Abstract
This article identifies the complexities of migration situations that subject both host nations and native churches to a paradoxical position on whether to exclude or embrace migrants. This is because migrants are often linked to criminal activities that threaten citizens of the host country. In response to the perceived challenge, this article investigates Matthew 25:31–46 and Hebrews 13:1–2 to propose that the church as a community of God is not supposed to take a paradoxical stance in the complex situation of migration. This is because the church is a community of God that is divinely ordained to embrace and care for the vulnerable regardless of their faith, religious and ethnic backgrounds. The church is thus obliged to continuously carry out its compassionate and caring mandate for the vulnerable despite the possible challenges incurred. Contribution: The article contributes to the ongoing theological reflection on the challenges posed by migration with special reference to the church as faith community. It is aimed at stimulating practical theological thinking regarding human displacement by critically reflecting on the current ministry of the church in light of Scriptures with regards to migrants.
Highlights
The jailing of a Congolese migrant leader, who had taken refuge at the Central Methodist church in Cape Town on New Year’s Day 2020, brought the interest of the authors of this article into graphic focus.1. It reminded us of the churches’ hospitable embracement of migrants2 in some parts of the country, and, on the other hand, it brought our attention to the perception that migrants are associated with unlawful behaviour, which puts their relationship with the church under growing pressure. This strained relationship between the church and migrants was illustrated more clearly towards the close of 2019 when the Mail and Guardian reported on the alleged assault on religious leaders and human rights officials (Kiewit 2019): Faith leaders including Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and South African Human Rights Commissioner (SAHRC) Reverend Chris Nissen have allegedly been assaulted by refugees currently occupying the Greenmarket Square Methodist church in Cape Town. (n.p.)
The label ‘criminal’ is not the only stereotype ascribed to migrants, as they are generally associated with putting the already dire South African economy under further pressure, 1.Media reports in, amongst others, The South African (01 January 2020) and News24 (01 January 2020), on the 1st of January 2020 stated that a Congolese refugee leader was arrested after allegedly assaulting fellow refugees staying at the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town
South African society in which a significant share of the public believes that immigrants are a major driver of unemployment and crime. (n.p.). Ascribing these negative views mainly to prejudice and the lack of proper programmes of integrating migrants into the local population, it is evident that South Africans need to deconstruct the perceptions of foreign nationals that they nurture
Summary
The jailing of a Congolese migrant leader, who had taken refuge at the Central Methodist church in Cape Town on New Year’s Day 2020, brought the interest of the authors of this article into graphic focus. On the one hand, it reminded us of the churches’ hospitable embracement of migrants in some parts of the country, and, on the other hand, it brought our attention to the perception that migrants are associated with unlawful behaviour, which puts their relationship with the church under growing pressure. Ascribing these negative views mainly to prejudice and the lack of proper programmes of integrating migrants into the local population, it is evident that South Africans need to deconstruct the perceptions of foreign nationals that they nurture Because these perceptions and stereotypes have become firmly rooted in society, the church is reminded of its own calling to be a spiritual community that is sanctioned by the Lord to respond in an alternative way to the needs of the vulnerable, such as migrants. In Van Zyl’s (2013) view, when Jesus refers to the needy as ‘the least of these brothers and sisters of mine’ (Mt 25:40) and ‘the least of these’ (Mt 25:45), he is underscoring the notion that he is a suffering servant who identifies with the vulnerable, such as strangers (Donahue 1986:18; Zhang 2016:16). This notion corresponds with the World Economic Forum’s (2017:145) understanding that there is no single entity, government or organisation that can deal with the complex issue of migration alone; instead, we need efforts from various stakeholders to combat migration issues and challenges
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