There is a difference
Hasan’s* demeanor is humble and kind. He looks up with sincere eyes, not skirting one’s gaze or with eyes that typical blaze of revenge, anger, or molten pain. He looks up from tying a child’s shoe. It’s not his child, he is just helping. He’s not begging, entitled, or forward. He is simply Made New, which is unusual in this setting. Because all around him swirls the trauma, darkness, anger, and upheaval of war.
Hasan is a refugee: one our team knows. He grew up in a Muslim community and had never even heard the Name of Jesus except as a swear word in western movies. His arrival here was as unwished-for and difficult as it is for each person who lives in or has fled from Syria and much of Iraq. The difference is that he was met by other refugees who Cared. They belong to a Tent Church Movement which have decided that they are Followers of Jesus. Hasan felt their genuine compassion in how they interacted with him from the start. He eventually had tea in a circle of other men, and as the questions went back and forth, Hasan heard about Jesus for the first time. Within a short time of soul searching the puzzle pieces in his spirit-man fell into place.
He came to understand that God created the world and gave humans free choice, knowing from before the dawn of time that they would choose evil. It suddenly made sense that God did not want a Shari’a where everyone obeyed a bunch of rules and that priests were there to police these rules. God wanted a people who chose for themselves if they want to worship God or not. And God loved even those who chose not to worship enough that He Himself created the solution to their choice to sin before He even created the world. That took Hasan’s breath away. This meant that Kismet was a fable with a fallacy. Thinking that it was one’s kismet to get sick, like his grandma had thought, or be a beaten wife, as his older sister had been taught, or be a cripple as his mother was told after the car accident - these were lies! These were lies used to keep people from Hope. Hasan now knew Hope. He had personally seen Jesus heal his mother, now that he knew to ask Him.
Hasan also learned something else about Jesus. Jesus lived outward-looking, serving others, and He gave His Holy Spirit to empower Hasan to do the same. And so, Hasan, like many others in the refugee camp who are now Followers of Jesus began being part of transforming the camp, making it into a better place, serving, caring, creating a temporary city for this season when there is no where else to go.
But Hasan encountered some very real problems. He and the others like him who have chosen Jesus are blocked from getting aid within the refugee camp. This is because the UN has chosen to appoint Muslims to run the offices of the UNHCR. These Muslims consider those people who have left Islam to follow Jesus apostate. Islam teaches that Muslims have the right to kill Muslims who leave Islam. Neither Hasan or any other former Muslim is allowed into the UN office. They are known, labeled and watched.
Hasan was warned by those who shared Jesus with him. He knew that this would be one of the costs of following Christ. But when the guards and UNHCR staff began threatening his family’s lives, Hasan knew he had to take them somewhere else to protect them, once again. Now he and many others like himself live in hiding. They were blessed by the Tent Church they had to leave and have become part of the Underground Church outside the camp.
Hasan shrugs. “Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood. Therefore, let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” he says, quoting from Hebrews 13. “We are not unique. Jesus followers have always suffered. He will provide.”
Instead of seeking his own, Hasan moves on, serving as he is able. He and his wife are caring for children who were orphaned. His mother, now widowed, also helps. They pray for those who persecute them and seek to improve the lives of those around them. “I would not exchange this peace for anything in the world,” Hasan concludes.
Hasan is not unique in this experience. He is someone seeking to STAY in his nation and serve.
But many of those who are seeking asylum are finding that some nations are specifically preventing them from entering BECAUSE they are Christian. This is strange because the fact is that all those who are being specifically targeted for death and violence in Iraq, Syria and Iran ARE first Christians, and then also Yazedis, Kurds and even some Shia Muslims, the rejection makes it evident that not only the UN but also some of the nations who say they are receiving refugees are being selective. Please read more about this here: UK and UN Treating Persecuted Christians as Enemies.
The FACT IS not ALL refugees seek asylum. Many are trying to stay and rebuild their nations.
FOR REFUGEES THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE BEST:
It would be wise for the leaders of this world to recognize that it is ESPECIALLY CHRISTIANS who are being selected for persecution,
and wise for the leaders of this world to HOLD THE UN RESPONSIBLE TO APPOINT CHRISTIANS TO LEAD THE PROCESS OF HELPING REFUGEES.
and for member nations to hold their leaders responsible to choose to have those who are being persecuted for their faith be the ones who receive asylum before others do.
and for member nations to hold the media responsible to stop lying and calling the persecution of Christians “tribal infighting”.
HOWEVER - IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL THAT WE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE AND START FINANCIALLY GETTING BEHIND THOSE WHO ARE HELPING REFUGEES WHO WANT TO STAY IN THEIR NATIONS TO REBUILD THEM AND HELP THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. Cross Cultural Connections is one of the organizations that is empowering the local churches in war zones to rebuild their nations - through the giving from local churches globally.
While we need to be a voice in our own nations - in the right way, for the right things, for the right reasons - EVEN MORE, WE NEED TO BE A VOICE, AND A SUPPORT, AND A PROVISION FOR TRANSFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUR VERY OWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST WITH WHOM WE WILL SPEND ALL OF ETERNITY.
(*names changed to protect them)