What Would Jesus Do with Refugees?
One of the greatest aspects found in this verse is the idea of inviting a stranger. In this particular case it is not any stranger but specifically refugees. One of the greatest opportunities to help refugees is charities specifically the Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services. The Catholic Church, at an international and at a local level, strongly supports the rights of migrants and refugees. This is in accordance with the Gospel teaching “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) and “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me”(Matt 25:40) The Scriptures – There are many scriptural references to refugees and people forced to move. This paper will discuss that although society feels refugees negatively affect their people, it is important to acknowledge charities like Catholic Charities are not only helping refugees, but promoting self-sufficiency while not promoting Catholic beliefs; instead acknowledging Jesus himself was a refugee and the Bible gives us the ancient custom of welcoming.
First, one must understand what a refugee is. According to the Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee services, “a refugee is a person who has fled his/her country of nationality and who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, and membership in particular social group” (cite). Many are forced to leave without warning and must wait in a particular camp until countries like the United States accepts their application for residency. Once the refugees have left their country, they must get resettled. In the United States alone, there were at least “70,000 refugees resettled” (cite). Once the case is approved for resettlement, the responsibility passes from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, refers refugees to resettlement programs through voluntary agencies such as the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. After the refugees are resettled in the United States, they are legally provided safety and have access to medical care, education, and employment as well as basic civil rights.
Although the numerous refugees that enter the United States receive assistance, it is important to know the how they receive the help they need. One of the primary ways is through charities. Out of all the charities, one in particular is crucial the resettlement of refugees especially in (state). One of the main charities for discussion is the Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee services. This is one of the well-known refugee resettlement agency in Virginia and has resettles over 20,000 refugees since 1975 (cite). Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services are committed to accepting refugees, asylees, SIVs, and human trafficking victims of all races, nationalities, and creeds in the community. They exemplify this commitment through their mission statement of ‘welcoming the stranger’ into the community. This is similar to idea Jesus had mentioned in Matthew 25: 35, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” As one can see, Jesus did not leave one to ponder as a nation as to what is right or as His people how one should treat these individuals so close to His heart. This distinctive passage declares God's concern. When one stands before the Lord on judgment day, He'll ask how one treated people who vividly fit the description of a refugee. Strangers, the hungry and thirsty, those in need of clothes, those who are in prison, and those who are sick - each characteristic strikingly parallel to a twentieth century refugee.
Next, one must acknowledge that some of the most important individuals in scriptures were refugees. Jesus and his parents slipped into Egypt to escape Herod's infanticide. Moses and the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian tyranny into the Promised Land. Early church believers poured out of Jerusalem to save their lives and consequently the gospel reached new corners of the world. The Apostle John was exiled in Patmos and wrote the book of Revelation. All fled their homeland because they were singled out by leaders within their own country as targets for persecution. In other words, they were refugees.
Not only treating refugees as our neighbors is commanded by God and Jesus, but showing compassion is also important. Caring for refugees as well treating them with compassion is a fundamental aspect of Christianity because according to the gospel of Matthew, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (25:40). Displaying empathy and kindness towards refugees because what one does for them is equivalent to showing compassion to Jesus. Although showing kindness towards refugees is a crucial aspect in what Jesus would do individually, God expects much more by involving nations to not only rescue refugees and take them in, but treat them like a native born. Collectively we must rescue refugees from persecuting nations because in Isaiah is states, “Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees. Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer” (16:3-4). Next, as a nation we treat refugees as our own citizens through the laws and regulations as well as treat them fairly. This is referenced in Leviticus, “he foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (19:34). In addition, if the nation follows the mandate by God as well as Jesus Christ, promises are given as well as blessing the family and nation who take care of refugees. Also, God promises to bless the family and nation who take care of refugees. For instance, He blesses them and the work of their hands because according to Deut. 24:19-21, He answers their prayer. Is. 58:6-11. • His glory is their rear guard. Ps. 41:1-3, Is. 58:6-11. God promises to purse the nation and people who mistreat refugees. • The judgment and curse of the Lord is on a nation that withholds justice from the refugee. Deut. 27:19, 24:17, Ez.22:9f, Mal 3:5, Ez. 16:49f • The Lord will not answer their prayers. Pr. 21:13\
There is a need to support and help people, who are in position of refugees, because we cannot see all picture of someone’s story, and there is only one way how to react before we will find out is this person good or bad, if he is Christian, or he is not. We should give this person hand of help. When Peter was drowning in the depths of water: “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Jesus saved Peter, when he doubted in the glory of God, so we need to understand that whenever someone needs or hand of help in the time of doubt, will receive it from the true Christian.
