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The Blessing of the Other
A Response to Samuel Escobar's 'Mission Fields on the Move'
To facilitate a truly global conversation, we ask Christian leaders from around the world to respond to the Global Conversation's lead articles. These points of view do not necessarily represent Christianity Today magazine or the Lausanne Movement. They are designed to stimulate discussion from all points of the compass and from different segments of the Christian community. Please add your perspective by posting a comment so that we can learn and grow together in the unity of the Spirit.
Samuel Escobar raised one of the main challenges of migration, which is the acceptance of the "other"—the one different from us. Migrants, as the "other," are often regarded as threats by the indigenous population. This is not only because of the migrants' different culture and language but also because they are perceived to be competitors for jobs and economic resources, as well as potential rivals for political and social power.
Likewise, the Israelite migrants in the Book of Exodus were seen as threats, especially when they started to flourish economically and to grow in numbers. As a result, they were subjected to isolation and subjugation: harsh policies for population control, state labor, and direct and indirect genocide.
This had not always been the case. In Genesis, Jacob's family migrated to Egypt to escape the threat of extinction from famine. They had heard of a "better life" in Egypt, with one of their family members—Joseph—"making it good" there. Egypt became a source of blessing as the family of Jacob settled in the rich land of Goshen. On the other hand, Egypt also was blessed and saved from dire economic threat through the wisdom and administrative skills of Joseph, who had once been a migrant slave and prisoner.
The experience of Israelite migrants in Egypt parallels some of the stories of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who migrate, either temporarily or permanently, to seek better economic opportunities for their families. Like many migrants, OFWs are often seen as threats. This leads to the curtailing of their freedoms and to substandard living conditions.
In Hong Kong, for example, hundreds of Filipino domestic workers fill Statue Square in Central District on Sundays. This so alarmed the Chinese public in the early '90s that calls were made to prohibit them from occupying the space.
In some places in the Middle East, male Filipino workers live a subaltern existence—desexualized, dehumanized, and silenced by the rapid turnover of workers, tight restrictions on time and space to maximize productivity, employers who refer to them as "dogs," "tools," and "slaves," the hierarchy of difference that considers Asians lower than Euro-Americans and Arabs, and the lack of institutional means for redress.
The Bible, however, shows migrants who are a source of blessing to their hosts. Along with Joseph, we could also consider Daniel, Ruth, Nehemiah, the Israelite slave girl who told Naaman about Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-5), Moses, even wily Jacob. All of them brought insight, hard work, knowledge, wealth, and skilled labor to their host family or community. Abraham's migration resulted in the blessing of all nations.
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Margaret
I think that is really is amazing to look at how God did use “outsiders” to change lives and nations in the Bible. Ruth is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and it is amazing to see how God uses her in the story of Israel. By bringing in a cultural outsider, as Mr. Greenfield discusses, we receive a fresh look on how we are running our churches and how we do outreach ministry. Bringing in someone from another culture may be uncomfortable, but I think that many times God uses our discomfort to teach us huge lessons; lessons that many times we remember more strongly because of the discomfort that was there.
alackson bako iliya
By the grace of the Lord, I want to be a part of mission work either through prayer or in going.
Chivimbiso Ngowe, Zimbabwe
Escobar has brought in an amazing dimension that may have been missed by a lot of Christians especially those whose countries are receiving immigrants. I have always seen it as a fulfillment of scripture that all of us as Christians should reach the ends of the world as witnesses of Christ. And this happens whether by a mission sending us or us going as economic immigrants. But, the difference lies with the heart to take the gospel. That scripture on the Jerusalem persecution that led to massive and miraculous ministry in Samaria and other cities is a good example. Keep it up Mr Escobar.
louie lancia, italy
For once I would impeach the idea that is espoused by most political Christians to validate the mixture of Church and State, it is not enough to speak about things like John the Baptist who spoke against King Herod about his internal affairs because Isarel was a nation where the laws of the land were the 613 laws known as the Mosaic Covennant, The truth is that God put a separation between the priesthood and the kingship is clear in the fact we know that Jesus became the High priest of our profession and although we know he is the King of King and the Lord of Glory not all things are subject unto him as yet but indeed Christ will fulfill the Kingship...amen
Doranna Cooper, USA
Southern California is one of the greatest mission fields in the USA. There have been so many ethnic groups here that you don't need to try to go to a closed country because there are plenty of their people here. It is just trying to get churches off their duff and reach out and evangelize. In turn those converts can go back to their ethnic country without barriers and carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. Another is reaching out to foriegn students and inviting them into our homes to show the love of Christ. Thru prayer God can lead you to He wants you to befriend.
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