“It’s not a biblical command for the country to let everyone in who wants to come, that’s not a Bible issue. We want to love people, we want to be kind to people, we want to be considerate, but we have a country and a country should have order and there are laws that relate to immigration and I think we should follow those laws. Because of the dangers we see today in this world, we need to be very careful.”

~ Franklin Graham on immigration and banning refugees

Dear Franklin (& people who 'think' like you),

“Not a Bible issue” Really?

Beyond the grammar and syntax, we could pick apart the many things wrong with this statement. We could focus on the fact that refugees are handled through a part of the legal system of immigration, thus within the bounds of this country's laws. We could focus on the idea that much of the protest, on both sides of the issue, are from people calling for sensible and humane changes to this country's laws.

But Frankie-boy, you brought the Bible into this: That wonderful tome we love, your butt-buddy's tiny hand swore the oath of office on (miraculously, without bursting into flames), and whose dust-covered binding you haven't cracked in years.

So, Frannie-poo, we're going to remind you of what the Bible says on this issue. And if you feel a stirring in your gut, Frankfurter, that might be the Holy Spirit or conviction. Or gas.

When a stranger (גָּר ger – foreign born human being. Not an Israelite) sojourns (גּוּר guwr – lives/travels for a time) with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger (גָּר ger) who sojourns (גּוּר guwr) with you as the native among you, and you shall love (אָהַב ’ahab) him as yourself, for you were strangers (גָּר ger) in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

~ Leviticus 19:33-34

Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice (מִשְׁפָּט mishpat) for the orphan and the widow, and who loves (אָהַב ’ahab) the strangers (גָּר ger), providing (נָתַן natan - giving ) them food and clothing. You shall also love (אָהַב ’ahab) the strangers (ger), for you were strangers (גָּר ger), in the land of Egypt.

~ Deuteronomy 10:16-19

Then I will draw near to you for judgment (מִשְׁפָּט mishpat); I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside (נָטָה natah) the alien (גָּר ger), and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

~ Malachi 3:5

But maybe we're missing something. Please explain to us how this is not a “bible issue”? It seems like a “bible issue” and a pretty straight forward one:

Those who natan (give) with ’ahab (love) will be blessed; those who natah (push away) will be subject to mishpat (judgement/justice).

We assume you noticed that God gives two compelling reasons to care for these people:

1) Because you know what it's like to be crapped on by others ("Do onto others as you would have them do..."/Love your neighbor as yourself..." - does this sounds familiar?); &

2) Because I F#$%$#$#$%ING SAID SO! I'M THE LORD YOUR GOD! ("Love the Lord with all..." / "Have no other gods before Me..." - you've read these, right?)

It's almost like "The Two Great Commandments" show up everywhere,

not only when it's politically convenient.

But please, bring your America-first, prosperity-gospel, comfy arm-chair theology, misinterpretations of simple biblical ideals into this conversation.

We’ll wait.

But not for too long.

- Ben

P.S. These are not the only passages about the treatment of non-natives in the Bible. They aren't even the only passages in the Law. There are more in the rest of the Torah, the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and the New Testament. There are other examples and stories of how God calls the native to treat the non-native throughout the Bible, including examples of punishment of those who treat them poorly. We choose these three to simplify for you, our dear Frankly-wankly.