What should we do about Syria?

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

Last week, I spent a day up at my seminary listening to two leaders from World Vision share about the Syrian refugee crisis and how churches can get involved. I confess that prior to that day, I would not have been able to point out Syria on a map, nor could I have told you many details regarding the refugee crisis. I have been blessed to be a lifelong resident of New England, with a heart to serve and love the people of the Hartford region. However, the flipside of this localized existence has been a true lack of connection with what is going on in the rest of the world. For this shallow and self-centered existence, I repent.

It is truly mind-boggling to try to make sense of the political landscape in Syria, or to try to predict how this mess will turn out. But the harsh reality is that millions of innocent people are being displaced from their home by the fighting and bombing, and find themselves in foreign lands, without adequate food, water, sanitation, education, or future direction.
The crisis exploded on to the international stage as a result of this devastating image last September:

Such a horrifying picture begs the question: What would compel a father to take his child across the seas on an unsafe boat, crammed full with too many other people, to a land with no promise of a better life, at the risk of losing their lives? The only answer must be that it would be worse to stay where they were.

The needs created by this crisis are simply overwhelming. And the saddest part is that in another six months, there will be another crisis: another hurricane, another tornado, another famine, another genocide. And just as the tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti eventually became yesterday’s tragedy, the Syrian refugee crisis may suffer the same fate.

And just to depress you further: we know that on top of these disasters are the ongoing needs of the world: children in need of foster homes and adoption. Villages in need of clean drinking water. Inner city schools in need of assistance. Persecuted people in need of justice. Diseases in need of curing. And so on. Is it any wonder that the next to last verse of the Bible is “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come, indeed, and put an end to evil and suffering and make the world right again.

In the meantime, we as God’s people are challenged to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus, who told us to take up our cross and follow Him, to be willing to give our lives in order that we might find them (Luke 9:23-24). A volunteer from our church is currently putting together a bulletin board that will give us more information and ideas of how we can get involved in this significant humanitarian crisis in Syria. We believe that Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. In the same way, may our church be willing to serve those who suffer in this world, in big and small ways, so that the light of Christ might shine brightly in this dark world.