June 20, 2025
- credford5
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
What is the Christian response to immigration and deportation and the tense discussions and frightful experiences being had in our country?
Like with many polarizing topics dominating the headlines, social media feeds, and dinner table discussions, this is a subject that seems to draw heated debate. Most of us want to know exactly what to believe (and therefore how to behave) and eliminate any confusion or waffling on any particular topic. What we often find in Scripture, however, is that God has much more to say on a subject than the simple black and white or left and right lines that humans draw. In other words, when it comes to the issues of immigration and deportation, it's complicated.
God spoke to ancient Israel inciting the Jewish people to deal with the outsiders in their lands.
33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. -Leviticus 19:33-34
At some point in the distant or near past, each of our ancestors set foot on this land for the first time. Since God is a lover of all nations and people groups, God’s care for people is evident in his instructions. This message transcends the Old Testament. This is the message of the Gospel.
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. -Luke 10:33-34
It wasn’t the religious Jews who helped the man. It was the Samaritan outsider. Jesus often makes the hero of his stories and interactions foreigners or non-Jews. His message is beautifully simple. We were once all foreigners to God before Jesus brought us into his family and adopted us as God’s sons and daughters.
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. -1 Peter 3:8
Jesus’s compassion, empathy, generosity, and love extends to people of all creeds, nationalities, color, and gender. This includes foreigners living in foreign lands. God’s plan from the beginning was that his people would extend that same generosity, care, and concern for the immigrant.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. -Leviticus 19:9-10
We don’t leave the argument there. Our Heavenly Father is also a protector and just. He gives authority to governments to establish laws and justice to protect people.
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. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves… Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
-Romans 13:1-3
World governments have set up laws for legal immigration. This is right and good for them to do so. Paul often instructs Christians as to how to live and behave in their cultural settings while also obeying the authorities over them.
This is where it gets tricky. Certainly, there are some (not all) who enter a country by illegal means and there are those who break laws once in that country. What is a Christian to do with that? We are to respect and defer to our government and laws except for when that government directly conflicts with what God says is right and good and true. A government’s job is to protect its citizens as its highest priority. There is, however, a peaceful way to present our protest to the government when we believe they are in the wrong while still showing respect. Our right to vote is one way to act, for example. Dr. Martin Luther King’s message of peaceful non-violent resistance is another.
So, how is a Christian to respond to the immigration and deportation debate? One pastor said it like this, “Don’t let the debates toward immigration policy harden your hearts toward immigrants…. Love people and graciously oppose lawlessness.”
Above all, we must pray for wisdom, discernment, empathy, and love. After all, immigration and deportation aren’t mainly about issues, it’s about people; People whom God loves very, very much.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8
Praying,
Nathan
Nathan Hinkle
Lead Pastor
