Recently, the Rev. Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Liberty Commission, expressed his dismay over the treatment of refugees at our southern border. He stated, “(T)hose created in the image of God should be treated with dignity and compassion.”     

In response, Jerry Falwell Jr. replied:

“Have you (Moore) ever made a payroll? Have you ever built an organization of any type from scratch? What gives you the authority to speak on any issue? I’m being serious. You are nothing but an employee … a bureaucrat.”

Last Sunday (July 14), many of us who attend worship heard the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” from Luke 10:25-37. In light of the tit for tat between Moore and Falwell Jr., who is playing the role of the priest or Levite and who personifies the Samaritan?

A current Pew Research Poll found that 68% of individuals who identify as “Evangelical Christians” felt the children at the border do not deserve our compassion while only 25% agreed that they do.

The reverse was true for those who identify as “non-affiliated.” Thirty one percent felt no responsibility while 65% said undocumented children deserve our compassion. What’s wrong with this picture?

The church-at-large has an image problem. The Catholic church continues to deal with issues surrounding pedophile priests while Evangelical leaders who espoused “family values” have set those values aside in support of our president.

Unfortunately, negative images surrounding the Christian community gain traction on Facebook as well as on the six o’clock news. Absent from the media are the stories of millions of Christians who hold firm to their values and whose compassion extends far beyond their local community.

Whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, Scripture reminds us, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:9 NIV).

Kenneth Jensen

Albert Lea