unique perspectives from six people

Thursday, November 19, 2015

A Surprising Message of Reconciliation

Social opposition creates interesting allies, no? As a result of this current outrage over Syrian refugees, there is a very interesting and rare opportunity for two opposing segments of Christianity to approach reconciliation.

First, there is a very prominent component of mainly "conservative" Christians who view human life as beginning with "conception".  For this reason, they vehemently oppose abortion and take drastic actions to advocate against it.  At the very core, these Christians believe that abortion is destroying the life of a person who cannot protect themselves.  They see unborn babies as an "oppressed" people group.  

Second, there is a very prominent component of mainly "liberal" Christians who desperately try to align themselves with Jesus' words, "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in...".  At the very core, these Christians believe that refusing foreigners - especially refugees, is a denial of Christ Himself and a refusal of the gospel that sets free the captives and proclaims freedom to the oppressed.  These Christians see refugees as an "oppressed" people group.

Then, a third very small, surprised group - who typically opposed abortion, but find themselves wanting the USA to accept Syrian refugees.  They are standing together with those who oppositely support abortion but also support accepting refugees.  Very weird feeling, isn't it?

Very rare though it is, we have an opportunity for two typically opposing groups within Christendom to see things eye-to-eye...and subsequently to show love and respect for each other when the next abortion debate ensues.  I'm sure that you - the reader -  are experiencing many discussion threads where you are seeing people on the side of the oppressed refugees who typically support abortionists.  Or oppositely, you are seeing those who typically disagree with abortion, but are now bravely disagreeing with the religious-right in their stand against denial of Syrian refugees.  Oh how this must create some cognitive dissonance?!  "How can I fundamentally disagree with them over abortion, but agree so wholeheartedly with them over refugees?"

Remember this when you next discuss the topic of abortion.  Or when you next discuss homosexuality.  Or women's rights.  Or transgendered discrimination.  Or homelessness.  Or any other topic that addresses an issue that would typically cause us to HATE one another.  Remember to think of your brother or sister in Christ with LOVE and COMPASSION.  And expect that those with whom you disagree are genuinely trying to live by faith, hope and love.

And at the same time, please pray for those who have hatred in their hearts for the muslim terrorists (sometimes carelessly called, "love the sinner, hate the sin"); while also harboring hatred in their hearts for those who support abortion; and also grasping firmly to their practical hatred for homosexuals (and on and on).  Christians who define themselves primarily by the opposition of those with whom they disagree are very near to the plank-missing, speck-noticing group to whom Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."

And Most importantly, we should all remember that God loves *even* those who harbor hatred in their hearts.  Which, sadly, has included me at times these last few days.  Romans 5:8 says this, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."