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The Refugees – 10,000 Chances to Choose Faith

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Tired and Poor and Hungry and Hurting © Anchels - Fotolia.com

Tired and Poor and Hungry and Hurting
© Anchels – Fotolia.com

I want to comment on allowing Syrian refugees into America, but from a Christian perspective not a political one. As a Christian I strive to be guided by Christ and the Bible, not by conservative or liberal political ideas. Too many Christians allow a political affiliation determine their beliefs, and consequently their actions. The only filter we should have for political arguments is our faith.

President Obama wants to bring 10,000 refugees from the conflict in Syria over to America, but ever since the Paris attacks occurred, this plan has become a political weapon for conservatives to attack liberals. Politics is politics, and some politicians are playing into the fears of the people to get attention. What bothers me is seeing Christians using the exact same rhetoric as the politicians in arguing against bringing over refugees from this conflict. My point is not to call anyone out specifically, so I will not cite any examples. I simply want to examine this issue from a Christian perspective.

These refugees are fleeing exactly what we are trying to keep out of America: the war and terror and lawlessness, the killing and death and bombs and gunshots. These refugees are tired and poor and hungry and hurting, they are persecuted and desperate and have no where to go but places that don’t want them or can’t handle all of them. They are what James, the brother of Jesus, meant when he wrote this:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (Jam 1:27, NIV84)

When James wrote this, orphans and widows were those who were unable to provide for and protect themselves. They survived off the generosity of others. Do not these refugees of the conflict in Syria qualify? Especially since there are so many trying to get into Europe that Europe cannot handle all of them. We absorb millions of illegal immigrants, what is 10,000 more who will be vetted before coming over? Was not John, the close friend and disciple of Jesus, referring to just this circumstance when he wrote,

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18, NIV84)

Should not Christians be rushing to help these refugees, rather than joining with those who are yelling for them to be kept out?

The argument for refusing these refugees has to do with our security. Americans want to feel insulated from the killing and explosions and the resulting fear and instability. I understand the concern, but this argument is allowing fear to trump love, and God commands love. If we are to fear, we should be fearing God, not terrorists. Jesus said this,

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28, NIV84)

Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah provided an example of this faith, the proper kind of fear, when they said this to Nebuchadnezzar,

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or woship the image of gold you have set up. (Dan 3:17-18, NIV84)

I for one trust that our American vetting process will keep out all the terrorists, a process that takes one and a half to two years! But if our process fails, I will accept the risk of harm to me and my family to give 10,000 hurting and suffering people the opportunity to experience the same freedom from war and death that I enjoy here in America.

We Christians should be calling for much more than a mere 10,000 of these refugees to be allowed over, and the Christian community alone can absorb every one of them. Let me know what you think.

Blessings!

That Distant Darkness

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What awaits you in that distant darkness ahead? © laszlolorik - Fotolia.com

What awaits you in that distant darkness ahead?
© laszlolorik – Fotolia.com

I recently changed (day) jobs and the transition has not been as smooth as I anticipated. This is causing me stress that is sapping my energy and joy, which affects my family life.

My wife encouraged me last night to listen to the advice I gave her a couple months ago when she changed careers. This was: to let go of the past and all my mistakes, to focus on today, and to do so trusting in the Lord for the results (the future). This is good advice that gave me instant peace, because it is true.

This morning she pointed me to a couple Bible verses that say exactly what she reminded me of.

Mat 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV1984)

This is actually a memory verse of mine, one of the first verses I clung to over 15 years ago, and for good reason. It is a common struggle of mine, and probably many others. It is difficult to let go of our need for food, shelter, and clothes, for provision and protection. As a man, I feel obligated to maintain a good job so that I can provide for and protect my family. Going through a rocky transition always creates fear over what will happen tomorrow, whether I will be able to pay the bills and keep us in a home. It is an act of faith to trust God with the results of my decisions and actions.

In seeking God, I am not lazy but hard working. I am not rebellious but a good servant who listens to instructions and attends to the needs of management and customers. I am not wasteful but a good steward of resources. I am not disrespectful but polite to everyone, even when I am upset or offended. (All of these come from a heart guided by Matt 5:3-10, not a legalistic list of do’s and don’ts.)

And when I fail in these or other areas, this is still true: I am not perfect but a work in progress, and God is my judge not the critics (including my inner voices) who intentionally or unintentionally bring me down.

Here is another verse she pointed me to, one I was not familiar with.

Deu 29:29 The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. (LASB:NLT Bible)

We are only accountable for what we know, this I knew. But the future is an unknown, which means it is in God’s hands, and this I never thought of! Is this not encouraging? It still takes great faith to move forward today without knowing what will happen tomorrow, especially when so much of my past screams out my potential to fail. But I want to be a man of faith, so I must take this challenge head on and press forward into the future, in faith, seeking God’s kingdom first and trusting that my decisions are in his hands.

One more verse that many are probably familiar with.

Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (HCSB St)

It was pointed out to me that a lamp only provides light for a few footsteps ahead of you in the dark, but you cannot see the distance ahead of you where you are going. That distant darkness that you cannot see, that is what you trust to the Lord, whether it is good or bad, favor or correction, life or death, prosperity or poverty. I can trust in God for that darkness because I know the end of that darkness is being in heaven, in the glorious presence of my God.

Blessings!