Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kenneth Jensen

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” — 1 John 4:18 (RSV)

Fear causes us to misperceive both threats and opportunities. Fear precipitates impulsive and sometimes irrational behavior. Fear immunizes us from evidence, triumphs over facts, leads us to arm ourselves against phantom enemies and to exaggerate the strength of real ones. Paralyzed by fear we are driven to look out only for ourselves. Little wonder fear is the “Ace” in the deck of cards politicians play to win elections.

For some time, economic immigrants from the Middle East and northern Africa have been fleeing to Europe. However, the mass migration of Syrian refugees began when the humanitarian aid agencies were forced to cut food rations due to insufficient funding. Parents, afraid their children might starve, began leaving the refugee camps in droves. Hence, we are faced with the greatest refugee crisis since World War II.

Fear is driving countries to close borders and erect fences to keep out the refugees. The fear an influx of people from the Middle East will change their culture, compete with citizens for jobs and overburden their social welfare systems. Worst of all, there may be Islamic terrorists among them.

What does this have to say to those of us who are members of the Christian community?

God instructed the Hebrew nation: “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress this alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself,, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 19:33 (NRSV)

These words are pertinent not only for the Jewish state, but for us as American citizens. Most of us are immigrants or descendents of immigrants who were once aliens from another land. God calls us to remember who we are and to welcome those seeking refuge. It will not be without its risks and challenges. But the question remains, will love cast out fear?

 

Kenneth A. Jensen is a retired ELCA pastor living in Albert Lea.