South Africa faces very real crises. Many communities are living with unemployment, crime, poverty, inequality, corruption, and a sense of deep frustration about the future. Christians hold different views about migration policy. Some believe immigration contributes to these challenges. Others disagree. Many are still wrestling with difficult questions.
South Africans experience these issues very differently. For some, questions of migration are largely discussed online, in churches, universities, and the media. For others, they are intertwined with daily struggles around work, safety, housing, public services, and economic survival.
Christian leaders should resist the temptation to make assumptions about experiences they have not lived. Our calling is not only to speak, but also to listen – to those who fear crime and violence. to those struggling to find work, to those who experience exclusion and vulnerability; both South Africans and Foreign Nationals. Peace-making begins with taking seriously the realities faced by all our neighbours.
Strong feelings about immigration are not simply a problem of prejudice or bad attitudes. They emerge within a wider social system of economic insecurity, historic injustice, political failure, fear, and competition over scarce resources.
A Christ-like leadership response requires deep engagement with the issues at hand; a wrestling with Scripture, and dialogue around the way forward. Holding these together is often where genuine peace-making begins.
To further our learning and engagement with this issue, we encourage you to download our guide that highlights the importance of the language we use to communicate about migration, and steps Christian Leaders can take towards being peace-makers at this time.
Click on image to download the guide
