Historically, good dinner table etiquette has always steered away from the topics of religion and politics. With the recent executive order on refugees, we may need to add a third that involves both: how our government – and Christians – should handle the current refugee crisis.
As anyone not living under a rock now knows, the recent executive order by President Trump and the response has been deeply polarizing, even among Christians. I’m witnessing heated exchanges on social media, while others are taking a break from it for that very reason.
While all this can be overwhelming, it’s my conviction that every follower of Christ needs to care about this issue. Jesus, after all, was himself a refugee (Matthew 2:13-18). Although not all of us will be called to the same level of involvement, we ought to be engaged as God leads.
In the next month or so, I hope to write my own post on this topic, but in the meantime here are some articles to continue the conversation. As a disclaimer, I’m not saying I agree with everything they contain. Hopefully, though, they will help you deepen your own thinking and heart for those who can no longer live in the place they call home.
Ten Articles On The Refugee Crisis & The Executive Order
The FAQs: President Trump’s Executive Order On Immigrants And Refugees. The Gospel Coalition’s Joe Carter tries to sort through the facts about the Executive Order concerning immigrants and refugees.
Compassion For Refugees, Immigrants, and Foreigners. Several helpful Scripture passages, and a short prayer by Pastor Scotty Smith modeling how we can pray for refugees, immigrants and foreigners.
The Gospels Do Help Us Respond To The Current Migrant Crisis. Written in September 2015, this article by NT Wright is still timely today. Discusses the relevance of Jesus’ teaching for the current crisis, the church’s role in holding rulers accountable and the complexity of the situation.
Five Things Bothering Me About The Response To Trump’s Executive Order. Understandably, most posts are encouraging Christians to offer compassion to refugees, and, raising concerns about the executive order and/or its implementation. I’m including this because it offers a different perspective than much of what you’ll find on the internet right now.
True Compassion Will Cost Us. Article by Marco Silva calling us to engage widows, orphans and refugees even at real cost to ourselves.
What Should Christian Think Abou Trump’s Refugee Policy? Interview with Matthew Soerens, co-author of Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis. Soerens explains his concerns about the refugee policy’s effects, offers thoughts on balancing security and compassion, and shares thoughts on how ministry leaders can engage their people around the issue.
How To Respond To The Refugee Crisis. David Platt, author of Radical and President of the International Mission Board, on five biblical truths on refugees, and, five ways we might respond.
Gospel Worship: A Holy Ambition for All The Peoples to Praise Christ. Recent address by John Piper from the Bethlehem 2017 Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders. Although he doesn’t specifically address refugees until the last section, his brief comments there are hopeful regardless of how our government responds. Audio and print versions.
Collection of Articles From Relevant Magazine. A number of posts from Relevant including ways we can reject apathy, current news about the refugee crisis, and more personal snapshots of what’s going on.
Collection of Articles From Christianity Today. Similar idea to the posts from Relevant.
Your Input Valued
Again, I hope to continue thinking through what’s taking place with the refugee crisis, and the contours of what it means to follow Jesus in it.
I’d also like to acknowledge that no doubt my own biases have shaped the articles I’ve linked to, so I invite you to share your own links in the comments below. I only ask that what you share is done respectfully, and, in a spirit of helping us expand our thinking rather than persuade us to adopt your own particular viewpoint.
May God be honored as we try to love refugees and the other vulnerable people in our midst.
Your Turn: What articles, websites or resources have been helpful to you as you continue to think about, and pray through, your involvement with refugees?