Across Borders
A letter from the Editor – Ron Barnes
Immigration has become a hot topic invoking plenty of reaction from every side of the political landscape. It has been used as a platform for debate, midterm elections, and likely the next presidential election.
The International Migration Report, written by the United Nations, has reported “the number of international migrants worldwide has continued to grow over the past seventeen years, reaching 258 million in 2017, up from 248 million in 2015, 220 million in 2010, 191 million in 2005 and 173 million in 2000” (Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2017 Revision). Interpreted, that means the number of immigrants worldwide is the equivalent of over two-thirds the population of North America. Nearly a continent of people are “strangers in a foreign land.”
Anthropologists and missiologists alike agree that people in transition are ripe for new ideologies. That’s exactly why churches must come to grips with their responsibility as it relates to immigration. What is our responsibility, beyond all the politics and disagreements, as Christians?
The Word of God has plenty to say on the topic of immigrants, in fact the Old Testament uses the Hebrew word “gare” 92 times, usually translated as “alien,” “stranger,” or “foreigner.” Among the many compelling Old Testament references is Leviticus 19:34, But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (King James Version). Israel was reminded they knew all too well the plight of living in a foreign land and that they should treat foreigners as though they were “native.”
Additionally, in the Old Testament, “immigrant” is often referred to in conjunction with two other vulnerable groups the Lord cared deeply about: the widow and the orphans. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment (Deuteronomy 10:18, KJV).
The New Testament parallels this in Matthew when “the righteous man” asked of the Lord, …Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:37–40, KJV).
Scripture makes clear our obligation to minister to “strangers” among us and in fact, the Great Commission compels us further to action. I believe migration to be one of the greatest tools used of the Lord in our generation to plant seeds of the Gospel and to see them grow.
On the one hand, migrants coming “among us” serve as an excellent opportunity for Christians to reach those who we might never be able to go to reach, and on the other hand there is an additional element I believe is simultaneously happening. I witnessed some of this in Europe in my time as a missionary there.
After the fall of communism, pockets of Europeans migrated back to the land of their heritage, which was prevented during the time of communism. Take, for example, the Czech diaspora in Romania. Originally transplanted in the 1800s, ethnic Czechs were prevented from returning to the Czech Republic during the communist occupation of Romania. Within those borders, they maintained their patriotism to “Czechoslovakia,” their customs, language, and religion. Time stood still for these Czechs and their values, and so when they reintegrated after the fall of the communists, they found themselves “old-fashioned” for the much more progressive and liberal Czech Republic.
I began to work with a man, “Jarda,” from among this group. It took a while for me to understand why our communication was challenging, but it was because the Czech he spoke was the equivalent of the “King James” English. When I began to get to know him, I discovered his values and theology were much more conservative, and the Baptists I was working with trusted him because they trusted the conservative theology of the Czech from Romania more than the Baptists in current Czech Republic. In a real sense, the diaspora reintegrated conservative doctrine and values back into a very liberal church in Czech.
I also discovered other pockets of Romanians, also very evangelistic and theologically sound, in neighboring Austria. There, even without pastors, they were repopulating dead Austrian churches, evangelizing the lost Austrians, and discipling them to become reproducing churches.
Immigration opened up opportunities for immigrants to actually bring the Gospel to the hosting countries. As we read over the last few years about the migration of Middle Easterners fleeing conflict, ethnic cleansing, and religious persecution, many began fearing the Islam that would inevitably be coming with these immigrants. Understand, however, there are many fleeing these countries because of religious persecution, which includes scores of Christians.
These Christians, displaced by violence and persecution, are relocating to places like France, Germany, and Great Britain, all increasingly Muslim, atheistic, and agnostic strongholds. I believe once again that this immigration “crisis” in Europe may very well result in the re-evangelization of the continent that was the birthplace of the Reformation.
Perhaps it’s time to look past the rhetoric of the “crisis” and look to the endless opportunities it seems to be bringing for the spread of the Gospel! It’s time for Christians to move away from focusing on the politics of immigration and on to what our Christ-honoring responsibilities are for the “strangers” moving in among us. It’s time to pray that God would use this migration of believers into Europe and beyond as a way to carry the Gospel into some of the hardest and darkest parts of the globe.
This issue of the Reaper is filled with stories, testimonies and examples of how God is using Source of Light Ministries “inter”-nationally, and “intra”-nationally. We hope it will give you insight to how God is working and where, and will challenge you in your own efforts to reach out to those who are “strangers among us from across borders.”
