The True Biblical Response to Illegal Immigration and DREAMers

Townhall.com ^ | February 11, 2018 | Arthur Schaper

[Kaslin]

My Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) hosted another error-ridden town hall in Hermosa Beach last week. On immigration, he claimed to support two parts of President Trump’s proposed(?) plan: granting legal status to 1.8 million young illegals; and enhancing border security (although Lieu called the border wall “stupid”). He differed on ending chain migration and the diversity lottery. He quoted the Bible in his defense: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” (Matthew 25:35).

My response: “Then take them into your home!” Amnesty advocates preach their open-border morality, but don’t live up to it. Moreover, Jesus’ statement is directed toward individuals who welcomed strangers into their own homes voluntarily. Any form of amnesty imposed by our government is not voluntary.

My consternation with these Biblical arguments has grown since reading this article in the Christian Post, when evangelical leaders, many of whom I respect, pressured Congress to pass some kind of DREAM Act. Pastor Samuel Rodriguez of Sacramento, CA stated in a January press conference: "The wall is a physical object created by man. 800,000 human beings created in the image of God by God.” Walls are Biblical, affirmed by God in Scripture. In fact, God commands the construction of walls around Jerusalem both the Old (Nehemiah 1:1-7:3) and the New (Isaiah 54: 12; Ezekiel 42:20).

 In another letter to Congress, Evangelical leaders wrote: "Roughly 700,000 young people are poised to lose their right to work lawfully in the U.S., not to mention their dreams of a future in this country—the country they were brought to as children, without choice.” First of all, this country is not responsible for their parents’ crimes, which have harmed their children. Children should not be punished for the sins of their parents (cf. Jeremiah 31:29), but natural consequences remain. A mother breaks into my home, steals my car, and her children use the ill-gotten gains for good. I am still entitled to restoration of my property (Exodus 22). Illegal aliens are stealing this country’s space, resources, and wealth.

In response to these pro-enforcement arguments, preachers cite The New Covenant (Hebrews 8:10-012), which asserts that we are no longer under law, but under grace. However, grace is not arbitrary. Jesus died on a Cross for the sins of the world, the just for the unjust (1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 3:18). A payment must be rendered. Why should law-abiding citizens pay for lawbreakers?

If Christian leaders want to preach accurately on immigration, they should first acknowledge a few things:

1. Nations are God’s idea, not merely man’s construction, and rewarding illegal immigration harms nations. Genesis 11 reports God created multiple languages—and nations—to stop mankind from building the Tower of Babel. The dissolution of border security and national sovereignty are unholy gestures. To contend for amnesty based on a misplaced understanding of scripture is not tenable. There will come a time when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Christ Jesus as Lord, but for now nation-states remain as part of God’s plan. Rampant amnesties only erode national boundaries.
2. Citizenship is a principle defended in the Bible. In the Old Testament, strangers were respected (Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10: 19), but they were expected to adopt all the customs of Israel, not retain their original cultural views (Numbers 15: 14-29). In the New Testament, Paul the apostle asserted his Roman citizenship to redress the abusive treatment of Roman soldiers (Acts 22:22-23:11). He also addressed his fellow Christians as “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20, Colossians 3:5-16). Membership in a defined, national compact matters and should not be pushed aside. Many illegals in this country, especially DREAMers, are hell-bent on retaining and imposing a neo-pagan culture in this country, estranged and unsubmissive to our country’s constitutional rule and civic culture.
3. Christians are called to honor their rulers (and rules!) among the nations (1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:17). To dismiss the authority of temporal rulers, especially on matters of immigration, is unholy and unwise.

