Talking Faith | Loving 'the least of these'

As Christians, we are called to love people who are hard to love.

I remember serving on a deacon board of a church as a young adult.

One of our roles was to help others in need — from church attendees to those outside the church. The job wasn't easy.

One of the things we disagreed on as board members were how best to distribute the money. It personally frustrated me when we gave funds without seeing how they were spent. We didn't want church funds to be spent on alcohol or drugs.

We eventually refined our rules to make sure money was spent or appropriate things — which was the right thing to do — but in our quest to be good stewards, we missed the bigger picture.

I looked at the ministry more from a money distribution standpoint instead of from a people perspective.

We did things right, but we missed ministry opportunities that we were called to do.

When you look at the refugee issue, it's easy to eye it from a political perspective. Yes, we need to maintain tough rules on immigration, We need to be diligent on security and protect our country.

But we miss the opportunity to understand people, and for Christians, to love others like Jesus loves us.

TALKING FAITH | Politics should stay out of churches

Jesus didn't just die on the cross for Republicans, Democrats, Donald Trump supporters or America as a whole.

He died for the world. A world filled with people we don't understand. A world filled with people that's easy to lump as a group and not trust.

But it's a world filled with people we're called to love unconditionally.

When Jesus was born, he knowingly came into the world that would execute him for what he believes.

Talking Faith | A case for compassion with refugees

But he did it anyway.

He died for people like Audrey Assad, a Syrian-American who is now a well-known Christian music artist. Her family moved to the U.S. from Syria and she tells the story of how Riad, her father, overcame a tough life in Syria to become a U.S. citizen, businessman, and civil servant.

And Assad said her father's example helped shape her life and career.

Embracing refugees and welcoming them is welcoming Jesus - Audrey Assad

"Most refugees are fleeing war or economic destruction and they have suffered a lot,” Audrey Assad shared in a video she made for The Justice Conference. “And when we avoid not only our own suffering but the suffering of others, I think what we are really avoiding is the cross. Embracing refugees and welcoming them is welcoming Jesus. And we are missing out on the opportunity to do that when we hold them at arm’s length. There is so much gift to be received in people who have suffered. I am the person that I am because I am the daughter of a Syrian refugee. What artists, engineers, architects are you going to miss out on if you don’t welcome refugees.”

For Audrey, the Syrian people are much more than a number or stereotype. 

“Considering my heritage, I suppose my reason for carrying a spiritual and emotional burden for Syria and her people is a little more personal than it might be for many Americans,” she shared in an article she wrote for We Welcome Refugees. “Still, I don’t believe this is meant for me to carry alone. I’m not a politician, nor do I consider myself so much as a lay student of politics. That is to say, my only goal in sharing our story is to help put a more human perspective on the concept of Syrian refugees, for those who don’t have a direct connection with these individuals"

God sees value in those who toss aside and view as "the least of these."

Jesus said in Matthew, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Who are "the least of these" in your life?

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For me, it was people who I felt took advantage of the church, others may say Syrians or others we may suspect of terrorism or it may be an annoying person in your life.

No matter who that may be, Christians are called to love them.

We can speak the truth and set tougher rules for when we help.

But we need to do this in love.

As Christians, that's are only we can fulfill our call to love "the least of these."

Chris Pugh is a producer and a faith columnist for USA TODAY NETWORK-Ohio. You can connect with him at clpugh@gannett.com, Facebook at Chris Pugh - Journalist or on Twitter @CPugh_Gannett.