Today as we go about our normal routines, the future of thousands of Syrian refugees hangs in the balance. In the aftermath of the Paris attacks last week, some U.S. governors and politicians have spoken out against the plan to bring in 10,000 Syrian refugees to America, while others are in favor of it. Even among Evangelicals opinions are divided (see the links below). The situation is both complex and urgent.
We may disagree on what policies are best for refugees and for America, but as followers of Christ, we cannot let the culture shape the way we think about the world or our mission. So what do we do in the meantime? What should drive our thoughts and actions when we read news stories and talk about the terrorist attacks and the fate of refugees?
The Gospel Transforms the Way We Look at the World
In a sermon titled, “The Gospel and September 11,” David Platt spoke about how the gospel transforms the way we look at the world:
Our mission is urgent. If this gospel is true, and there are billions of people in the world who don’t know it…if there are over a billion and a half people who have never even heard this gospel in the world, most of whom are Muslim people groups, if these things are true, then we don’t have time to waste.
Thinking About Safety and Comfort
While the government considers the safety of Syrian refugees and the safety of its citizens, we as followers of Christ must not fall into the trap of thinking that safety and comfort are the end goal of our lives:
Resist the temptation at every turn to shrink back into Christian materialism and church consumerism where everything revolves around your priorities and your preferences and your comforts and what you would most like for you and your family to be safe. We are surrendered to something much, much greater than that.
How Should We Respond?
…we want to love sacrificially. Keyword: love…We act zealously not because we hate but because we love. . . . we are not opposed to Muslims, or anybody else for that matter. . . . we desire their salvation and we are willing to give our lives so they know His love.
As followers of Christ, we must be gospel-driven in all of our actions toward the lost—whether they are our Muslim neighbors down the street or refugees trying to enter our country.
While the current refugee crisis may not have a quick and simple solution, one thing we do know is that we are called to love our neighbor—both in word and deed. This means showing compassion through acts of kindness, but more importantly, it means telling them about Jesus who died to save them from their sins.
Maybe God is bringing the nations to our doorstep so that they can hear the gospel
In recent years, people from all over the world, including Syria, have come to the United States as immigrants, refugees, or asylum seekers. It is likely that you live near people who have never heard of the name of Jesus before..
As issues like the refugee crisis unfold, we encourage you to keep the gospel as your focus. Instead of allowing fear to keep you isolated from the world, engage in relationships with people from other nations—with Muslims and others who are different from you.
At Secret Church, “A Global Gospel in a World of Religions” David Platt taught about how the gospel is unique and how the claims of Christ intersect with other belief systems. We’ll look at how we reach out to people of other religions like Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism to share the gospel.
Should We Really Close the Border to Syrian Refugees? Washington Post, Trevin Wax Read the article.
Kevin DeYoung writes about how immigration policy must be based on more than an appeal to compassion. Read this article.
