Dear Beloveds,
One of my most vivid childhood memories is when my home congregation welcomed a Vietnamese family. As a young child, I remember helping prepare the home that the family would live in, going grocery shopping with my mom for food to fill the pantry, giving our couch to them, helping with the “world dinner” that would raise money for this endeavor, and, most of all, anticipating the arrival of these new people – Loung and Young and Quin. I remember when this little family stood in the back of the sanctuary and everyone stood and clapped and embraced this family.
As you might know, I grew up in a little town in eastern Washington. This town was conservative and mostly voted Republican (although my grandmother was mayor and she was a Democrat). I believe that my hometown church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, was also more conservative in nature. I am grateful for the values taught to me by my siblings in Christ there. The love and care that I received and learned formed who I am today. These people embraced the challenge and gift of welcoming a family from a different continent, a different religion, a different language, a different culture, a different country, and so much more to become part of our community. According to my parents, there was no partisan debate about accepting a Vietnamese family with open arms.
Today, when I listen to political rhetoric or podcasts or the news, I wonder when and why the topic of immigration has become so fraught. While I understand that there are complexities and nuances of immigration and I understand the need to make sure that there is control and order at the U.S. border, I don’t understand why there is the need to vilify the vast majority of immigrants who are, quite simply, desperate for safety, work, and good government.
I know the arguments: Yes, sometimes people come into this country through the wrong avenues. Yes, sometimes people stay without documentation. Yes, sometimes crime happens by people who are in this country illegally. Yes, sometimes resources are used for people who are not citizens. Yes, there are laws in this country and people should follow the laws.
But let me push back a little bit. There is overwhelming statistical analysis that show immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. We know through our own experiences that immigrants will work hard at whatever job they find – as I have been told by one Mexican immigrant, “Mexicans will do anything and we’ll work harder and longer than anyone else.” We know people who were brought to this country as children and know no other country. We know that there are some laws that are simply unjust made to target people who are already desperate – simply because of the color of their skin or their birth country.
As people of faith, we are called to reflect God’s vision towards a more just and reconciled world. As people of faith, we are called to follow Jesus’ example towards loving and caring for all people – especially those that have been marginalized. As people of faith, when we are grappling with hard things, we are called to turn to God and scripture for wisdom and knowledge. In view of welcoming the stranger from other lands, here are a few passages:
Genesis 23:4. Deuteronomy 10:19, Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 27:19, 1 Chronicles 16:19-22, Job 29:15-17, Psalm146:9, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Ezekiel 47:22, Zechariah 7:9-10, Matthew 5:43-44, Matthew 25:35, Matthew 25:40, Luke 10:27, Acts 10:34, Romans 12:13, Romans 13:8, Romans 13:10, Colossians 3:11, Hebrews 13:1-3, 3 John 1:5, Revelation 21:3, and there are many more not named.
These scriptures are about welcoming the foreigner, the outsider, embracing those who are in need, loving God by loving neighbor. If someone wants biblical authority, scripture makes it pretty clear. We are to welcome and embrace those who come from other places. We are to love our near and far neighbors as God loves us.
I am writing this article one week before the new administration begins. Truly, I am deeply concerned about the millions of people who will be affected and harmed by presidential action and legislative policies that have been promised by the incoming president.
I encourage you to learn more about how to support and welcome these new neighbors in need:
ELCA AAMPARO (https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/ammparo)
Faith Action Network (https://fanwa.org/)
Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Refugees Northwest (https://lcsnw.org/program/refugees-northwest-2/)
Global Refuge (https://www.globalrefuge.org/blog/resources/congregational-resources/)
Watch for more information from the Synod as we work and move and join together in loving God by loving the most vulnerable.
Please, I implore you, love and welcome and embrace your neighbor as God embraces each one of us.
+Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee | bishop@lutheransnw.org
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