Joel Richardson

The Underground Episode 11: The European Muslim Refugee Crisis

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39 Responses

  1. Thanks for the video Joel. I will send a donation + plus my prayers. If people do not have any money, they can at least offer their prayers. 🙂

  2. Joel
    You suggested that because Christians aren’t ministering in Muslim lands perhaps God is bringing them to western nations, infering it’s for ministry there. It is not equally possible it’s to punish the post Christian west using God’s historic method…foreign invasion. Have not post-Christian nations provided the means for ministry via the Smart phones they all seem to have…any interest in Christianity could have been satisfied instantaniously if desired.

    From the hundreds of videos and articles I’ve read it seems quite clear that upwards of 75% are economic migrants, not families or children, but single males between 18-30. The evidence also seems abundantly clear that they willing employ rudeness, aggression, even violence to ensure that their culture, ideals, and religion are respected and catered to without question. This arrogance undermines the whole concept of oppressed people searching for sanctuary and reinforces the meme of confident, strutting, conquerors.

    Many in Europe, North America, and elsewhere who are feeling the effects or witnessing this mass migration are torn between Christian charity/compassion and self preservation/interests. Christians are already being condemned in many circles for accepting payments (100 of millions) to advocate, assist, and settle Muslim in cities and towns throughout the western world. The negative effects this is having on said communities is undeniable, often resulting in Sharia zones and increased Muslim demands and violence.

    My questions to you are why should Christians enable and support the migrants instead of their fellow citizens calling for border controls, deportations, and if worse comes to worse war against Islamic nations who are primarily responsible for creating the conditions they are fleeing? Christians for fourteen centuries dealt with armed Muslim invaders and eventually fended them off, are we now expected to welcome them with open arms and hope for the best considering the demographics (75% Muslim males) and allow our daughters to inter-marry and convert to Islam? (an Islamic requirement) Lastly, many “Christian sects” in the west are actually pagan religions where Christian tenets are scorned, reviled and rejected, how will they help Muslim converts?

  3. Joel, I just don’t know if I can agree with you. This passage keeps coming to mind:

    Eze 38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
    11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
    12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

    The disciples were sent forth to the nations. I’m not so sure that is the same thing as bringing a Godless majority and all of it’s religious practices to dwell with Israel. At the rate this is going, it seems more likely that for every Muslim brought to Christ there may be non-Muslims lost to Islam.

    Don’t get me wrong. OF COURSE Christians are to assist the lost and the persecuted. Certainly an attempt to share the gospel message should be made. But there are indications that a great many of the refugees are in fact a part of a carefully orchestrated invasion. Will the fledgling church in the Balkans be able to withstand it? Before it’s foundation is yet firmly set and dried?

    Christians do need to give aid and comfort to the downtrodden and persecuted, but I don’t see how the Islamification of Europe helps further the gospel. Instead, it may well corrupt many young European men and women.

    I don’t pretend to have the answer to this crisis, and I wish I could more clearly define the line between enabling and abetting Islam and Christian obligation. I guess your seeming lack of alarm about the situation surprised me, because I see this mass migration as likely more anti-gospel than helping the cause of Christianity. But perhaps you’re simply saying it is what it is; let’s take advantage of the opportunity to spread the gospel. If so, I’d have to agree.

  4. Is John 8:3-11 only the story of something that happened in the past, or are we to look in it for what is to be applied today?

    A thorough profile has been developed of those relocating from Syria, Algeria, Eritrea, Senegal, and elsewhere, and they are trying to get to Europe. So, we need to keep our eyes open.

    When you have the father of the drowned Alan Kurdi wanting to get to Europe to get new teeth, and after having been in Turkey for 3 years, we need to listen, and ask questions that the relocatees might not want to answer, in order to find out what is the prudent thing to do.

  5. “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

    Says the God that rebukes the wind and the waves. Who brings the dead to life, saves the righteous from the mouths of lions, and forgives the most grievous sinner.

    It is dissappointing to see Christians hiding behind walls of self-preservation and fear, too afraid for their own comfort and safety to see God’s hand moving in all these great and wondrous happenings.

    We serve the God of miracles, but how often are miracles granted when we stand against God’s hand and say ‘No, we will not sacrifice our safety. We will administer the gospel on our terms.’ Is that how the great harvest is to be brought in? By turning away those who need God most?

    Open your eyes and your hearts brothers and sisters. We are living in the days of the great harvest, but the workers are too few. The Muslim people are coming whether we like it or not. The only question is is how will we recieve them? With love? Or fear and hate?

