Loving Your Neighbor in an Age of Fear: A Christian Response to the Refugee Crisis

Sep 12, 2016

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How the church responds to fear, especially in moments of national crisis, reveals a deeper truth about what we treasure. In this emotionally charged and challenging episode of the Exile Series, Mike Erre and Andy broach the tension between Jesus' command to love our neighbor and the evangelical fear complex that often dominates Western Christian discourse. Using the Syrian refugee crisis and the reaction following the Paris attacks as a backdrop, they ask: What does it really mean to follow Jesus in a world gripped by fear and self-preservation?

Key Takeaways: • The Evangelical Fear Complex – How American Christianity's obsession with safety, comfort, and cultural dominion often undercuts the radical compassion Jesus calls us to. • Jesus as a Refugee – Revisiting the biblical narrative of Jesus fleeing persecution and why it matters, especially in light of refugee and immigration debates. • Treasuring the Right Things – A deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount and how anxiety reveals misplaced treasure. Jesus calls us to reform what we value in a world of moth, rust, and fear. • The Church's True Witness – Why the witness of the early church—serving sacrificially in times of plague and persecution—offers a powerful contrast to today's reactive fear posture. • Practical Faith vs. Performative Outrage – Mike and Andy explore how to move beyond social media posturing and into real-life hospitality, community building, and sacrificial love.

Notable Quotes: • "Jesus isn't calling us to have peace because bad things won't happen—He calls us to have peace because we treasure things that can't be taken away." • "Our job isn't to be safe. Our job is to make Jesus beautiful in the world." • "The world doesn't need louder Christians. It needs more loving ones."

Resources Mentioned: • Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 6 – Read it here • Letter from Kansas Clergy to Governor Sam Brownback – Expressing Christian opposition to refugee bans. • Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne – A provocative look at how Jesus transcends political allegiances. • The Early Church’s Response to Plague – Eusebius & Bishop Dionysius – Historical examples of Christian sacrifice during epidemics.

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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

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Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy