“You must not do harm to the immigrant” (Exodus 22:21).
“Do not oppress the immigrant” (Exodus 23:9).
“The immigrant shall be to you as one born among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself” (Leviticus 19:33-34).
“Because all the land in the world belongs to God, in the eyes of God we are all immigrants” (Leviticus 25:23).
“You shall not deprive the immigrant of justice” (Deuteronomy 24:17).
“Show kindness to one another, and do not oppress the immigrant” (Zechariah 7:9-10).
“I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).
To read those words from the Torah, the Prophets, the Gospels and the Epistles is to know this simple truth: If confronting and resisting our nation’s current campaign of cruelty against refugees, asylum seekers, migrating families and immigrants is too political for the church, then the Bible is too political for the church.
If standing up for the immigrant by standing against government-sponsored muscle flexing at the expense of our most vulnerable neighbors is too political for the church, then the Jesus of the four Gospels is too political for the church.
The will of God for the people of God is that we embody, in public and practical ways, the welcome of God for refugees, asylum seekers, migrating families and immigrants.
If that kind of sidewalk solidarity with, and wide welcome for, the immigrant is too political for the church, then Jesus is too political for the church.
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After 45 years of pastoral life, during which he served churches in Georgia, North Carolina,Washington DC, and Jackson,Mississippi, Poole retired in 2022. He is the author of eight books, including The Path to Depth (Nurturing Faith Books, 2022), as well as numerous published articles and the lyrics to three hymns.