3 Reasons American Christians Don’t Want Syrian Refugees (and what to do about it)

He wasn’t supposed have been born, but his parents couldn’t wait. They feared the promise wouldn’t be fulfilled.

So, his Mom gave her servant to his Dad, and his Dad being the weakling that he was, slept with her. That’s how he came to this world.

After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” And the angel of the LORD said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.

He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. (Gen. 16:3-14 ESV)

And thus, the boy came into being. Ishmael and his mother became outcasts. Sarah looked with jealousy on them, even though it was of her own making. Things got so bad between the two that Sarah had Abraham make Hagar and Ishmael leave.

As they traveled, they grew weary and their supplies empty. Hagar placed Ishmael under a bush and then sat down a ways off so she would not have to watch her son die.

But then, God heard the cry of the boy.

And He’s been hearing it ever since.

Five times a day, the descendants of Ishmael cry before Lord. And God hears it. God hears their cry and calls us, the partakers of the free gift through that one man Jesus Christ, to His answer to their cry and share it with them.

But we don’t go.

Churches in America send one missionary per million Muslims. We are neglecting the call of Christ on our lives as receivers of the abundance of God’s grace and of the free gift of righteousness.

So God is sending them to us.

In droves.

Refugees are fleeing by the millions. They’re knocking on our door crying to get in. Opportunity abounds, yet we care more for personal security than taking advantage of the opportunity to share the gift that we received freely.

There is a lot of talk about ISIS these days, especially since the bombings in Paris. I sense a lot of fear among people about what is happening in our world. And there’s a lot happening. But there is something that deeply troubles me. Something I can’t shake.

Others are bothered by it, too. Horrendous tragedy is taking place in our world and many Christians in America don’t want anything to do with it.

I don’t understand this. Millions are fleeing for their lives and all we care about are Starbucks Christmas cups, black Friday sales, and making sure our comfortable American lifestyle isn’t threatened. I thought we had learned from Hitler and Stalin and Mao Tse Tung.

What is most disturbing about this is that it is Christians who are most adamant about it all.

For the first time in my life, I’ve felt like I have something in common with some of the liberal politicians in our country (and that’s about where it stops).

Why don’t American Christians want to help Syrian refugees? I’ve heard all the rhetoric. And sure, there’s legitimacy to the concerns, but the bigger question is does it matter?

Does it matter if Muslims are let into our country? Does it matter if our security is at risk because we helped people who are being slaughtered ruthlessly?

We’re not to worry about these things and instead seek first the Kingdom of God.

The more I look at this issue, there are only three reasons that explain to me why American Christians don’t want to help Syrian refugees.

1. We fear physical discomfort

America has become a fat nation. What I mean by that is that we are comfortable. When we struggle financially, we mean we have less than a thousand dollars in our savings account. When we say we’re being crucified, it means all the shopping centers changed their signs from “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.”

That’s pretty lame to 80% of the rest of the world. We don’t know what it’s like to suffer physically and so we’re scared of it. We can’t fathom following Christ if our 401(k) isn’t secure and the lives of our families are at stake.

So helping out Syrian refugees looks dangerous. Especially, because there is the risk of increased terrorist attacks on our nation if we do so.

2. We have a fundamental belief that America is a Christian nation

This belief has dramatically harmed the church in America from its beginning. It is so deeply rooted in our mindset (yes, even conservative Anabaptists) that many times it is subtle enough we don’t even see it.

If America is a Christian nation, than the way to keep it “Christian” is to keep Muslims out (and regulate all kinds of other laws that make us feel “Christian”).

The problem is, that’s not working. Because no earthly kingdom is “Christian” in the name’s most literal sense. Being “little Christs” transcends borders, transcends laws, transcends cultures, and transcends security.

3. We’re not ready actually live out the call of Christ

We have churches and programs and worship services. We try to connect with the Holy Spirit and have a deeper sense of His presence and power. Yet, we aren’t willing to actually care for the orphaned and widowed.

