Church speaks against xenophobia

The Full Gospel Church of God in Southern Africa writes:

It is with regret and sadness that we as the Full Gospel Church of God in Southern Africa have taken note of the treatment of foreigners in our beloved country.

Without wanting to get involved in the debate as to the reasons why, we do not believe that any reason whatsoever can justify the inhumane treatment of others.

It is so sad and devastating when people start doing ‘what seems to be right in their own eyes’.

We, as the church, believe that if we got back to the Bible and the Christian message, to which the majority of South Africans subscribe, the Biblical principle of fair treatment of foreigners will prevail.

The stranger that dwells among you in your land you shall not oppress him. A stranger that dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and

you shall love him as yourselves. For you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God.” [Leviticus 19:33,34]

The church indeed does not condone any illegal activity which would include illegal immigration and for this our view is that civil government needs to take the responsibility of dealing with that as well as to seeing to it that legal immigrants comply with the laws of our country.

In conclusion might we say that just like us, foreigners have been created in the image of God and therefore are worthy of respect and the honouring of their dignity.