The immigration issue remains near the top of the list of political and social issues confronting our country these days. (Todd recently preached about it here.) We ask questions like,
- How do we “protect the border?”
- Who should we allow to come into the United States?
- What do we do with all the illegal people who are already in the U.S.?
Those are some of the big questions that need to be sorted out if a solution is to ever be found to this crisis. It is a “crisis” indeed – because the problem we currently face has a very complex solution – because it involves real people, both adults and children, with individual stories of how they came to the United States.
Consider these facts:
- There are an estimated 12-13 million illegal immigrants currently in the U.S.
- 5-6 million of those folks entered the U.S. legally as students, workers, etc., and have stayed past the expiration of their special visas
- 5 million children in the U.S. are living with at least one parent who is illegal
- 5 million families have at least one parent who is illegal
So as Christ followers, how do we respond to this complex issue?
The Bible instructs us to love our neighbor while also modeling for us that is appropriate to construct walls and otherwise limit entry into our country. So it would seem there is a conflict between the law of the land and law of love. But is that really the case? Is it consistent with Scripture both to love the alien among us and limit the entry of those from other countries?
The answer from Scripture is Yes – and here are some biblical ideas on how to live this balance:
- Remember that illegal immigrants are made in the image of God, just as you are, and make certain that race plays no role in your attitude toward the illegal immigrant (Gen. 1:27)
- Love the immigrant in your midst (Leviticus 19:33-34)
- Be sure your own behavior towards the immigrant is consistent with the law of the land, just a you call them to that same standard (Romans 13:1-7)
- Share the story of Christ’s love for all mankind with those God has placed in our midst (Acts 1:8)
- Read the books of Ruth and Nehemiah to see the difference between welcoming the stranger (Ruth) and wall-building (Nehemiah)
When I put together these passages and the many other places the Bible speaks to our duty to both the “law of love” and to the “law of the land,” I believe we should encourage our government to
- place wise limits on legal immigration
- protect the borders against illegal immigration
- create a balanced, reasonable approach to Legal Residents and potentially provide citizenship for illegal immigrants who are in the US with specific skills, no criminal record, married with families that are citizens of the U.S., etc.
- not place an unfair burden on the U.S. taxpayers
- act in ways that reflect our history as a “seeker” nation for those looking to flee tyranny, economic hopelessness, religious persecution, etc., and who enter our country legally
Finally, as you consider your position, it would be easy to feel this is a “new problem for our country.” But check out these historical quotes and this cartoon.
Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorantStupid Sort of their own Nation…and as few of the English understand [their] Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, ’tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain…Not being used to Liberty, they know not how to make a modest use of it…I remember when they modestly declined intermeddling in our Elections, but now they come in droves, and carry all before them, except in one or two Counties…In short unless the stream of their importation could be turned from this to other colonies, as you very judiciously propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not in My Opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become precarious.” — Benjamin Franklin, speaking of Germans
I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong. — George Washington
Photo Credit: Corey Templeton via Compfightcc