One Pastor’s perspective on Refugees and Risk

Most of us agree that following Jesus is risky business.  But how much risk is reasonable? 

Right now devout followers of Jesus in our nation find themselves on both sides of the current refugee crisis.  Some believe we should freely open our borders to the seemingly endless flow of humanity streaming out of Syria.  Some have advocated restricting that flow or cutting it off altogether.

The arguments for the later are convincing.  What about our responsibility to protect our own citizens?  What about the very real possibility that terrorists will slip in undetected?  Is it not irresponsible, even immoral, to jeopardize the safety of our own children?

Of course the recent tragedy in France proves that those arguments are not without merit.

Personally, I want to come down on the side of self-defense.  There’s a part of me, a really big part, that says, Close the borders!  Build walls!  Erect razer fencing! Station armed guards at every entry point! Low risk seems reasonable to me.         

But as a person trying to follow Jesus I have a couple problems... 

1.      One problem is Church History

Rodney Stark, a noted historian, points out that the outbreak of epidemics was not uncommon in the ancient Roman world.  In overcrowded cities, lack of sanitation and limited medical expertise rendered ancient people defenseless against the invading diseases.  In an effort to reduce the risk of infection, many abandoned their infected family members in the streets. 

During the second great epidemic, around 260, Christians responded differently.  Instead of discarding loved ones in the streets, they rescued those discarded by others.  Stark quotes an Easter letter written by Dionysius, the Bishop of Alexandria.

Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another.  Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains.  Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead.  (Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity, page 82.)

Because of their faith in Christ and commitment to his teaching, these Christians put themselves at great risk and apparently thought it reasonable to do so.

Some may deem this example invalid.  After all, ministering to sick people in your own city is not the same as opening your city (or state or country) to outsiders who may intend to do you harm.

Maybe a closer correlation would be the Christians, like Corrie Ten Boom and her family, who hid Jews from the Nazis prior to and during WWII.  The risks they took were multiple.  Among those were the real possibility that Nazi sympathizers would pose as Jewish refugees seeking sanctuary.  Every time the Ten Boom family opened their doors to a Jew they were risking their own lives.  Of course, for the Ten Boom family, that risk became reality.  Their hiding place was discovered.  They were arrested and placed in German prison camps.  All but Corrie died in those camps because being followers of Christ compelled them to take risks, very great risks.

2.      The other problem is Jesus

I think it is safe to say that Jesus was a risk taker and he taught his disciples that following him involved risk.  Actually, maybe “risk” is not the best word.  Jesus taught that following him would result in certain suffering. 

Repeatedly he told his disciples that they would be taking up their own crosses if they followed him.  In other words, following Jesus requires a willingness to die.

The apostle Peter who, according to tradition, was himself crucified upside down wrote, “if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  (1 Peter 2:20-21)

In our modern western world we think that risk should be eliminated.  But we must remember that following Jesus is inherently risky. 

I want to keep my family safe.  Low risk sounds good to me.  But the teachings and example of Jesus Christ compel us to risk everything to do the right thing.  Making room for refugees who need a safe place to live is the right thing.  Is it risky to open our doors to these neighbors?  Yes, it is.  But for Christ followers, it is right to take the risk.