Three Things Every American Christian Needs to Consider Concerning the Syrian Refugee Crisis

This is a post for all of my American Christian friends.  It is not for U.S. government policy makers.  I do not know the best solution for the Syrian refugee crisis.  I do not have the same responsibilities as you do.  This is for everyone who wants to make his voice heard, but has no actual say in what will happen.  If you are a Christian and a U.S. government official, I pray you will have God’s wisdom in making your decisions.

I write this because I cannot believe some of the things I have read concerning the refugee crisis.  I have been shocked at the attitude displayed by American Christians over this matter and, frankly, I am embarrassed by them.  I live in a setting where there are few Americans, so we are usually judged by what people hear in the news and read on issues such as this.

Here are some things I wish to avoid in this post:

• America’s role in the world, the “shining city on a hill,” a “Christian” nation
• The theology, goals, or tactics of radical Islamists
• The politics of the Middle East
• The statistics of radical to moderate Muslims
• The identity and status of Syrian refugees

I believe that all American Christians need to consider three things concerning this refugee situation with Syria (or any other nation, for that matter).

1. Your Identity

Who are you?  Who were you first and who are you most? You were first an American.  Then one day you became a Christian.  Today you live as both an American and a Christian.  Yet each of you must decide which you are ultimately - for there will be times when the values of an American and the values of a Christian collide and you will have to choose which set of values will overrule the other.  One must overrule, or else you will end up with some strange mixture of values that is neither truly Christian nor truly American.

It has been said that we are dual citizens.  We are citizens of the City of God and citizens of the City of Man.  The Bible teaches, though, that our ultimate allegiance must be to God and to his Son, by whose teachings we live.  When the apostles’ government directly commanded them to go against their mandate from Jesus, they answered, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Is your view of the Syrian refugee crisis shaped more by being an American or by being a Christian?

2. Your Priorities

Which is more important to you - safety or the souls of men?  Is it more important to keep yourself, your family, your neighbors, your country safe and healthy and secure?  Or is it more important to minister to lost souls in need, to love them, and to provide for any of their needs that you are able to meet?

Jesus made it clear what his priorities were. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).  He did not place his own physical safety above the spiritual needs of men.  He often put himself directly into harm’s way to save the souls of men.

3. Your Responsibilities

Whom ought we to protect - ourselves alone or all victims of evil whom we are able to help?  Are we to defend ourselves at all costs or may we be vulnerable and able to be taken advantage of?  Should we help the refugees directly and personally or should we just allow the government to take care of them while we faithfully pay our taxes?

Each of these three things will be answered differently by Americans and by Christians.

The American is firstly American.  He follows the laws of the land, cares about the future of his country, perhaps serves in its military, votes and voices his opinion, and always seeks America’s benefit ahead of the rest of the world.  His priorities reflect his patriotism. America’s enemies should be kept out and should even be destroyed in their homelands.  All immigrants to this country must come to benefit the nation.  They must contribute to receive its benefits.  The safety of our nation and its citizens is our government’s first priority.  No immigration crisis should be allowed to threaten the internal safety of our people.  We pity the other nations of the world for their problems, but they are their own problems.  Any aid or assistance that we give to other nations is only to promote our own status as a global leader and world superpower.  Our responsibilities are to protect ourselves and our people.  We will defend ourselves and our property at all costs.

The Christian is firstly Christian.  He follows the teaching and the example of Jesus.  His loyalties lie in the City of God, even if that conflicts with the interests of the City of Man.  His priority is the souls of men.  He has been rescued from an eternity of punishment for his sins and he knows that his purpose on earth is to help rescue others as well.  He will place the souls of men above his own safety, his own country, his own family.  He sees himself as an extension of the hands, eyes, mouth, feet, and heart of Jesus.  He will risk all in order to reach men.  His responsibilities extend to all mankind - any human being that he can serve in the name of Jesus.  He makes himself vulnerable and perhaps is taken advantage of by wicked men, yet he suffers for the sake of the gospel.  He is not content to allow a government to meet the physical needs of others, but insists on a personal involvement.  He gives of his resources, he opens his home, he shares his life with those in need - perhaps even those who hate him and wish him harm.  He is driven by the words of Jesus: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor… ‘The one who showed him mercy…’ You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-37).  The Christian follows the spirit of God’s law to Israel: “[God] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).  “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34).

So it comes down to your identity.  If you are first an American, keep the refugees out.  Bar the gates.  Raise the drawbridge.  Shut the windows.  Lock the doors.  Call out the guard.  The risk is too great.  But if you are first a Christian, welcome them.  Minister to them.  Serve them.  Love them.  Put yourself at risk.  You can’t lose anyway.  “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

As it stands now, the United States government is planning to allow Syrian refugees into the country.  Instead of arguing about it,  being afraid of it, and opposing it angrily, HELP THEM!!!  Or else risk standing before your Lord one day and hearing Jesus say, “I was a stranger and you did not welcome me… Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:43,45).

One final thought - There are probably none of us who could pack up and move to Syria to share the gospel with the Muslims there.  Instead, God is using a crisis - as he often does - to involuntarily move people out of a restricted land and into a land where they can be free to give their lives to Jesus.  American Christians, don’t miss one of the greatest mission opportunities of our time!  God is bringing thousands of lost souls to you.

"As he loves himself..."

Remember when I said that I would use this blog to write about things I was still learning? Well here I go.

I spent part of today angry. Actually I think I've spent most of the past few days somewhere between mildly irritated and inwardly fuming. Twice in the past week, I've had to seek Kyle's forgiveness for exploding at him in an angry outburst. Ellee probably also wonders why she was told so loudly the other day to stop splashing water in the bathtub (isn't that what bath time is for to a one-year-old???). They weren't the problem; I was.

