“According to a Pew survey conducted before the election, about two-thirds of white evangelicals (67%) and mainline Protestants (65%) believe that America does not have a moral responsibility to accept Syrian refugees.

This represents a failure on the part of evangelical and mainline clergy.

In some cases (likely the bulk of mainline cases, in my opinion), it’s a matter of what is preached: the clergy know and understand that the Bible commands us to welcome the refugee and give shelter to those who are fleeing persecution, but don’t preach this truth to their congregations for whatever reason.

In other cases (probably more prevalent among white evangelicals), it’s because the clergy themselves hold unbiblical and heretical views, believing that God restricts that commandment to refugees of certain ethnicities or religions, and intends (or doesn’t particularly care) that we refuse shelter and safety to those of the “wrong” ethnicity or religion.

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” -James 3:1