Christians & the Immigration Crisis: A Few Thoughts

Mark Snoeberger

From DBTS blog. Used with permission.

Donald Trump’s stay on admitting certain immigrants has brought out a raft of evangelical critics, especially those who see everything as an immediate gospel issue. Arguing from the facts that (1) God says nice things about foreigners in the Bible (e.g., Lev 19:33–34) and that (2) we have to be nice to foreigners or we’ll never have an audience with them to share the gospel, these express astonishment that a Christian could ever support an immigration ban of any sort. How, we might ask, can the gospel be forwarded if we anger or injure those to whom we are sent with the gospel?

It’s a redirection of the selfsame arguments that pacifists have been using for centuries to oppose war—and just as misguided. The following are a few thoughts in response:

Discussion

Mark Twain

Rob Fall

The story is told that Mark Twain was asked if he believed in infant baptism.

“Yes,” Twain replied.

“What makes you believe in it?” He was asked.

“Because I’ve seen it done,” he replied.

Discussion

A new Quran attempts to bridge divide between Christians and Muslims

SI Filings

“Two friends, one Muslim and one Christian, have just published a Quran for English speakers to help fulfill a sacred shared mission: to show people of the world’s largest and second-largest faith groups how much their holy books have in common.” RNS

Discussion