Who Wants to Help Us?

“Who wants to help us? Who?” was the heart-wrenching question of an Iranian football player at a post-game interview at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after believing his team was treated unjustly. This really is an important question. Who wants to help those who feel they are receiving unfair treatment? Who wants to help Vinicius Jr., the Brazilian and Real Madrid football player, when he is racially abused?  Instead of being supported, he has been blamed for the racial abuse that is inflicted on him. Many people offer excuses so as not to address injustice, or they cower away from helping others who are being oppressed because of fear, and sometimes they really don’t care. Others believe that some folks get what they deserve. I guess that was what many people thought about Jesus when He was crucified.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. Mark 15:11-15

Notice it was the religious folks who wanted Jesus crucified. I wonder how many people we have crucified in a metaphorical sense as Christians.  When Haitian refugees land on the shores of Jamaica, and we want to send them back to poverty, hunger, and violence without a thought for their wellbeing, and we still say we are a Christian country, then we have gone against Christ. If we don’t want to help them, who will? These are our neighbors who, in many ways, shared a similar journey over the Atlantic’s brutal Middle Passage. We should understand more about being brutalized and therefore  have more compassion. Yet, as Christians, we turn a blind eye because of our prejudices. We  have other rich foreigners coming to our land, buying our prime coastal properties, and locking us locals out of beaches. However, our leaders promote this. But, poor suffering Haitians are sent back to endure agony in their homeland. In Jamaica, we are not living up to our National Pledge.

Before God and all mankind, I pledge the love and loyalty of my heart, the wisdom and courage of my mind, the strength and vigour of my body in the service of my fellow citizens; I promise to stand up for Justice, Brotherhood and Peace, to work diligently and creatively, to think generously and honestly, so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.

How are we advancing the welfare of the whole human race before God when we choose not to help our own needy neighbors? I am not naive. We can’t take in every Haitian. But we can show unusual kindness to those who come to our shores just as Paul and the other shipwrecked survivors received when they escaped to land.

Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. Acts 28:1-2

These Bible verses were part of a recent devotion we had in one of my church’s connect groups, which has really made me think about who we are as a church, the body of Christ. We should never be overcome by fear to help someone as fear is not of Christ.  When we help the most vulnerable, then we do it to our King. We need to stop making excuses for being hospitable and for assisting those who are less fortunate than we are. This is what we are supposed to do. It is not a suggestion; it is God’s command.

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

Many versions say, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.” I understand we must use wisdom, but there are times when we say we are using wisdom when it is just fear.  Are we not empowered by the Holy Spirit? When we neglect to be hospitable, we have rebelled against God no matter what excuses we come up with.

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:8-9

When we have fervent love we will demonstrate Christ to those around us. We need to reflect God’s kindness to those who are not like us, irrespective of their religion, background, ethnicity, or even sexual preference. As a Christian, do you want to help those who are not like you? Are you ready to speak up for those who undergo injustice and not be silent?

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT