Thinking Biblically About Immigration
Let’s be very honest: The subject of immigration & immigration policy is terribly complex, and good people are going to disagree on the best path forward.
In fact, the issue is filled with such complexity and has become so polarizing that even brothers and sisters in Christ who sing the songs of Zion as they sit beside one another on Sunday morning can come to very different conclusions concerning how it should best be addressed.
I’ve certainly got my own opinions on immigration, the current laws that are in place, and what I believe about the need for immigration reform. Yet, sharing my thoughts on the subject is not the purpose of this article.
Instead, what I hope to accomplish here is to help us to think Biblically about immigration and use the scriptures to address a very common error that I have noticed in our thinking on the subject so that we can approach this issue with a clarity that is obviously lacking.
Allow me to sum up in a simple statement what I hope to communicate in this piece: Individual Christians have different responsibilities than the state or federal government
In our current sermon series at North Anderon in 1 Peter, we’ve been reminded that government, according to the Lord’s divine design, is put in place by God Himself. The government is God’s way of protecting and preserving society, maintaining the public good and directing the affairs of the state. We’ve learned that Christians, with the exception of authorities commanding that we violate God’sWord, must submit to the governing authorities. Our allegiance to God does not negate responsibility to secular authority. In fact, those who resist this God-delegated authority are resisting what God has ordained (Romans 13:1-2).
Governments have the right and duty to establish and uphold the rule of law. Of course, laws should be just laws, and citizens in a democracy like ours have the duty to advocate for just laws and for the elimination of unjust ones. But we should not advocate for law-breaking (Titus 3:1). Remember, Romans 13 reminds us that those who break the law should be afraid, because God has delegated authority to punish evil.
Governments are granted authority by God to protect their citizens, guard their borders, and set up just immigration laws. In order for the government to fulfill its God-given role to protect its citizens, it must carefully screen those who come into the country and set appropriate limits for how many can enter. We see throughout that Old Testament that ancient Israel had borders and respected the borders of their neighbors. In Acts 17:26, the Bible says that it is God who puts people in their nations and boundaries. This, of course, implies the legitimacy of borders.
Practically speaking, without national borders, a nation can’t be secure from those who, in a fallen world, intend to do harm. Christians shouldn’t see border security as ungodly or unnecessary, but as a vital component of God-ordained civil government.
As a nation, America has the right and duty before God to secure her borders and protect her citizens. Her government has been delegated the authority required to do so.
This is the God-given, God-ordained responsibility of the state.
How about individual Christians? What is our responsibility?
As individual Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors, the strangers in our midst, and welcome those whom God has brought into our communities.
As immigrants and refugees make their way into our communities, we must never allow the legal status of Immigrants to justify why we should not love, care for, or show hospitality to immigrants. We can and we should see them as fellow image-bearers (Genesis 1-2), minister to them, love them, serve them, and share the good news of the Gospel with them. We can do all of these things while simultaneously living in submission to governing authorities, advocating for better border security and for common-sense immigration laws that are less cumbersome, confusing, and inefficient.
Faithful Christians might disagree on the appropriate limits of legal immigration or what criteria might qualify people who emigrate. At the very least, we could agree that those who want to be here and have a deep love for the country make wonderful citizens. The government should also balance economic needs, the ability for people groups to assimilate into the country, and demand on resources.
In closing, let me summarize the point that I am striving to make:
The state has a God-given responsibility to protect its borders and preserve its society through immigration policy and its lawful implementation and individual Christians/churches have a God-given responsibility in loving and caring for immigrants, regardless of their status.
When we conflate these two things, there’s chaos. When we understand them in the light of scripture, there’s flourishing.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Kyle
I’ve certainly got my own opinions on immigration, the current laws that are in place, and what I believe about the need for immigration reform. Yet, sharing my thoughts on the subject is not the purpose of this article.
Instead, what I hope to accomplish here is to help us to think Biblically about immigration and use the scriptures to address a very common error that I have noticed in our thinking on the subject so that we can approach this issue with a clarity that is obviously lacking.
Allow me to sum up in a simple statement what I hope to communicate in this piece: Individual Christians have different responsibilities than the state or federal government
In our current sermon series at North Anderon in 1 Peter, we’ve been reminded that government, according to the Lord’s divine design, is put in place by God Himself. The government is God’s way of protecting and preserving society, maintaining the public good and directing the affairs of the state. We’ve learned that Christians, with the exception of authorities commanding that we violate God’sWord, must submit to the governing authorities. Our allegiance to God does not negate responsibility to secular authority. In fact, those who resist this God-delegated authority are resisting what God has ordained (Romans 13:1-2).
Governments have the right and duty to establish and uphold the rule of law. Of course, laws should be just laws, and citizens in a democracy like ours have the duty to advocate for just laws and for the elimination of unjust ones. But we should not advocate for law-breaking (Titus 3:1). Remember, Romans 13 reminds us that those who break the law should be afraid, because God has delegated authority to punish evil.
Governments are granted authority by God to protect their citizens, guard their borders, and set up just immigration laws. In order for the government to fulfill its God-given role to protect its citizens, it must carefully screen those who come into the country and set appropriate limits for how many can enter. We see throughout that Old Testament that ancient Israel had borders and respected the borders of their neighbors. In Acts 17:26, the Bible says that it is God who puts people in their nations and boundaries. This, of course, implies the legitimacy of borders.
Practically speaking, without national borders, a nation can’t be secure from those who, in a fallen world, intend to do harm. Christians shouldn’t see border security as ungodly or unnecessary, but as a vital component of God-ordained civil government.
As a nation, America has the right and duty before God to secure her borders and protect her citizens. Her government has been delegated the authority required to do so.
This is the God-given, God-ordained responsibility of the state.
How about individual Christians? What is our responsibility?
As individual Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors, the strangers in our midst, and welcome those whom God has brought into our communities.
As immigrants and refugees make their way into our communities, we must never allow the legal status of Immigrants to justify why we should not love, care for, or show hospitality to immigrants. We can and we should see them as fellow image-bearers (Genesis 1-2), minister to them, love them, serve them, and share the good news of the Gospel with them. We can do all of these things while simultaneously living in submission to governing authorities, advocating for better border security and for common-sense immigration laws that are less cumbersome, confusing, and inefficient.
Faithful Christians might disagree on the appropriate limits of legal immigration or what criteria might qualify people who emigrate. At the very least, we could agree that those who want to be here and have a deep love for the country make wonderful citizens. The government should also balance economic needs, the ability for people groups to assimilate into the country, and demand on resources.
In closing, let me summarize the point that I am striving to make:
The state has a God-given responsibility to protect its borders and preserve its society through immigration policy and its lawful implementation and individual Christians/churches have a God-given responsibility in loving and caring for immigrants, regardless of their status.
When we conflate these two things, there’s chaos. When we understand them in the light of scripture, there’s flourishing.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Kyle
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