Read + Reflect + Respond
IN MY WORDS(This is my personal expanded paraphrase of this passage. You could try writing one, too! Give it a shot before you read mine!)
It doesn't make any sense at all for someone to claim to have a saving faith in God if it doesn't make any difference in how they act. Faith works. Faith changes us. Faith makes us grow into the likeness of Jesus, to become more and more like him. Where there is authentic faith, there is authentic living. If you think that you are born again, but you're still living like a dead person who doesn't care about God's desires, you might want to think again.
Here's an example. Let's say you meet someone who doesn't have the basic essentials for life. You see that they are improperly clothed and hungry, without the means to provide for themselves. Well, what a pity. Poor things! So you smile warmly, pat them on the back, and say, "Hey, bro! Tough times, huh? Well, I hope things get better for you. Go with God, bro! It's cold out there! You might wanna put a coat on! And get something good to eat! See you later! Bye!"
Wait, what?!?! What coat? What food? Why didn't you help them! Why didn't you share a meal with them? Or check your closet for an extra coat? Or grab some canned food out of your cupboard? Or take them shopping for clothes at the thrift store? Instead of "Go!", why didn't you say, "Come with me! I've got stuff to share! I'll help!"
That's what true faith does. It works itself out in love. Faith that is alive shows itself in living deeds. "Faith" without deeds is dead; you may agree to the doctrines, but the attitudes and actions flowing from your perpetually unchanged heart tell a different story. Faith isn't just mental assent, but a reborn heart.
You might think you need just faith or just deeds. But that's a false dichotomy! It's not either-or; it's both-and! Faith and deeds work together as inseparable partners! I mean, it's right good to believe in God! But don't stop there! Even demons know there is a God, and they are terrified of him because they are evil and they know he will ultimately destroy them!
How about the story of Abraham, the father of faith? He believed God would give him a son, and he received Isaac. But then God called him to offer that most precious gift on the altar! What? But God said it, so he was willing. That was enough for God - just to know Abraham trusted him that much. So Isaac was spared and restored to his father. Abraham's actions proved and perfected his faith in God. So that faith which began before Isaac's birth continued its fulfillment as Isaac grew. This was faith for the long haul. And then God knew that Abraham was righteous, and he called him his friend.
So do you understand yet that we are considered righteous by what we do in addition to what we believe? Here's another story. Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute back when the nation of Israel were entering the Promised Land. Out of reverence for the power of God, she sheltered the two Israelite spies to keep them safe from their enemies. Then when she was interrogated, she said they went the other way. She risked her life for the people of God.
So we see that just like a body without its living spirit is dead, so our faith is dead if it isn't accompanied by real life actions.
HERE AND NOW
I can easily get depressed and frustrated when reading the news. I could stay away from the news web sites altogether, but then there are all those links and photos on Facebook. Besides that, I really do what to know what is going on. I don't want to be like the proverbial ostrich with its head stuck in the sand. I want to be aware. Or "woke" as we call it now.
We all live in an uncertain country in an uncertain world. People are worried, fearful, anxious. We want to know it's all going to be OK, if not for everyone else, at least for our own family and friends. We do what we can for those we love, and that's good! "Charity starts at home," and all that.
Charity starts there, but that's not where it ends. Love ripples outward. My home, my family, my neighborhood, my community, my metro area, my state, my region, my country... my world! It's called putting yourselves in their shoes, no matter where they live. We are all members of the human race.
My news feed and my own Facebook wall (by my own choice) have been filled with heartbreaking stories about children being ripped from their parents at our American border, without promise of ever being reunited. Children held in cages and warehouses. Children vulnerable to traffickers. Children being drugged. Children without their mamás and papás. Children treated like criminals. My mamá heart, my human heart, grieves over the deep and permanent trauma being inflicted on these families. I'm glad that the president signed some sort of order, but who knows how much that will fix and how soon? So much damage has already been done. So many families are still separated, and there are reports of children who have gotten lost by the system and no one knows where they are.
Jesus help us all! But wait! Isn't the church is his body, the body of Christ? We are his hands and feet on this earth, his eyes and ears and mouth and heart. We are not a church for this nation. We are a church for his creation, to bring his grace and peace to the whole world.
Sure, we can work on the vetting process. We can work on resettlement systems that won't bankrupt our country. We can work on guarding the borders against traffickers and drug dealers. We can work on deporting real criminals. We can work on helping other countries become safer places that no one needs to flee. But for God's sake, WE MUST NOT MISTREAT REFUGEES!
I don't care if they're not American. They are human, just as we are. They are desperate, vulnerable, impoverished families, seeking a safe place to raise their children. Cruelty must never be used as a deterrent against human beings already in brutal need. Dehumanization defiles the love of God for all mankind. See: Less than Human: The Psychology of Cruelty.
God's heart is close to the refugee. We need our hearts to be renewed and transformed to be like his. We need great compassion, even if it means getting out of our comfort zones to give and serve and create welcoming communities.
Yes, I get more than a little bit worked up about this. I can't stand to see patriotic people trumpet their Christian family values, but then get so paranoid about maintaining their American suburban way of life that they forget what Jesus would want them to do. It's not Christian family values if your faith-based, flag-waving "God bless America!" rhetoric doesn't match your compassion level.
You want to show your faith? Then do the deeds.
You want to make America great? Then make America good.
"With liberty and justice for all!"
P.S. Please help me compile a list of reputable organizations which will benefit families seeking asylum in the United States. Leave a comment with a link!
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