It's become clear that for the last decade aspects of Christian Theology have been twisted and weaponized to advance evil (or keep people from opposing it), and a lot of those examples revolve around welfare and immigration; Christian gaslighting is the worst!
First, Jesus commands individual believers to love their neighbor, show mercy, give sacrificially, and care for the poor. He never instructs governments to abandon borders, laws, or enforcement. Conflating individual charity with state policy is dishonest theology.
Second, it weaponizes Jesus to shut down debate- “Agree with my political position or you are un-Christlike.” That is spiritual bullying, not discipleship. It replaces reasoning with shame. (Now when it comes to abortion I do think we can be a bit hard hitting as it directly violates one of God’s 10 Commandments but that is a discussion for another day).
Third, it ignores Jesus’s actual respect for law and authority. Jesus affirmed lawful authority repeatedly. He paid taxes. He told others to obey civil law even when it was inconvenient. He distinguished between God’s authority and Caesar’s authority. Mercy did not mean lawlessness.
Fourth, it cherry picks scripture while ignoring the rest. The Bible is full of borders, nations, laws, judges, and consequences. Israel had clear rules for outsiders. Hospitality existed alongside enforcement. There is no biblical model of open borders with no accountability. None.
Fifth, it confuses compassion with outcomes. Christians can oppose illegal immigration because it enables human trafficking, cartel control, child exploitation, and lawlessness while still caring about immigrants as people. Wanting order is not hatred. Wanting law enforcement is not cruelty.
Sixth, it replaces repentance with victimhood. Jesus never affirmed people in ongoing lawbreaking and told everyone else to accommodate it. His pattern was truth, then mercy. “Go and sin no more” was right along side His compassion.
So, let's dive into this with a clarification that Jesus was NOT an illegal immigrant. Jesus was a Jewish man who lived in Israel (the Jews nation) which was under Roman occupation during His lifetime. Joseph and Mary were traveling to the town of Joseph's family (Bethlehem of Judah) to pay the taxes imposed by the Romans. He was not traveling out of his national boundaries. The only time that Jesus could be considered an immigrant was the brief period where He, Joseph, and Mary lived in Egypt while hiding from Herod. That lasted only a few years, and then Jesus and His family moved to Nazareth, another city in the nation of Israel.
1) "The Bible commands us to welcome the stranger" was often misappropriated by progressive Christians to max-boost immigration, oppose any immigration restrictions, and DEFINITELY to oppose any consequences for illegal immigrants.
1) "The Bible commands us to welcome the stranger" was often misappropriated by progressive Christians to max-boost immigration, oppose any immigration restrictions, and DEFINITELY to oppose any consequences for illegal immigrants.
This verse in the King James is Hebrews 13:2- Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
There's a big difference between entertaining someone and welcoming someone. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines "entertain" as to receive into the house and treat with hospitality, either at the table only, or with lodging also. This is not a permanent thing, it was a temporary one as in the case of Abraham and the three visitors he received in Genesis 18 (which is why angels are referenced).
It is important to note that this particular verse is dealing with a future dispensation. Angels are all through the Old Testament, the birth of Jesus, and they appear at His resurrection, but they go silent during the church age. When Paul speaks of angels it is always in a negative connotation. Why? Because during the church age the Holy Spirit comes and dwells inside of Christians and works through them. Once the rapture of the church happens, angels come back on the scene- they are mentioned all throughout the book of Revelation.
In the Old Testament, angels are referred to as the sons of God. During the church age, Christians are the sons of God. Angels in the Old Testament were messengers who showed up for a specific purpose (to tell God’s will or destroy the wicked). During the church age, we are God’s messengers who through the foolishness of preaching seek to warn the wicked of the coming judgment (we don’t mete out the judgment, that’s God’s job, we only warn).
Should you meet an “angel” during the church age you better try the spirits because you are more than likely dealing with a fallen angel, also known as a devil.
Another interesting aspect about this verse is that it’s written to Jews. The “strangers” here is a reference to Gentiles. In the Old Testament, whenever God is speaking about a stranger in the land of Israel, He is speaking about a Gentile.
When the Lord tells the children of Israel to accept the stranger, it is understood that they would follow the rules and regulations of the nation.
Exodus 12:49- One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Leviticus 18:26- Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
Leviticus 24:16- And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
Number 15:30- But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
These verses clearly show that the "stranger" could be judged and even receive execution for not following the commandments. Exodus lays out the punishment for specific crimes, and capital punishment for murder, rape, and trafficking are among them. Those liberals who want to use the Bible's guidelines have never actually read the Bible!
But, as has been stated before, the Bible distinguishes between the role of the individual Christians (charity for all) and the role of the State (prioritizing justice for that nation's citizens).
