The Words, "Only Citizens" And The Feelings Of Rejection I Hear Everytime
Every Time I Hear the Words “Only Citizens” in America, I Feel So Unloved and Unwanted: A Biblical Reflection on Exclusion, Belonging, and God’s Love
In a land that prides itself on being a sanctuary of freedom, opportunity, and belonging, one phrase stirs an aching reminder of exclusion and rejection every time I hear it: “Only citizens.” In America, a country founded on the ideals of liberty and justice for all, these words hit me like a cold, harsh wind. They make me feel unseen, unloved, and unwanted. Every time they echo in my ears, I can’t help but think of my past—of the discrimination and rejection I fled in Africa. It reminds me of Apartheid, a system built on hatred and division, where people were segregated and oppressed based on the color of their skin, their heritage, and their background.
For me, hearing "only citizens" takes me back to the evil spirits and ghosts I was running from when I fled Africa—spirits of hate, torment, and fear. The words come like an echo of my painful journey: the promise of safety, belonging, and opportunity in America shattered by the cold reality of feeling like an outsider once again. I wonder, will I ever have a place in this world that truly feels like home?
But what does the Bible have to say about exclusion, about belonging, and about being "unwanted"? How does the Word of God challenge us to look beyond borders, citizenship, and nationality? Through both the Gospel of Jesus and the Tanakh, we find a message of profound inclusion, love, and grace—a message that invites all people, regardless of their status, to find a true home in God’s heart.
The Power of Words: "Only Citizens" and the Reality of Exclusion
To feel excluded is to feel as though you don’t matter, as though your life is not valued. In many parts of the world, including here in America, the term “only citizens” is a stark reminder of just how much society values certain people while casting others aside. It reminds me of Apartheid in South Africa, where people were segregated, oppressed, and told they were less than human because of their race or nationality. The same echoes of division are felt in every “only citizens” proclamation, where it seems that one’s worth is measured by a piece of paper or a legal status rather than the intrinsic value God has placed in every human being.
As someone who fled oppression, injustice, and danger in search of peace, safety, and belonging, I find myself asking, "Will I ever truly be accepted?" The words “only citizens” strike me deeply because they echo the fear, loneliness, and rejection that I fled from in Africa—an exclusion from society that makes you feel like a ghost, wandering, always searching for a place to belong but never quite finding one.
The Tanakh and the Call for Justice and Compassion
In the Tanakh, God’s people were often called to remember their own history as outsiders, to recognize the inherent dignity of the stranger and to treat them with kindness and justice. The ancient Israelites themselves were once strangers and slaves in Egypt, and God repeatedly called them to show compassion to foreigners and to recognize the shared humanity that connects us all.
1. God’s Command to Love the Foreigner
One of the clearest and most powerful calls in the Tanakh for treating non-citizens with justice and compassion is found in Deuteronomy 10:18-19:
> "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
—Deuteronomy 10:18-19
This passage reminds the Israelites that they, too, were once outsiders in a foreign land. They were once in a position of need, struggling and vulnerable, and it is in remembering their own suffering that they are commanded to treat others with compassion, especially foreigners, or non-citizens. God's law is one of inclusion, where love transcends nationality and status. The concept of belonging in God's Kingdom is not limited by borders—it’s about loving one another as children of the same Creator.
2. The Call for Justice for the Marginalized
In Isaiah 1:17, God calls His people to seek justice, care for the oppressed, and defend the rights of the marginalized:
> "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."
—Isaiah 1:17
This is a reminder that those who are oppressed, marginalized, and excluded must not only be acknowledged but actively defended. The stranger, the foreigner, the immigrant—these people should not be cast aside or ignored, but rather they should be lifted up, treated with dignity, and given justice. In a world where the term “only citizens” can cause so much pain, this biblical call is a radical message of love and inclusion.
The Gospel of Jesus: Embracing the Outsider
In the Gospel of Jesus, the message of inclusion and belonging reaches its fullest expression. Jesus came not to draw lines but to tear them down, to invite all people—no matter their background or citizenship—into the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ life and teachings echo the words of the Tanakh but expand them, offering radical inclusion and grace to all who would believe.
3. Jesus and the Call to Love the Stranger
In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus speaks of the importance of welcoming the stranger, of loving those who are outside of the community:
> "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..."
—Matthew 25:35-36
In this passage, Jesus identifies Himself with the marginalized and the excluded, saying that when we care for the stranger, we are caring for Him. Jesus challenges His followers to embrace all people—citizen or not—because in doing so, we are living out the heart of God’s love.
Jesus’ message transcends earthly borders and calls us to recognize the worth of every human being, no matter their nationality or legal status. His Kingdom is open to all, and He invites us to extend the same grace and mercy to others that He has shown to us.
4. The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Love Beyond Boundaries
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus tells the story of a Samaritan man—someone considered an outsider by the Jews—who demonstrates love and compassion to a Jewish man in need. In this story, Jesus teaches that love for others should have no boundaries, no divisions. The Samaritan’s actions exemplify the kind of selfless love that should characterize all of God’s people:
> "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
—Luke 10:36-37
This story is a call to all of us to extend mercy and love to those who are considered outsiders, to those who may not have the same legal status or citizenship. Jesus is clear: there are no boundaries when it comes to loving our neighbor. The Kingdom of God is not confined to one people or nation—it is for all who choose to follow Christ.
5. Jesus and the Invitation to Belong
Jesus’ words in John 14:2-3 remind us that while we may face exclusion and rejection on this earth, there is a place for us in God’s eternal Kingdom:
> "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
—John 14:2-3
In God’s Kingdom, there is a place for all of us, regardless of our earthly status. The world may tell us that we do not belong, but Jesus assures us that in His Father’s house, there is room for us all.
The Final Word: A Home in God’s Heart
While the world may tell us we don’t belong, while it may seek to divide us by nationality, race, or status, we are reminded by both the Tanakh and the Gospel of Jesus that our true home is found in God’s heart. We belong to Him. God’s love is boundless, and His Kingdom knows no borders.
As I reflect on the words "only citizens," I remember the deep pain and the exclusion I’ve felt as an outsider, but I also remember the words of Jesus: He came to make a home for all of us, and in Him, we have a place where we truly belong. It’s not about citizenship or status; it’s about being known and loved by the Creator of the universe. And that is a place where we can always call home.
May we, as believers, reflect this love and welcome, offering a place for all—regardless of where they come from or where they are going—to find peace and belonging in God's eternal Kingdom.
