In my life I have not faced fear so strong as to force me to flee from my home and my country, but I have known thousands of refugees, in America and in other countries, who have demonstrated that strength. They mustered the courage and resilience required to make that decision and embark on a search for safety. Those who also endured the long process to be approved to come to America, along with many other immigrants coming here, have come seeking safety from persecution, terror, and violence. While we do not yet know what policies a new administration will put in place, there is a palpable fear and sense of rejection that has taken hold in immigrant communities since the recent election.
This fear was evident in the face of one refugee friend who was asking if the police will now come for him and his family. His fear is based in personal history. This has happened to him before in his home country, and despite all of his fortitude to start his life over in a new place, he is wondering if the persecution is to be repeated here.
As the people of God, regardless of our political views, we need to understand and enter into these feelings of our neighbors. We must seek to show love as never before, because, of all people, we know that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). As we live into this Christian calling, I see three things that should characterize our love and our actions.
Facts. One casualty of an election cycle that was often informed by 140 character statements is that sound bites cannot build an understanding of the complex problems of our world or the real state of our national policies. God’s people must be a people of truth and champions of understanding that goes far beyond sound bites and memes on social media. I think of Mark Twain’s quote: “A lie can travel around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Facts – such as the true nature of the often multi-year screening process for refugees coming to the United States, or the fact that no foreigner enters the U.S. under a more strenuous vetting process, or the fact of the extensive economic contributions of the 500,000 young people who are paying taxes and contributing to the economy because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – are not widely understood. As the people of truth, we should invest our time, seek understanding, and engage with credible, non-partisan sources of accurate information before we take action.
Faith. As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is more important for me to hold the values of the Kingdom of God, as reflected in the Bible, than to hold those of any human institution, whether a nation, government, or political party. We serve a Savior who loved even his enemies with his very life, and ultimately gave that life in exchange for theirs (ours). Kingdom values that dominate scripture are compassion for the hurting, sacrifice of the self, true hospitality (defined as the the love of the stranger), and generosity evidenced in a willingness to share all that God entrusts to us for the good of others. When we go to scripture we do not see safety, security, prosperity, or other values sometimes labeled as “American” in that list. We can be proud of the good of our national heritage, but our citizenship is first and foremost in the Kingdom of God. As its citizens, we should look to the example of Jesus to set the standard for our behavior – and we will see first compassion for those who need our help, being a champion for those who are marginalized, and learning to love sacrificially.
Faces. For over 35 years, one of the greatest blessing of my life has been learning to see the image of God in thousands of faces that do not look like my own white face, with its blonde hair and light eyes. I have not seen these faces in photographs or on news reports; they have been the people in the pew next to me at church and across the dinner table or my companions as we have worked shoulder to shoulder in many areas of ministry. I have seen God and learned lessons of Him as they have been my teachers. I have learned lessons in love, in acceptance, in community, and in hospitality I could not have learned elsewhere.
We must both see the faces and know the stories of those who are victimized or forced to the margins of our society and of our world, and we must stand with them. If we do not step out of what may be our comfort zone to see and to know those not like us, we are in jeopardy of repeating the stories of history, just as my friend is fearing now. In ancient Egypt, the difference between the warm welcome for Jacob and his tribe (including prime land and important work), and the enslavement of the people of Israel generations later, is summed up in a single, tragic verse: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). We cannot allow that to be our history. We must know Joseph. Personal relationship matters. It informs our view and changes our actions. It shows us the image of the Holy God we serve.
This is a unique moment for the church to shine in America as never before if we will embrace truth, lead with Kingdom vales, and see the image of God in those around us. May He give us the strength and grace to cast out fear as we reflect His perfect love.
The Exchange is a part of CT's
Blog Forum. Support the work of CT.
Subscribe and get one year free.
The views of the blogger do not necessarily reflect those of Christianity Today.
