The Border Line

Photo by Zoltan Kovacs on Unsplash

I've seen quite a few posts on social media lately insinuating that any Christian who has anything to say against illegal immigration is being hypocritical. They point out that the Bible tells us to care for the homeless and those in need and so we are guilty of ignoring what we claim to believe. Some even go so far as to claim that this behavior is a telltale sign of our inherent racism and selfishness, that all of our so called righteousness is nothing more than a now crumbling facade.

While I don't doubt that there are plenty of people to whom this rightfully does apply, allow me a brief defense of my own position on this particular topic if you don't mind.

I would say that the issue of immigration, illegal or otherwise, as well as the whole refugee issue comes down to two distinct levels of responsibility; the individual and the national. Let's talk about the personal responsibility first.

As an individual, I have a clear directive from God towards charity. I am to help the widows and the fatherless, the homeless and the despairing, those in need and in those in trouble. If I see a need that I have the ability to in some way alleviate than I feel that is my responsibility to do so even if to do so costs me more than what may be immediately comfortable. I have to take care of my own responsibilities first of course but once that is taken care of I should freely give to those I can help. I further believe that despite that clear instruction, material assistance is not the primary goal. In the act of helping with some material need my primary goal, as with all things, is to bear the image of God in that situation, reflect a little of His love and grace, and to use that situation as an opportunity to share

the good news of Christ with whomever is involved. Remember, that to the Christian everyone on earth is on the road to Hell apart from God and so it does no one any real good to simply make that journey more comfortable. I want to help you now, and for eternity.

I think quite a few people would agree with me, at least up until the sharing of the Gospel where I suspect quite a few people would have a wildly different opinion. The sticking point is that I also believe that we should not have utterly open borders and that those who choose to enter into our country illegally should face the consequences of that action. I believe that we should vet those we allow into our nation and that proper, even strict security should be an obvious requirement in our current day. I believe this despite the fact that rather a lot of people don't see how this melds with my earlier statements on charity and the love of God.

To solve this apparent contradiction we have to look at the second level of responsibility, national. There are commands in scripture that apply to the individual, most of them in fact. However, there are also plenty of commands and instruction that apply to groups, organizations, and governments. Governments are given the right of rule, not for their own aggrandizement but for the protection and assistance of the people. A government must look and act beyond merely the personal individual responsibilities of it's members but towards the good of the populace. Now, these actions should be viewed in light of the commands to individuals but never the less they must also abide by a slightly different set of principals.

This then is where to the two perspectives meet. The government has a responsibility to govern well and to maintain the rule of law over the land. It must punish wrong doing and it must keep the peace, it must enact law that promotes equality and protects security. It must strike a balance between freedom and security. The individual is tasked with respecting that rule and living in obedience to the laws set upon them insofar as they align with the commands that God has for them.

Photo by Stephen Monroe on Unsplash

I believe that the government of a nation must secure their borders as much as is possible to help ensure the safety of the people. I further believe that my individual responsibility to assist the needy does not override my understanding that the law should be obeyed. I understand that life is hard and there are times when a rush across the boarder may seem like the only option. I agree that our immigration system badly needs an overhaul. I understand that even in the punishing of those who have broken the law, an understanding of the situation and intent of the individual is important. I understand all of this but I will not say that the law does not matter or that we have no need of security.

The law states how people must enter this country. There should be no exception to who this applies to, save perhaps for those in the most dire of life threatening situations. Once here, I will happy to help you with whatever I can but it would be foolish to simply allow anyone entrance at any time and for any reason without so much as even an ID check or brief questioning.

It is not racist to think that our borders should be secure. It is not hypocritical to believe that laws should be enforced because we do not hate those come here illegally, we only recognize that for whatever reason they have broken the law and that has consequences. This is no reason for cruelty on the part of law enforcement and I oppose that strongly but the law must be enforced just as much as I must help those I see in need.

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Just come in that door and not the window.