It’s all in the news. What are we to do about the refugee crisis? Well first of all, the facts seem to be significantly different than the hysteria that is going on. I encourage you to read this article – it’s help on the following web site. It was helpful to me in separating the facts from the fiction.

But more important to us is – how are we to respond as Christians?

In the Old Testament, God continually calls upon God’s people to care for widows, orphans, and the foreigners (aliens). “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34)

God’s heart is still with the refugee, the foreigner, and the oppressed. And let’s be clear – Jesus was a refugee. As a baby, Jesus became a refuge when his family fled to Egypt to escape Herod (who had ordered the killing of all young boys in Bethlehem). As an adult, he had no home and “no place to rest His head.” He was eventually hunted down and killed because of his teaching and preaching – which included hospitality for all.

Jesus understood how it felt to be an outsider, to live without the security of a home, and to be reliant on the hospitality of strangers. He left his disciples – us – a very important commandment – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus did not limit the neighbor to just those living close by.

As Christians, we are called upon to respond as Christ would respond – without discrimination – in a way that is practical and compassionate.

Remember God’s vision for us? It is to “boldly share God’s Word and unconditional love with all.” If we are to live that out, it must be more than just words. It must be actions.

How are we to “boldly go” and serve those in need? How are we to help the refugees from Syria and all our neighbors around the world? Ultimately, that must be in our actions.

• Pastor Rob Moore

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