Compassion, sovereignty, and the whole of Scripture
Immigration is one of the most hotly debated issues in America because of the human, financial, social, and cultural consequences associated with it. Given these concerns, a difficult question arises: Why would so many politicians and left-wing activists support immigration policies that run counter to the interests of their own country and its citizens?
I believe part of the answer is that too many of our fellow citizens do not independently investigate the issues, consider competing viewpoints, question the information presented to them, or carefully assess the long-term consequences of public policy. Instead, some accept political messaging and propaganda without sufficient scrutiny, particularly when that messaging reinforces what they already believe.
This becomes even more concerning when America's political and social divisions are exploited by foreign adversaries. Countries such as China and Iran have an obvious strategic interest in weakening American unity and confidence in our institutions. Disinformation and influence campaigns can exploit existing disagreements over contentious issues, including immigration, to deepen distrust, inflame tensions, and turn Americans against one another.
Regardless of where one stands politically, Americans should resist manipulation from any source, foreign or domestic. We should investigate the facts for ourselves, consider opposing arguments honestly, question political narratives from both sides, and reach conclusions based on evidence rather than ideology. A free nation depends upon citizens who are willing to think critically for themselves, rather than simply being told what to believe.
Whether coming from left-wing activists or politicians, Scripture is often selectively quoted when it serves a political purpose, while they fail to actually live by the Bible's teachings and ignore its broader principles.
Most Americans understand that America's founding, history, culture, and institutions have been significantly influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs and principles, and the left seeks to invoke those same beliefs to give moral and religious justification to the large-scale unlawful immigration that America has experienced over the past several decades.
But Scripture should never be reduced to a political tool. Biblical passages should be considered within their proper context and alongside the broader teachings of the Bible. Compassion for the stranger and respect for the rule of law need not be opposing principles. Christians can demonstrate love, mercy, and dignity toward immigrants while still believing that a sovereign nation has the right and responsibility to establish and enforce its immigration laws.
When we take a closer look at their arguments, compare them with the actual teachings of Scripture, and apply the God-given wisdom bestowed upon us, a different picture emerges. In my opinion, the selective use of biblical passages amounts to cherry-picking Scripture to support a predetermined political position and reveals what I believe to be the left-wing, anti-American agenda.
They do so by calling for common-sense immigration reform, which in and of itself is based on deception. Scripture never deceives. They imply that the current immigration system is broken and that there is no path to legal American citizenship. The only people saying that the immigration system is broken are politicians and left-wing activists who want to replace our current immigration laws with watered-down legislation and flood our country with future voters.
Our system is not broken, and there is a clear path to citizenship under our existing immigration laws. Every year, immigrants from all over the world apply and wait literally years to become citizens. Yet we are expected to forget what many did legally and reward those who broke America's laws while denying millions of people who have lawfully applied for access to American citizenship.
An article published on LawyerFromMexico.com, discussing Mexico's immigration laws and penalties, states:
“Simply put, illegal immigration is a felony under Mexican law. In fact, Article 123 of the General Law of Population mandates that ‘a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five hundred thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.’”
Nations throughout the world have immigration laws governing who may enter, remain within, and reside in their countries, as well as penalties or other consequences for violating those laws. The United States is no exception. The enforcement of immigration laws is a fundamental function of national sovereignty for every country.
Historically, America has long welcomed millions of strangers from around the world and has been the number one country that oppressed people have fled to for over two hundred years, and that continues to this date. If America were truly the racist and oppressive country that some pundits portray it to be, why would millions of people from around the world continue to seek a better life within its borders?
The answer is simple: America remains a nation admired and desired by people across the globe for the freedom, opportunity, and hope it represents. I believe these blessings, and the principles upon which this nation was built, ultimately come from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world that draws people to America.
Welcoming strangers is already an integral part of America's immigration system and laws. America has long opened its doors to people from around the world and has demonstrated extraordinary generosity and compassion toward those seeking a better life. Yet American citizens who simply call for the enforcement of our existing immigration laws are too often accused of being motivated by racial prejudice, hatred, or fear.