But is this question about refugees is so direct? Because as we all know refugees are not just people who had left their houses for any reasons, and who are running from death. There is something more in this word. Surely, we can say that there is one more thing that we need to know that Jesus is informing in the Bible about refugees. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 NIV Bible). “They were alliance people of foreign descent and culture living in the foreign land. They were stranger’s people residing temporally someplace other than their home” (Lauersdorf 136). These words about Abraham in other lands. Indeed those are the words that God is saying about us. We are also refugees in this place, because we are just leaving here maximum 120 year, and after that we are leaving back “home”. What shall we do for any refugee? We should support each other (both Christians and non-Christians) the best way, because this is knowledge that Jesus is teaching us. “ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1ST Thessalonians 5:14). “Paul urges the members of the congregation to speak words of consalidality.to practice Christian love is to lend a helping hand to those who are week”. ( Kuske 60). Therefore, we are coming back in the statement, that there is a true need in supporting those - who are in true need.
So far, we shall clarify the answer, for those who don’t understand - refugees are simple, normal people. We should deal them the way that we are dealing with any humans, who are having problems. We are refugees by ourselves (in terms of Christian understanding). We can also find in Bible words like “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19). “By faith in Christ the gentile Christians in Ephesus and gentile believers in general have the same access to God as Gods covenant people enjoyed all around”.(Ephesians Panning 158). One of the miracles that Christ is doing, he brings people to the true faith. What would Christ do to people, who have no chance for salvation? He would surely talk direct into their hearts, and he would surely give them salvation in the true God through the true faith. He would give them warm words direct in to their spirit, and he would surely send them knowledge. However, as we unfortunately not always can help, we should remember about all this aspects of providing Gods words to the refugees, to take care of their souls, and after - take care about body. This is the minimum of what we can do. People who are starving, and who are persecuted, people who are calling themselves “refugee”, are having such life, that not many would stand. This life is hard and sour. However, we are in condition to follow the words that Jesus told us, in order to take care of those, who are in need of such care. That is the greatest understanding. We are responsible (when we have a chance), to take people to Church, and we should help them to understand what God is telling them. Therefore, not only “tangible” goods are something what refugees need, but also intangible (help of spiritual protection).
Conclusion
There is a great need, to follow all Christ recommendations (which we can find in the Bible). Because we can see, that these themes about refuges, are strongly correlated to the question of “are we actually true Christian’s?” Surely, we will know answer on that question, only when we will be sure, that we had done everything to support faith in Christ to other people.
Christ in the Bible is asking us to do two things: to support and to pray. Support of the refugees must be in everything (as we are doing this to the Christians). Because the main thing here, is to take people to the true faith, because without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no eternal life. “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12) “But Christ, our all-sufficient Savior, has defeated Satan and all his forces . Because we share in his victory by faith, we to have power” (Kuschel 156) Therefore, without this power, we will be dead, so as everyone without faith in God. Moreover, for the unbelievers (of all over the world) we should inform, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2 “These terms describe the process by which God saves sinners” ( Allbrecht 36). God is informing people that they still have a chance to be saved, and we shall inform that to all nations.
Therefore, firstly we should take care about faith (and we should do this through the informing about Gods word), and we should support them with our deeds, because “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (Jacob 2:17).
Bibliography
Albrecht, G. Jerome., and Michael J. Albrecht. Matthew. St. Louis, MO: Concorida Pub. House, 1996. Print.
Kuschel, Harlyn J. Philipians, Colossians, Philemon. Milwaukee: Northwestern House,
2000. Print.
Kuske, David P. 1,2 Thessalonians. Milwaukee: Northwestern Pub. House, 2000. Print.
Lauersdorf, Richard E. Hebrews. Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House, 1986. Print.
Panning, Armin J. Galatians, Ephesians. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2005. Print.
Zondervan, Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: 2005. Print.
