How should Christians think about immigration? - Albert Mohler | Ask Anything Live

How should Christians think about immigration policy? How should we relate to illegal immigrants?

[Revelation]

"The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." Lev 19:34 (NASB) "Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’" Duet 27:19 (NASB) "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31 (NASB) I know there are no easy or simple solutions. If the USA were under severe Christian persecution as so much of the world is, and Christians were seeking asylum in a foreign land, how would Christians want to be treated? There may be illegal immigrants who enter the country with malice, but the vast majority are people seeking a better life for their families. "Immigrants", "Illegal Immigrants", "Aliens" = Human Beings, Individuals, Families. Is the disdain because the law is being broken, or is it because the human beings are coming from impoverished countries and are of a different culture and skin tone? Would the outcry be the same if there was an influx of Caucasian human beings from European nations? I understand the concern, but I don't understand the hostility of some people. We, ourselves, are foreign to this world, strangers and exiles.

[jimwilliams]

God is concerned about people, not policy. The governments position has no bearing on a Christians responsibility to care and love people.

[thecarloscastro]

Here is a simple thought, help the immigrant become compliant. We help the unemployed become employed. We help the homeless to have a home. We equip the hungry to not be so. Why not help people come into lawful compliance --> typically because that is a much more painful and long process. So the real matter; how willing are we to love the someone in a situation so tough it'll take more than the weekend handing out food, but rather a lengthy committed relationship?

[graysalmon]

Greetings from Ecuador. First let me say that I very much enjoy the content this channel puts out. It is a blessing. Keep up the good work and may God continue blessing you. Now to the subject of the video... I wholly agree that the church 's ministry is not limited by a person's legal status. Having said that, I don't agree with churches that have taken it upon themselves to go against the enforcement of the immigration laws put in place for the simple fact that they don't like the administration that is trying to enforce such laws. I have had many a discussion where a "brother" or "sister " has said that borders are not Godly and are in fact immoral. My argument to that is that a nation without borders is not a nation at all and most importantly laws that regulate entry into a nation are very much biblical. God Himself gives us an example of it when He puts forth that there is a law for a person to enter heaven, and that law is inviolate and a person complies with that law upon receiving salvation through His Grace.

[anncawthon]

This frequent critic of Dr. Mohler agrees with him on this one.

[jonquintana]

Deuteronomy 10:19

Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

[jimpemberton]

There is a line that is often difficult to navigate biblically. God warned ancient Israel about the desire for a king knowing full well that he would later call for the anointing of kings by his prophets as a sign of Christ's office of King. The kings were of the people and bore a responsibility to follow the law already established by God. Roman rule during the time of Jesus and apostles was different. These were not anointed by prophets under God's law and were separate from God's people, the Jews. Nevertheless, Jesus got Pilate to acknowledge that he had no authority other than what he had been given from above. Also, Paul wrote that the governing authorities were God's servants and that believers were to submit to them. This didn't mean obeying them over and against God's commands, but when this had to be done believers were to submit to their punishment as unjust as it may be.

Interestingly, Paul wrote that even members of Caesar's household, servants at least, were coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Eventually, we know, Caesar himself, specifically Constantine, would declare Christianity to be the state religion. At that point, the Christian Church was wed to the state in the West. While the church enjoyed its own leadership, kings dabbled in church affairs and Popes dabbled in state affairs. In this sacral society, the state was not sanctified as we might think. Rather, the church was corrupted. The mission of the church and the mission of the state were conflated. While the corruption of the church was noted by the reformers, even Calvin maintained a certain cooperative relationship between the local government and the church. As the Reformation moved to the British Isles where the Church of England was sacrally wed to the state, the goal of many of the Puritans there was to work through Parliament to reform the churches. After some time and much frustration, many of them left for the New World to establish a reformed state church there. The solution to the problems of the church was thought by many to be state legislation. While the founding fathers were wise to codify a pluralistic society, it was understood that this could only work with a Christian worldview at its foundation.

The problem is that we should never look to civil government for solving problems regarding the mission of the church. Today, we still have some input into our governments. We are wise to advocate for our Christian principles. However, we should never see the passage of civil laws as solutions. If we were to abolish abortion, for example, that would by no means fix the hearts of women intent on killing their own children. That can only be done by the Holy Spirit who uses the proclamation of the Gospel in his work of regeneration.

This applies to illegal immigration. The problem with illegal immigration for the immigrants themselves is that being here illegally doesn't actually help them financially. They aren't protected by law because the law doesn't know who they are. They can walk into a hospital and get care, but they can't get preventative medicine. They may not pay taxes, but they can't buy a house or a car. They can't call the cops of someone tries to rob them or attack them without facing deportation. They can't get protection from unscrupulous employers that the state guarantees them. They have no appeal to justice. As for churches, we should meet their material needs as much as we can, but we are compelled to proclaim the Gospel to them. Anecdotally, we had an illegal alien in our town get caught and taken to jail to away deportation. We ministered to her there. She came to faith and came to accept her fate at the hands of the authorities. She then saw her mission in being deported to take the Gospel home with her and proclaim it there. If you want a microcosm of what we as Christians should do with illegal immigration, that young woman is an example. There is no comfort that the United States offers that in any way compares to the glory of Jesus Christ, and him proclaimed among the nations.

[steveashcraft]

What part of illegal don't some people understand?

[jimzhang]

How about if this illegal immigrants is Christian too. Is it she or he is brother and sister too?

[jackjones]

Jesus alone can convict through His Spirit. The government does exist under God's authority so needs to be obeyed where it doesn't conflict with God's law. Therefore an illegal who claims Christianity as their faith is especially duty bound to obey our laws that call for non citizens to have proper documentation, or to go through the lawful citizenship process like anyone else who wants to be a naturalized citizen. In the meantime as Christians we are to help them while using discernment so as to not enable immoral and illegal behavior leading to bigger problems for everyone.

[douglaspulliam]

I am think how I can reach illegal immigrants for Christ

[jonquintana]

Leviticus 24:22
You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”

[eastonlee]

Maybe by building a wall, God allowed us to deal with covid? Now we are short of 700, 000 plus! Now we need help from young workers?

[fonoflux]

You’re being told what to think. You don’t just read your Bible and then ask the Spirit? Man will give you 12 different answers.