    Matt 24:9-14
    “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated because of me. AT THAT TIME MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS THE LOVE OF MOST WILL GROW COLD, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME.”

    The end is near. Finish the race well. Do not let fear diminish your love for sons and daughters of God who have been decieved by the evil one. If you had been raised Muslim, would you be any different?

  6. M Funk:
    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

    Does this not plainly state that Satanic forces are also active? To state that those concerned about mass migration and the introduction into our societies of people whose very beliefs are “Anti-Christ” are somehow interfering or opposing God’s plan out of fear or faithlessness seems uncharitable. This may very well be a God inspired phenomenon, but it could also be Satanic in nature. Are people expected to go all in without knowing which?
    The societies expected to absorb these masses, as attested to on a daily basis, are led by corrupt self-serving individuals and populated by citizens who publically declare their hatred for God and love of institutionalized sin. Paganism is the predominate ideology even in many Christian churches and bodies. Is not the need for the gospel there a high priority or have Christians, tired of being slapped around and told to shut up, just capitulated?
    When one looks at the whole forest and not just the trees this invasions looks more like “divine judgement” than anything else.

    Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of their rights, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the orphans. Now what will you do in the day of punishment, And in the devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth? Isaiah 10:1-3

    Asking those four questions is not a sign of fear or faithlessness but a plea for Christians to come together to answer them with humility, prayer, and true Biblical council. How and why have Christians failed so miserably and how do we proceed from here?

  7. Joel, thank you making this video.

    Two perspectives here:

    1) Anthony and Avery both raise legitimate concerns which should not be dismissed. As a recent acquaintance of mine said, a dear Christian gentleman who just retired from DHS (he is an anti-terrorism expert who has worked in the Middle East), our country has not only been deceived, it has been betrayed. He has been on the front lines confronting the deception and betrayal (he has briefed Congressional committees; when he tells them what is going on he says their “faces literally turn pale”). I don’t know if God is going to bring revival to this nation, as many are convinced is going to happen. Perhaps He will, and we should certainly pray for revival, but it will not happen, I believe, without some sort of catastrophe, and it certainly won’t happen until God’s people repent and turn back to Him.

    I do think that if the “refugees” coming here turn out to be mostly Muslim males of military (read: fighting) age, then it seems to me that we are potentially importing an Islamic army nearing the numbers of our own military (which really isn’t that large if you think about it, 250,000). By 2017, we will have brought in about 175,000, according to John Kerry and others. The high percentage of males is not what is normally seen in refugee groups.

    Let’s not forget that the Administration is also deporting 10 (ten) Chaldean Christians who were brought here legally.

    2) At the same time I must agree with Joel and with M Funk. And there are also Christians fleeing persecution among these groups. Below is a link to an interview with Dr. Gottfried Martens of Trinity Lutheran-Berlin, Germany. It had not occurred to me that there were Christians also fleeing until I heard this interview. Some may doubt that these people are sincere, but they are not only seeking to be baptized once they get to his church, they are remaining with the congregation.

    http://issuesetc.org/2015/09/16/4-muslim-refugees-converting-to-lutheranism-dr-gottfried-martens-91615/

    So we must pray for these people. We must also pray that if there are Christians among the groups coming here they won’t be rejected like the Chaldean Christians I mentioned above.

    I guess what I’m trying to say is that I believe Anthony, Avery, Joel, and M Funk are all correct in their different perspectives. I don’t believe there is necessarily an “either or” way of thinking here. It is “both and”, IMO. And since there doesn’t seem to be any indication that the Administration is going to back down on its commitment to bring these refugees here (if indeed, they are all truly refugees in the way that we have understood the word refugee to mean), we need to prepare ourselves for this.

    Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise [shrewd] as serpents and innocent [harmless] as doves.” Sadly, there are many Christians who are innocent and harmless as doves, but they are not shrewd or wise. I meet them all the time; they are asleep and uninformed. It is very frustrating. Their easy answer is, “Well, Jesus said this was going to happen”, and it doesn’t go beyond that. Yes, Jesus tells us what is going to happen, but He tells us so that we can watch and prepare.

    If we are going to be a witness to Muslims, we must educate ourselves about Islam beyond the superficial and understand its true nature. Muslims bow down to demonic forces five times a day. This is intense spiritual warfare that will require nothing less than spiritual armor.

