November 2015 - The recent bombings in Paris have scared a lot of Americans and, in the aftermath of those attacks, many people have questioned whether we should accept into our country any of the Syrian victims of ISIS' campaign of terror and destruction. It is at times like this, when people are fearful, that we should expect our political and religious leaders to provide appropriate moral direction and consistency. We should expect them to be examples of profiles in courage, if you will.

Unfortunately, the current crop of Republican Presidential candidates and most Republican governors are doing just the opposite. They are falling all over themselves exploiting Americans' fears and trying to see who can be the most outrageous when it comes to policy proposals on the Syrian refugee crisis.

It was refreshing, then, to hear the response of Christian organizations to the situation.

(image from huffpost.com)

Unlike the GOP Presidential candidates who have gone so far as to suggest that the United States not accept any refugees, including Chris Christie who wouldn't even take orphans under the age of five, or those like Mike Huckabee who would accept some refugees as long as they were Christians, or the Republican governors who stated they would not resettle any refugees in their states (a decision they have no legal authority to make), the Christian groups we heard quoted were true to their faith by responding to the refugee situation and to those initial Republican comments with the following statements:

US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, the chairman of the conference's committee on migration stated: "These refugees are fleeing terror themselves - violence like we have witnessed in Paris. Instead of using this tragedy to scapegoat all refugees, I call upon our public officials to work together to end the Syrian conflict peacefully so the close to four million Syrian refugees can return to their country and rebuild their homes. Until that goal is achieved, we must work with the world community to provide safe haven to vulnerable and deserving refugees who are simply attempting to survive."

National Association of Evangelicals

Leith Anderson, the NAE president said: "Of course we want to keep terrorists out of our country, but let's not punish the victims of ISIS for the sins of ISIS."

World Relief (an evangelical organization that helps resettle refugees)

Jenny Yang, vice president for advocacy at World Relief, said that the Republicans' desire not to accept the Syrian refugees "does not reflect what we've been hearing from our constituencies, which are evangelical churches across the country….Most of the people have been saying we want to continue to work with refugees, that what happened in Paris…doesn't reflect who refugees are."

Other Christian Responses

Two other quotes we read that were attributed to the NAE and to the Lutherans, respectively, were:

"We want to help the victims of terrorism in the Middle East, not punish them."

"To close the door on resettling the Syrian refugees would be nothing less than signing a death warrant for tens of thousands of families fleeing for their very lives."

So why the difference in the responses we hear from Republican politicians, who frequently try and claim the religious high ground, and the responses we hear from these Christian organizations? For believers, the Bible seems to be pretty clear on the matter; at the bottom of this article we include three passages that support the position taken by the Christian groups: Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan), Matthew 25:34-46, and Leviticus 19:33-34.

We have to conclude, then, that in this case, these Republican politicians are simply pandering to peoples' fears and not trying to educate and to lead us. They aren't describing the vetting process that all refugees have to go through, they aren't quoting the Bible (since this time it does not suit them?); they are just trying to make political points. Disappointing, certainly, but as we've seen for the past twenty-plus years as the far right has become more ascendant within the GOP, not surprising.

Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 "What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you read it?"

27 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"; and, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Matthew 25:34-46

34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."

37 Then the righteous will answer him,"Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?

38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?

39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?"

40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it unto me."

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me."

44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?"

45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Leviticus 19:33-34

33 "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.

34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

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