“I’m afraid for my family because country leaders are questioning them about the school I’m attending here. I know that when I go home, I will be interrogated as well.” Many years ago, I was told this by a student whose country of origin hated Christianity. People who attended small house churches affiliated with a larger Christian church were carefully watched for real or contrived evidence of government opposition or evangelism. She also told me that the elderly caretaker of their church building had recently been attacked and beaten.

Many believe that Americans’ freedoms are being attacked today but generally speaking, we have not matched this woman’s experiences. How should we react as Christians during current circumstances? Will we lose our freedoms? Should we riot, rebel and destroy property? Should we argue with others about the “only right way” to react? Let’s look at Scripture and Jesus’ examples for direction against injustice.

There are directives given in Scripture that show us that Christian’s reactions to challenges should differ from the world’s reactions. The books of James and Romans are great starting points. James begins by giving practical instruction. “Know this my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20 ESV). We also find specific direction for caring for widows and orphans as well as others in need. “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16 ESV).

In addition, we read how Jesus approached those with whom he made contact, from spiritual leaders to outcasts. To spiritual leaders who manipulated laws to their own benefit and sometimes without compassion toward others, he made pointed statements. To the rest of the world, however, Jesus’ response was different. He chose some as disciples, went to dinner in others’ homes, spoke peace and healing to those who were outcast, engaged in conversation with the unclean and marginalized in society, lovingly challenged those with misplaced priorities and told those caught in sin to “go and sin no more.”

These examples show us how to use Jesus’ model and Scriptural directives to reach out to others around us: to bind up the wounds of those who are battle worn, to hold those who are falling and to rescue the floundering. We must advocate for those who cannot do so for themselves, protect the vulnerable and support the broken hearted. We must comfort those who weep, be eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf and a tongue for those who have no voice. Even more, we need to be ready to tell others that it is Christ in us helping us to respond in love rather than in looting, rioting or arguing to effect change. Another rich passage that tells us how to live in this world can be found in Romans 12:9-21.

Finally, we can rejoice that, even if we lose our personal freedoms in the future, there is one freedom we cannot lose! The Psalmist David said, “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.” (Psalm 118:5 ESV). The Lord will do the same for us! When we sincerely ask, we are promised spiritual freedom for eternity and that is the only kind of freedom that we ultimately need. Let us rejoice in that and earnestly seek to be more like Christ as we navigate this troubled world.

Helen McCormack recently published “Ordinary Life, Extraordinary God” that contains about 1/3 of the devotionals written for the Minot Daily over the last 20-plus years. It is available online through Westbow Press, Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Contact her with comments or for a local copy at Jesusisthereason01@gmail.com.