For Jewish and Christian groups, the commitment to help refugees reflects their understanding of God's commandments. Throughout the Hebrew Bible — the Old Testament to Christians — the Israelites are reminded that they were themselves aliens once, in the land of Egypt.
The book of Leviticus, for example, dictates: "The alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself."
Such guidance continues in the New Testament: The book of Matthew quotes Jesus as telling his followers, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing."
"It is deeply ingrained in our faith and our understanding of the Bible that we're called to welcome the stranger and love and serve our neighbors," says LIRS President Linda Hartke. "Not the neighbors that we choose, but the neighbors that God gives to us."
The book of Leviticus, for example, dictates: "The alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself."
Such guidance continues in the New Testament: The book of Matthew quotes Jesus as telling his followers, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing."
"It is deeply ingrained in our faith and our understanding of the Bible that we're called to welcome the stranger and love and serve our neighbors," says LIRS President Linda Hartke. "Not the neighbors that we choose, but the neighbors that God gives to us."
