Letter: Christians wouldn’t reject refugees

From: Robert Edwards

Columbus

It saddens me to hear Gov. Pence rejecting refugees that have already been vetted, and it saddens me more to hear how much support he gets for this.

The attacks in Paris cannot be tracked back to any refugees at this time. Refugees are already here. And, no, President Obama didn’t agree to bring in hundreds of thousands. In fact, the president only wants to take in up to 10,000 over the next year. The majority of Syrian refugees are not a majority of fighting-age men. In fact, men between the ages of 18 and 59 represent about 22 percent of all Syrian refugees. Of everyone arrested in the U.S. for supporting ISIS, more than 80 percent have been born in the U.S.

Refugees also already undergo more vetting than any other group coming to this country, spending 12 to 24 months of being vetted by several different U.S. intelligence agencies. It would be far easier for a would-be terrorist to come here on a student or work visa than as a refugee. These are all verifiable facts.

You are more likely to accidentally suffocate yourself in your sleep or be shot by a toddler than to be killed by an act of terrorism. Things that are far more likely to kill you — heart disease, diabetes, gang shootings, police shootings, and the list could go on. This fear of terrorism is not only irrational, but it’s exactly what the terrorists want to instill. Those who would reject refugees out of fear have already been defeated by the terrorists. We could go on with more facts and statistics forever.

Gov. Pence and many of his supporters claim to be Christians. We’ve seen this state torn apart and shamed over “Christian values.” Then comes the opportunity to show those Christian values and what happens? Many follow the example of our governor, with such cowardice they refuse to accept those in need because of fear. I must say, those who cower to fear have no right to call themselves a Christian. Those who refuse to help others in need because of fear shouldn’t dare call themselves a Christian.

The Bible is clear over and over. Look at Ezekiel 16:49 for the sin of Sodom. Sound familiar? Read the parable of the good Samaritan, and make sure to educate yourself on the way Jewish people viewed Samaritans at that time. Read 1 John 4:18 about how there is no fear in love. Read 2 Timothy 1:7 and see what Paul had to say about a spirit of fear. Most importantly, read 1 Peter 3:14 and then tell me how any Christian justifies turning people away because of what they fear some of those people might do. I won’t even get into the Bible verses about how to treat foreigners in your land.

The Bible is clear; no Christian would reject someone in need out of fear. By their fruits you shall know them, and I think it’s clear that the fruits of fear are showing.