    Finally, I’ll relate a story from my own experience, because it convicted me deeply, because we must remember that many Muslims are tired of the oppression they live under. Last year I was in physical therapy, and toward the end I met a Muslim woman with whom I had the chance to chat just briefly, twice. Because she was waiting to begin her session, and I was finishing up, there wasn’t much of an opportunity to really get into a conversation with her, but I sensed both times an eagerness on her part to participate in the conversations with the other women who were sitting nearby. She had a gentle and quiet demeanor about her. On the second, and last, occasion I had for any dialogue with her, she noticed that I was wearing nail polish. Nail polish – who would think that the Lord would use nail polish as a way to open a door? Seriously? Well, He did. This Muslim woman told me she liked the color and then added, “But I can’t wear it. My husband won’t let me.” And then she said, twice for emphasis, “You understand. You understand.” I could have cried right there. I do cry now when I think about it. Then she said defiantly, “But someday I’m going to wear it when he isn’t looking!”. So much for her “gentle” demeanor! I couldn’t help but wonder what other things she wished she could do. She is living in a prison, the spiritual prison of Islam. I do not know her name, but God knows her name. I pray for her often that even if I never meet her again, that God will bring someone else in her path to present the Gospel to her. Christian women are in a position to befriend Muslim women.

    Let us ask God to give us compassion for the oppressed and let us also ASK Him to give us opportunities to reach out. Some of us need to be convicted of our lack of love, frankly, and I am one of those, I will admit it. Like everyone here, I love my country and I hate what is happening to it. But I also remember my encounter with the Muslim woman, and surely there are many more like her. Islam is the true oppressor here. The same Jesus who transformed Saul of Tarsus still transforms lives today.

  8. Joel thank you for sharing the video from last year – very emotional moment for me – I am from Bulgaria but live in Western Europe.
    A very dear friend of mine and her husband minister to refuges there and when I asked if they have the chance to share to gospel with her, she said that most of the Syrians they help are Coptic Christians and that the rest are almost unreadable. Plus they are only passing through the country as their primary goal is to get to Western Europe or Scandinavia. This immigrant crisis came in the spot light only this year but in Bulgaria the first immigrants started to come 2 years ago. Are they counted in the 32 million? All I know is that my father almost cries every time we talk because Islam is spreading like canser throughout the country.
    Back in the ’90 they use to teach us in church that Bulgaria and Greece are the last Christian fortress, after that is all Muslim countries. But it seems like they build their trasian horse and that fortress has become an open gate.
    I totally understand what you share at the end of your video, about the identity of the Muslim children growing up in the western world. The thing is, they live in their own ethnic groups here. It was even a huge thing few years ago about the Muslim girls being able to wear scarfs at school or jobs. To most Dutch people this is pretty offensive. How they see it, you came to our country, our home but are not willing to adapt but we have to adapt to you and your customs. The intolerance is growing by the day. So not that many people are exciting about the refugees coming. We are even scared of them.
    Few weeks ago I read a report of couple of hundred refugees converting to Christianity. The comments of many people was: we hope it’s genuine because obviously in the Koran they have such a thing like sacred deception, called taqiyya which says it’s ok to lie to infidels. Obviously they are “converting” to Christianity because they are being treated better, so out of convenience.
    But at the end of the day, even 10 out 1k do truelly convert to Christianity, it’s worth it all.

    Blessing

  9. A couple quick words. Those Chaldeans that were kicked out, were caught lying in the immigration process. Its is not due to any anti-Christian bias.

    As for the immigrants coming here, there are only an extra several thousand per year. No army. Also, it takes a bare minimum of two years, more often several for the legal immigration process to occur. The process of making sure they are not terrorist is quite stringent. Legal immigration would be the absolute worst way to come as a terrorist. It would be far more wise to sneak across the Mexican border and come illegally.

    All of this talk about men of “military age” is largely born from fear. Roughly half are young single men, yes. This is only logical. It is not easy for woman and children to make it the distance these men make into Europe. Its no different with many Mexicans crossing into the US, but no one says there are an army coming to kill us all. Are some of the Muslim migrants going to be terrorists? Yes, but the overwhelming majority are not. The bottom line is this. We are to be about being Christians who place the Gospel first. I see many who are protecting themselves first and thinking about the Gospel secondary.

  10. Anthony:

    The problem is we are too concerned with ‘the forest’. Why not let God handle that, as He is and always has. God has allowed Satan to live on for His own good purposes, even if they seem evil to our own small perspectives. God is focused on the grand scheme; to bring as many of his children home to paradise as He can, even at the expense of our suffering, because He knows it will be brief compared to the eternity of joy that awaits us.

