October 23 2018 – Click here to listen
What is up with these Central American countries marching towards our border? Over 7000 people from Central America are marching ten across with their caravan stretching over a mile heading toward the American border in California. Some are carrying their Honduran flag and yet they claim they are coming to the United States for asylum???
The worst thing I’ve seen is them painting a swastika on our American flag and then burning it. What the heck are these people thinking?
President Trump calls it an invasion and states unequivocally the caravan contains members of the violent gang MS13, previously deported illegal immigrants, and even people of middle eastern descent. I agree with the invasion part of it at least for some of them. It would be difficult to make a case for someone who defaces our flag with swastikas and burns it ever becoming a good citizen . . .
Many simply cannot wait to get here because they want easy money and invariably sign up for food stamps, free health care and housing and other freebies offered by our welfare state. These people are poor, uneducated, do not speak our language nor seem to have a desire to learn it. They are unlikely to assimilate into American culture and would no doubt form a Honduran enclave rather than blend into American society.
Is it an invasion, people wanting a free ride, or something else? Realistically I would imagine that most illegal immigrants in the United States have come for the purpose of having a better life, providing for their families, and escaping poverty. These are good goals and motivations. However, Christians beware. It is not at all biblical to violate a law to achieve a “good.”
As with most polarizing issues the debate is primarily driven by money and of course power. Let’s face it, many liberal Democrats want to allow these folks to be allowed into our country because they want them to vote for their Democrat Party so they can have power. The billionaire Koch brothers and people like them advocate open borders because their business empire relies on cheap labor. With the cartels it’s all about money too. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee stated: “To be clear – human smuggling operations are lining the pockets of transnational criminals. They are not humanitarian endeavors. Smugglers prioritize profit over people. And when aliens pay them to get here, they are contributing $500 million a year – or more – to groups that are fueling greater violence and instability in America and the region.”
I wholeheartedly believe that Christians are called to be compassionate and merciful toward all people including immigrants. The question at hand however concerns ILLEGAL immigration and whether it is wrong to ignore a nation’s border and break its immigration laws. Romans 13:1-7 makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to obey the laws of the government. “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.”
Plain and simple, illegal immigration is the breaking of a government’s law. There is nothing in Scripture that contradicts the idea of a sovereign nation having immigration laws. Therefore, it is rebellion against God to break the laws of another country and enter it. Yes, illegal immigration is a sin.” The only exception to this is when a law of the government forces us to disobey a command of God (Acts 5:29) But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
As stated I do believe that the majority of illegal immigrants in the United States have come for the purpose of having a better life, providing for their families, and escaping poverty. These are good goals and motivations. However, it is not biblical to violate a law to achieve a “good.” Caring for the poor, orphans, and widows is something the Bible commands us to do; however, the biblical fact that we are to care for the unfortunate does not mean we should violate the law in doing so. Supporting, enabling, and/or encouraging illegal immigration is, therefore, a violation of God’s Word. Those seeking to migrate to another country should always obey the immigration laws of that country. While this may cause delays and frustrations, it is better than acting illegally. A frustrating law is still a law.
What is the biblical solution to illegal immigration? Simple – don’t do it; obey the laws. If you desire change, then seek to change immigration laws. If it is your conviction that an immigration law is unjust, do everything that is legally within your power to get the law changed: pray, petition, vote, peacefully protest, etc. As Christians, we should be the first to seek to change any law that is unjust. At the same time, we are also to demonstrate our submission to God by obeying the government He has placed in authority over us.
1 Peter 2:13
“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.”