Enough.
Christians, enough.
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, enough.
Driven by the tragedy and fear of San Bernardino, Paris, and countless other horrific attacks across our blue planet, earlier this week, a leading political figure called for refusing to allow Muslims into the United States of America.
The political rhetoric has troubled me for months, but when I heard this “solution,” my heart broke into pieces. This is not of Christ. Jesus described a mark of his followers thus: “For when I was a foreigner, you invited me in.” Note the complete lack of qualifiers. He didn’t say, “a foreigner who believed what you did,” “ a foreigner who looked like you,” “a foreigner who spoke your language,” or even “a foreigner who wished you goodwill or didn’t intend to harm you.” Any foreigner qualifies, period.
Please understand I am not a pacifist. I believe in giving law enforcement every tool necessary to prevent these horrible tragedies. I am also not a Universalist. Muslims and Christians have different faiths. However, neither of these beliefs in any way impede how Christians are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, or who gets to be our neighbor.
Right now, the fear in our nation is palpable. It’s understandable. Yet when we as Christians let fear guide our decisions, we let go of God, and we let go of love. The disciple John said it well. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them... In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”
I am also not naive to think this kind of unconditional love may not have painful consequences. If so, then we get to practice a harder teaching of Christ, turning the other cheek. Even as I type this next line, part of me is scared.
My name is Joshua McHenry Miller, I’m in the phone book, and I’m open to any neighbor God brings my way, radicalized or not. I want the opportunity to love them, to laugh with them, to mourn with them. I want their families to grow up strong and healthy, even if they never come to my faith.
My family in Christ, enough living in fear. Let us live in love.
