Evangelical Christianity is based on the word of the Bible; so much so that evangelical Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God himself. That means that as evangelical Christians, our current political views should reflect and be consistent with the Word of God. This will ensure that we what we believe is truth and not the trickery and deceit of the Devil.
There are many verses in our Holy Book that can be clearly interpreted to show God’s stance on immigration laws. One such passage is Leviticus 19:33-34 which boldly says, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” This verse can be interpreted to mean that God’s will for us is to welcome strangers into America as our own brothers and sisters.
Many of our evangelical leaders are already consulting the Gospel on this matter. A recent New York Times article quotes Tom Minnery, the senior vice president of policy for the evangelical organization Focus on the Family, as saying, “many of the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants should be free to ‘come out of the shadows’ and ‘begin the process of restitution’ leading to attaining legal residency.” Seeking comprehensive immigration reform is a way in which we can obey God’s decrees to welcome the stranger.
A common Bible passage used to discredit compassionate views on immigration laws is Romans 13:1-7, which says that government is divinely appointed and should be respected as the will of God:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers…are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
In light of the democratic institutions under which we live in the United States, our submission to authorities involves speaking out. One thing that makes our country great is that elected officials respond to popular American views and opinions: “By the people; for the people!” In America, our duty to submit to authorities as explained in Romans 13, should involve us taking a stance for the policies and laws that are in line with Scripture. Romans 13 is a great passage indeed, one that we as Americans need to embrace more than ever, because without our constant and compassionate opinion and Christian voice, our democracy will remain void of Christian ethics. We have been given the privilege to speak and be heard, so let us speak out against prejudiced laws, policies, and ethics.
Proverbs 31:8-9 is another passage that expresses our duty to fight for the immigrant: “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Another important dynamic to consider is what Jesus would do. Jesus was filed with compassion for the powerless and oppressed people of his time. In Matthew 25, he even went so far as to say that if we welcome in a stranger, it is as if we are welcoming in Jesus himself. As followers of Christ, we are called to have compassion for the strangers of our land.
Sometimes this modern world is confusing and hard to navigate through. We face dilemmas, such as which Christians to believe, which churches to follow, and which political views to take on issues like immigration. As you go through this process, check in frequently with the Bible to see if your views align with the Word of God. For God’s Word should be our guide.
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