Immigrants, the Bible, and You

How does Christian faith affect the way we should think about immigration? What does the Bible say about immigrants that can help Christians respond faithfully to current refugee crises? What does it look like to love our migrant neighbors? This book explores biblical perspectives on immigration in order to help Christians reflect theologically on issues related to immigration today.

Reviews

"A wonderful primer on immigration and the Christian faith and the Bible. Expertly interweaving personal stories and helpful historical and legal data with material from both Testaments, Benckhuysen points the reader to God's heart for the sojourner... and so to the inescapable implications this has for Christian attitudes and actions toward the stranger in our midst. This is a handy and timely tool." -- M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), PhD, Blanchard Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College and Graduate School

"I want every Christian to read this book. It not only offers direct and incisive answers to many of the contemporary hangups about immigration, but it grounds everything in themes and stories from Scripture. If we let it, this small book will deeply shape not only our views, but it will lead us to action. If we took seriously what Dr. Benckhuysen lays out so purposefully, the church would be a decisive voice for change in immigration policy and transform the ways immigrants are treated in our communities. An excellent resource." --Rev. Kate Kooyman

"At a time when myths and misreadings of scriptures have engendered fear for immigrants in the U.S., Benckhuysen deftly challenges such myths by employing relevant statistics on the global phenomena of displacement and migration. She forcefully demonstrates that much of the Bible takes an unambiguous stand for immigrants and argues that Christians have a moral obligation to welcome them. A valuable resource for the academy and faith communities alike." -- Raj Nadella, Samuel A. Cartledge Associate Professor of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary.

"This is a must-read book for American Evangelicals who have questions on Immigration and who are captive to the politicized positions that impede a clear, biblical understanding of the reality of immigration in the United States. The book provides updated information up to 2020 on immigration worldwide but particularly in the USA, debunks some of the mythology created around immigrants, offers illuminating cases of real people, and above all, provides wise and clear biblical guidance to develop a worldview on immigrants sorely needed in our wounded society." --  Dr. Mariano Avila, New Testament Professor, Calvin Theological Seminary

Resources

The author, Amanda Benckhuysen, has created a list of discussion questions that go along with each chapter of the book.

Videos