As a Christian, I am overcome with compassion for the Syrian people who a fleeing their homes and all they’ve ever known, to escape the fear and oppression of the terror that has overtaken their land. I admit, I immediately felt fear and resistance to helping boatloads of 20-30 year-old males with soldier physiques as those images were floating around cyberspace. But there are other faces…mothers, babies, grandparents, and yes, even young, strapping men, who legitimately need help. They’re piling in rafts–many suffering hypothermia and dehydration–and they’re floating anywhere they can go to escape the terror that has stolen their country, their families, and their sense of security. Many never reach the shores of freedom because they die en route; those who do make it arrive with little more than the clothes on the backs. How do I, as God-fearing, loving, Christian person, look at these individuals and refuse to provide them with love and food and shelter?
Now, on the flip-side, I also ask myself: As a red-blooded American, how do you pass the thousands of hungry and homeless right here in our own country…many of them women, children, and veterans…and not care for their needs first? Where is our compassion for our own countrymen? Do we only react when the eyes of the world are looking at us? How does one make sure these refugees aren’t terrorists with intentions of spitting in the face of our God by invading our country and destroying our way of life? It’s an honor for them to die for their religious beliefs; they don’t mind telling a lie and using innocent people to gain access to “the land of the infidels.” Do we allow our bleeding hearts to create a situation where our friends and families could be bleeding real blood and dying from an attack that was a result of a terror cell who was allowed entry to our country because “we thought we were helping?” How can we tell the difference between refugees and terrorists? How do we protect American citizens without “profiling?” How do we keep our kids and our families and our homes safe? How much do we do and when does it end and who is paying for all of this? Is there a different solution? Can we help them without bringing them here?
In addition to telling us to help the widows and orphans, the Bible also tells us to be good leaders who offer stability and good judgement; to seek wise counsel, to be good citizens, to respect authority, and to be good stewards of all He has blessed us with. Many times God led His people to war against those who stood against Him and/or His people. There are always casualties in war, as death visits both sides of the battlefield. We just need to ensure we’re fighting the good fight…the fight that God will look at and say, “Yes, move forward and I will go with you.”
I don’t claim to have the answer to any of these questions. As I said, I’m struggling to really figure out where I truly stand so that I can plant my feet in that decision and stand firm. But I see both sides of this tragic situation and, in the end, no matter which way we decide to respond as a country, I’m not sure anyone is really going to “win” this one.
But here’s what I do know…God is in control. I will not stand in fear and I will not hate. I will not allow the media nor ISIS threats nor politicians to determine my personal response to this situation. Every decision I personally make MUST be weighed in the light of God and His perfect Word. Only there will I find the direction that is right for me. I guess I’m just writing this blog to help me sort these things out in my own head and in my own heart before I jump to a conclusion that I will have to justify to the Lord one day. I pray that each and every one of you are doing the same. Please pray for these people and pray for our government officials and pray for our country and our world. This is a pivotal moment in world history and our response, as a country and as individuals, must come from a place of true conviction rather than emotion.
The last thing I will say is this: Please don’t fight on my blog or in my Facebook comment section. You have the right to feel the way you want to feel and to believe the way you want to believe…but so do others. To be clear, I will delete anything that is hateful or hurtful or profane in any way. It’s not anything personal against you; I just won’t tolerate that kind of stuff in a place where I can control it. This is a place of love and respect and God-honoring behavior and I aim to keep it that way. I’m just trying to sort things out the only way I know how, through writing and prayer, and I hope it inspires you too to take a moment and really consider the decision you’ve made (or are making) about where you stand as well.
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