국내 체류 외국인이 200만에 달하는 시대가 되었다. 이러한 사회적 현상은 Mission starts at Home을 단순한 문장이 아닌 현실로 변경시켰다. 이제 선교는 전방(前方)과 후방(後方)의 구분이 불가능 하게 되었다. 우리 공동체가 유입된 외국인들에 의해서 선교의 전방이 되었다. 그렇다면 중요 선교 대상으로 떠오른 체류 외국인에 대한 바른 성경적인 태도를 정립하는 것은 이들에 대한 선교의 첫 단추를 바르게 끼우는 작업이라고 할 수 있다. 구약성경은 먼저 사회적 약자로서 이방인을 배려할 것을 이야기 한다. 애굽에서의 노예생활을 상기시키며, 역지사지(易地思之)로 이방 나그네를 압제하거나 학대하지 말라는 최소한의 보편적이고 윤리적인 태도를 견지한다. 구약성경은 더 나아가 이방인들이 이스라엘 백성과 동등하게 될 것이라고 이사야서 56장을 통해 이야기 한다. 이후 다민족, 다문화, 다종교의 로마제국의 통치 아래서 유대인들과 초기 기독교인들은 하나님을 경외하는 경건한 이방인들과 개종자들에 대해 매우 열린 자세를 가지고 있었다. 기독교는 여기서 더 나아가 복음 안에서는 유대인과 이방인의 구별이 없음을 깨달음으로 결국 민족적 장벽을 넘어 보편적인 종교가 되었다. 그러나 유대교는 유대인들과 개종자들의 벽을 결국 허물지 못했다. 이런 면에서 우리의 선교도 국내에서 체류하고 있는 외국인들을 통해 자국 선교를 할 수 있는 동력을 찾아야 할 것이다. 외국인에 대한 바른 처우는 하나님의 명령에 대한 실행이자 효과적인 선교 환경 조성을 위한 초석이다.

The foreign population in South Korea has increased rapidly over the past decade. In 2016, the number of foreigner estimated more than two million. Christians in Korea gradually realize that they are in front line of mission. Huge influx of foreign workers makes the sentence mission start at home as a literal truth. However both of Korean Society and Korean churches are not sufficiently prepared for the imminent coming of multicultural society. Therefore, it is necessary to find out how to reach the foreigners who reside with us. And study on the attitude to resident alien, which appears in Bible, will provide us a legitimate reason concerning mission for resident alien. Moreover, it will be helpful to lay the foundation for further missionary work with resident alien. A resident alien(ger) in the Old Testament is one who leaves his own blood relatives and his own home country then lives among the others. In ancient Israel, ger is considered as one of the most vulnerable members of the society. God commanded Israel to give a special care and protection to the distinct social class. Especially, Israel should sympathize with ger, for Israel also was aliens before God led them into the promised land. The resident alien also observed some law in order not to pollute the promised land and Israelite community. Ger did not have equal status and privilege with Israel. Ger was excluded from most of religious practice. However, Isaiah prophesied that If foreigners hold Gods covenant and keep His Sabbath, they will be able to join the covenant community. In the Second Temple period, there were many gentiles who were attracted to Jewish religion. They were called as God-fearer. Both Jews and Christians had positive view on them. Christians lessened the burden of the Mosaic Law and claim that it is unnecessary for gentiles to circumcise in order to become Christian. As a result, Christianity flourished beyond the ethnic boundary. On the contrary, in Jewish community, circumcision was a standard requirement for proselyte. Jews did not pressure the God-fearers to convert, but if one converted, a full observation of Mosaic law was required. Unfortunately, it seems that there were still distinctions between the proselyte and the native born Jew. The resident aliens among us are not our burden. Their existence is God-given opportunity to keep Gods commandment to care and love them. Korean churches must sympathize with them, should stands with them for the improvement of their treatment and have to spread Gods words among them. Those acts are the cornerstone of good relationship with resident aliens. Moreover, we should learn from Jewish reaction to God-fearer in time of the Mishna and the Second Temple. Misplaced exclusiveness and twisted pride should be thrown aside. And with inclusiveness and humility we should approach to resident alien and treat them as potential missionary of tomorrow.