Prior to hearing Dr. Lim speak at Dordt, I was eager to learn more about The Reformation & John Calvin’s unique situation as a refugee himself. When considering Calvin’s situation, it is important for Christians to consider what it means to be exiled, and to also ask ourselves how we can better care for one another. The Protestant Reformation was ultimately a refugee movement. Religious conviction in the area led to mass migration and refugee-seeking. In Calvin’s case, he left France at the age of twenty-six as a refugee and never even got to return home. He saw the identity of the Christian as a “stranger and alien” and the trajectory of the Christian journey as a sojourner. Dr. Lim then goes on to explain that “love of neighbor is not dependent upon manner of men but looks to God… Thus the LORD commands all human beings without
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In the modern world, we are very quick to judge others and deciding who/what gets our attention and love. However, we need to remember the phrase “Imago Dei” which translates into “image of God in every single person.” God is the true avenger and all Christians need to love the foreigner as ourselves. Following the conclusion of the First Monday Series talk in the morning, I was ecstatic to be able to attend the Q & A session in SB 1606 with Dr. Lim. During this session, Dr. Lim posed numerous challenging questions to us students. He told us to imagine ourselves moving from one place to another, and to consider whether this was a traumatic/dramatic experience. This is how most refugees feel while they are forced to relocate (exiled), so as Christians we like to see a sense of empathy, especially in a place in which you have never been before. Although there is a larger number of refugees in the world today, the Reformation (16th century) was indeed a refugee movement. As Christians, we must continue to develop a deeper sense of empathy, while also seeking out others from different ethnic backgrounds &
In the modern world, we are very quick to judge others and deciding who/what gets our attention and love. However, we need to remember the phrase “Imago Dei” which translates into “image of God in every single person.” God is the true avenger and all Christians need to love the foreigner as ourselves. Following the conclusion of the First Monday Series talk in the morning, I was ecstatic to be able to attend the Q & A session in SB 1606 with Dr. Lim. During this session, Dr. Lim posed numerous challenging questions to us students. He told us to imagine ourselves moving from one place to another, and to consider whether this was a traumatic/dramatic experience. This is how most refugees feel while they are forced to relocate (exiled), so as Christians we like to see a sense of empathy, especially in a place in which you have never been before. Although there is a larger number of refugees in the world today, the Reformation (16th century) was indeed a refugee movement. As Christians, we must continue to develop a deeper sense of empathy, while also seeking out others from different ethnic backgrounds &