How Aliens Should Be Treated in Our Contemporary Society

INTRODUCTION
The treatment of aliens in our contemporary society is a very important issue to look at. At one time or another everyone who relates extensively with others would have had a cause to become an alien in a place away from his home where he will with people to whom he becomes a stranger. The Patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac, as well as the great prophet Moses, were prototype aliens at strange lands in the Bible (Genesis 12:10; 20:1; 26:1; Exodus 2:15). As our world gradually takes the form of a global community where communication from one end of the world to another becomes easier through internet and telecommunications, and air travel lowering the barrier of distance, the tendency for many more people to become aliens is higher. Today, people are easily involved in occupational mobility, Christian missionary work at foreign lands, educational pursuits in international colleges and inter-racial and cultural marriage. All of these increase the rate at which people become aliens. Therefore, a biblical point of view on how aliens should be treated would enable us live out our Christian faith effectively as prescribed; whether as native-born citizens of a land, or as aliens.
Definition of the Word “Alien”
According to Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, the word “alien” in the Old Testament is derived from the Hebrew word, gér, which also was derived from gûr, meaning “sojourn”. An alien is a person who lives in a place other than their own home or home country. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopaedia defines “alien” as a foreigner, one who is denied the privileges of a specific group to which he is not considered to be a member; sometimes the sense of the word stranger.

TREATMENT OF ALIENS IN THE OLD TESTAMNET
Though the Israelites were a people chosen by God and raised for His special purpose, it is interesting to know that there were aliens among them who were not of Abrahamic lineage. The Bible tells us that, “A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock” (Exodus 12:48 NLT). Interestingly, God did not instruct the banishment of the aliens, but rather, the aliens were welcomed to a participation of the rights and privileges that were for native-born Israelites. According to Myers, Allen C. And William B., in The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, these rights included the right to the Sabbath rest (Exod. 23:12), to a fair trial (Deut. 1:16), to participation in sacrificial meals (Deut. 16:11), and to the gleaning of fields and vineyards alongside other disadvantaged people (Lev.19:9-10) [1987:959]. This biblical point of view provides us with a standard to follow on how we may treat aliens in our contemporary society. We must make them a part of us and integrate them into our culture, belief and worship.
Exodus reveals to us that God thought well of aliens and gave instructions for their welfare. This was very important because since Israelites were God’s chosen people, it was likely that they would look down in disdain on other people who were not Jews. But God says,"You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21 NLT). As part of the rights pointed out above by Myers and William, God commanded that some provisions be made for the aliens that lived among the people of Israel, "You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and foreigners living among you to be refreshed” (Exodus 23:12 NLT). This is an example for us on how we should treat aliens in our contemporary time. If we happen to be better off than they are, we must not look down on them, instead, we should thank God for His faithfulness towards us which is why we are even better in the first place, rather than treat them as second-class citizens. Also, when aliens work with us, we must know that God does not want us to exploit them for selfish gain. Aliens should be in our services only for reasonable lengths of time each day, and they must be given an opportunity to also spend time on their own concerns. God also gave a clear instruction to the Israelites which is a moral law that is equally binding on us today, "Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34 NLT). As God requires Israelites to treat aliens as they would treat themselves, it becomes clear that all distinctions and differences are completely removed. This scripture therefore suggests that equal job opportunities, housing and education must be made available for aliens just as citizens.
TREATMENT OF ALIENS IN THE NEW TESTAMNET
Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel also gave a hint on how aliens should be treated. Though the word “stranger” is used here, it is synonymous to alien. In the account of Matthew, Jesus tells us of those who will have eternal rewards because in their kindness, they had treated aliens favourably, and those who are condemned to destruction, because on their wickedness had been unkind to aliens:
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal life prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home…’ Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refuse d to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me’” (Matthew 25:41-45 NLT).
Caring for aliens is therefore an aspect of our Christian life which we should not be taken for granted. God is love, and if we are His children we must demonstrate His love to our fellow mankind inclusive of aliens. On this note, Romans instructs us “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers” (Romans 12:13), and Hebrews tells us, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it” (Hebrews 13:2 NLT). These are self-explanatory scriptures of the New Testaments that provide us with a guide on how to treat aliens.
BIBLICAL POINT OF VIEW ON WHEN TO EXCLUDE ALIENS
Much as God wants us to love and care for aliens as people who are one of us, it is important to look at exceptional instances when aliens should not be allowed a participation of the rights of the native-born citizens. For instance, if an alien has not stayed for about 15 years in a foreign land, it is not biblically and constitutionally right for him or her to take a position of political leadership. Deuteronomy 17:15 alludes to this, “…be sure to select as king the man the Lord your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner” (NLT). If a foreigner is selected as a king rather than the original citizens, he would become puffed up in self-importance and possibly autocratic and power-drunk. This, perhaps, was the point Paul was driving at when he said, “An elder (leader) must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall” (1 Timothy 3:6 NLT emphasis is mine).
Other reason why an alien may be excluded from certain privileges is if he is found to be a person of delinquent character tendencies. God’s segregation of the aliens from the Passover ceremony on grounds of circumcision (Exodus 12:43) is much the same as saying in our contemporary time that aliens who have failed to obey the laws of our land should be denied some citizen’s rights, and if an alien obediently meets the requirements of the law of the land where he is a stranger, then he may be integrated in and given a full treatment as a native-born. Hence, God commanded, “If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite…” (Exodus 12:48 NLT).
However, having seen the pattern which the bible has set on how aliens should be treated, the Christian should ensure that he is influenced by the Word of God in his treatment of aliens, and the Christian should also allow the word of God guide his conduct if he happens to be an alien in a foreign land.
CONCLUSION
Having seen clear guidelines from God’s Word on the treatment of aliens, one can conclude that love and hospitality are key elements that must be employed in dealing with aliens, whether in bible times or in our contemporary society. In this time of globalization, it would be a terrible sin of anyone to act as a racist or segregationist towards aliens, because what goes around comes around, and what one dishes out, he may also receive.