REAL TALK: I’m frustrated. A tad angry even. And if you know me at all, this will shock you because I’m probably one of the chillest individuals you will ever come across. I can pinpoint the source of this frustranger (frustration/anger combo?) to two topics: Donald Trump and the American response to the refugee crisis. And frankly how Christians have responded to both of these things.
Yeah, I’ll just go ahead and give you a moment to close out of your web browsers.
To the 5 of you that stuck with me and decided to continue reading: Hey. Hi. Yo. Stoked you’re here and let’s get this party rolling.
DONALD TRUMP.
This man goes against EVERY ideal and belief that America and Christians stand for. He is an expert manipulator, exposing raw and real fears, exacerbating problems and using anger, hatred and division to provide solutions. His words have explained acts of war crimes and mass exodus, which scare me more than any threat ISIS could make.
I can understand being fed up with politicians and lies and empty promises. I absolutely understand the fear. But in allowing ourselves to succumb to fear we promote the same hate and violence that scares us.
There is a man who never lies. His promises are beyond full and His solutions would never involved hate, violence and division, but rather hope, love and unification. And His name is Jesus.
If that’s not already enough, there are two more reasons why I would never vote for Donald Trump, and their names are Faiza and Saeeda. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know these two sisters the past 10 months in my time at Quest Diagnostics. They are two of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. They work overtime any chance they get to help support their family and volunteer to come in on their days off to help out their teammates and coworkers. It’s rare to see either of them without a smile on their face, and they never let a soul pass in the hallways without some sort of greeting. They are smart, kind, genuine, compassionate and love more than just about anyone I’ve ever met.
Faye and Saeeda are refugees. They are Muslims. They are Somalis. They are Americans. They are college graduates. Daughters. Sisters. Cousins. Neighbors. Coworkers. Dreamers. Bringers of light. Harbourers of peace and love. They are not ISIS. They are not terrorists. In fact, not a fiber of their being contains hate. These are my friends. And yet, Donald Trump and his supporters are threatening to kick them out of this country. Threatening their livelihood; to make them leave their homes once again.
Which brings me to frustranger point two.
THE AMERICAN RESPONSE TO THE REFUGEE CRISIS: six points on why we should lovingly accept refugees.
1. We Are Called to Be Imitators of Christ
Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. 1 Cor 11:1.
If you’re a Christian, you know that we could never reach Jesus. Knowing that, Jesus loved us so much, that he left his home and met us here, in this foreign, sinful, hate-filled world. We had nothing to offer Him. Jesus is generous. So generous in fact that he gave His BODY and His BLOOD for us, knowing that we had nothing to give in return.
Tim Keller nails it when he says, “Many Christians think of social justice as an optional interest, but it is an essential characteristic of those the Lord loves and delights in.”
We are called to be generous. Not just generous in our eyes, or the world’s, but in God’s eyes. Can you imagine the impact if we expressed even a TENTH of the generosity that Jesus’ did?
2. We Are to Seek Justice.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreign resident, giving him food and clothing. You also must love the foreigner, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. Deut. 10:17-18.
We were called to be the hands and feet of Jesus: to take care of the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the widow, the orphan. In fact, Jesus considers this ministering to Himself directly and not doing so is offensive to Him. (Matthew 25:31-46)
’For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take Me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe Me; sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’
Then they too will answer, “Lord when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?”
Then He will answer them, “I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the lease of these, you did not do for Me either.”
3. We Are Called to LOVE.
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you should love one another.” John 13:34.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. That doesn’t say to love only the people you like. It’s not just talking about your mom or your significant other or close friends. That verse doesn’t say “love one another UNLESS that person is Muslim.” It doesn’t say “love one another UNLESS that person is a refugee.” THERE IS NO UNLESS IN GOD’S LOVE. And thank goodness, because none of us would receive it if there was.
4. We Are Called to Love WITHOUT FEAR
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18.
God loves. That’s it. His love never changes or falters or wavers. His love just is. He loves no matter our actions or behavior or circumstance. He loves with overwhelming grace and mercy. This is the love we were freely given. This is the love we were called to project out into this world.
5. God Is Our Refuge
It’s in 75% of worship songs. It’s evident in the psalms. I mean the title of Psalm 46 is God Our Refuge.
In every storm, every anxiety or fear, when we call, He answers. And He calls us to do the same.
Render true justice. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear…Therefore great anger came from the Lord of Hosts. Just as He had called and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen. Zechariah 6:9-13.
6. JESUS WAS A REFUGEE
Remember that time when there was an insane king who heard of this newborn baby boy that would be the ABSOLUTE KING so he ordered a massacre of all baby boys under the age of 2 to ensure his continual power?
“After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” So He got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14.
Sound familiar?
I am blessed beyond belief to be able to go to Greece this fall to meet and minister to the refugees where they are at. But here’s the thing, you don’t have to travel all the way around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He is literally bringing the opportunity to our doorstep. God is handing us this opportunity to be imitators of Christ on a silver platter and instead of receiving it our response is, “Nah, G. I’m good. Yeah, I know they had to leave everything behind. I know they have nothing. But you don’t understand, one of them might be a terrorist and my life here on this earth is too good to be messed up like that.”
When I was 7 years old, I accepted Christ to be Lord of my life. But it wasn’t until my twenties when I decided to give my entire being to Jesus. Part of this is realizing how great the Lord’s love is. And in realizing it, truly knowing and understanding that no matter who I am, no matter what I have done or will do God loves me regardless, I want to project that same love onto others. Christianity isn’t just receiving Christ. That’s only beginning. It’s when you allow Him to love you and perfect you and you begin to be able to love others in the same way that the journey truly begins.
