For centuries, Christians have wrestled with the tension between mercy and order, compassion and responsibility. That tension is at the heart of today’s immigration debate, where some clergy insist that Biblical commands to “welcome the stranger” (Leviticus 19:34) require support for open borders and tolerance of illegal immigration. This reading, however sincere, reflects a misuse of Scripture, Christian benevolence and the God-ordained role of civil government.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is to be commended for articulating this balance in a recent press conference on Capitol Hill. Drawing openly from his Christian faith, Johnson stated that Scripture does not call governments to abdicate their responsibilities. On the contrary, the Bible affirms that maintaining order, enforcing laws and protecting citizens are moral duties. His remarks offered a needed counterweight to the growing tendency among some clergy to selectively quote Scripture while disregarding its broader teaching.
While Christians should welcome moral engagement from pastors and priests, careless and/or agenda-driven handling of the Bible to justify policies that undermine law, order and public safety deserves correction. Scripture says much about compassion, but it also speaks clearly about personal accountability, justice, authority and the God-ordained role of civil government. Those truths must not be ignored when addressing immigration.
Passages about “entertaining the stranger in your land” are rooted in the Old Testament law prescribed for Israel. Certainly, humane and even gracious care of others is echoed in the New Testament, which speaks to personal obligations and communal charity. God’s people are, of course, expected to treat all persons with dignity, not cruelty. But godly benevolence in no way mandates that a nation abandon borders, suspend enforcement or ignore the rule of law. Ancient Israel itself had defined boundaries, laws and expectations for those who entered and remained.
Christian charity has never meant the erasure of lawful distinction. Compassion does not require chaos. Jesus’ call to “love one’s neighbor” (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31) cannot possibly mean that we endorse policies incentivizing unlawful entry, human trafficking or cartel control of migration routes.
A nation can be generous while still insisting that entry occurs through legal, orderly processes. When clergy conflate mercy with lawlessness, they create a false moral dilemma that Scripture itself does not support.
Romans chapter 13:1-7 is especially relevant to this discussion. The apostle Paul teaches that civil government is “a minister of God,” established to reward good and restrain evil. He goes on to say that those who obey the law have nothing to fear, while those who break it invite consequences. This passage is not obscure or controversial within Christian theology; it has long formed the basis for Christian respect for lawful authority. Immigration law is not exempt from this principle.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are tasked with enforcing the laws enacted by Congress, often under extraordinarily difficult and dangerous circumstances. Their work has been made far harder by decades of derelict immigration policy, particularly from the political left (and this includes you, my fellow clergy), which has emphasized rhetoric over reality and sentiment over American sovereignty. Inconsistent enforcement, mixed signals and blanket amnesties have weakened the system and encouraged mass unlawful migration.
The consequences of poor enforcement are not abstract. Communities across the country have felt the strain on schools, hospitals, housing and law enforcement. Americans have lost their lives to crimes that would have been prevented with effective border control.
Meanwhile, migrants themselves are frequently exploited, abused and abandoned along the journey. A broken system harms citizens and migrants alike; verse-use signaling and calling it “Biblical” does not make it so.
Clergy can play a vital role in shaping moral conscience. But that role carries responsibility. Scripture should never be weaponized to shield unlawful behavior or to shame those charged with upholding the law. Pastors are free to call individuals to acts of mercy, generosity and personal sacrifice. But ministers should cautiously, honestly consider whether they are using their platform to demand that the state surrender its God-given duty to govern justly.
A truly Christian approach to immigration makes no place for cruelty and indifference — but it also rejects naivety. Borders are not immoral. Laws are not unloving. A nation that enforces its laws while seeking humane, lawful reforms is acting well within the bounds of Biblical teaching.
It is time for religious leaders to stop misusing Scripture in this debate and to affirm the full counsel of God’s Word — one that honors compassion, order, and the rule of law together.
Dr. Alex McFarland is an apologetics evangelist who has spoken in hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is heard live on “Exploring the Word,” airing daily on 200+ radio stations across the country. “The Alex McFarland Show” airs weekly on NRBTV, providing Biblically faithful TV and discussion on current events affecting our nation. His newest book, “100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times,” is available now.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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