Compassion

The two greatest commandments in the Bible are to love God and love our neighbor…

Most of the time, the moral code the Lord put in the heart of all mankind functions in a way that merges these two Godly objectives in unity.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:36-40

However, as our morality becomes more and more contaminated within developed countries, there are times when loving God and loving our neighbor come into conflict. Immigration is an example of one of those instances.

Americans are called to be a compassionate nation, rich in wealth and rich in mercy. We have one of the highest per capita rates of donations of any Western nation. Both our compassion and our wealth are an obvious attraction to those in other countries looking for a better life for themselves and their families often, escaping poverty or persecution. We are also a magnet for those who see an opportunity to exploit our individual wealth through dishonest gain. 

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. – Galatians 2:10

Biblical Mandates

Scripture is clear that Christians are to be the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), but at the same time, we are to support the laws established by those elected officials who represent us (Titus 3:1). To love God is to follow His commands to both love our neighbors (including those who want to become our next-door neighbors), but to also follow the laws of our country. 

Romans 13:1-7 is clear that God calls the Christian to obey our laws, unless they are in violation of His overarching laws. And there is nothing in the Bible that suggests a sovereign nation, such as America, should not have immigration laws. It is the responsibility of Congress, voted into office by our citizens, to establish immigration laws.

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. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment… Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. – Romans 13:1-7

To ignore our laws by promoting illegal immigration is a sin (further details here). And this is an example where those who believe “loving our neighbor” should take priority over loving God by following His commands (laws) has Luke 10:27 in reverse.

Luke 10:27 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

One can argue that immigration laws are immoral or unfair. However, fairness is not at issue. We are not to break laws because we don’t agree with them, unless they violate God’s law. 

From a Practical Standpoint

Beyond the principle of loving God first, and loving mankind second, is the reality that the United States cannot support the Third World within our borders, and survive as a nation. The more we attempt to bring those who have illegally entered our country up to minimum US living standards as a handout, the more we undermine our ability to have the financial resources to help those who remain in their native countries and to have the military strength to help maintain order in an increasingly volatile world. Porous borders promote the undermining of a country. Our current debt is $36 trillion. In 2017, it was $20 trillion, a rise of 12% per year. Today, that represents a loan of $272k for every taxpayer in the nation… and counting (details here).

From a Biblical End-Time Perspective 

If one believes the Bible predicts a one-world government, currency, and religion, what better way to accomplish that goal than to break the economy of the strongest free nation in the world? Further, looking beyond the US, many other developed nations are also being economically undermined by the influx of undocumented aliens across their borders. 

What’s the Answer?

If Americans wish to modify our border laws to increase the vetting of more who are seeking a better life, then Congress needs to change the laws to allow for that. From a Biblical perspective, breaking or ignoring the law is not the answer. To be a republic that disregards the decisions of our elected leaders is to no longer be a sovereign nation and is instead, fostering the reality of a future one-world government.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. – 1 Peter 2:13-16