The Bible and Illegal Aliens

 

            It's against the law to come to the United States, and stay here, without proper documentation. But millions of people are flouting that law, and it's becoming a huge national issue.

 

            Legally, there are two clear positions: should the United States continue to allow people from other countries to come and go across our borders by the millions, because that's what built our country? Or should we crack down on that, because it's illegal, brings disease and crime, threatens our security in this age of terrorism, and creates an enormous tax burden on bona fide citizens?

 

            But that's the legal controversy. What about the spiritual one?

 

            Is it Christian to believe that illegal aliens need to be found and deported? Shouldn't a good Christian be welcoming and tolerant?

 

            Even if most of the illegal aliens are of the Christian faith, that doesn't necessarily mean they should be embraced without going through proper channels of obtaining citizenship. In fact, the Bible appears to warn against the practice of open-door acceptance of "strangers" who rebel against your country's rules for lawful assimilation.

 

            Radio evangelist Chuck Baldwin (www.chuckbaldwinlive.com) connects the following Bible verses to the issue of illegal aliens. Consider these quotations from him:

 

            -- "The prophet Nahum warned Israel that their stubbornness and disobedience to God was evidenced by the fact that 'the gates (borders, ports, entry ways) of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.' (Nahum 3:13) In this passage, the prophet made it clear that open gates or borders, which allow enemies easy access to a nation, constitute an imminent threat to any nation."

            -- "Moses told the children of Israel in very clear and concise language, 'Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark.' (Deut. 19:14) 'Landmark' refers to territory, boundary, or border. Moses further declared, 'Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark.'" (Deut. 27:17)

            -- "National borders or boundaries are extremely important to the security and survival of any nation! In fact, the Bible promotes nationhood and condemns internationalism! To the Old Testament nation of Israel, Moses said, 'When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he
separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people.'" (Deut. 32:8)

            -- "That God has separated nations and expects them to function independently of other nations is also seen in the New Testament. Read the inspired author, Dr. Luke: 'And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds (boundaries, borders) of their habitation.'" (Acts 17:26)

            -- "Certainly, God instructed His people to be compassionate to 'strangers.' (See Deut. 10:19; Exod. 22:21.) And no nation has been more compassionate, more understanding, and more tolerant of 'strangers' (i.e. non-citizens) than the United States of America!"

            But that doesn't mean we should look the other way if they are breaking our immigration laws. But they sure are. According to Baldwin, more than 20 million illegal aliens live in the United States, and The Center for Immigration Studies says three-fourths of all U.S. population growth stems from (mostly) illegal immigration.

            According to the Bureau of Justice, 29% of all federal inmates are illegal aliens. And according to statistics provided by the House of Representatives, illegal aliens cost state and local governments more than $13 billion per year.

By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • Heart Lessons 017 • © 2006