When opponents cannot prevail on the merits of an argument, some resort to labels and personal attacks rather than addressing the facts. Such rhetoric can become a means of intimidation, an attempt to silence disagreement and pressure people into accepting a political agenda. Calling someone a racist or questioning that person's faith does not answer legitimate questions about border security, immigration law, sovereignty, or the consequences of unlawful immigration.
Jesus did not teach through political intimidation or personal attacks. Remember His words: “You will know them by their fruits.” When people cherry-pick Scripture while simultaneously calling you names, condemning you, or attempting to shame you into accepting their political position, consider both their words and their methods carefully. Scripture should illuminate the truth, not be wielded as a political weapon against those who disagree.
Our deeply held Christian beliefs should never be manipulated to convince us that compassion requires abandoning the rule of law. We can welcome the stranger, love our neighbor, and treat every human being with dignity while still expecting our nation's immigration laws to be respected and enforced. These principles are not mutually exclusive.
There are, of course, Scriptures that teach us how we are to treat strangers. Leviticus 19:34 states:
“But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
Matthew 25:35-36 states,
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
These verses teach us to love and treat the stranger among us with dignity and compassion, as if they were our fellow citizens. It does not, however, establish a requirement to grant citizenship or eliminate a nation's immigration laws. We can uphold the law while still treating those who enter our country with humanity, compassion, and respect.
America has demonstrated extraordinary compassion toward those who enter the country unlawfully. Border Patrol agents have sometimes been portrayed in an unnecessarily harsh light. For example, the widely publicized 2021 allegation that mounted Border Patrol agents were “whipping” migrants was not substantiated by the subsequent investigation. Yet acts of kindness and compassion by individual agents, including helping migrant families and providing gifts and necessities to their children, often receive far less attention.
Much of America's tradition of charity and compassion is deeply rooted in the Christian principles that influenced our nation's founding and development. Throughout our border states, churches, charitable organizations, volunteers, and other humanitarian groups provide water, food, shelter, and other assistance to migrants, including those facing the deadly desert heat.
Those who enter the United States unlawfully also receive numerous forms of public assistance and essential services, including the right to attend public schools regardless of immigration status, and federal law generally requires that hospital emergency rooms provide emergency screening and stabilizing treatment regardless of a person's immigration status or ability to pay.
Ultimately, much of the cost of government-provided services to all illegal immigrants is borne by the American public through taxpayer-funded programs. At the same time, private citizens, churches, charities, and volunteers contribute their own money, time, and resources to help these people in need. This reflects something fundamental about the American character: we are a remarkably generous people. Even while debating immigration laws and border security, Americans continue to demonstrate compassion toward those who come here seeking a better life.
Enforcing a nation's borders and treating immigrants humanely are not contradictory principles. We can believe in the rule of law while also following Christ's command to love our neighbor and treat every person with dignity.
It is the politicians who refuse to consistently enforce our existing immigration laws who bear significant responsibility for the situation we face today. An inadequately controlled border can also create opportunities for human smugglers and traffickers to exploit vulnerable men, women, and children. The human cost of such exploitation should be part of any serious discussion about immigration policy, but it has been ignored by prior administrations.
The consequences of failures in our immigration system can extend far beyond the border. The September 11 attacks demonstrated the potentially catastrophic consequences of failures in immigration enforcement, visa compliance, and national security. Likewise, large-scale unlawful immigration raises legitimate questions about the financial burden placed on American citizens who pay for government services and social programs. These concerns should be examined based on facts and without regard to the nationality, race, or ethnicity of the individuals involved.
At the same time, America already faces an enormous national debt and substantial long-term financial obligations associated with government spending and social programs. There are American men, women, children, veterans, elderly people, and struggling families who desperately need help. We have a moral responsibility to consider their needs as well.
This raises difficult but necessary questions: How can America indefinitely assume responsibility for people arriving from throughout the world when we have Americans struggling with hunger, homelessness, inadequate education, and poverty here at home? How can we promise opportunity and assistance to people coming from other nations when many of our own citizens are struggling to find stable employment, affordable housing, and a path toward a better life?
Compassion does not require a nation to ignore its limitations. Neither does caring about the welfare of Americans mean that we lack compassion for people born elsewhere. A responsible immigration policy must balance mercy with the rule of law, generosity with fiscal responsibility, and our desire to help others with our obligation to care for the citizens and communities already depending upon us.