In Isaiah 58, God addresses the people who are complaining because they are fasting and seeking the Lord, but not experiencing Him. They say, “Why have we fasted and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves and you take no knowledge of it?” These people are doing the “spiritual” things, but God is ignoring them. Why?

Because the fast that He wants is that they would loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.

In the same way many of us in America want a greater experience of God, but aren’t willing to bring the “fast” that He wants. Our spirituality is for our own personal good and not for a deeper relationship with God that catapults us to care about the things on His heart, such as those knocking on our door right now.

If these are the last days before Christ returns, than we are to be diligent in being found spotless and counting the patience of the Lord as salvation. God is giving us a chance to experience Him, right now. What will we do with it?

Unfortunately, I’m afraid the hype and concern was just a fad. With a bombing in Paris, everyone is on high alert and changing our Facebook profile pics to the flag of France makes us feel like we’re doing something to help.

But are we actually? Or is it yet another area we “raise awareness” and stay seated. We “wish we could help,” but don’t look for ways we could.

Jesus talked about what we are supposed to be doing while we wait for His return. He compared it to servants who are left to take care of their master’s estate. If when the master comes home, he finds they diligently did as he asked and are alert for his return ready to open the door, they are blessed and rewarded. But, if the servants wasted their time on lesser pleasures, they are severely beaten.

Our Master has given us His will: to make disciples of all peoples, loose the bonds of the slavery, care for the infants, orphans and widows, and give shelter to the homeless. And now they are knocking on our door. What are we to do?

I see only one thing to do as a disciple of Christ.

We must seize the opportunity.

• People need help

There are millions of men, women, and children who need homes, safe refuge from death or a family to join.

First John tells us that when we have the world’s goods, and see someone else who needs them but refuse to give it to them, God’s love does not abide in us. John is calling us to love not in word or talk, but in deed and truth.

We have goods the Syrian refugees need. Are we refusing to give it to them? Then how can God’s love abide in us?

It’s not only ISIS refugees. There’s a genocide going on in Myanmar that few American’s know about. Nepal is in turmoil as they are being bullied by big brother India. In our home country, America, infants are being slaughtered before they have a chance to see the light.

We must seize the opportunity to help people whether it threatens our security or not.

• Muslim youth are seeking

On one hand, it is frightening to realize how rapidly Muslims are taking over countries simply through reproduction. (Check out this video for more info.) But you know, whenever a group of people have not actually found true life but are reproducing at a high rate, it creates an incredible opportunity for those who know true Life.

Every generation seeks. They question and wrestle with issues. It’s imperative they do so or else values would never be handed down because they would never be owned.

There are Muslim young people who are seeking truth. Many of them don’t know the kind of violence radical Muslims execute. When they see news of bombings they feel someone has hijacked their faith and so they begin to ask questions.

If we are there when they are asking questions, if those of us who know the Truth, Jesus Christ, are positioned in places to engage those who are seeking and doubting their own religion, we could radically influence them for the Kingdom of God.

What an opportunity! And we need to seize it.

• Pray for God’s mercy

During times of dramatic persecution we are reminded of the great need for God’s mercy on people like ISIS. We must seize the opportunity to pray for those reject and hate God. Time is running out, and God wants to pour out His mercy on them. Are we praying for it?

• Quit pursuing trivial pleasures

Rather than arguing over Christmas coffee cups, we have the opportunity to “work out” our salvation by helping those who need help, like Syrian refugees.

Instead of making sure are financially secure, we have the opportunity to experience the joy of helping others through sharing financial resources with those who need it more than us.

And for God’s sake, we have the opportunity to quit acting as if politics can save us and just do what we were called to do in the first place: loose the bonds, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide for the orphans, and make disciples of all peoples.

Now is the time for action.

What are you going to do about it?

Do you think America should be open to accepting Syrian refugees? If so, what are ways the church can be a part of this? Share in the comments.

For additional resources on Islam and how to reach them check out Nabeel Qureshi on YouTube. You may also be interested in his book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. You can get in on Amazon here.