How Should Christians Feel About Illegal Immigration? Part 2

Yesterday, we discussed the deep schism within the Church regarding illegal immigration. We welcome immigrants, but we have every right as a nation to thoroughly scrutinize every person coming into our country. George Washington said,

“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations And Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.”

There was a time at Ellis Island that immigrants were given intense physical and mental exams to ensure they were fit for admittance to the United States. Some who were questionable were even given puzzles and memory tests to ensure they were intelligent enough to find work. And many of these immigrants made great contributions and helped to make this country what it is today.

It’s hard to imagine how we have gone from that to many Americans wanting an open border, especially in a post-September 11 world. Remember, it only took 19 hijackers to carry out those attacks, so the argument that “most of them are good people” doesn’t really apply to this discussion.

Old Testament Times

Even in Old Testament times, there was a proper procedure for immigrants to enter a foreign country. They certainly didn’t have drones, cameras, radar, and night goggles at their disposal, but they demanded that foreigners obtain permission before entering.

Numbers 20 tells us that the Israelites respected the borders of Edom and asked permission to pass through. They sent a messenger to the king of Edom saying,

“Please let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s road and never leave it until we have passed through your territory.” But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!” (verses 17-18)

So, because the Edomites refused, the Israelites respected their border, turned around, and went a different way (verse 21).

Past Deportations

Here are the number of deportations conducted during Donald Trump’s first term, comparedto other presidents:

Bill Clinton: 869,646

George W. Bush: 2,012,539

Barack Obama: 3,066,457

Donald Trump: 1,794,708

Here is a video of Obama in 2014 saying he would do exactly what Trump is doing right now:

I don’t recall Selena Gomez (or anyone else) crying about those.

Assimilation

Another reason we need to be selective about who comes into our country is to be sure each individual will assimilate into our system of customs and values. In the book of Ruth, we read that Ruth, the Moabitess, immigrated to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after both of their husbands died. Ruth said to Naomi, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Now, that’s assimilation.

God warned the children of Israel against allowing those into their land who would not assimilate. We read in Exodus 23:33, “They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Unfortunately, many come into our country to enjoy our many freedoms and benefits, but then try to change it to be like the place they came from. Muslims have attempted to enact sharia law in the United States, which is diametrically opposed to the very foundation on which this country was built.. I believe everyone should be able to worship as they wish, but sharia law is a political system and cannot coexist with our founding documents.

Many of the immigrants who poured into our country over the last four years have carried the flags of their countries of origin. I don’t envision Ruth carrying a Moabite flag into Israel.

“Loyalty” Is Not a Dirty Word

The point is that many immigrants coming into the U.S. simply want our economy but are not prepared to pledge loyalty to our country. They want our hand, but not our heart.

Joshua 9 tells us that the Israelites were deceived by the Gibeonites, who masqueraded as refugees from a distant land. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins. They put on worn-out sandals and ragged clothes, and their bread was dry and moldy. When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us” (verses 5-6).

The Gibeonites were actually from a neighboring country, but they feared Israel and thought that was the only way to obtain a treaty with them. The point is this: It’s easy to be deceived by refugees when they present themselves as something they are not. That’s especially true when they don’t even have documentation, as was the case with millions of illegal immigrants who came in during the Biden administration.

It’s okay for a Christian to proactively avoid pitfalls. “A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident” (Proverbs 14:16 AMPC). And it’s okay to have and enforce laws for legally entering our country.

Jesus asked the Pharisees, “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29). Jesus said this in passing while making another point, but He implied that for a man to defend his house from someone who enters illegally is normal and predictable.

I think the same principle applies to our country.

Nolan Lewallen is a retired pilot of a major airline who lives near Stephenville, Texas. His two great passions are the Bible and politics. He is the author of The Integration of Church & State: How We Transform “In God We Trust” From Motto to Reality, and Yeshua Is Still the King of the Jews.