Faith Matters clergy column from the Rev. Anne Barber: Welcoming strangers
The war in Syria has caused a refugee crisis throughout the world and a conflict in the hearts of many Christians. Should the United States take in some of these refugees? If we don't, are we disobeying Jesus' mandate to "welcome the strangers" who seek asylum here?
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells us God will judge us according to our reaction to human need: "Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners." But this mandate must be applied to the culture and times in which Jesus spoke it.
In Jesus' day, in the area where He lived, there were two types of strangers -- the resident alien, protected by law, and the traveler (sheepherders, businessmen traveling for commerce, etc). The latter were, by hospitality custom, to be treated well, given access to food and water, even shelter.
The Bible does not address our current situation of hundreds of thousands of refugees pouring freely over the borders of Mideastern and European countries. Were this the case in Jesus' day, I have no doubt the occupying Roman army would have considered it an invasion and stopped it at the border.
Common sense tells you not to invite a complete stranger (or even a casual acquaintance) into your home. How many of us would bring someone holding a sign "will work for food" onto our property and into our homes? We may give them money, but most of us put the protection and well-being of our families and property above compassion for the stranger's plight.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus commended the Samaritan who stopped to rescue a stranger lying on the roadside beaten and robbed. The Samaritan put him on his donkey and took him to an inn, giving the innkeeper money for his care. Please notice he did not take the wounded stranger home with him.
Our country is also our home. Judah's King Hezekiah was a good king, making many reforms. But he brought future disaster upon the entire kingdom by inviting seemingly friendly representatives from the King of Babylon into his castle and showing them everything inside. Eventually all was plundered and carried off to Babylon -- today's Iraq. (2 Kgs. 20:12-19; Isaiah 39, Dan. 5:25-26).
Christians are torn between compassion and caution, and well we should be. Do we understand what's happening in Europe and the Mideast right now? Paris? Brussels? Pakistan? Cultural differences do count. If the stranger is from a culture friendly to the United States, chances are better their morals, values and beliefs will not allow them to rob, rape, destroy and kill their rescuers.
Yet, based on a faulty interpretation of Matthew 25, the United States is willing to open our borders to herds of complete strangers, known to be ideologically and religiously completely opposed to our laws, beliefs and the free lifestyle we hold dear. What do we think will happen? (Check out YouTube video "The Vicious Snake" to see what's happening in the countries that put out the welcome mat to these refugees.) "Hezikiah" needs to wake up!
The Rev. Anne Barber, pastor of My Father's House in Ellenton, can be contacted at myfathershouseellentonfl@gmail.com. Faith Matters is a regular feature of Saturday's Herald, written by local clergy members.
This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 7:50 PM with the headline "Faith Matters clergy column from the Rev. Anne Barber: Welcoming strangers ."