An internet meme is circulating around social media using a Bible verse to justify mistreating immigrants and deporting them from the country. Here’s what the verse, Deuteronomy 28:43-44, says:
“43Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while you gradually lose yours. 44 They will have money to lend you, but you will have none to lend them. In the end, they will be your rulers.”
As you may know, I oppose a punitive immigration system. I particularly oppose the type of cruel plans Donald Trump has for immigrants, including mass round-ups, concentration camp-style detention facilities, and deporting millions of immigrants, including those who are in the country legally, as well as naturalized citizens.
So, I started wondering why the Bible would contain a passage that appears to be anti-immigrant. As I’ve stated often, I’m no expert on Christianity, but it has always been my understanding that God calls us to welcome the foreigner, not fear or abuse him. What was I missing?
It didn’t take long to figure out the verse from Deuteronomy that supporters of Donald Trump are using to justify his cruelty. If you continue reading chapter 28 of Deuteronomy, it says:
“45 All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you. 46They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever. 47Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, 48therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.”
Well, that doesn’t really support the claim the Trump supporters are making, does it? In the verse offered to justify cruelty toward immigrants, the people are being punished because they “did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.” In other words, the people who disobeyed God brought on their own hardship. They were being punished for not following God’s commands and decrees.
That got me wondering, what are God’s commands and decrees when it comes to the treatment of foreigners and immigrants? As it turns out, there are a bunch of Bible verses that tell believers how to treat strangers to their land. For example:
“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)
“Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!” (Deuteronomy 27:19)
“The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)
“When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, ‘Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:19-22)
“For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever.” (Jeremiah 7:5-7)
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.” (Zechariah 7:9-10)
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
“Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” (Romans 12:13)
“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.” (Hebrews 13:1-3)
That’s just ten Bible verses speaking to treating strangers, foreigners, and immigrants with love and respect. There are several more. But my question is, with so many Bible verses telling us how to treat the strangers among us, why would Trump supporters—most, self-proclaimed Christians—misuse a Bible verse to justify Trump’s plans that so clearly go against Christian doctrine? Why would they weaponize the Bible to score political points? Maybe they simply don’t understand the error of their ways. Or maybe, they’re not the committed Christians they claim to be.
