Compassion is the desire that moves the individual self to widen the scope of its self-concern to embrace the whole of the universal self.
- Arnold Toynbee
Fight against something and we focus on the thing we hate. Fight for something and we focus on the thing we love.
- Simon Sinek
It was time to get the oil in my car changed, so yesterday morning I drove over to a Jiffy Lube location so I could get that task crossed off my list. For whatever reason, the television in the waiting room was tuned to the “700 Club” on the Christian Broadcast Network. In between listening to Rev. Pat Robertson prattle on about the evils of homosexuality, Liberalism, or Roger Goodell being the Anti-Christ (it’s not like I was paying close attention), the righteous, well-scrubbed hosts found time to discuss a question from a viewer. I don’t remember the exact wording, but it went something like this:
“Why shouldn’t we be able to exclude certain people from emigrating to our country? Isn’t our country supposed to be for our people??
I looked at the screen, incredulous and, for a moment, dumbstruck. The thought that we’ve (in particular those who call themselves “Christians”) descended to the level where we’re no longer capable of extending a compassionate hand to those in need made me almost physically ill. “OUR country?” “OUR people?” Are we not all human beings? Yes, those of y’all fortunate enough to be White, Christian, and American might believe that happy circumstance to be God’s will…but some human beings live in places where war, oppression, poverty, and hunger- among other privations- are the order of the day. I suppose that’s God’s will…and reason enough for you to sit on your hands while others suffer?
How very Christian of you.
Keep Christ in Christmas? Can we get him back in Christianity first?
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) December 10, 2015
I’m not about to argue that it’s America’s responsibility to take in everyone who’s suffering or whose homeland is ina shambles. There’s no way we have the capacity or the capability to do that, but prayer and disapproval is not a substitute for action. If you call yourself a Christian, you might want to remember that your Lord and Savior once said that to whom much is given, much is expected. Theology aside, the mere fact that people are suffering should be enough to activate our compassion gene. THOSE people may not be Christian and they may not look like you and me, but why should that even matter? We’re talking about human beings, most of whom happen to be Syrian, who’ve lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes to vagaries of war. Most hope for nothing more than a safe place to land and the opportunity to rebuild their lives and provide for what’s left of their families. That they might not be Christian should have nothing to do with anything. It certainly shouldn’t be taken as justification for suspending human kinship and compassion. THOSE people are suffering and in dire need, because THEIR country has been torn apart by the forces of evil.
It’s not America’s responsibility to solve the world’s problems, if for no other reason than the rest of the Western world also bears some responsibility to help those in need. That said, we should be willing to do what we can to help- if for no other reason it’s the right thing to do. It’s what America has historically done. If we’re to believe in American Exceptionalism (another discussion best left for another time), our willingness and ability to help in times of crisis is part of what makes this country exceptional.
This is not “OUR country.” Nor does it belong to “OUR people.” To those who disagree, I’d ask a very simple question: What is America?
Is America still a place asking the world for its wretched refuse longing to be free? Or is it now to be considered the property and playground of compassion-deprived White Christians? Can we live up to the vision of the Founding Fathers and continue the tradition of America being a safe haven, a place where those who are suffering can find safety, security, compassion, and- most importantly- a second chance? Or have we pulled up the metaphorical drawbridge and told the rest of the world that we’re no longer in the compassion business? Do we no longer believe America to be a place of refuge and safety? Is it now to be defined by exclusion borne out of fear, distrust, ignorance, and xenophobia?
Come on, America. We’re better than this. The United States of America was founded by people descended from those who fled religious oppression in England. These shores were a safe haven for those who wanted to be able to live in safety and security. Have we, these many generations later, forgotten our history and become a nation of self-interested, compassion-free Pharisees concerned only with their own personal well-being? Have we really pulled up the welcome mat and told the rest of the world to go fornicate themselves?
When you’re sitting in church on Sunday morning ruminating on what a good Christian you are, you might want to stop the self-congratulation and think about what the Gospel says about compassion and charity. If you really understood what Jesus preached, we wouldn’t be talking about “OUR country” and “OUR people.” We’d be trying to figure out how we could help our fellow Man and make things better. That’s what Christians do. That’s what AMERICANS do.
That’s what OUR people and OUR country should be about.
