What If You Can’t Find a Text?

In the spirit of misapplied, misquoted, and oft-misunderstood Bible passages, sometimes the problem is not so much the text cited but an assumption that the Bible actually says something about a specific subject. Take for instance the recent Christianity Today piece that found that only 1 in 10 evangelicals looked for biblical support in their understanding of U.S. immigration policy:

Researchers asked evangelicals to list which factor has most influenced their beliefs about immigration. About one in 10 chose the Bible, and only 2 percent named their church. Among other influences: relationships with immigrants (17%), friends and family (16%) and the media (16%).

LifeWay Research also found many churches don’t talk about immigration, and few take action on this issue. Two thirds of evangelicals say their church has never encouraged them to reach out to immigrants.

Still, evangelicals are interested in what their faith says on this topic. About half are familiar with the Bible’s teaching about immigrants. Two-thirds say they’d value hearing a sermon about the Bible’s views on immigration.

“The sad part of this research on immigration is that American evangelicals are more influenced by the media than by their Bibles and their churches combined,” says Anderson. “We need to turn off our TVs and open up our Bibles.”

A quick search of on-line English Bible resources shows that immigrant is not a word that appears in Scripture. “Strangers” does. In the New Testament “exiles” surfaces while “strangers” does not. And since all Christians according to 1 Pet 2:11 are exiles, it makes for an awkward public policy. “Strangers” in the Old Testament might provide more room for maneuver:

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV)

But do evangelicals really want to regard the United States as a modern day version of the Old Testament theocracy? If so, how do you invoke Israel’s treatment of strangers but disregard God’s instructions about what to do with Sabbath breakers?

The solution to the problem of misapplied, misquoted, and oft-misunderstood Bible passages may in the end be a recognition that the Bible, especially after the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of OT Israel’s laws (political and ceremonial), does not speak to politics or even all of life.

(Image: Jewish immigration Russia United States 1901” by Heb. Pub. Co. – “Copyright by Heb. Pub. Co. 1901”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.”>Jewish Immigration Russia United States)