I've waited a while to address the children at the border issue because I was researching and following all the claims being tossed around. I wanted to make sure I had the facts and not the sensationalized right or left wing "I don't care what the other side is saying, I'm right and you must listen to me" stuff we see in the media these days.
Honestly, the vitriol in politics should scare us more than it does. Vilifying people based on the fact that we disagree with them is not the way to be heard. I can remember eighth-grade speech class and the persuasive speech we had to do and ZERO PERCENT of it was "this is the way I believe and if you don't follow suit then you're just plain wrong."
In fact, we weren't supposed to say "I believe" in it at all, but I digress.
When facing the very real problem happening on our border today, how should Christians respond?
Like many people, I was first confronted with this issue by news reports detailing children immigrants being separated from their parents at the border. Wherein we got a lot of "Trump is Hitler" and "It's the Democrat's fault" slinging back and forth between the two parties.
For information on facts about this, I recommend this article from Vox and a brief visit to Snopes. Both will help clear the air so that when you make your decision on where you stand on this issue, it is an educated one.
How should Christians respond here?
Number 1 - with all the facts and an understanding of what is happening. In an age where we get sensationalized news built to push our buttons, it is our responsibility to find the facts.
Sadly, we can't depend on the news stations anymore. Each is tailored to an audience and unless you intend to sit down and watch all of them all day long, you're not getting all the information. Know where to find the truth.
Number 2 - Prayerfully.
It's awful to open a news link and see pictures of chain link fences with children crying for their parents. It tugs at our hearts - as it should. If we are living in the compassion of Christ, there's no way we can see this sort of thing and not be moved by it.
But before we do anything, we have to lift it to the One with all the power. We have to open the conversation with God about where our responsibilities lie and what we are called to do about it. And then we can step out in faith and take action.
Maybe that action is to reach out to policymakers and request change. Maybe you're certified as a health practitioner or educator and can volunteer to help. Maybe you can gather materials in bulk and send them where they're most needed.
Because we serve a God who meets us as individuals, the actions we are called to take will likely be focused on our individual talents. That's how we respond. That's how we make a difference.
This issue isn't going away anytime soon. While it is likely that the media will pull our focus to something else in the next weeks, many of these children will still be separated from their families. Beyond all the politics that fueled this situation, it's important to remember that the problem is still there even when the spotlight shifts to something else.
Honestly, the vitriol in politics should scare us more than it does. Vilifying people based on the fact that we disagree with them is not the way to be heard. I can remember eighth-grade speech class and the persuasive speech we had to do and ZERO PERCENT of it was "this is the way I believe and if you don't follow suit then you're just plain wrong."
In fact, we weren't supposed to say "I believe" in it at all, but I digress.
When facing the very real problem happening on our border today, how should Christians respond?
Like many people, I was first confronted with this issue by news reports detailing children immigrants being separated from their parents at the border. Wherein we got a lot of "Trump is Hitler" and "It's the Democrat's fault" slinging back and forth between the two parties.
For information on facts about this, I recommend this article from Vox and a brief visit to Snopes. Both will help clear the air so that when you make your decision on where you stand on this issue, it is an educated one.
How should Christians respond here?
Number 1 - with all the facts and an understanding of what is happening. In an age where we get sensationalized news built to push our buttons, it is our responsibility to find the facts.
Sadly, we can't depend on the news stations anymore. Each is tailored to an audience and unless you intend to sit down and watch all of them all day long, you're not getting all the information. Know where to find the truth.
Number 2 - Prayerfully.
It's awful to open a news link and see pictures of chain link fences with children crying for their parents. It tugs at our hearts - as it should. If we are living in the compassion of Christ, there's no way we can see this sort of thing and not be moved by it.
But before we do anything, we have to lift it to the One with all the power. We have to open the conversation with God about where our responsibilities lie and what we are called to do about it. And then we can step out in faith and take action.
Maybe that action is to reach out to policymakers and request change. Maybe you're certified as a health practitioner or educator and can volunteer to help. Maybe you can gather materials in bulk and send them where they're most needed.
Because we serve a God who meets us as individuals, the actions we are called to take will likely be focused on our individual talents. That's how we respond. That's how we make a difference.
This issue isn't going away anytime soon. While it is likely that the media will pull our focus to something else in the next weeks, many of these children will still be separated from their families. Beyond all the politics that fueled this situation, it's important to remember that the problem is still there even when the spotlight shifts to something else.
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