Changing Community

To quote Bob Dylan, "The times, they are a-changin'."  As a missionary, I see the reports each year of ever increasing minority populations in America.  I am aware of the more than 700,000 international students that come to this country each year to study.  I know that America can hardly be considered a "white" nation anymore, which frankly makes me happy.

Just that last statement alone will make some people upset, but I believe that we Christians have been given a great opportunity in America.  Like no other time before, the nations are coming to our doors, of their own volition and for a variety of reasons.  Some come as refugees from hostile nations, others marry into American families, still others cross the borders illegally.  I'm not even going to get into a debate about that last one!  That's not the purpose of this post.  No, I believe it is time to focus on the great gift we've been given.

But today I think I realized for the first time that even the face of my community is changing.  While taking a brief frozen yogurt break, I noticed that out of 10 people in the establishment, only 3 of us fit the caucasian American description.  Three years ago the percentage would've been much higher.  I'm happy to see diversity coming to my community, because quite honestly I missed seeing the faces of different ethnicities when I first moved here.  My previous community was like a little world, people from many nations all living in a small area.  It was great walking down the street and smelling the various spices used to cook different families' dinners.  I loved the conversations we had, some brief because of language barriers, others in-depth and heartfelt.

As one who travels to different nations, my life has been enriched by getting to personally know people of other cultures.  I see things differently.  I view differences differently.  I appreciate who I am and the upbringing I had, but I also appreciate who they are and the upbringing that makes them, well....them.  I even feel weird saying "them," as if it's me and the rest of the world -- them.

That's not how Christ sees us -- me and them!  He sees us as individuals with pasts, presents and futures.  He sees our sins, knows our need for His mercy and grace, and the potential we have through Him.  I believe He does see the hues of skin color and the multiple languages and delights in them, for He created them!  While it's true that "we are all the same at the foot of the cross," we are also "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14), which includes our physical differences.

But in talking to other people about the migration of nations to America, it's not the physical differences that cause people heartburn.  It's the cultural and religious differences that scare them.  I'll admit, there are elements of other religions that I'd rather not see come to these shores.  However, in looking only at what we're fearful of, we miss the great opportunity the Lord has presented us.  In a way only the Lord could orchestrate, the nations are coming to us.  Yes, there is still a great need to send missionaries out around the world, but do we recognize the great blessing before us?  The nations are here!  We work with them, reside next to them, shop where they shop, etc.  We have the option to get to know these individuals, build friendships and demonstrate Christ's love for them....or we can turn our backs and pretend we've not seen another human being.  Personally, I choose to get to know them!  I've found that some of them are already Christians and are looking for fellowship, but because of their skin color or rough English, they are ignored.  I've found that some are not yet Christians, but are still wanting friendship.

I'm deeply burdened by some of the reactions of Americans, even Christian Americans, toward different ethnicities and religious backgrounds.  Lest we forget that our own nation was made up of foreigners and religious folk, it is more important to remember what our King has to say about how His people should treat foreigners.  "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Oh, that's just an Old Testament verse, you say?  Well, in true form, the Lord ups the ante in the New Testament by speaking through Paul to the Philippians, "But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:20)

Guess what?  We who call ourselves Christians are foreigners in this world.  Even if we are not immigrants to America, we are still foreigners in this land.  Perhaps it's time for us to reconsider how we treat those who step foot in this nation, for we too don't belong.  Yes, we have voting rights and responsibilities as physical residents -- and we should be good stewards of those rights and responsibilities -- but we must never forget our affinity with the foreigner.

Before you send me comments and emails, know that I firmly believe in legal immigration and standing up for religious beliefs.  My point here is that instead of hiding behind our fears or assumptions of others, the Lord has given us great opportunity to help fulfill the global Great Commission in our own communities.  We have the chance to rub shoulders with both the lost and fellow brothers and sisters from other nations, all because the Lord brought them to our shores.  Let us radiate Christ, and perhaps we will have influence like we've never known.  Maybe you'll help lead a family to Christ half a world away, simply because you took time to care for a foreigner among you.