There has been much debate about whether or not countries should accept refugees from Syria and other war-torn countries amid growing concerns that the migrant crisis is being used by the jihadist organisation Islamic State (ISIS) to further their terrorist motive.
For prominent Southern Baptist minister Bryant Wright, however, there is no debate as to how Christians should treat refugees: Followers of Christ have the biblical obligation to help the migrants in need.
In an article on the Fox News website, Wright, senior pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta, said Christians should not refuse refugees with any form of assistance even in the face of terrorist concerns.
"We know there's risk, but as Christians, we're called to live by faith versus fear," the Christian pastor said.
In fact, Wright's 8,000-member church is trying to set an example to the world on how to welcome refugees with open arms. The church has provided shelter to a small family of Syrian Muslims and helped them resettle in Georgia, where the state government has so far refused to help migrants from Syria.
The family of three—a dad, a mom and their four-year son—initially stayed with a church family, and was eventually provided with their own apartment.
Aside from this, the church is also taking efforts to gather food and clothing items to be distributed to other refugees.
Last month shortly following the ISIS terror attack in Paris which killed over a hundred people, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order preventing Georgia's state agencies from helping out in efforts to resettle Syrian refugees.
The Georgia state government is also evaluating how to properly screen incoming immigrants in the face of concerns that some of them might be undercover ISIS militants.
"In light of the Paris events, it just goes to show that you can't be too careful," Deal said after issuing the order, as quoted by Fox News.
Wright, however, said he understands Deal's stand on the refugee crisis, but disagrees with refusing aid to migrants.
"I recognise his calling as the governor is for the security of the citizens, to administer justice, to punish evil," the Christian pastor said.
"He has a different role in the role of governance. But our calling as Christians is to reach out to our neighbour — whoever that may be, from all around the world — just as Jesus teaches in the story of the Good Samaritan," he added.
Wright also criticised Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump for calling on a ban on Muslim immigrants in the United States.
"It makes me very sad that there are a good number of conservative Christians that have bought in to this rhetoric," Wright said. "I think, sadly though, it's a reaction because of fear rather than responding, as we're called to respond, in faith as followers of Jesus Christ."
