Illegal Immigrants

Dear Victorious,

Does the Bible have anything to say about illegal immigrants? How should Christians regard illegal immigrants?

Ken T. - Ponca City, OK

Dear Ken,

The Bible doesn't specifically address the issue of illegal immigrants. However, it does give very specific guidelines that would tell us how to regard them.

Romans 13:1-2 (5-7) tells us that everyone is to "submit himself to the governing authorities." Then 1 Peter 2:13 tells us that everyone is to "submit himself to every authority instituted among men." Basically these passages tell us that God's people are to obey the laws of the land. Moreover, they do it not only in obedience to God, but to honor God.

So someone who has entered and/or remains in any country illegally is not an obedient Christian (or Catholic). In fact, he or she is rebelling against God and His statutes for righteous living. They are committing sin every day that they remain without taking action to receive government permission to be there.

How should Christians regard illegal aliens? As law breakers. We shouldn't hire them, associate with them, or otherwise enable their bad behavior. We should rebuke them, report them, and deport them when they are caught. If they submit themselves to the law of our land, then we should forgive and embrace them, engage them, and otherwise love them as fellow believers. But not until they've submitted themselves to the law of the land ... by turning themselves in, throwing themselves at the mercy of the govt., etc.