(Note: on this thread, I am talking about actual refugees, not economic migrants)
I see this everywhere- on TSR, on the news, by politicians and world leaders. The refugees fleeing the brutal Syrian civil war and other conflicts are being labelled as "terrorists" and rapists and, even worse, "rapefugees".
Why are we becoming so hostile as a people? Why do innocent people fleeing a brutal conflict hoping to find somewhere safe to live have to be met with such aggressive, xenophobic behaviour? Why can't we welcome some of these people? Obviously we shouldn't by completely open and accept everyone like the Germans are doing, but with some security checks surely the morally right thing to do would be to welcome some of these poor people and allow them to settle in our country?
As a Christian, I think it's our duty to hold out a hand and help some of these desperate people, especially the families and young children. Jesus was known to be extremely welcoming and caring towards anyone he met. We should follow his example as much as we can:
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:25-36)