The Ethic of Helping

Scriptural Motivations

For religions based upon scripture, what is written in sacred texts can be one of the most motivating factors for action. As a large number of the aid organizations in Minnesota are Christian, it is important to first examine what the Bible has to say regarding helping refugees. In the back of the handbook produced by the Minnesota Council of Churches, there is a section entitled “Bible Passages Relating to Refugee Concerns,” followed by passages from the Quran and hadith.¹ These passages lay out very clearly where the written words of one’s faith instruct to help others. The passages from the New Testament cover themes including “love for Jesus — himself once a refugee — love for our neighbor, and trust in God’s care.”² It is important to recognize how these passages can be motivating.

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

How do instructions based on scripture become tangible motivations?

The spirit of welcoming and helping people in need is very much prevalent in the faith of religious groups, and can be found in the text on most of their websites, in the words of their leaders, and in practice, through their actions. As written in the Co-Sponsorship Guide compiled by the Minnesota Council of Churches, “By serving refugees we become instruments of God’s grace and love, showing refugees that the world is not a cold, merciless place but rather a world of warmth and compassion.”³ The enactment of this spirit extends beyond the simple scriptural motivation, and is a direct motivation for action. The mission statement of Lutheran Social Service (LSS) is "Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota expresses the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community.”⁴ Through this quote, it becomes evident that the sentiment behind providing an aid service stems from the faith of the group, from “the love of Christ for all people,” and this faith is expressed through action. This is echoed in the mission of Arrive Ministries, “Empowering the local church to demonstrate God’s love as we welcome and bring lifelong transformation to refugees and immigrants in Minnesota.”⁵ These missions make evident the connection between faith and action, but perhaps the most important and implicit motivation can be found in the textual evidence regarding refugees. Building communities is framed as synonymous with being a good Christian, which offers a path of action that works to make the world a better place.

Building communities is framed as synonymous with being a good Christian, which offers a path of action that works to make the world a better place.

The ethic of helping is echoed in a multitude of ways beyond the written motivations of any organization. For example, when asked about this, Marta Volbrecht, Volunteer Specialist for LSS, mentioned that LSS has recently focused on what it means to be a good neighbor. Stemming from the biblical verse that states, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” the focus on being a good neighbor influences the way in which the Christians involved in refugee sponsorship perceive themselves and their actions.⁶ Marta’s own reference to scripture reinforces the power that the text holds to motivate action. She additionally pointed to the quarterly newsletter published by LSS, which contains a page pontificating on the idea of neighborliness. After establishing a definition, it states, “LSS Refugee Services helps resettle new neighbors from around the world.”⁷ These sentiments are echoed by Bob Oehrig, Executive Director of Arrive Ministries, “We are called by God to love our neighbors.”⁸ The emphasis on neighborliness with the new existence of global communities in the state creates the instant impetus for action.