What Does the Bible Say About… Immigration?
Immigration remains one of the most discussed and divisive issues in our culture today. Between nonstop headlines, political debates, social media arguments, and emotional reactions, it can be difficult to know how Christians should think about the topic biblically. In this message from our What Does the Bible Say About…? series, we wanted to move beyond political talking points and carefully examine what Scripture says about immigrants, borders, government, compassion, and the role of the church.
One of the biggest themes from the sermon was the reminder that Christians must think biblically before they think politically. We are constantly being shaped by headlines, viral videos, and highly editorialized information, and it becomes very easy to form strong opinions without careful biblical thinking. God’s Word, not social media, cable news, or political tribes, must shape the worldview of believers.
As we walked through both the Old and New Testaments, we saw clearly that God does have a heart for immigrants. Passages like Leviticus 19:33–34, Deuteronomy 10:18–19, Exodus 23:9, and Jeremiah 22:3 repeatedly command God’s people to treat the foreigner, resident alien, widow, and vulnerable with compassion and dignity. God continually reminded Israel that they themselves had once been strangers in Egypt, and that memory was meant to shape the way they treated others.
At the same time, we also saw that God’s immigration system in the Old Testament was not without order, structure, expectations, or borders. In passages like Exodus 20, Leviticus 16, Numbers 9, and Leviticus 18, immigrants entering Israel were expected to follow the laws of the land, participate in the culture, and respect the worship of the one true God. Scripture presents both compassion and order together, not one at the expense of the other.
I also spent significant time clarifying passages that are often misunderstood in modern conversations. Matthew 25, for example, is frequently used to support broad political conclusions about immigration. But when read in context, Jesus is speaking specifically about the judgment of nations at the end of the tribulation period and the treatment of Jewish people during that time. We must interpret Scripture carefully and contextually rather than pulling isolated verses into modern political debates.
Another major emphasis from the sermon was learning to distinguish between the responsibilities God gives to different institutions. Romans 13 teaches government’s God-given responsibility to uphold law, maintain order, punish wrongdoing, and protect society. Individuals, meanwhile, are commanded throughout Scripture to show mercy, compassion, hospitality, and love toward others. And the church has been given a unique mission altogether: making disciples of all nations.
That final point was especially important. No matter how complicated political conversations around immigration may become, one reality remains true: God has brought people from all over the world into our cities and communities. For the church, that is not ultimately a political inconvenience. It is a gospel opportunity.
So, a believer can wear to “hats,” so to speak. You can wear your citizen hat, and as a citizen of this country you can support law and order. You can support responsible but compassionate immigration laws. You can support a tight border policy. On the other hand, you can put on your church member hat and recognize the fact that people from all over the world–who need the gospel–have been deposited at our doorstep. What an opportunity!
As a church family, we talked about the privilege we have to minister to immigrants, refugees, and international communities right here in our own city. Whether through partnerships with ministries like Swahili Baptist Church or supporting missionaries reaching Muslim communities, we want to faithfully use every opportunity God gives us to share the gospel with the nations.
Most importantly, we should never forget that spiritually speaking, every one of us was once an outsider who was graciously welcomed by God through Jesus Christ. Romans 11 reminds us that Gentile believers have been graciously “grafted in” through the mercy of God. That grace ought to shape the way we see and treat others as we continue carrying out the mission Christ has given us: making more and better disciples.
