Christian Compassion Vs National Security

With the recent attacks perpetrated by ISIS and Al Qaeda and their affiliates around the world (Russian plane, Paris, Nigeria, and Mali, etc.), it is appropriate to initiate a discussion on how to find a balance between Christian compassion and national security with the regard to the so called Syrian Refugees.

Compassion or security? This is the question every American, especially every Christian should have in their mind. We must ask ourselves how Jesus would answer this question and how therefore He would love to see us answer this question.

As Christian, we have the obligation to fulfil the Great Commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). To do that we must keep in in the words of Jesus Christ how he said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28)

We are sent to make disciples by bringing to Jesus all people of every nation, race, languages, and cultural background. This includes the Syrians fleeing their country and even ISIS. We are sent to minister to them.

But we are also Second Amendment believing citizens who must NOT give away the right to protect ourselves. So question facing every American Christian is how to balance compassion with safety or even national security.

First of all we must not forget that the One who sent us knew what we were going to face. He faced the same thing and he died on the cross because of human cruelty. He knew that we would experience the same kind of hatred he dealt with. That’s why He gave us this warning:

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." (Matthew 10: 16-18)

We also know that our Lord Himself had to flee the massacre of Herod and had to live many years in Egypt as an immigrant and refugee (Matthew 2:13). But He did pose any threat to the land of Egypt where He lived. There are many others examples in the Bible about God’s people who lived in foreign countries without causing any security problem. This is not true about the so called Syrian Refugees that Obama with his head-in-the-sand policy vowed to bring to America.

Surprisingly, the majority of these Syrians are young men who can fight against ISIS and take back their country. It had been proven that some of the terrorists who attacked Paris had a Syrian passport. American Border Patrols have arrested a couple of Syrians trying to cross our Southern border.

All this indicates how crucial it is to properly vet everyone that comes to our borders before we they them in. Anyone that is found in connection with a terrorist group must be sent back. As individual Christians, we are called to show compassion and love to those in need, applying the lesson of the Good Samaritan to our daily life. However, we need to let our elected officials know that it is their responsibility to protect our country. And this starts with securing the borders. Our duty of compassion doesn’t mean that we expose ourselves to those who have an evil intention to come and destroy our lives. As individual Christians, we can pray and get involved in the relief programs around world; we can forgive and reach out to the needy. But it is the responsibility of our government to secure the country.

There is no shame in building the walls to protect our country. We often read in the Bible of gated cities or cities with walls. The books of Deuteronomy and Joshua present Canaanite cities as fortified and walled (e.g., Nu 13:28, Dt 1:28, 3:5, 28:52; Jos 2:15, 6:5, 6:20, 7:5, 8:29, etc.). God’s plan is that men and women live secure within their land. In Acts 17: 26 we read, "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation".

It is God that sets the boundaries of the nations and it’s the job of the elected officials to secure those boundaries and assure the safety of the inhabitants.

Make no mistake, we are to love and show compassion, but NOT be naïve!

We are to care for those in need, but NOT to expose ourselves to the evildoers!

Compassion and security are not contradictory. Self-defense is not only legal, it’s biblical: Psalm 82:4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked

Proverbs 24:11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

Ezekiel 33 "... 6 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

We need a real commander in chief. And for that let’s pray:

O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Peace and blessings!
Fr. Thierry

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay"(Habakkuk 2:3).

 

 

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