    It is up to us to look after the trees, the lost souls of Islam, many of whom are desperate for the truth, for Jesus. That is my main concern and I hope it is yours too.

  11. Thanks to all who responded:

    The exodus underway is happening, but let us say “this is God’s will” Fine I can believe that.

    I have read hundreds of articles on Christian sites, Christian blogs, and seen it first hand in Christian Churches, especially those which support a dualistic Muslim-Christian alliance.

    The vast majority of Christians have no true understanding of Islam, neither it’s history, it’s beliefs, it’s practices, or it’s goals, and are led by “leaders” likewise Islam illiterate or who have absorbed “the whitewashed version of Islam as a “religion of peace” deception.

    Many have stated, and rightly so, that most adherents of Islam are decieved victims of an evil ideology and are in need of the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. A fact born out by the fact that 80% of Islam’s followers are illiterate and only understand Islam from the perspective of those advocates of Islamic subjugation. They know nothing about what their “holy books” actually say and have been raised believing lies and slander about Jews and Christians.

    This is my worry. Cristians, many Biblically illiterate, as well as Islam illiterate, are ill prepared to deal with Muslims. especially those freely invited into Christian circles who are well trained in Da’wah (the proselytizing and preaching of Islam) Again and again I’ve seen Christians succumb and adopt a fusion of Christianity and Islam where Islam ALWAYS dominates. “Jesus was a Palestian freedom fighter murdered by the Jews” is one example of this.

    “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.…Matthew 18:11-13

    The dangers to the flock cannot be ignored by saying “I have saved a sheep lost to Islam” while allowing the wolves of Islam to carry off many from the flock…can it? The dangers to Christians and those Muslims they rescued from Islam, many who are now endangered from family and friends, especially husbands, for apostacy are real and concerning, and need to be realistically talked about and addressed.

    “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” Acts 20:28-29

    Sorry for the long posts, but I stuggle with “leaving everything in God’s hands” and “being proactive.” John 10:11 says “…The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”, not “the good shepherd closes his eyes and invites the wolves in”

  12. Anthony,

    We are not talking about inviting refugees to come. They are there. Period. We are talking about doing what we should be doing now. Sharing the Gospel, instead of panicking.

    I am far more concerned about Christians living in fear and believing that a couple hundred thousand refugees have more power to change Europe than the hundreds of thousands of born again believers in Europe have to change them. Jesus changed the world with 12 sold out believers.

    Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

    Blessings

  13. I’m sorry to hear that the Chaldean Christians lied in the immigration process.

    It is tragic that women and children are being left behind to live in danger while the men leave. Who is protecting them?

  14. Hi Joel, Thank you for another great video. I look forward to The Underground each week.

    I have read some of the above comments. I can only speak from the place I am in, but this message was timely for me. Just today I was passing through a college campus on my way home here in the US and saw Muslim students along the street. My first gut response was annoyance. I wondered why they had to be here; I felt threatened. But another voice, one of the spirit came to me and reminded me that Christ died for them and it is my duty as a Christian to tell them that. Every one of us receives salvation through the grace of God, and who are we to decided who that grace does or does not belong to? I have been planning an outreach and ask your prayers that God works despite my weakness in reaching them.

    I agree, the church was never meant to play it safe and stay behind our walls of protection. If the apostles had done in the first century, what sort of church would we have today? We must reach out to the lost, those that Christ died for.

    Your work has a ripple effect; please stay strong and I wish you many blessings.
    Shalom, Gloria

  15. Joel, your final comment is very astute. We are not inviting the Muslims; we should not invite them. But when someone in need of the Gospel is right in front of us, let us do everything we can to show them the love of Christ.

    BTW, God’s hand may be at work in this migration. Both to present them with the Gospel and to help fulfill Luke 21:9

    When you hear of wars and disturbances (Gk: AKATASTASIAS, meaning riots, rebellions and chaos), do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.

    Notice it says these things MUST take place. (quote of Daniel 2:29 and Daniel 2:45 btw, “Things that must take place”)When Isa arises and says “this is resurrection day,” Muslims worldwide will rise up and join the Jihad and there will be literal fighting in the streets. But how are Christians to respond to this, the breaking of the second seal of Revelation? Lift up our heads for our redemption draws near!! (Luke 21:28)Jesus at that point is just a few years away!! We must not be “survivalists” but “revivalists,” our own personal survival is not the critical thing. The Kingdom is. In the words of Esther, “if I perish, I perish.” Our protection is with God whom we are to trust with our lives.

