The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible
An estimated twelve to fifteen million people now reside illegally in the United States, posing a major social and legal challenge to the nation. Americans are divided over the best course of action in dealing with these illegal immigrants, and Christians are using the Bible to stake out different positions.
The Immigration Crisis addresses this complex issue through a comprehensive look at the Bible. By a careful study of relevant materials in the Old Testament, in combination with archaeological and sociological materials, the author forms a clear definition of an alien in Israelite society. This understanding is an important starting point in the current debate.
The book concludes by suggesting how the Bible might assist Christians in thinking about the problem of legal and illegal immigrants, and in developing the implications of the biblical teaching for public policy.
Top Highlights
“A third approach is to examine the legal material in the Torah in order to understand the theological or ethical principle behind the Law and use that doctrine to shape or critique federal, state, and local laws.” (source)
“A fourth method insists that one take a more comprehensive view of the teaching of the Bible in theological, social, and economic areas and thereby establish a biblical worldview as a way of evaluating contemporary social and legal issues.” (source)
“A second approach to applying the Bible to current practices is to take seriously the demand for justice found in Israel’s prophets.” (source)
“One way of applying biblical law to modern issues and laws is to look for literal correlations between the two.” (source)
“What can we learn from these stories? What do the biblical laws dealing with immigration say regarding the alien that could help us today? On the one hand they protect the immigrant, while on the other hand they safeguard the nation receiving the new aliens.” (source)
Product Details
- Title : The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible
- Author: Hoffmeier, James K.
- Publisher: Crossway
- Publication Date: 2009
- ISBN: 9781433523137