Xenophobia is literally the fear of foreigners. The term also includes irrational dislike of those from other countries, prejudice against those who aren’t our countrymen. It’s a condition that has existed since the dawn of time.
In today’s America, xenophobia is in full bloom. We’re scared of foreign terrorists. We’re worried about illegal immigrants. We’re afraid of refugees.
As Christians, we can’t give in. If we do, we end up hating ourselves, for Christians are foreigners wherever we live in this world. We of all people must be compassionate and understanding toward those not like ourselves.
- We can protect ourselves against terrorism without hating entire nations of people or harassing those who don’t practice our religion. (And there’s been no evidence of terrorists entering the U.S. via our southern border. There’s been no known cases of terrorists among the refugees that have come to this country. Don’t believe the lies you hear in political ads and speeches)
- We can address a broken immigration system without forgetting that immigrants are people, people like us, most of whom come seeking a better life for their families. Some are murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. So are many citizens of the United States. Go ahead and hate the problem; don’t hate the people that are a part of it.
- We can show caution in accepting refugees even while showing Christlike compassion. Hospitality is a Christian virtue; it’s interesting that the word in Greek is philonexia, quite literally “a friend of foreigners.”
Don’t give into xenophobia. It’s the very opposite of everything we stand for as Christians.