    “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Luke 12: 6-7)” Jesus quoted this immediately after saying do not fear those that can kill the body.

    We are citizens of a Kingdom that is coming, not of our earthly nations. We should work and pray for the safety of our earthly cities; yes, of course, but we have a greater calling.

    Sorry Joel, but I got a little carried away here. Part of our “emotional” preparation for the return of Jesus, IMO, is to “die to self,” and if we are already “dead,” what can they do to us? How do you kill a dead man?

    To live is Christ,
    Nelson

  16. Jesus said, “love your enemies… ” I really liked the comment by Nelson “We must not be “survivalists” but “revivalists,” our own personal survival is not the critical thing. The Kingdom is.” I love love. I want to have the love of Christ in me and to be able to show it to others. I don’t want to just desire to live a little time and a moment longer. Romans 12:9 says “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
    I think one of the most neglected prophecies is Isaiah 34:1-4 in verse 2 it says ” For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.” Is it a light thing to have God’s fury against you, or the people of you congregation? We should not be encouraging people to be in any of this worlds armies. 2 Timothy 2:4 says ” No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Not for this world, and Jesus said in John 17:14 “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

  17. A while back I was reading the passage in Acts where Paul is speaking to the men of Athens. In that speech he said something that jumped out at me. “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him.”
    Paul was saying that God, in His sovereignty, is the one ultimately responsible for the places where people live and the time that they live there. And God has determined this for a purpose, namely “that they should seek God” and hopefully “find Him”.
    Whatever the earthly physical causes of the current movements of people might be, we can be sure that God’s purposes in these people being where they are is so that they might seek Him and find Him.
    We are blessed by an amazing opportunity to participate first hand in that work of God by taking the time to share the Gospel with those refugees or other immigrants whom the Lord has placed in our own neighborhoods and communities.

  18. Joel, I couldn’t disagree with you more. These people that are invading other countries are not in need. By your guests own admission most of them have smart phones! They are mostly military aged men and many of them have links to terror organizations and they have found fire arms being smuggled in with them. The process of them getting into countries is not in any way shape or form rigorous as many of them claim to have lost their passports and many of them are not even from Syria.

    I’m quite appalled that you would say that anyone who doesn’t welcome these terrorists with open arms aren’t acting godly. It’s one thing to send them memory cards with the Bible, it’s quite another to welcome them to overtake your community while they impost sharia. Their stated goal is to eradicate infidels and make sharia the law of the world and the way they plan to do it in the west is by infiltration. Their leader was a pedophile and a murderer. They are demanding the countries they are invading to change their culture because it “offends” them. The daughters of those people are living in terror.

    The muslim countries could take those muslim “refugees” but they have taken zero, partly because they know they have ties to terrorist organizations and partly because they want to the west to become muslim as well.

    To all of you who say that well we should all just trust God to take care of us you are missing the big picture. Jesus said to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. You are missing the wise part. There is a reason that God ordered Joshua to annihilate all men women and children from the land of Canaan when He sent in the Israelites to inhabit the land. How un-Christ like of Him! Nobody is saying wipe them out or to not try to evangelise them (which, by the way, some Christians in Michigan were just arrested for). We are saying it is UNWISE to allow them to invade countries, knowing a lot of them are affiliated with terrorist organizations when people’s lives are at stake, especially children’s. If the church hadn’t stood up against the muslims in the 700’s Europe would already have been muslim. If Thomas Jefferson hadn’t stood up to them we would probably still be paying them to not attack our ships! It is not ungodly to protect our countries and our families from people we know are there solely to hurt them. These people are shouting allah akbar and that they will take over the countries and refusing food because there is a red cross on the box. The US is not even in charge of vetting these people, the UN is! Saying we must take them in is akin to saying when a confessed murderer and pedophile comes to your door you shouldn’t defend your home you should invite him in for tea and crumpets while your children are playing on the floor. This is an unarmed invasion.

    What about the Christians who are really seeking asylum? There are middle east Christians who are marked for death and being murdered, women and children that are sold as sex slaves and the western church does nothing. But the same church will say countries must open up there arms to the muslims sent there to destroy those countries, rape their women and children and make them change their cultures so muslims won’t feel offended?

    It is unwise to allow muslim unarmed invaders into western countries. However, we should keep praying for them that Jesus would visit them in visions and dreams and call them out.

  19. Ruth,

    You remind me of Jonah. And I certainly did not intend to “appall” you. If I could share a couple of responses.

