First this from one netfriend:

Greetings, brothers and sisters. Two reminders have surfaced in the Press recently, about which I seek a Biblical critique.

1.A family called Kadem has been in detention in Australia on and off for four years since arriving at Ashmore reef. One 18 year old is now psychotic, two family members have tried to kill themselves. An attempt to return to Iran failed when Vietnamese and Thai authorities turned them back. They now will try for Iraq and a very uncertain future.

To quote the ‘Age’ newspaper (2 Nov): “The Kadems have received no mercy since seeking asylum; their treatment has led them to madness and despair.”

2. A family called Sammaki has been decimated by the death of the mother in the Bali bombings, and the detention of the father in Australia after his application for refugee status failed.Two children Sara 4 and Sabdar 8 have been refused visas to visit their father in Australia. Authorities are demanding that the father, Ebrahim, go awa from Australia. I am making no political statement of any sort; my question would be the same whatever party was in power. I simply ask: what Biblical insight should inform our behaviour in these circumstances? On a national level,and to paraphrase the words of Christ, are we in danger of ‘gaining the whole world, yet forfeiting our souls?’ (Mark 8:36).

Then this:

I forwarded the VBMN letter on asylum seekers for comment to an informed friend who sent me this reply which I anonymously enclose.

This week there was the Canberra Telstra press luncheon with Jesuit lawyer and human rights activist Father Frank Brennan as the speaker. It was excellent (on the ABC). He has written a book titled Tampering with Asylum. I have been following the reports re. Kadem and Ebrahim. Their situations have been appalling. Brennan made the statement that the way we treat asylum seekers is “unAustralian” – he no longer believes that – he says it is very Australian – we are xenophobic. Why all the sympathy for Pauline Hanson who has spent 11 weeks inside, when we have families incarcerated in the desert for over three years without basic human rights. Perhaps she has some understanding of what she was actively promoting. 90% of asylum seekers who make it to Australia are found to be legitimate refugees. The suspected French terrorist recently discovered did not come here in a leaky boat – flying business class carrying a brief case.

Where is the gospel in our treatment of refugees? Consider the story of the Good Samaritan – Jesus was making a statement that challenged politics and prejudice.

We have to ask ourselves – if these people are coming here thinking this is a Christian nation, what impression to they have of what is “Christian”?

Agree – establish the legitimacy of asylum application – but do it quickly (some have been waiting in excess of three years), and without putting women and children in prison.

Allow communities to sponsor visa applicants (the Catholic church in WA had enough families to support most of those applying for asylum, but were refused by the Government).

Abandon the Pacific solution – it is sending people home to Afghanistan and Iraq where it is not safe. Also, they have no legal protection in Nauru.

In spite of this, there is some wonderful work being done in the refugee centres by those with a understanding of mission, and in the high rise apartments in Richmond (VIC).

Why do we spend copious amounts of money on international missions to Muslims etc. and yet so many mission churches/people refuse them at our doorstep?

We can’t get doctors to the country, but we have two temporary visa doctors picking fruit near Swan Hill – one is a surgeon, the other a GP – they’re not allowed to practice because they can’t afford the $10,000 to sit exams, and why bother if they’re going to be shipped back to Iraq.

If the gospel is anything it is good news for the downtrodden. It is about justice and mercy. From the OT, a study on the theology of the stranger is a wonderful look at God’s heart, and Israel’s neglect (see the minor prophets).