A Look At Broken Culture: Immigration

Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 10:19-22

I was recently asked about immigration and deportation by a student. I explained the reason for controlling the number of people who come across the border like this. I asked my students what would happen if 100 new eighth graders just started school today? Where would we put them? We can't just add more rooms. We can't just make more desks or chairs appear. What would we feed them? The money we receive for food is determined by our numbers at the beginning of the year. How would we bus them? There is already a bus shortage.

By controlling the number of people that enter the school at one time, we can prepare for the growth. Now, imagine that scenario not just on the school level, but city, county, and state levels. Hospitals, housing, jobs, and of course, schools all have to be in place to adequately provide for a growing population.

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Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Romans 13:1-7

Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude.

Deuteronomy 10:19-22

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Here are two passages that everyone needs to remember when it comes to the issue of immigration. First, Romans commands us to obey the laws of our government. This includes immigration laws. Paul did not say, obey the laws if you agree with them. Our obedience to the law is a demonstration of our obedience to God. The only time we are allowed to rebel against a government is if it commands us to do something that is in direct contradiction to God's Word. Since there is no verse that directly pertains to immigration which contradicts U.S. law, the Bible cannot legitimately be used to defy the law.

This means that Christians in the U.S. need to obey God's law when it comes to immigration. We cannot harbor people who enter the country illegally. We cannot encourage others to defy the law. Also, unless the law is to change, no Christian should ignore the law. This means Christians, politicians, and government employees must enforce the law.

For those who would enter the United States, this means you must do so legally. Yes, it is a long process. There is nothing that says you have to like it. However, as Christians, Romans 13 tells us to obey the government. Those that wrote the laws and passed the laws were placed in power by God to do His will. Over the years, I have seen many Christians struggle with the immigration, customs, and VISA process. I have also seen God open doors for those Christians when things seemed impossible.

In Deuteronomy, Moses told the children of Israel to love strangers. This means people who are not native to the soon-to-be nation of Israel. It was anyone who was not Jewish. Moses's reason was because the Hebrews had been strangers in a foreign land. Since they knew what it was like to be foreigners in a new land, the Holy Spirit led Moses to tell the people to love "strangers" in Israel.

America is a nation of immigrants. As some people, all of our ancestors were new to this continent. Since they were a new people in a new world and had to adjust, we should love people who are new to the U.S. as well. I'm not saying love that breaks the law. I'm saying love that shares Christ and does not reject those who God has placed in our path. Remember, the great commission says "Go" but it begins at home. In this case, God sends the "ends of the earth" to our Jerusalem (Acts 1:8).

I also recently said that I do not want to see people deported. By that, I mean that I do not want to literally see it. People that are doing what they are supposed to, and are legitimately trying to have a better life are the ones I am talking about. They have family here: kids, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, etc. I get that there has to be deterrents to breaking the law, but as a teacher, I do not want to see my kids hurt. I do not say this in opposition to deportation, I just understand that it is a messy business. I love my students. Still, when asked, I refer them to Romans 13.

Father, those who are in power make a mess of this world. They make laws and then break their own laws. It is real lives of real people that are caught in the middle. Citizens suffer consequences and those who would immigrate suffer. People are being used as political pawns. I pray that Your people would remember who we are called to be. May we speak truth, but speak it in love as we carry the gospel to those around us.