Who Would Jesus Vet

Extreme angst exists at both ends of the current debate over President Trump’s recent executive order on the processing of refugees. Groups on the right and left are mischaracterizing each other in ways that cloud the debate.

On the left, protesters assume those who support the President’s emphasis on vetting have no compassion for refugees. On the right, those in favor of a careful vetting process assume that people who oppose the President’s actions have no concern for national security. A first step in resolving this tensions is to understand that this is a false choice. These concerns are not mutually exclusive and we need not chose one over the other.

Careful vetting is consistent with Christ’s command that we love our neighbors. It would be unloving to allow those bent on harming us to move in next door. Vetting is consistent with love for our neighbors, but it is not a complete expression of love for our neighbors. Jesus taught that true love for our neighbors is not limited to those like us. In fact Jesus said, even pagans love their own brothers and are kind to people who are like them. Christ’s parable of the good Samaritan clearly teaches that in his Kingdom our neighbor is anyone with a need. Syrian refugees are our neighbors whether they are Christian or Muslim and Jesus commands that we love them as we love ourselves, and as we love our own families.

The Good Samaritan’s love for his neighbor extended beyond warm feelings. It cost him something, both in terms of personal expense (he paid for the victims medical care), but also in terms of risk. When he stopped to help a man assaulted by thieves he put himself in harm’s way. His personal safety was secondary to helping a person whose life was in danger.
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America is greatest when we balance caution with courage, when we stand beside people who are oppressed. I call on the President to complete his review of the vetting process as quickly as possible and to give persecuted Muslims who have been carefully vetted the same considerations afforded to my fellow Christians.

This Sunday (Feb 5) I will be speaking on this topic at Central Christian 10:30