I have just read a book about a refugee family from Eastern Europe that has caused me to do some thinking. One of the first things that I learned was something about the extreme situation that effected these families. Most of us in America have absolutely no idea of the dangers, privations and hardships these dear people endured. However, the thing that I wish to cite in this short article is that there was a group in America (among many others) that entertained a consciousness to this and stepped out to do something about it.
That group was the Church of the Brethren. The Church of the Brethren is a group that broke away from the German Baptists in the days of Higher Criticism and Modernism. Unlike many of the “fundamental” groups that broke away in those days this group entertained an interest in social issues throughout the world. After WWII they would work to facilitate the immigration of Eastern European families. They made a way for the families in their movement to extend the aid and help of their homes and churches to these refugees. In this book that I have recently read, I wept as I saw the gracious effect of these good people upon the refugees.
It is also true that the Church of the Brethren has in these days slid away from almost any relationship to fundamentalism and have become attached almost solely to social issues. That is a regrettable situation. But in citing that regret, let us not be hindered in seeing the great effect of their commitment to extend the love of Christ in a gracious, merciful and generous fashion.
Christ has taught us to care for the poor and bind up the broken hearted. In our circles we have a great and honorable emphasis upon the Gospel that we must never loose, but in doing that have we neglected other “good works”? Remember these gracious words of our Lord:
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
It would be a regrettable thing to care for the poor and bind up the broken hearted and leave them yet lost in sin and hopeless in eternity. Filling our place in this world as the servants of our Lord is indeed a challenge.
The book I read is, “Fleeing to the Friendly Enemy”, by Barbara Ohler Weber. It is a great read if you can find it.