God has been trying to teach me a lesson: I'm spoiled. I'm selfish. And I need to grow as a husband and as a father.

Our family is happy to be expecting our third child sometime in October. As with both of our other children, however, it seems that the first months of pregnancy are going to be very difficult for Abby. She is not able to function the way she usually does. She usually wakes up nauseous, tries to get some strength through food, then works to keep it down the rest of the day. She is weak and tired and needs a lot of rest. I trust the baby is getting all the strength and energy it needs, because it sure isn't leaving much for Mama! I hate to think that Abby may be suffering so that God could teach me a lesson. Well maybe if I learned it today, she can start feeling better now.

Everyone knows that you often don't appreciate what you have until it's taken away. Let me tell you what my life is usually like. The kids normally wake up around seven. If they awaken earlier, they're not allowed to get up or begin playing until seven. Abby usually gets up with them and feeds them breakfast. I sleep for a while longer, especially if I was up late doing school the night before. Most days I smell bacon or pancakes or something and know it's my call to get up now. As the day goes on, I do my schoolwork or study for TEE or practice soccer or really just do nothing. The kids are given snacks as they play, dirty nappies (sorry, diapers) are changed, the house is cleaned and tidied. Around noon, lunch appears. Then Ellee is put down to nap and I help Kyle get settled for his. Then Abby often naps and I get two or three hours of quiet time for reading or study or rest or a movie. As everyone wakes up, supper starts cooking and I play with the kids. After supper, I give both kids a bath while Abby showers, then she puts Ellee to sleep and I put Kyle to sleep. Obviously there's a lot more to it, but that's kind of our normal day routine.

Not anymore. Kids wake up. Abby's in the bathroom. I go get them. Usually manage to fall back asleep, still. Wake up without a hot breakfast most days. Kids strew toys everywhere. I straighten up or trip over them all day. Dirty diaper, here you go, Daddy. Meals are over, dishes pile up. Lunch time, I ask how to cook stuff. House is dirty, where's that broom? How did you sleep, Abby? Aaaagggghhhh! How do you feel, Abby? Eeeeehhhhh! Such a beautiful day today! Uuuuugggghhhh! Kids want snacks, ask Daddy. Supper comes, what do I do this time? Bath time, still daddy. Good thing I don't have school right now!

So I've been mad. Here's some more about me. I'm not very good at sympathy. I don't want to hear problems I can't fix. Sorry isn't good enough for me. "I feel terrible." "Take some medicine. Try some food. Need more sleep? Want a hot bath?" If I just say "Aw, sorry you feel bad," I feel useless. So I don't want to hear it. I'm also the eternal optimist, like Mr. Positive. Hey, life's ok; things will get better. It could be worse. We can fix it. God will get us through this. It can't be that bad, just don't be so down about it. However, this all-day morning sickness hangs a cloud over the house that I can't shine through. I can't fix it. I can't change it. I can't make the whole trimester look like it will be okay or pass quickly. So I don't want to hear about it. Maybe a quick "Feel any better today?" "Ugh..." and I'll go on with the day.

So now most of you are probably glad that you don't have to live with such an insensitive, lazy bum. And you know now how to pray for Abby!

But God's not through with me. Several things have coincidentally come together recently to send me a message loud and clear. In TEE we are currently studying "Christian Family Living" and the pastors also recently asked us to give a study on biblical family roles. Ephesians 5 was a necessary exposition, so we spent a lot of time there - especially on the role of the husband. To be honest, I didn't feel like I was teaching that class. It felt more like a group therapy session where I tell everyone how much I'm not living up to the standard. I have this rule for myself that I've always followed: I will never preach on a subject where my life is not exemplary without making it known that I, too, need to hear and apply this message.

The phrase that caught my attention was: "Let each one of you love his wife as himself" (Eph.5:33). It's such an interesting verse. Is Paul saying a husband should love himself? Not at all! He is saying you already do! "In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it," (Eph.5:28-29). The other convicting phrase, of course, was "and gave himself for her" (Eph.5:25).

I have seen up close two men who give themselves for their wives - both are my fathers. My birth father has always put his wife before his own interests and his family before his ministry. Even now as he cares for his wife's mother, putting his own desire to travel in revival ministry on hold indefinitely, he shows me what it is to "give himself for her." My other father, made mine through marriage, is also the quintessential family man. He works a good job faithfully and comes home to invest in his family. He does the dishes, I think, after every meal. He serves in the local church. He reads to his kids every night. He has a few hobbies, but they only get done if all family priorities have been upheld. I've always admired these two men and said I want to be like them, but it often seems an unattainable goal. Where do I start?

At the same time that all these thoughts were running though my head, I saw one of those cheesy Facebook posts with a quotation on an artsy background. It said something like, "The voice you speak to your children will be the voice in their heads for the rest of their lives." I thought back on some of the voices I'd used with my kids this week. "Why won't you listen to me!?! I told you that would happen! Sit down and stop goofing off right now!" Do I want him to hear that voice throughout his life as he looks to the future or makes mistakes?

Today, I trust, God got through to me. I write this right now - late at night, when I should be sleeping - to be a reminder in the months and years ahead. It is a means of accountability for what God has said to me today. I'm sure I will not follow these new instructions perfectly from here on, but at least I can return and be reminded.

Today, God said to me, "Love your wife and give yourself for her. Love her as much as you obviously love yourself." So I tried to. I just did what she usually does to care for me. I did what I would have wanted someone else to do. It wasn't all that hard, either. It just involved thinking differently. I pray the lesson will stick, and I write it here to haunt me.