I can almost guarantee this won’t be my most popular post. I’m okay with that, though, because Jesus wasn’t always popular in what He said, either, and He is who I am trying to emulate.
The news the last few days has been flooded with stories about the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Islam, the attacks in Paris, and the social and political unrest throughout much of the world. We have seen or heard inflammatory statements from all sorts of political candidates, commentators, reporters, and even amongst our friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
What is the proper response to all of this? I don’t have the answer, but I remember some statements from the first century that seem pretty relevant right now. Allow me to share some of them with you.
Jesus said in Matthew 5, starting in verse 38;
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (ESV)
This statement seems as though it would dictate our response to these events. We should not resist the evil people, we need to go above and beyond what is asked of us, and do good.
The Apostle Paul reinforced this when he said, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10, ESV)
So we are supposed to do good to Everyone, even Muslims? Yes. Refugees? Yes. People who don’t speak our language or look like us? Yes. Even if they can kill us? Yes.
One of the biggest arguments against this type of response seems to be motivated by fear. In fact, fear has motivated over 30 U.S. States to refuse to accept Syrian refugees, and on Thursday Congress united to pass veto-proof legislation delaying the acceptance of any more refugees from Syria.
Jesus had something to say about letting fear dictate our actions, also. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28, ESV)
The Apostle John talked about fear in 1st John, starting in verse 18.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Now I’m no great biblical scholar, but it seems pretty clear to me from these few verses what our response to all this should be: In order to show the love of Jesus, we must overcome our fears and help out those affected by the current crisis in our world!
Doing the right thing will make life as we know it now radically different in an extremely short time. It will not be comfortable or easy. I’m not excited to do this. Despite all that, it is the right thing to do. It is the Christian thing to do. Show the love of Christ and bring the refugees to America. And while we are at it, lets show a little love to our homeless, our veterans, and our unborn children, America.
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Featured image: Milwaukee Jewish Federation
