Today in class we began discussing the Crusades, a Christian-led attack on the Muslims to save the Holy Land (Israel). I had always heard that the Crusades were without cause and purely based on religious hatred and a desire to claim the Holy Land for themselves. I had always thought there was something lacking about that explanation, so I was glad that in class we began discussing the true motive behind the Crusades. That reason? Fear, pure and simple. The Christians felt threatened and cornered as the Muslim armies continued to take more and more land, turning what used to be Christian nations into Muslim ones. They wanted to act before they themselves were targeted, and before the Muslims became so strong that they were unable to stand up to them. As we discussed this, I was struck by the parallels that we are facing in modern times.
Of course, ISIS represents only a small fraction of Islam today. But I find it interesting how once again the "Christian" West has come into conflict with an "Islamic" army. And the fear that ISIS is feeding is very real. So the question remains, how do Christians react to this threat? Is it our duty to fight to save the Arab Christians that are being persecuted? Do we accept the thousands of refugees, Muslim and Christian, flooding into our country, even at the risk of allowing potential terrorists in? Or do we close our gates and preserve our safety, hoping to keep the conflict at an arms length?
It's not easy to willingly accept a potential risk into the neighborhood. The media is constantly spewing off a mix of "terrorists are among the refugees" and "none of the refugees are a threat." It creates an atmosphere of panic, phobia, and misgivings. This is not the reaction Christians are called to have towards those in need. We are called to be loving and give all that we can to help them. Though our hearts grow hard as we see videos of executions, we are called to look to the young family who has given up everything and soften our hearts. We are called to throw open the church doors and help them.
These new refugees also have a duty. They must strive to learn English, and they must learn to adapt to American culture. Things that were tolerated in their home countries may not be tolerated in America, and so they too have to change their ways. Yet how much easier is it to adapt to a culture where they are accepted and helped? If we shun them, they will never understand America, and they will grow to resent those who resent them. When we help them learn,they will learn to love their new home and will come to appreciate its culture..
Of course the government should be careful as it chooses which refugees to allow in. Of course they should not let known extremists into the country. It is their job to be critical and skeptical of any potential threats. It is ours to embrace these newcomers, accepting that they are God's children and should be loved accordingly. We are not called to wage a modern Crusade against these people. We never were. Instead, we were called to love and to serve, putting our needs second and treating them as we would want to be treated.
