photo credit (c) ryan rodrick beiler

Throughout the Old Testament, we find God’s repeated command to care and look out for immigrants.  As an immigrant people themselves, the people of Israel were mandated to remember their history and thus love the immigrant as themselves (Leviticus 19:33-34, Exodus 23:9).  In the New Testament, Jesus talked about another vulnerable group who he vehemently insisted should be welcomed and protected: kids.  “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me,” Jesus says (Mark 9:37), adding a harsh warning for anyone who would mess with kids: “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,” he warned, “it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck” (Mark 9:42).  Followers of Christ know that we need to watch out for children, guide them the best that we can, and learn from them how to follow our Lord.