levels of migration have not been seen since World War II, more than 70 years ago.
Many of us cannot imagine what it must be like to abandon our home nation due to war, natural disasters, economic hardship, food scarcity, or lack of opportunity. Yet this is indeed the reality for many people from countries around the world, including in our communities. To protect and provide for their families, some have made the difficult decision to look for a new nation to call home. They risk their dreams in open boats, by foot across deserts, and by conventional transport only to meet the reality of systems that openly discriminate.
In 1969, three years after the island of Barbados gained independence from Britain, an economic downturn ensued, causing significant financial stress for the population. As the independence negotiations took place, white flight and capital flight had begun to undermine the stability of households across the country. The industrial complex was practically compromised. Almost sixty years later, the island has not recovered and now bears the distinction of being one of the six highest cost-of-living economies in the world. Such conditions lead to stagnation and stripped away opportunities from a well-trained workforce. We immigrated in 1972 with great expectations. After all, the Bible told us what to expect.
- Exodus 23:9: "Do not oppress a foreigner; you know how it feels to be foreigners because you were foreigners in Egypt."
- Leviticus 19:34: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born."
- Deuteronomy 10:18-19: "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing."
- Matthew 25:35: "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."
- Hebrews 13:2: "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
Consider Abraham and his family were told: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land I will show you”. Genesis 12:1
Consider Joseph: Joseph was enslaved in Egypt and became a viceroy in Pharoah’s administration.
Consider Moses: Moses fled Egypt and found refuge in Midian.
Consider Ruth: The story of Ruth, a Moabitess woman who moved to Israel to live with her mother-in-law, Naomi, is well told.
Consider Mary and Joseph, who fled to Egypt with Jesus as a baby.
The United Methodist Church upholds the practice of hospitality to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and others without regard to race, status, nationality, or religion.
The United Methodist Social Principles, found in our Book of Discipline, include a section titled Rights of Immigrants that states, "We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm all persons' right to equal employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination."
A resolution titled Global Migration, and a Quest for Justice affirms, "Christians do not approach the issue of migration from the perspective of tribe or nation, but from within a faith community of love and welcome, a community that teaches and expects hospitality to the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed," an echo of Jesus' parable of the sheep and goats Matthew 25: 31-46.
Another resolution, "Welcoming the Migrant to the USA," reads, "Welcoming the migrant is not only an act of mission; it is an opportunity to receive God's grace." This reflects what we are taught in Hebrews: "Don't neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).
But then there is THE LAW of this land that contradicts what God has charged us to obey.
"Welcoming the migrant is not only an act of mission; it is an opportunity to receive God's grace." (United Methodist Book of Resolutions)
Sources: UMC Book of Discipline
UM Book of Resolutions
Written by Gregory Harewood
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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