God's Kingdom

A Person not a Place

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Proverbs 14:29

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 14:30

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.

Proverbs 14:31

The wicked are crushed by disaster, but the godly have a refuge when they die.

Proverbs 14:32

Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among fools.

Proverbs 14:33

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Proverbs 14:34

A king rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him.

Proverbs 14:35

God's Consistent Message

How Scripture Speaks About Foreigners

You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it's like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9

Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself.

Leviticus 19:33

Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:34

He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.

Deuteronomy 10:18

So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:19

It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:10

When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don't go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do.

Deuteronomy 24:19

When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don't go over the boughs twice. Leave the remaining olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Deuteronomy 24:20

When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don't glean the vines after they are picked. Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Deuteronomy 24:21

If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you.

Leviticus 25:35

Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.

Deuteronomy 26:12

Then you must declare in the presence of the Lord your God, 'I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands.'

Deuteronomy 26:13

'Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27:19

only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.

Jeremiah 7:6

Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

Zechariah 7:10

At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.

Malachi 3:5

The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

Psalm 146:9

Distribute the land as an allotment for yourselves and for the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you. They will be like native-born Israelites to you and will receive an allotment among the tribes.

Ezekiel 47:22

These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

Ezekiel 47:23

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Hebrews 13:2

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

Matthew 25:35

Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

1 Peter 2:11

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.

Ephesians 2:19

Heinous Crimes

A pattern that reveals shifting authority

From Community Policing

Officers as neighbors, accountable to communities

Two Models of Authority

Relational vs Disconnected Enforcement

Scripture Twisted

Using the Bible to justify xenophobia rather than reflect God's heart

True Discipleship

To use the Bible as a Christian is a claim of DISCIPLESHIP.
To use it for anything else is manipulation.

Called to be Sojourners

Like Abraham, we are called to be foreigners and immigrants

You, the Lord, are the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and changed his name to Abraham. You found his heart faithful in your sight...

Nehemiah 9:7-8a

Father of Faith

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness

A Lifetime Sojourner

"He didn't give him an inheritance in it—not even a foot of ground"
Acts 7:5

Tent Dweller

Abraham lived in temporary dwellings his entire life

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord;

Psalm 24:1

God is For the Alien

❌ Not for territorial xenophobia
❌ Not for building walls of fear
❌ Not for using His Word to justify oppression

Called to Blessing

God's call to Abram was a call to blessing that extends to all families of earth

From Babel to Blessing

Genesis 12:1-3

Two Approaches

Babel	Abram
Make our own name great	"I will make your name great"
Human achievement	Humble obedience

God's Method

Not human glory, but humble obedience
Not self-promotion, but being vessels of blessing

Reflection

How are we trying to "make a name for ourselves" through power or protectionism?

Scarcity Mindset

How does believing there's not enough shape our attitudes toward immigrants and the marginalized?

Where Is Our Trust?

When do we trust in our own strength rather than God's provision?

God's Call

From Self-Protection
↓
To Radical Hospitality