Instead of championing amnesty, Christian leaders should reference the ideal immigrant: Ruth the Moabite. Unlike the 11 to 16 million illegal aliens in our country, per official tallies, Ruth did not break into her adoptive nation of Israel. She had a sponsor, her mother-in-law Naomi. There were other factors which Ruth obeyed, too (Ruth 1:16-17):

1. “For whither thou goest, I will go”: She would attend to Naomi, recognizing her place in her new country as based solely on the goodness of her mother-in-law. She did not enter into Israel as a political radical or busy-body.
2. “Where thou lodgest, I will lodge”: She would live with Naomi, not depending on someone else, particularly the state or taxpayers, to provide her housing. Her needs would come from her sponsor, not by force from other inhabitants in Israel.
3. “Your people will be my people”: This statement sums up assimilation perfectly. She pledged to become an Israelite. How often do our leaders today talk about the importance of immigrants adopting American customs, rather than demanding that we accommodate their foreign ways?
4. “Thy God [will be] my God.”: while our free society does not demand religious adherence to one creed, we should expect immigrants to embrace our cultural and moral values. For this reason, I am adamant against accepting adherents of Sharia Law, for example, or other religious sects which endanger life and property.
5. “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried”: Ruth pledged a complete break with her pagan country and culture. She refused to abandon her new country or identity.

At the very least, politicians and pastors should stop shaming the public by misusing Scripture. Christians should have a ready defense when amnesty advocates distort Scripture for selfish political ends. Every country has a right to strong borders, safe citizens, and a secured sovereignty. These are not un-Christian expectations in the slightest.

[redinIllinois]

Thanks for posting

[IronJack]

Always beware when liberals quote Scripture. Generally, the only use they have for the Bible is as a doorstop.

[frnewsjunkie]

Politicizing the Bible by individuals, who by doing so, show their ignorance and disrespect.

[Don Corleone]

Any form of amnesty imposed by our government is not voluntary.

Technically it is. Representative Democracy etc. Congress is way off base with the public needs and desires though.

[Kaslin]

You said it.

[Kaslin]

My pleasure

[P.O.E.]

How about “Go, and sin no more”

[ctdonath2]

“you invited me in.”

Not to be confused with sneaking in. Bible has something to say about that too:

“If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.”

Charity is given, not taken.

[spintreebob]

quoted the Bible

So this Democrat wants to establish a religion in the government?

The words of Jesus are intended for voluntary action of believers. So the Democrat is not trying to impose the religion of Jesus, nor of any part of the Judeo-Christian theology.

This Democrat is trying to impose the Brother's Keeper theology of Cain, which is also prohibited by the US Constitution.

[zerosix]

I would hesitate to add yet another two very old and yet still very true, verses, “Thou shalt not covet” (wanting what belongs to another) and “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (lie) both of which 10 Commandments are broken when people break in to your nation because they want what you have fought, worked and died to maintain and have lied and cheated to keep what they are stealing by using false documents to continue to exist here!

[wastoute]

The libtards never want to quote the “do not let strangers settle among you and worship their gods...”. Funny.

[xzins]

Good article.

I would add that Matt 25 has nothing to to with helping strangers. It has to do with helping believers in Jesus.

“Whatever you do to these brothers of mine”

[Bryan24]

Had this writer done some really good biblical research, he would have found this:

Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

Rom 13:4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Rom 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

Rom 13:7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

[FES0844]

Or don’t cast your pearls before swine.

[joshua c]

So the Democrats no longer believe in the separation of Church and State.

Perhaps the STATE, specifically the courts, should look to the Bible for guidance on issues such as homosexuality and abortion.

Eat it Libs!

[stars & stripes forever]

When a nation turns from God... Deuteronomy 27:49

[odawg]

Deut. 33:55 —

“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”

In the Old Testament, the Lord was continually indicting the Israelites for refusing to eject people who would overthrow their culture.

Moses wrote the laws of naturalization of foreigners, and they were extremely restrictive. Citizenship could not be granted until the third or fourth generation; for some groups, not until the tenth, and for others, never.

[prophetic]

I responded to some liberal christians who were claiming that Jesus & his parents were ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS when they fled to Egypt to escape Herod attempt to kill the child.

I pointed out to them that though in those days they didn't have airports or train stations, but they villages & cities were setup with large gates & walls where the leaders had setup offices to deal with travellers as they arrived in the city. See Proverbs 31 where the Virtuous Wife's husband is praised in the City Gates as he sat among the elders & other leaders of the council. Thus the young family was vetted by the Egyptian leaders as they sought to live among them, and thus there no "Illegality" as these liberals want to claim & drag Jesus into their crimes of illegal entry & lifestyle.

[prophetic]

And of course they also have been known to use it to make cigarettes from the papers.