I have always told myself that I would not post on social
media about hot button topics that are going on in society and across the
political landscape in our country. But lately there’s been a conviction in my
heart regarding the thousands of Syrian refugees that many political leaders in
our country want to turn their backs on.
Just so I don’t turn any readers off from my previous
sentence, I want to be clear that there is a secular argument for not allowing
Syrian refugees that has some merit. My focus in this post is not a secular
argument. I will briefly touch on a few points.
As the retired Marine Phil Klay put it, “The Marine hymn
claims that Marines are the ‘first to fight for right and freedom and to keep
our honor clean.’ You’re not supposed to risk your life just for the physical
safety of American citizens. You’re supposed to risk your life for American
ideals as well.” Well said.
Also, I want to be clear. I am not saying I believe we
should swing the door wide open to the United States and let anyone come in
with no vetting… In fact, no one is saying that. The process to check a refugee
is a rigorous method that includes 13-steps before anyone even steps foot on US
soil. Some of those steps include background cross checking with Homeland
Security, the FBI, CIA and international agencies. This is extremely important.
Okay, that’s the last I’ll speak towards the secular side to
this issue. I want to speak to a stance on this issue that runs much deeper to
me, and hopefully runs much deeper to you if you’re also a Christian. If you’re
not a Christian, please keep reading anyway. I hope and pray that this
explanation can give you some insight into what the heart of a Christian is
like, filled with God’s love and with the hope of spreading the Good News of
the Gospel.
I read an article that was unbelievably eloquent and
accurate when articulating the question we, as Christians, should be asking
with the possibility of 10,000 Syrian refugees coming to the United States. The
question is not “Should we let them in?” The question is, “What is God up to?”
I know many people that have saved up and raised money for
two, three, four years or more so they can go on mission trips across the
globe. I know people who are currently in
the process of raising funds just for the opportunity to travel across the
world to love on people and possibly get the chance to share Jesus. Now all of
a sudden, with the atrocities and the evil that is taking place in the world,
there are 10,000 people who could come directly to us.
Man does evil. God uses it for good. (Genesis 50:20)
What better way to show the love of God, than to show love
and compassion to people who may not look like us, think like us, believe like
us or people that don’t have the means of repaying us for our kindness and
mercy. Because let’s be clear, Jesus doesn’t call us to only love our own
people. That’s easy. Everyone does that.
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people,
what are you doing more than others?” – Jesus in Matthew 5:46-47
By the way, tax
collectors in Biblical times were thought of as basically scum of the earth.
Jesus doesn’t call us to love people when it’s easy.
Jesus calls us to love people when it’s hard.
Jesus calls us to love people when they don’t look like us.
Jesus calls us to love people when they don’t believe like
us.
Jesus calls us to love people EVEN WHEN WE’RE SCARED.
Hear me on this:
Darkness cannot grow
on its own. Darkness only grows when light diminishes. Don’t let fear grow
hate. Instead, let your love shine through fear.
I can’t think of a better way to put the love of Jesus on
display than to show compassion for people even when they look different, think
differently, believe differently and even though our own fear is involved.
In my experience and talking with people from all different
walks of life, change occurs through love. People who have been raised Muslim
their entire lives are not going to come to Jesus because we quote Bible verses
at them from the other side of the world. But there’s a chance that we can stir
their hearts by showing them an unconditional compassion and love.
Why should we do that? Because that’s what God did for us
first. He loved us unconditionally.
We didn’t believe in Him. We didn’t live for Him. We were
selfish and conceited. And despite us turning our backs on God, He died for us
and saved us (Romans 5:8).
So let me tell you something that I believe is absolutely
true… God loves you.
Whether you are straight laced or rough around the edges…
God loves you.
Whether you never take a sip of alcohol in your life or
you’re an alcoholic… God loves you.
Whether you are straight or gay… God loves you.
Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim… God loves you.
No matter who you are, what you believe or what you’ve done…
God wants your heart.
Please don’t miss this call to share the love of God with people. Because if we do miss this opportunity, we’re not missing the chance to
spread the Good News just one time, we’re missing 10,000 times.
If you’re a Christian, I hope you’ll answer the call to love
when it’s hard.
If you’re not a Christian, I hope this gives you some
insight into the way that Jesus calls us to love people even though we as
humans have the unfortunate habit of screwing up perfect love when we try to
act it out. If you’re curious about Jesus, ask someone all the questions you
have. They may not be able to answer them all, but it’s a start.
But here’s one question you don’t have to ask… Does God love
me?
No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. No matter
what you believe. No matter what part of the world you are from. I know His
answer.
Does God love you?
Yes, He does. Unconditionally.
