What about the Refugees?

During World War II, while the Nazis were rounding up Jewish people to send to their concentration camps, Corrie ten Boom and her family constructed a tiny hiding place in their home and helped save nearly 800 Jewish people before they were themselves caught.  A century before that, here in the US, Christians were involved in hiding, sheltering, and transporting slaves to freedom on the underground railroad at great peril to themselves if discovered.  Today, as we are still reeling from Friday’s horrific terrorist attack in Paris, an attack that comes on top of so many other brutal, awful bombings, and shootings around the world, our news is filled once again with talk of refugees.

Apparently, at least one of the Paris attackers may have entered that country as a refugee.  This situation has politicians and law enforcement officers anxious for the safety of our nation. There are many calls from governors and others to stop accepting all refugees.  The balance between helping others and keeping your citizens safe is difficult for those in authority.  But, this post is not about the politics of refugees.  This is about how I, as a follower of Jesus, should view these exiled people.

There are many examples throughout both the Old and New Testament of the Bible that portray people in exile.  David fleeing king Saul, Jacob and his family exiled in Egypt, the Israelites fleeing from Egypt, Hagar in the desert, Jesus’s flight into Egypt (with Mary and Joseph), Aquila and Priscilla, the Apostle Paul, are all examples of Biblical refugees.  Throughout these stories, we find the Biblical truth that God is a refuge for the oppressed (Psalm 9:9, Psalm 59:16, Isaiah 25:6, Nahum 1:7 and many others).  Deuteronomy 23:15-16, one of the miscellaneous laws for the Israelites, states that escaped slaves (probably from other surrounding nations) were not to be returned to their masters, but were to be allowed to live peacefully with God’s people in Israel.  The same heart for the oppressed comes through in the New Testament in verses like Matthew 25:35-40 where God identifies himself with the hungry and thirsty, homeless and naked, sick and imprisoned.  In fact, it is a sign of a Christian to show these kinds of love to those in need. ( James 1:27)

Hebrews 13:1-3  “Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

So, in thinking of the present day refugee crisis, I have divided the exiled people into three groups so that I can consider what my response should be for each.

1.  Christians

Some of the refugees seeking asylum from Syrian are Christians.  There have been many news reports about the Christians being driven from their homes and churches being destroyed.  We have even seen pictures of Christians lined up for mass executions by the radical Islamic forces.  These believers are in dire straits.  I find that the brotherly love mentioned in Hebrews 13:1 compels me to be for these refugees, to want to help them to pray for their safety.

2.  Muslims and Other Religions

Many of the refugees are Muslims who don’t believe the extreme ideas of ISIS, or others with various religions.  They too are being displaced, persecuted, and even killed for their faith.  This group could be considered “strangers” as in Hebrews 13:2.  While they are not  our brothers and sisters in Christ,  we are still to show hospitality to them.  The Bible even offers an incentive for engaging in this work– some have unknowingly entertained angels!  Remember, God has used situations of persecutions to spread His word to people many times throughout history.  Perhaps some of this category of refugee will find salvation in Christ because of love shown to them by Christians when they were refugees!

3.  Terrorists Disguised as Refugees

Some small number of the refugees might use the disguise of a refugee to try to enter our country to do us harm.  It appears that this may have happened in France.   This is the group that is problematic for those in a position to make the refugee policies for our nation.  But, how should I, as a Christian, respond to this group?   Luke 6:27-28 gives me that answer.  These people would be my enemies, and I am to love them, do good to them, pray for them, bless them.

Again, it is not my desire here to say whether or not we should accept refugees in our country, or how many.  That is not my decision to make.  But, I have decided to take the following steps:

Pray  I should pray for ALL of the refugees– those that are my fellow Christians, those that are persecuted for their religion but are not believers, those that are my enemies.  I should pray also for those in positions to make policy about the refugees– that they would make the right decisions before God.

Guard my Attitudes  I must watch what I say about the refugees.  I should not be resentful or negative about these suffering humans.  I should not wish to deny them the benefits of my country.  I should not fear them, for God has not given me the spirit of fear.  I will be careful what I re-post on social media that may negatively influence others against helping these desperate people.

Give  I will give to an organization that is helping the refugees like Samaritan’s Purse that is meeting the physical needs of the refugees and sharing the love of Christ.

Will you join me in any of these things?

With Joy,

Kathleen