Blessing or burden?

Sharing the love of Christ?

BLESSING OR BURDEN?
The churches' response to the asylum 'problem'

A report by Shona Haslam (Evangelical Alliance) and Bev Thomas (CCRJ), published by the Evangelical Alliance and Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ) on UK-wide church initiatives.

The report consists of a four-page introduction by Shona Haslam and Bev Thomas on 'The Asylum "Problem"' and then 31 pages of reports from 15 different church initiatives. The entire report concludes with a two-and-a-half page summary of 'How churches can get involved'.

The initiatives covered vary enormously; some appear to be exclusively concerned with 'social' and 'humanitarian' issues, others contain spiritual and evangelistic perspectives. All represent a most creditable testimony to the outworking of our call as Christian communities to fulfil the social challenge of the gospel so clearly spelt out in God's Word (cf. Isaiah 58, Matthew 25.31ff).

The report is regrettably very limited and certainly fails to represent the enormous contribution and impact which many independent and evangelical churches are making in this area. The initiatives covered represent only a minute picture compared to the enormous ministry which is now being undertaken by churches all over the UK, but the report rightly claims that 'churches across the UK are at the forefront of community engagement'.

Hot potato

The report encourages the Christian community to become involved in helping these very needy people whose plight has become such a 'hot political potato' in Europe. The report is therefore understandably positive and upbeat in describing the benefits of churches being involved in ministry to asylum seekers.

However, the report fails to caution churches against the abuse of our limited resources. Maybe in this respect the report is uncritical and naive. For instance, I was surprised that in the introduction we are told among other things that 'churches have found they must provide money!' A cardinal rule for providing care to any people in social need is to refrain from giving money. Without doubt assistance with food, clothing, housing and many other practical needs is essential, but Christians should be aware that even gifts in kind may well be traded.

It may be salutary to note that among the most cynical and cautious in assessing the needs of some asylum seekers are asylum seekers themselves who have been soundly converted and are now thoroughly integrated into local churches. We need wisdom and must exercise great care as we steward the limited resources that we have for the glory of God and the honour of Christ.

No evangelism

One interesting issue which comes out in the reports is that those initiatives which are working in the closest co-operation with statutory agencies and local authorities are often those who are the least able to undertake explicit evangelistic ministry. For in-stance, there is excellent work being undertaken by Breakthrough Advice and Advocacy Service, but the conditions of their funding by Newham Council is that 'no overt evangelism is permitted'. Most evangelical churches would feel unable to accept such restrictions.

In the report's introduction, the authors state: 'Very few of the churches mentioned include any evangelistic opportunities, so the emphasis is placed fairly and squarely on helping the person with their physical and emotional need.'

I was surprised by that statement, because there are a number of initiatives covered in the report which very clearly refer to evangelistic and spiritual opportunities, i.e. the work in Glasgow where Alpha courses and a new Iranian Church were started, in Liverpool where a women's Bible Study and translation of Sunday services has been arranged, and where specific comment is made of those who have made 'commitments to Christ'. The report from Manchester similarly refers to church attendance, as do others as well.

Coming to faith

In many evangelical churches all over the country asylum seekers are coming to faith in Christ. These are churches able to preach the gospel to these people because they have already shown love in action to them. Among the Iranian asylum seekers there is an amazing spiritual response, and our joy must be that many people are leaving Islam and other faiths and turning to faith in Christ as they come to these shores. Some, of course, become 'nominal' Christians and ask for baptism as an added reason to stay, but quite apart from those who are insincere there are many becoming genuine believers in Christ.

What the report does reveal is the reality of asylum seekers finding care, a welcome and genuine compassion and love within the Christian community.

The conclusions of the report are helpful, though severely restricted and conditioned by the limit of the reports considered, but certainly worthy of serious thought. However, its great weakness is the failure to see the crucial link between our social responsibility and the spiritual dimension of our call to preach the gospel to every creature. The church does have a marvellous opportunity in our situation in the UK, but it is to serve and declare the love of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

For the church to offer to meet social needs and not to address the greater spiritual needs of individuals and communities is to leave our task woefully unfinished, and is in fact to fail to offer the final and unique contribution which we alone can offer: the grace of God flowing to the lost through the love of Christ. An uncompromising sharing of the love of Christ with an evangelistic zeal must be the driving force of this ministry.

The churches' response to the asylum 'problem' - a report

Sharing the love of Christ?

Hot potato

No evangelism

Coming to faith

Peter Parkinson, Leeds

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