This is why the same Bible that commands individuals to "entertain the stranger" also blesses a nation in building a wall to protect its borders.
Deuteronomy 19:14- Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deuteronomy 27:17- Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
And in the same way a father has a responsibility to his children that he does not have for all children, and a pastor has a responsibility to his church he does not have for all churches... the leaders of a nation have a responsibility to the citizens of that nation that they do not have to care for other nations' citizens.
I Timothy 5:8- But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
So, the nation who leaves their citizens homeless while providing for illegals is NOT obeying God's commands. They are considered worse than an infidel, or an unbeliever.
2) "When he returns, Christ will gather the glory of the nations" was often used to reinforce the progressive idea that all cultures are equally glorious and to be celebrated. They take this out of context. He's not gathering the nations for one glorious community, but rather to do battle!
2) "When he returns, Christ will gather the glory of the nations" was often used to reinforce the progressive idea that all cultures are equally glorious and to be celebrated. They take this out of context. He's not gathering the nations for one glorious community, but rather to do battle!
Zephaniah 3:8- Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
"What could be wrong with importing hundreds of thousands of immigrants?"
All PEOPLE are equally valuable because they're created in the image of God, but not all CULTURES are equally glorious because what a culture becomes arises from what that culture worships. If a culture is built on top of godless or demonic ideologies (like Islam), it will not be morally equal to a culture built on top of Protestant Christianity.
God did not allow the Israelites to bring in other religions. In fact, He warned of dire consequences should they allow or follow these other religions.
Exodus 23:24- Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Deuteronomy 7:5,25- But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
II Kings 23:24- Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
Not every culture is equal in value to (or often compatible with) Protestant Christian culture. And America was formed on Protestant Christian principles.
3) "The Bible commands us to love the poor" is (very) often used to support max-boosting welfare programs, Christians throwing tantrums against any scrutiny toward entitlement programs, and used to support socialism-lite policies. But again, the Bible distinguishes between the role of the individual, church, family, and State.
God gives individuals blessings for helping out those less fortunate. Especially those who cannot help themselves- orphans and elderly.
Dueteronomy 10:17-18- For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
And the Bible places the primary responsibility for charity on families (1 Tim 5:8), individual Christians (Matt 25), and the church (Gal 2:10, 1 Tim 5). But, it does NOT want us to support the lazy.
And the Bible places the primary responsibility for charity on families (1 Tim 5:8), individual Christians (Matt 25), and the church (Gal 2:10, 1 Tim 5). But, it does NOT want us to support the lazy.
II Thessalonians 3:10- For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Those with farms were to leave the gleanings in the field for the fatherless and widow to come collect. They weren't sitting around looking for handouts; they were out there gathering their own food.
Deuteronomy 24:19- When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
No where in Scripture does God command human governments to forcibly redistribute wealth. And remember, with governments, "You always get more of what you incentivize and less of what you penalize."
This is why when governments max-boost welfare programs, at-scale and over time it tends to CREATE more poverty rather than SOLVING it. For example, progressive cities / states that max-boost "care for the homeless" end up with cities overwhelmed by *more* homelessness; they do not end up solving homelessness.
4) Biblical commands against partiality and prejudice are often used to make Christians more scared of being called racist or Islamophobic than they are of allowing the destruction of their society.
Isaiah 59:7- Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
I Timothy 1:15- Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
But honesty about cultural realities and generalizations are not "prejudice" or "phobia." In the same way that it was not wrong for the Apostle Paul to say, "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" (Titus 1:12-13), it would also not be wrong for someone to say, "Hey, the Somalian culture tends to be heavily Islamic, low-trust, and high-fraud."
Proverbs 10:29- The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Isaiah 1:28- And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
We are to be looking to God to supply our need, not a government program. And when government programs support wicked people you better watch out!
Psalm 55:23- But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Governments are suppose to make wise decisions based on the realities of the dangers that are out there. They are suppose to take care of their citizens first, and then if they are able accept those who are willing to come and work for a better life while following the rules and regulations of our nation.
Philippians 3:18-19- (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
So, to summarize- The government's job is to enforce the law, and it is the individual's responsibility to help those who need it in a wise manner. It is best performed when a local church helps out one of its members, or a community lends aid to one living in it, or an individual helps out a friend or relative; this is because they can intimately know the need and provide out of their overabundance. When you start "assisting" those that you don't know, you run the risk of subsidizing the lazy, deceitful, or wicked- which is exactly what happens when the government takes it upon themselves to offer government programs to the "needy".
Our ultimate job as Christians is to spread the gospel to those other nations. We are to tell them that Jesus Christ died for their sins and that they don't have to go to hell. Our job is NOT to enable them in their sins or make them feel accepted in their indolent lifestyle.
