What is the Christian Response to the Syrian Refugees?

By: American Decency Staff

ISIS’ terror attack in Paris recently brought a complicated issue to the surface of both political and religious debate.

Both sides are passionately convinced they are advocating for the only moral action; both sides are incredulous that the other side could believe differently; and I believe both sides are guided by a commendable concern for our fellow man.

I am proud that Americans want so badly to help the Syrian refugees being driven out of their own homes by our mutual enemy.

Turning away the victims of evil should not be a decision that is easy to make and if it ever is, that ought to be a sign that we need to recalibrate our consciences.

But, I do believe, that it is the right decision to make.

At the time of this writing, twenty-seven American governors have indicated that they are refusing to allow Syrian refugees to be settled in their states, my state included, and many Christians are decrying this decision as a selfish failure “to love our neighbors—regardless if there may be enemies among them.”

Meanwhile, liberal columnists like this one are crying “hypocrite” as the conservative, often Christian, governors are announcing their decisions.

At the Washington Post Michelle Boorstein asks, “Would Jesus Take in Syrian Refugees?”

Well, Jesus talked a lot about loving your neighbor, so, yes, of course He would, and I would too. But I’m not the head of state, and when Jesus walked the earth He wasn’t either.

The responsibilities of a Christian citizen are vastly different from those of a Christian government leader. Christian citizens are not charged with the security and wellbeing of millions of people. Our government officials are.

If the government allows Syrian refugees to become our neighbors, it will be our Christian duty and pleasure to be friendly and loving and to share the love of Christ. I hope any refugees or immigrants (legal or illegal) that do make it to the United States are blown away by Christian charity. But that is not the role of government. It is the civic duty of American government officials to keep American citizens safe so that American citizens can be charitable to the less fortunate.

Our leaders have particular responsibilities that they have been elected to fulfill. They were not hired to run a charity, they were hired to serve a country, and the foundational, most obvious responsibility of a head of state is to keep his or her people safe. Any aid to citizens of other nations ought only to be pursued once that most basic obligation has been met.

Also, we don’t have to look so far as Syria to find a neighbor to love.

Granted, September 11, 2001 is a whole fourteen years behind us now, but we act as if America has become impenetrable over the last not-quite-a-decade-and-a-half. Is it not an act of love for our neighbors to do all in our power to prevent such an attack from happening again? Put another way, was it an act of love when France let in a terrorist with intentions to kill her citizens? France was no more well intentioned than we are.

The statement of Alabama governor Robert Bentley sums up what I believe to be the tragically difficult, but wise, position.

“I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people. Please continue to join me in praying for those who have suffered loss and for those who will never allow freedom to fade at the hands of terrorists.”

Even as we bolt shut our proverbial doors, we ought to pray fervently for our fellow human beings who have gone through so much and will go through so much more.

As Syrians flee the evil of ISIS, and we are forced to lock them out lest Islamic terror again should find us here, let us beg the Lord to give them peace, for their bodies and their souls.

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