Some high profile cases of asylum seekers who have processed Christian faith and then gone on to commit serious offences have been used by politicians to question the genuiness of claims and to accuse the Church of complicity.
In the light if this Tim Dieppe of Christian concern has written and suggested that a high bar to church membership and baptism will help protect churches from complicity in fake conversions and false asylum claims.
I am not sure that Tim’s how helpful Tim’s article is.
First remember that engagement with the gospel is messy regardless of whether asylum is factored in. People can be simply using Christian faith for all kinds of reasons such as for marriage or in the hope they will get some form of spiritual or physical blessing. Others may be attracted to something about Jesus without grasping everything.
Second, when it comes to asylum, the authorities in the home country have little interest in our assessment of a persons’ orthodoxy or commitment. Simply that they have associated with Christianity may be enough of a reason to lead to prison, torture and death.
Thirdly, asylum seekers are fallen humans like everyone else. That they may do immoral or even criminal things does not say anything about whether or not they need asylum.
Fourthly, Christians and pastors are not experts in asylum matters, even those of us with both experience of asylum seekers in our churches. We should be careful about commenting or giving more evidence than we are able to on a case.
So a pastor is wise to sticking to three things.
- Offer asylum seekers the same pastoral care as to anyone coming to your church. Pray with them and counsel them from God’s word.
- Link them with good, diligent and caring asylum lawyers.
- If asked to provide evidence only comment on what you actually are able to based on observations.
When it comes to the question if high bar baptism and membership, treat that as a separate issue and consider what is he
Faithroots 