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The best policy is love

By Denali Hicks

The Syrian refugee crisis, LGBT rights and terrorist attacks – these are just a few of the challenging issues we are attempting to confront as a nation.

They are issues we must wrestle with as individuals. But trying to decide where we stand on each of today’s relevant issues is overwhelming. We feel like we must take a stance, but we don’t see a clear black-and-white answer.

As Christians, what should be our response?

I do not know the best policy for foreign policy or immigration, but at the end of the day, I am most certain of my responsibility to love. Many of the issues we face today present a danger of us singling out an entire group of people.

When we begin “othering” people who are different from us, we forget one of the most important elements of the Gospel – we are all sinners in desperate need of a savior (Romans 3:23). In a very important sense, we are all the same.

The truth of Romans 3:23 is humbling. When I realize that God loved me even before I began serving him, I am made aware that God’s love is not dependent on how deserving I am. God’s love expressed through grace is for everyone, and I need that love as much as anyone else. I do not have some special claim to God’s love. You see, God’s love is much bigger than that.

If God’s love is for everyone, how can we justify treating an entire group of people any way but lovingly? Time and time again, the Bible urges us to love God and to love others. These are the greatest commands. There is no prerequisite that says, “If your neighbor agrees with you, love your neighbor.”

Sally Gary recently visited campus and said, “You don’t have to agree with someone before you can love them.” I think this is a truth we need to reflect upon as we confront some really challenging issues.

Too often I hear Christians demonizing an entire group of people in their foreign policy, LGBT and immigration discussions. Many times, their passion comes from a place of fear. We fear change and we fear our safety being jeopardized. Violence does seem to run rampant in today’s world. I too am made nervous by the current state of affairs. However, fear is no excuse for abandoning our call to love everyone, and I do mean everyone. We must love the LGBT community, the Syrian refugees and Muslims.

I recognize that issues such as terrorist attacks, ISIS and the Syrian refugee crisis involve matters of safety. I agree that safety is important. I am not asking you to be naïve. I just hope that we don’t place ourselves so high on our safe American pedestal that we are too far to reach down to those in need. Jesus got his hands dirty to save those who he loved. I urge you to be willing to do the same.

I do not know precisely how to respond to all of the issues facing us today. I do not know what my exact stance is on everything. Here is what I do know: God calls us to love him and others first and foremost.

I am not trying to sway your vote a certain way or convince you to take a particular position. But I do ask that you consider these issues through a lens of love rather than a lens of fear. I urge you to hold steadfast to love in these perilous times.

“If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars…And God has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another.” – 1 John 4:20-21

 

Denali Hicks is a senior at Oklahoma Christian University. 

The opinions of guest columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Talon or Oklahoma Christian University. Guest opinions are presented to foster public debate on important topics and comments should be respectful and signed.

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