    First, you said that Muslim nations are not taking in any refugees. This is entirely not true. In Turkey alone, there are now two millions refugees in Turkey. I was just there. There are families and people sleeping all over the streets. They are everywhere. Lebanon and Jordan have another 2-3 million. Do the Saudis need to take some? Yes. And Kuwait etc. Absolutely they should.

    Second, as to their make-up. A good number of the migrants are Kurds. They are fleeing because they do not trust the Arabs or the Turks. Kurds also tend to be many of the least radical Muslims. Many are Afghanis. They are some of the most open to the Gospel right now. Are there going to be some Sunni terrorists? Absolutely. Will it increase crime in some areas? Surely it will. We are not being naive here. But neither are 90% of these all terrorists coming to take over. That is simply not an accurate picture. There is much fear being spread around and a lot of untruths on the internet. So we must begin with a realistic picture.

    Third, my point is simple. They are in Europe. Whether we like it or not. There is nothing you or I can do about it. So I suggest we share the Gospel with them. I suggest we do what Jesus commanded we do. This is done through reaching out to them. You are saying Christians and churches should not reach out to them. I would suggest that doing nothing will… do nothing. Ignoring them is not going to help anyone. The greatest tool or weapon we have at our disposal to change the world is the Gospel. So lets use it. This is what changed you and me is it not?

    Finally you said: “It is unwise to allow muslim unarmed invaders into western countries. However, we should keep praying for them that Jesus would visit them in visions and dreams and call them out.”

    Let me repeat, it is not an issue of whether or not it is wise. It is already a done deal. There is nothing you or I can do to stop it. It has already happened.

    Finally, simply praying that they have dreams is not evangelization. Jesus commanded that we share the Gospel with people. With words. And deeds. “How will they hear, if there is no one to preach to them?” Paul asked.

    I know that you are worried. But greater is He in you, than He who is in the world. He has overcome the world. And ultimately, we are not citizens of this present world. We know how this all ends. Lets keep our eyes on that.

    Blessings,
    Joel

  20. Joel, your comment that we should not let the fear of the Muslims direct our actions because “stronger is the One who is in us, the the one who is in the world”…..I say Amen to that.
    I watched your your video over the weekend and the whole subject hasn’t stop playing in my mind ever since. I even had to come before God and ask for forgiveness because I saw hatered and intolerance in me towards Muslims and realized that for a big part it’s based on fear. Few months ago I was at a big shopping center, packed with people…..I came across a Muslim woman, dressed in one of those big black robes, head and face covered, all I could see was two eyes and a tattoo on the forehead. My very first thought was – “how do I know she doesn’t have a bom there under that big tent she’s wearing”. Anger, resentment and hatered swept over me.
    Your message confronted all those feelings/attitude. Thank you again for sharing this with us!!!
    But do pray not only for the churches at the front line – the Balkans, but also for the churches in Western Europe, the end destination for all those refugees.

  21. Good on you Joel
    Do not be discouraged
    Salvation is not just for ones own soul it is for the establishment and expansion of the Kingdom of God.
    Jesus went to all that were lost and alone
    Paul went to Jew and Gentile including those who worshipped many Gods
    Your Kingdom Come Lord Jesus
    Help us to Love as You Love oh Father
    God sent His Son to die for the whole world, help us to share the Gospel of the Kingdom even if it is at the cost of our own lives
    It is easy to love friends but much different to Love those who curse us and kill us.
    Muslims live in fear, they are born a Muslim and for them to leave their faith and become a believer they are killed by their own family members
    What they need is the Love of God that is shared by every Believer in Christ
    I remember in the better friends than mountains video you were asked if you were willing to die for what you believe and what you wanted to share, and your response was yes and that whatever they chose you would still share the Love of Christ.
    Your Love was unconditional.

    Keep on Shining for Jesus and continue to be Salt for Jesus

  22. Nelson, why do you think Jesus said that “these things MUST take place”? Is it God’s will for wars and riots to break out across the earth? Why couldn’t Christ return without these things having to take place?

  23. >>As for the immigrants coming here, there are only an extra several thousand per year. No army.

    Joel, I don’t think your numbers are accurate. The Center for Immigration Studies report states that there have been approximately 280,000 Muslims a year for the last four years. Matter of fact, Muslims are the fastest growing immigrant population.

    “..every year the United States voluntarily imports more than a quarter of a million– or 280,000– Muslim migrants. This number includes 117,423 migrants who were permanently resettled with Legal Permanent Resident status, as well as an additional 122,921 temporary Muslim workers and foreign students, and 39,932 Muslim refugees and asylees. This means that each year, the U.S. admits a number of Muslim migrants larger in size than the entire population of Des Moines, Iowa.

