“ Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt…” (Leviticus 19:34, CEB).
In 1984, I traveled to the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. I was familiar with the atrocities that were committed at this locale through history books. Yet, nothing I had learned intellectually prepared me for the emotions I experienced as I walked past a monument that read in Yiddish, “Never Again.”
This particular monument is shaped in the form of a triangle. A triangle was worn on the outer clothing of those who were imprisoned. Red triangles designated persons who were considered to be “asocial,” or non-persons. Most Jews wore black triangles. Pink triangles were worn by persons who were considered to be homosexual. Blue triangles represented immigrants or foreign-born persons. The horrific execution of more than six million of these innocent souls during WWII communicated the unwelcoming message: “Get out of my country.”
Recently, a nineteen-year-old Michigan man was charged with threatening a mass killing at a synagogue on the fifth anniversary of the massacre at two New Zealand mosques by a white supremacist gunman. Seann Patrick Pietila of Pickford, a township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was arrested Friday and charged with transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure another, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Prosecutors say Seann Pietila planned to target the Shaarey Zedek congregation in East Lansing. He allegedly made threats on social media, including Instagram, that included comments about neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism and glorifying mass shootings, most notably the 2019 shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Such attacks are reminiscent of the Kristallnacht atrocities of 1938, when more than 200 synagogues were destroyed and 8000 Jewish businesses were looted. Kristallnacht is considered to be the precursor to the eventual lapanka or mass imprisonment of Jews and other non-Arian peoples.
To compound this present trend of violence is the action an eighteen-year-old Indiana University student who was repeatedly stabbed in the head by a fifty-six-year-old white woman while on a bus, and the school says it was because the student is Asian. The Indiana Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum issued a statement following the attack, saying this “is not an isolated event.” Federal authorities report that hate crimes have risen significantly in recent months. Perceived “Outsiders” are being treated with mounting hostility.
Scripture, however, offers a strong Judeo-Christian word with respect to how strangers are to be treated. “ Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt…” (Leviticus 19:34,CEB). Likewise, Jesus confirmed the acceptance of foreigners when he answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
I don’t know what motivates individuals to perpetrate such hateful actions. What I do know is that such behavior is neither reflective nor condoned by Jesus, the example and perfector of our faith. As a Christian, I am beholden to treat non-citizens in the same way I wish to be treated. Now, please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I believe our government has the responsibility to create and enforce reasonable laws concerning immigration. However, for those persons who are granted legal access, great care must be taken to ensure that they are welcomed without prejudice.
I believe the Church has the power to stem the tide of hateful speech and actions. The Church can set the tone for all of society by opening its doors to those born beyond our borders. There is an old saying: “If not us, then who?” We are the hands, feet, and voice of Christ. We are the Body of Christ in action. Therefore, may we act in ways that represent and honor him.
In 1984, I traveled to the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. I was familiar with the atrocities that were committed at this locale through history books. Yet, nothing I had learned intellectually prepared me for the emotions I experienced as I walked past a monument that read in Yiddish, “Never Again.”
This particular monument is shaped in the form of a triangle. A triangle was worn on the outer clothing of those who were imprisoned. Red triangles designated persons who were considered to be “asocial,” or non-persons. Most Jews wore black triangles. Pink triangles were worn by persons who were considered to be homosexual. Blue triangles represented immigrants or foreign-born persons. The horrific execution of more than six million of these innocent souls during WWII communicated the unwelcoming message: “Get out of my country.”
Recently, a nineteen-year-old Michigan man was charged with threatening a mass killing at a synagogue on the fifth anniversary of the massacre at two New Zealand mosques by a white supremacist gunman. Seann Patrick Pietila of Pickford, a township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was arrested Friday and charged with transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure another, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Prosecutors say Seann Pietila planned to target the Shaarey Zedek congregation in East Lansing. He allegedly made threats on social media, including Instagram, that included comments about neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism and glorifying mass shootings, most notably the 2019 shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Such attacks are reminiscent of the Kristallnacht atrocities of 1938, when more than 200 synagogues were destroyed and 8000 Jewish businesses were looted. Kristallnacht is considered to be the precursor to the eventual lapanka or mass imprisonment of Jews and other non-Arian peoples.
To compound this present trend of violence is the action an eighteen-year-old Indiana University student who was repeatedly stabbed in the head by a fifty-six-year-old white woman while on a bus, and the school says it was because the student is Asian. The Indiana Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum issued a statement following the attack, saying this “is not an isolated event.” Federal authorities report that hate crimes have risen significantly in recent months. Perceived “Outsiders” are being treated with mounting hostility.
Scripture, however, offers a strong Judeo-Christian word with respect to how strangers are to be treated. “ Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt…” (Leviticus 19:34,CEB). Likewise, Jesus confirmed the acceptance of foreigners when he answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
I don’t know what motivates individuals to perpetrate such hateful actions. What I do know is that such behavior is neither reflective nor condoned by Jesus, the example and perfector of our faith. As a Christian, I am beholden to treat non-citizens in the same way I wish to be treated. Now, please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I believe our government has the responsibility to create and enforce reasonable laws concerning immigration. However, for those persons who are granted legal access, great care must be taken to ensure that they are welcomed without prejudice.
I believe the Church has the power to stem the tide of hateful speech and actions. The Church can set the tone for all of society by opening its doors to those born beyond our borders. There is an old saying: “If not us, then who?” We are the hands, feet, and voice of Christ. We are the Body of Christ in action. Therefore, may we act in ways that represent and honor him.