Bluffing God

I have been challenged on someone's interpretation of my opinion regarding the "displaced", the Palestinian "refugees" and the influx of those crossing our borders in general. This topic is just one of many sources of offence and contention in our country today. The spirit of division is alive and growing, worldwide, at a pace I've never before seen. I often feel helpless to bring any unity or reasoning to the forefront; however, after much prayer I believe the Lord has helped me put my position into words and is now allowing me to share them with anyone who is interested (minus my often misplaced emotions on the subject). The Holy Spirit began with my thoughts about the world and our country in general but, as He is so good at doing, He soon narrowed those thoughts down to one thing...my heart.

I believe true wisdom, for the most part, has been tossed to the wayside by our country's leadership and they have picked up those things that bring them the most profit and popularity instead. It seems pretty obvious to me and numerous others that allowing refugees (or immigrants - whichever word you decide to use depending on your stance on the subject) into our country on a mass scale is national suicide. I say this not because I am a "bad Christian" but because it's just plain common sense. I believe in defending my country, myself and my family to the best of my ability but, as a Christian, I believe that ultimately those responsibilities fall to God.

I feel we are beginning to see things come to pass in the natural realm that John the Revelator and other prophets saw thousands of years earlier in the spiritual realm. Prophecy is being fulfilled in our churches as well as our world. So, whether we are bombarded with immigrants, the displaced and unfortunate or their inflow is not as massive, my Christian responsibility (and God's command) remains the same: Love my neighbor as I love myself. Does that mean opening my doors up and letting everyone take everything God has provided for me? No, but it does mean that I must show the True Light - the light of Christ - to everyone God allows to touch my life (if I truly believe God is ultimately in charge). This is not because I'm a good Christian but because that is what God expects of me. I suppose I could just tell God "no" but could I still expect His bountiful provisions to continue? Oh wait...it seems that is much like what we've already been doing.

I have been reminded that Jesus and His disciples did not preach the gospel in a country of ease where true freedom was in play but rather under harsh Roman rule with a mostly corrupt religious system that preached one thing while doing the opposite. Jesus said - prophesied if you will - that the world would not accept us. He told His disciples ahead of time they would be persecuted, imprisoned and some even murdered for preaching the gospel. Why do we seem to think we are better than they? As my pastor once said, the American church (us folks sitting in those pews) have been lulled to sleep with the many exceptional blessings God has allowed us to experience. We have become complacent in our place of ease and fatness. Like the five foolish virgins we have let our oil run dry and our lamps go dim. Now that we are suddenly faced with the dark we begin to operate in panic mode taking on self-preservation when we should be handing that off to God and taking the opportunity He has allowed us to present the Gospel to all who will hear.

There are many in this country who have chosen not to hear and that is becoming painfully obvious. Perhaps I will come in contact with someone today who has never had to opportunity to choose Christ and, just perhaps, that is who God has allowed to cross my path in the first place. I have no control over whether mass immigration will continue in this country. Let's bring it closer to home and say I have very little control over who moves into my surrounding area; however, I have complete control over how I will respond to each person God allows to touch me personally. My prayer is that I do not act out of fear or greed but that I act according to His perfect will in every opportunity.

Many of us have said we are not cut out for missions abroad but we will be glad to do missions at home. Missions at home. Here. In our county, in our town, in our sphere of influence. What would that look like? Supporting recovery centers and homeless shelters with monthly contributions? Of course! We will love and encourage them to recover. Praying for those in prison to find Christ and begin a new life with Him? Absolutely! We will even send them care packages and Christmas cards. We tell ourselves we will show everyone God places in our path the love of Jesus. Having made that promise perhaps we should do a serious heart evaluation regarding what we think God views as "home missions". We just may be deceiving ourselves. We just may have been blinded by greed and manipulated by fear.

Maybe, just maybe, God is calling our bluff.

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