Articles
Secure Borders?
June 17, 2006 - Christian Radio Commentator: Bible Supports Concept of Secure Borders:
A Christian business consultant and writer in the Phoenix area has recently published some commentaries that deal with what the Bible says about illegal immigration and a nation’s response to that. He says he has found in his study and research that it isn’t just about compassion.
Steve Marr’s online commentaries are called “Business Proverbs.” His syndicated radio program by the same name is heard on 1,000 radio outlets worldwide. According to Marr, the Bible supports the idea that nations have the right and responsibility to secure their borders.
Marr says many Christians, when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration, argue that compassion should rule the day because those immigrants have come simply seeking a better life.
http://www.montanasnews.tv/articles.php?mode=view&id=4785
Truth told, I’m a little lost at the suggestion of the Bible supporting the notion that “nations have the right and responsibility to secure their borders”. I’m not saying they don’t but I think one may be a little bit more than hard-pressed to make a rock solid case for the argument with nothing more than a Bible.
Funny thing though about “illegal immigration”: A couple of hundred years ago, some of my ancestors (and maybe some of yours too) were seeking clarification on and attempting to enforce what were then current laws on immigration in this land. Notable exceptions such as “The Battle of the Little Bighorn” notwithstanding, they lost the enforcement issue and clarification came in the form of "reservations" they were "given" to live on. A new people occupied the land, a new culture dramatically changed the landscape and eventually Hollywood made a fortune peddling “Cowboy & Indian” movies.
Lest you should think otherwise, I’m very much in favor of controlling our borders. I understand that if the current wave of illegal immigration continues, this country is in for some major changes and those changes (upheavals?) aren’t necessarily going to be to the benefit of the people whose families have been here for decades and even centuries. It’s just that I also know that we’re (very) foolish if we believe that anything in this world, including the social make-up of this country and its borders, is permanent. It’s changing now. It’s likely to change a great deal more.
Fortunately for us, “compassion” has already “ruled the day”.
“Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”Psalm 103:13 (NASB)
You and I aren’t permanent either. We’re growing older, we’re wearing out and fortunately for us, our Father has promised His own a new body when we’re finished with this one: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." (1 John 3:2 NASB)
And with that new body comes a new (and permanent) place to live. Much like Abraham, (Hebrews 11:9-11) we too are “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”. Much like the disciples of Jesus, we too look forward to living in His “Father’s house” where there are “many mansions”. (John 14:1-4)
Incidentally, the Bible DOES support the idea that the borders of that land are secure.
~Teddy Horton
