Immigration is arguably one of the most intensely debated topic in America today. It’s also a subject that dominates news worldwide, as people flee oppressive conditions, poverty, and starvation in search of a better life.
Immigration was apparently on God’s mind when He gave directions to Moses on Mount Sinai about how the Israelites were to treat immigrants who came to them from different lands.
“When an 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 native-born 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 19:33-34).
The rules Moses received on Mount Sinai weren’t the result of a committee debating ideal societal policies.
In the Holiness Code, God repeatedly declared, “I am the Lord your God.” As the God of the Israelites, He had specific requirements for how they were to treat immigrants.
When the Bible mentions “aliens,” it’s not talking about extraterrestrial beings. Instead, it refers to people who have migrated to become part of society. With that understanding, there are key principles to follow:
(1) They are not to be oppressed.
(2) They should be treated as if they are part of the native population.
(3) We are commanded to love them as we love ourselves, recalling that we, too, were once immigrants.
I appreciate Dallas Willard’s description of New Testament discipleship as “living a Jesus kind of life.” I believe this also serves as an excellent definition of holiness: to live our lives as Jesus lived His.
If we are truly living a Jesus-like life, it will be evident in our attitudes and actions toward immigrants.
Business Practices
A friend of mine, who worked as a butcher for years, shared a story about the store owner. The owner kept a single hot dog on the scales all day. No one ever bought it, yet the owner told my friend that every customer unwittingly paid for that hot dog.
This is precisely the kind of dishonest behavior Moses warned against.
“You shall not cheat in measuring length, weight, or quantity.
You shall have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
You shall keep all my statutes and all my ordinances and observe them: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:35-37
Fundamentally, ethical behavior ought to be rooted in our relationship with God. When we declare, “God is my God,” we are defining that personal relationship as His servants.
Consequently, we are called to mirror His character in all our interactions, including our business dealings.
What is Sanctification
You’ll likely only encounter the term “sanctification” within a religious context. So, what exactly does it mean to be sanctified?
Sanctification derives from the word “holiness.” We become holy when we are touched by God and set apart for His service. This command perfectly summarizes God’s work with His people.
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and observe them: I am the Lord; I sanctify you (Leviticus 20:7-8).
Theological terminology often distinguishes between the indicative, which represents God’s actions on our behalf, and the imperative, which details our subsequent responsibilities.
This is frequently described by theologians with the phrase, “Become who you are.” Thus, we are to live in accordance with the new identity God has bestowed upon us.
God has sanctified us (indicative). The imperative is to “consecrate yourselves,” and to keep God’s statutes and observe them.
This kind of discussion can sometimes make people feel that God’s law is a heavy burden.
Instead of seeing it as a weight, we should view it as a grand opportunity. It’s God’s pathway to living the best possible life.
By following these directives, or the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, we are given the chance to experience the most fulfilling life imaginable.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 