Unemployment in America is at historic highs. If millions of illegal immigrants from all over the world are given citizenship, then that would be a sign for many around the world to get to America, no matter what it takes, and you also will be granted citizenship. As the flood of people enters our country, as we have seen many times in the past, access to social programs and opportunities to work will diminish tremendously for the poor people who are already here legally and illegally.
The American people do sympathize with the plight of illegal aliens from all over the world, which is why they have been so generous. There is not one of us who would not try to get to America if we were citizens of an ungodly and unjust nation. However, while America is the most generous country in world history, it must recognize that it cannot solve the world's problems, and its leaders must understand that responsibility and accountability are crucial to getting this great country back on its financial footing. If not, there will be nowhere left to flee if America suffers an economic collapse.
Politicians and left-wing activists who invoke Scripture in the immigration debate often fail to mention that the Bible also recognizes nations, governing authorities, and territorial boundaries. Acts 17:26 states:
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
Notice that Scripture specifically refers to nations and the “boundaries of their lands.” At the very least, this demonstrates that the existence of nations and territorial boundaries is not inherently contrary to biblical teaching but a mandate by God to protect our boundaries that He set.
Nor should we ignore what Scripture teaches about respecting lawful authority. Romans 13:1 states:
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
Christians are therefore called to respect legitimate governing authority. That principle cannot simply be discarded when discussing immigration laws because those laws are politically inconvenient.
Taken together, these passages present a broader biblical picture than simply quoting verses about welcoming the stranger. Scripture teaches compassion for strangers, but it also recognizes nations, boundaries, government, and lawful authority. These principles need not contradict one another. America can treat immigrants with dignity and compassion while maintaining its borders and requiring people to obey its immigration laws.
We should also remember that America's immigration debate did not begin yesterday. For decades, Americans have repeatedly heard promises that the immigration system would be fixed and the border secured, yet unlawful immigration remains a major national issue. Today, tens of millions of illegal aliens are estimated to be living in the United States.
After decades of unfulfilled promises, Americans have every right to question what they are being told. When Scripture is selectively invoked to argue for compassion while biblical teachings concerning government, law, and national boundaries are left out of the discussion, we are not being presented with the complete biblical argument. Christians should examine all of Scripture, investigate the facts, and refuse to allow either political side to use the Bible selectively to advance its agenda.
I will leave you with the words of 2 Corinthians 11:13–15:
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So, it is no surprise that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
Scripture warns us that deception does not always present itself as evil. Sometimes it comes disguised as righteousness, compassion, or even biblical truth. God's Word can be selectively quoted, taken out of context, and used to create confusion or persuade people to accept something that the whole of Scripture does not teach.
God has given us the ability to discern right from wrong and the wisdom to carefully examine what we are being told. Do not accept an argument merely because someone attaches a Bible verse to it. Read Scripture for yourself, understand the political issues being debated and their potential consequences, and consider the context in which God's Word is being used. Examine the entirety of Scripture rather than isolated passages. Seek God's wisdom and discernment, investigate the facts for yourself, and judge what you hear by the truth of His Word and the fruits it produces.
In the end, it comes back to the simple warning Jesus gave us: “You will know them by their fruits.” Look beyond the words. Look beyond the labels. Look beyond the political rhetoric. Examine the fruits, and use the God-given wisdom and discernment He has provided you to recognize the truth.
God Bless.
We have to make the decision as a country that God is sovereign not only over our lives, but also over our entire country. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here for your comments, questions & suggestions.
Email UsThis website provides historical facts to dispel the lies that are being told about our country. My hope is that godly citizens will take the information, verify it with their own research and study, and then help teach their fellow citizens about the truth of our founding and the need to Restore America's Foundation, Jesus Christ.
Read more about our Challenge Coin
The call to Restore America's Foundation has been ignored for more than one hundred years, which is far too long. We have allowed politicians, activists, and rogue courts to remove God from our schools, agencies, and the public square. Look at what is being taught in many schools today. It's unbelievable. We need to reverse all of this and the only way to accomplish that task is through prayer and education.
