How can we "not oppress the foreigner" in our community today? Jeremiah 7:6 in Context “if you no longer oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place…” (Jeremiah 7:6–7) • Judah stood under judgment because they treated worship as a ritual while ignoring clear commands to protect the vulnerable. • The Lord linked social injustice—especially toward foreigners—to idolatry; true devotion to God must include tangible mercy. The Unchanging Call to Welcome the Foreigner • Exodus 22:21 — “You must not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” • Leviticus 19:33-34 — “The foreigner residing with you must be to you as the native-born; you shall love him as yourself.” • Deuteronomy 10:18-19 — God “executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.” • Malachi 3:5 — Judgment falls on those who “oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigner of justice.” • Matthew 25:35; Hebrews 13:2 — Jesus and the apostles affirm hospitality as a mark of genuine faith. Recognizing Modern Forms of Oppression • Exploiting immigrant labor through unfair wages or unsafe conditions. • Withholding housing, education, or health care due to legal status or prejudice. • Harassing, insulting, or stereotyping newcomers. • Passing or supporting policies that deny basic due-process protections. • Ignoring language barriers that keep families from essential information. Practical Ways to Honor the Foreigner Today Relational Care • Learn names, stories, and cultural backgrounds; greet warmly at church, work, and neighborhood gatherings. • Offer language tutoring or partner in conversation practice. • Invite international students, refugees, or migrant workers into your home for meals and holidays. Material Assistance • Support ministries that provide legal aid, job training, housing help, and medical clinics for immigrants. • Advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions where you have influence. • Donate clothes, furniture, and school supplies through trusted local agencies. Community Engagement • Volunteer as a translator or driver for appointments and school meetings. • Help newcomers navigate banking, public transportation, and grocery shopping. • Encourage local officials toward policies that protect families from exploitation without compromising legitimate security concerns. Church Life • Provide bilingual services, printed worship guides, or headset translation. • Include songs, Scripture readings, and testimonies from various cultures. • Equip small-group leaders to disciple believers from different linguistic backgrounds. Business & Workplace • Hire qualified immigrants and ensure equal pay for equal work. • Offer flexibility for cultural or religious observances compatible with company goals. • Stand against jokes or comments that demean accents or heritage. Gospel Motivations • We were “strangers and aliens” to God, but through Christ “you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19-20). • The cost of our redemption drives us to extend unmerited kindness to others (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Welcoming the foreigner reflects the coming kingdom, where people from “every tribe and language and people and nation” worship the Lamb (Revelation 5:9). Encouragement to Act Living Jeremiah 7:6 today means embracing concrete, sacrificial love for the foreigner in our midst. As we do, we testify that the God who rescued Israel—and who saved us through His Son—still defends the vulnerable and calls His people to do the same. |
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