Introduction
Biblical history has shown migration as a powerful tool to fulfill God’s purposes. Learning more about migration throughout the Old and New Testaments shows God has a divine plan (Neill, 2023). The Bible can give unique insights into Christians’ engagement in the immigrant industry. Moreover, it can explain how the main obstacles can be avoided and what the life of refugees looks like in the modern world.
Migration in the Scripture and Modern World
God uses migration as an instrument to show the story of Abraham, who was forced to leave his home country. Political and social issues were the initial factors in developing God’s interpretation (Lausanne Movement, n.d.). Another valuable event in immigration history is the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, which shows God’s faithfulness to people (Daube, 2020). Even though the process of moving might be complicated, there was religious support in the locations that accepted refugees. When the era of migration started, the Christian church’s primary mission was to eliminate the cultural barriers in the world.
Even though there are many biblical examples of the modern migration process, some obstacles still appear. One of the main challenges is the fear and stereotypes. Many individuals are afraid to change their lives and run away from poor life conditions. Cultural differences and mentality in other countries are diverse, and the adjustment process might be complicated and less ethical (Lausanne Movement, n.d.). Furthermore, language barriers may appear, making it problematic to find a job and socialize.
Even though Christians are willing to express love to new immigrants, governmental policies might contradict this desire. Political cooperation might not be passionate about opening doors to new Muslim migrants, and the spiritual aspect, in this case, might be destroyed. Additionally, the rules are becoming harsh about new people coming to developed countries, which is becoming one of the most influential factors in final decision-making. Therefore, God’s interpretation of immigration is fading as governmental aspects are gaining an increased value.
Some sociocultural blocks do not allow Christians to support Muslim refugees. For example, islamophobia can appear in accepting countries, and not all citizens, specifically in the United States, are ready to live with Muslim immigrants (Op-Eds & Press Releases, 2018). The problem appears because of misunderstandings between individuals and leaders of the country.
Dialogue is slowly being built, and religious relationships remain poor because of governmental issues. The problem of extremism is also increasing, and it potentially causes many security concerns. Christians may follow many stereotypes that prevent them from open communication with Muslims. Therefore, the fear of terrorism exists in many nations and media, leading to a massive mistrust of Muslim people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding God’s use of migration in Scripture provides a strong basis for Christians to understand how to change their minds and what is happening in real life. Individuals can avoid political bias by learning Bible conventions and staying kind to Muslim refugees. The immigrant ministry should dictate updated rules that do not ignore refugees’ rights and ensure Christians are protected from aggression. Through proper education and acts of love, it may become possible to fulfill Bible rules and states to welcome new people in other societies. Moreover, it ensures that people from all cultural backgrounds join together and build stronger communities and relationships.
References
Daube, D. (2020). The Exodus Pattern in the Bible. Wipf & Stock.
Migration & Ethnic Conflict (n.d.). Lausanne Movement. Web.
Neill, S. (2023). Jesus Through Many Eyes: Introduction to the Theology of the New Testament. James Clarke Co., Ltd.
Op-Ed’s & Press Releases. (2018). A letter to President Trump and congress. World Relief. Web.