We have all been deeply moved to hear about the desperate
plight of Christians in Syria who have been targeted by radical Islamic groups
during the civil war.
But recent weeks and days have brought powerfully home to us
that Christians throughout the whole of the Islamic world are facing great
danger from those who would like to see their communities eradicated: scores of
churches in Egypt torched and burned, 78 killed outside a church in Pakistan, Kenyan Christians gunned down in Westgate
shopping centre by Al Shabab for not reciting the ‘Shahada’ and now 40 students
shot
dead whilst they slept in Northern Nigeria by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
These Christians are the tip of a much larger iceberg of
those who have fled their homes, lost children, parents and family members or
are without food, shelter or clothing. Many are included amongst over a million children who
have fled fighting in Syria. Now they are hungry, homeless and fearful.
Many Christians in the UK and elsewhere have been praying
for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and elsewhere but as Christians
in the UK we can and must do far more than that.
Suffering Christians in the Islamic world are part of the
global church, who we have a responsibility to help and are in a position to do
so.
In the first century the Apostle Paul organised a collection
for the poor in Jerusalem to which Christians from all over the Roman world contributed (2 Corinthians 8 & 9). He emphasised his concern for the poor (Galatians
2:10) and said that Christians should ‘do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers’ (Galatians 6:2, 10).
Jesus, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, said that
we way we treat our brothers and sisters who are hungry, thirsty, naked or
without shelter is actually the way we treat him (Matthew 25:31-46).
His parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to be
neighbours to all those in need, regardless of nationality or culture (Luke
10:25-37).
James said that true religion involves caring for widows and
orphans in their distress (James 1:27) and that faith without care for the
physical needs of others is dead (James 2:14-17).
The Apostle John makes the challenge crystal clear:
‘This is how we know what love is: Jesus
Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our
brothers and sisters. If anyone has material
possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how
can the love of God be in that person? ‘
(1 John 3:16,17)
(1 John 3:16,17)
Not many of us will have the skills or openings to go to
help and in most cases it will be best to leave it to those experts already on
the ground. But in the 21st century it is now very easy to give to
provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and other necessities.
Aid agencies like Save the Children, UNICEF, Red Cross, Christian Aid and
Oxfam are already doing a lot to support refugees.
But there are also many Christian Missions who are
specifically reaching and supporting Christian believers. I have listed and linked some of
them below. As John exhorts us, ‘let us not love with words or speech but with
actions and in truth’ (1 John 3:18).
Agencies supporting Christians in Syria and elsewhere
Aid to the Church in Need - Syria Crisis
Hi! Can I add another one for the Catholics who read you?
ReplyDeleteAid to the Church in Need
Started Christmas 1947 by a Dutch priest who saw the need of German Catholics who were destitute in the aftermath of WWII, then the Church behind the Iron Curtain, now worldwide. Particularly dear to my heart as my mother was working in Germany with the Quakers at the same time and told us of the conditions there.
Thank you. I've added a link.
DeleteHow much of the money donated to these charities actually reaches the refugees, and what percentage goes towards admin - in other words, how much of your donation is used to keep fat cats in paper-pushing jobs? I only ask because of the recent scandal of UK charities paying their CEOs and other staff fabulous salaries akin to those in the banking sector.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any small independent charities, with low overheads, helping these folk, I wouldn't mind donating to them. but not to the big guns, sorry. Read what Dr Theodore Dalrymple has to say about Save The Children and others like them. Doesn't inspire confidence in the UK Charitable sector, to be honest. I believe in giving, but only to those who use my money wisely, and for the purpose it is intended.