    According to Pew Research, only 11 percent of Muslim Americans identify as Republican or leaning-Republican, making them one of the most reliable Democrat voting blocs in the country. As Politico recently reported, the Obama Administration is working to get green card holders registered to vote. Because refugees and green card holders can freely collect welfare, this magnifies the existing cultural challenges for Republicans in getting non-Western voters to support Western political ideas.” (Breitbart News)

  24. And this, I believe, reflects the numbers as of July, 2014. They have certainly not decreased.

  25. Not sure what statistics you are referring to. Immigrants and refugees are two different things. Roughly 75,000 refugees per year.

  26. Thank you for being faithful to boldly teach God’s Word. I pray for you and your family.

  27. Thank-you Avery and others. I am a European Christian woman.
    A village nearby is building a center for 509 refugees, a town ten minutes away will receive 1000 , 10 mins drive from there, 2000. On top of what are already here. Mostly the refugees now are not from Syria, many buy fake pasports. Most are economic migrants from Africa and elsewhere. I have no compassion with strong healthy well-dressed men with phines who whine all the time nothing is good enough , not enough food ( European portions) not halal not the best. No house etc. I know God hates ingratitude !
    When they get asylum ( no procedures anymore as we used to have when I worked in an asyljm center years back) they are bringing in multiple wives whom they communicate with via internet ! Left their women in a ” conflict zone”? Many are child-brides. ! Our authorities are stumped as they recognise this is against our law but insist they must accept a marriage legalised elsewhere but are ” hoping to change the mentality”
    Christians are being threatened and beaten in the centres. I saw an interview with a Dutch politician from a Christian party who said it is terrible but they do not want to separate the refugees as advised by police as not the policy of the tolerant Netherlands so they will have to learn to livetogether.
    I say common sense says, separate them so Christians and Azedi’s are protected and talk later about tolerance ?
    Terrible things are happening now, as Europeans are being assaulted. Because it is so bad curfews have been set in some asylum centers now.
    We are not allowe to complain ! We are told these young men are ” traumatised” We feel betrayed.
    . It is an islamic invasion that is all, and we always fought off invasions before, why not now ? People are not kniwn because they evangelise to the Germans occupying here in WW2, good ones , like my family helped their neighbours the Jews and rescued/hid them,
    Now again, Jews are being attacked by Muslims all over Europe and France losing them to Israel which they regret , but do not prevent muslim attacks on them. Leaving for Israel in droves.

  28. If anyone who inderstands European languages needs links to newspapers and video’s I am willing to place them on here.
    A German local newspaper reported that a German boy was called by his Dr. cancelling his cancer theraoy because of over load of 500 migrants needing a first medical check, the Dr, was ” unavailable for comments”
    Cholera around now. Many diseases they bring.
    We need prayer and support too !

  29. “Betrayed.”

    May I ask you if you have actually spent time with any churches who are reaching out to any of the refugees with the Gospel? I have spent time in several refugee camps with mixed tribal and ethnic people groups, and for the most part, the things described in this article were not the norm. Though I am confident that these things do happen in many cases, I also am very doubtful it is as bad as many non-Christian conservative reports are claiming. Every time I talk directly with Christians who are ministering among the camps, they say it is not nearly as bad as many of the news reports portray it as. Again, it is not surprising that there are problems. And certainly there should be a separation of religions and sects whenever possible. I also sense a tremendous amount of fear on your part personally. Please remember, the Gospel is never defensive. We will indeed pray for you. Not merely for protection, but for boldness and confidence in the Lord as well. Remember, He cares about you much more than even you do.

    Bless you!

  30. Hello Joel, thank you for your video. It came just in time. I had a hard time finding my position on this “Problem”.I’m a woman from Germany, which is being flooded by refugees. It’s becoming a chaos more and more. Our politicians don’t know where to put all the people an that fears me. But I know, that god is with his believers. What worries me the most: our western churches won’t be able to response.They are asleep. Some official churche leaders even said, we must not preach the gospel to the refugees. We should just help. That scarries me 🙁 An the few good pastors here in Germany get in trouble with the media, the justice an, politicians an even the official church. Thank you for your work. Greetings from europe.

