If your social media outlets are like mine, they are absolutely blowing up with opinions on the refugee crisis. Some are informative, but others are so toxic that I have considered disconnecting. I am all for open dialogue but let's be civil, please!
I digress.
That's not the point of this post.
What should our response be to this crisis? As followers of Christ.
I have very strong opinions about it. But I'll not share those so much. Instead, I have some recommendations for action.
And it's not to contact your Senator.
Let's look at some of the more popular passages that are currently trending on social media:
Matthew 25:34-46 - focusing on this: For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in....Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it to Me.
I digress.
That's not the point of this post.
What should our response be to this crisis? As followers of Christ.
I have very strong opinions about it. But I'll not share those so much. Instead, I have some recommendations for action.
And it's not to contact your Senator.
Let's look at some of the more popular passages that are currently trending on social media:
Matthew 25:34-46 - focusing on this: For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in....Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it to Me.
Leviticus 19:33-34When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
What does obedience to these verses look like? What IS the Biblical response?
Like me, you are probably not in a position to affect what goes on with immigrants and refugees on the national level. This does not mean we can't do anything.
There are alot of "refugees" right in our own zip codes. People who are in need of compassion and assistance. People whose problems YOU can help solve.
In the Athens/Oconee area, there are numerous organizations that need help. Let's be mindful of taking care of the problems right here around us. You can donate money and/or your services and it can make a big difference. Here are some of the ones that I know of personally and can recommend you support:
The Sparrow's Nest kimberlysbunting@gmail.com/www.sparrowsnestmission.org
Mercy Health Center http://mercyhealthcenter.net/
Downtown Academy http://downtownacademy.org/volunteer.html
Athens Pregnancy Center http://www.athenspregnancycenter.org/volunteer/
Chosen for Life Ministries http://www.chosenforlifeathens.com/volunteer/
Snows Mill Guest House http://www.missionarycareministry.org/volunteer/
International Friends http://www.athensenglishclasses.com/
Snows Mill Guest House http://www.missionarycareministry.org/volunteer/
International Friends http://www.athensenglishclasses.com/
If you have a compelling urge to do something on an international level, let me suggest Kupendwa Ministries in Uganda. This organization was founded and is led by a young woman from Oconee County - so you can be both local and international if you help this group! Send email to: kupendwavolunteer@gmail.com for a current list of urgent donation needs!
We might not know what the answer is to the immigration and refugee issues that our country faces. But that is not a reason to feel helpless. We can BE the answer to some problems here locally.
Oh, and one more thing. I've talked to some folks who feel guilty because they haven't adopted a child from overseas nor turned their home over to a group of internationals. I don't think there is cause for guilt. Nor do I think God considers us "second class Christians".
In Luke 10, where Jesus commends the Good Samaritan for showing mercy to the stranger who had been robbed and beaten and left for dead, we gain some insight. The Samaritan did indeed demonstrate compassion and he did indeed go out of his way. But the story doesn't tell us that he took the man to his home nor assumed absolute responsibility for his lifelong well-being. What Jesus does tell us here is that the man showed compassion, sacrifice and proactive concern for someone out of his circle.
We can do the same.
It just might be that, if you and I take care of needs here in our area, and readers elsewhere take care of needs in their area, and the action spreads...well, you just never know...maybe there will be such an outpouring of love and help that the whole world begins to notice...
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
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