  31. Yes betrayed. By our ” leaders” wanting 700 migrants in a village of 140 people is fine ? The people stopped the busses coming.by forming a block with cars and the busses full of ” refugees” turned back. For now. A take-over !!People blame authorities the most and yes weak churches. Same as the weak apostateChristians who supported Hitler when they could have stopped him maybe ?Good German Christians protested, out in camps ir at some point coud not fight the beast? My family talked to them when they occupied

    Our elite want Islam here !! They must get rid of old order to bring in the new one, part of cultural Marxism goals.

    In UK street preachers can be arrested. A political leader was arrested for awhile for ” daring” to quote Churchill on Islam. Churchill knew the dangers, he also knew history. Christians parties have stated ontheir website ( now scrubbed !!! But I saw it years ago!) they encourage islam to counter ” secularisation” which THEY are ” afraid” of.?? Why is beyond me as we have nothing in common with Islam .Now secular people despise Christianity more than ever ! as see they are ” loving” the invaders! And lying !
    I only evangelise when the spirit leads, never in my own strength. I learned the hard way and I was so in love with Jesus ! Secularists need to see a witness to take seriously.Kindness and care affects them more than preaching immediately. Not for muslims as they despise kindness and see it as weakness to exploit.

    I KNOW street preachers as friends of mine who evangelised for years in centre of town Now nobody interested at all, a few young people ask questions, By the way they are against the invasion too ! Are they afraid ?

    Sometimes fear is good. Does not mean we do not have faith. Fear has made me run when young from a mad dog !! Fear of Hitler led many Jews to get out of Germany. After Kristalnacht they could no longer flee. Sometimes the beast is too strong to fight it ?
    Also Turkey only takes refugees to bargain for EU membership. On EU website if anyone interested, in English

  32. posted too soon, apologies ! All the best and let us agree to disagree Joel.
    Let us all pray for one another as the saints are encouraged to in times of persecution

  33. So, no you are not doing anything? You are making excuses by inferring that if someone is calling for the Church to reach out to the Muslims, that this means we are in favor of them coming. I do not think it is a good thing at all to import them. But they have come. It is done. They are here. Its time to face reality. Doing nothing will… do nothing. We are not called to share the Gospel (be obedient) only “when we are led.” He already gave us the clear commandment. Consequently, when was the last time you shared the Gospel? In my opinion, the reason that Europe is falling is because of those who claim to be Christians in word only. Those German Christians who died under Hitler did what they should have done. They did not make saving their lives the first and most important thing. Based on what I have read from you, I am doubtful that you would be among them. You seem to be less interested in obedience to Christ and mostly upset at your own lack of safety. We are not without sympathy, of course. We will certainly pray for your safety and boldness and to purge your heart of all fear. But the call to follow Christ and take up our cross is non-negotiable. IF you are not going to be obedient, then please do not claim the name “Christian.”

    Blessings.
    Joel

  34. With all due respect, I would not “agree to disagree” that sharing the Gospel is not our commandment from Jesus anymore than I would agree that homosexuality is acceptable.

  35. Wow, so far this past week I have seen those who say they are appalled and feel betrayed because of the work of preaching the gospel.

    That’s a far cry from those who feel blessed and honored to share the gospel with those who need pulled out of the fire the most.

    Apparently the refugees aren’t worthy of hearing the gospel because they are the enemy (I speak sarcastically) of Christ and are anti-Christ whose purpose is to infiltrate and destroy us.

    Yet we, as Christians, are COMMANDED to LOVE our enemies. AND to do GOOD to them that HATE us, and abuse us and despitefully use us.

    Betrayed? Really? Perhaps if you KNEW WHERE and IN WHO to place your TRUST you wouldn’t feel betrayed.

    Christianity is NOT an ideological philosophy that one sits around everyday and just thinks on. It has a purpose and is actually a work of the Holy Spirit.

    When the servant returns from the field at the end of each day does the master of the house bend over backwards acknowledging what a wonder they are? No, he tells the servant to set the table and serve him.

    The servant is just doing what is expected.

    I think some of “us” Christians have taken one too many “selfies” while in the field.

    In Christ

    Cathy

  36. I was deeply moved by the statistics that you shared at the end of the video that talked about the explosion of new churches at the end of the crisis in Serbia (I think it was Serbia) Could you share those again?

    Blessings!!!

  37. Hi Joel, thanks for the video and conversation. I think the churches in the Netherlands and Europe must proclaim the message: ‘The Kingdom of heaven (Messianic kingdom of Jesjoea) is at hand! Let them ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’! There is no other way!!

    Greetings and Blessings from the Netherlands!

    Gerard J.C. Plas

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December 23, 2021
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