Biblical Principles for Immigration Control by Deb Darby

Genesis 17:6-8 - "...I will make nations of you;...I will give you land".

Exodus - Promised Land - Possession (Deut. 28:21) necessitates boundaries.

Babel - language groups created; decentralization reduced propagation of evil; distinction between peoples.

Exodus 19:5 - "special treasure above all people". Again, a distinct nation.

23:33 - ..."your" land.

Numbers 3:15 - Census (identification of citizens).

***Deut. 15 - neighbors, brothers, foreigners, "poor" - 15:11 - "in your land".; Deut. 19:14 - You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark...in your inheritance...

Deut 20:8-18 - protectionist, volunteer military, ruthless in self-defense

Deut 23: 32-34 - no alliances with pagan nations (holiness)

1 Kings 4:21 Solomon reigned...as far as the border of Egypt.; 4:24; 31 he had dominion...on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely on this side of the River.; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.

1 Kings 4:25 - private land ownership within the monarchy; borders of kingdom- "...each man (dwelt safely) under his vine and his fig tree from Dan as far as Beersheba".

Future "Day of the Lord" - Isaiah 2:4 - "He shall judge between the nations."

Ezekiel 37:28 - "The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel."

We have established that nations are part of God's plan.

This does not mean that aliens, strangers, foreigners or even "captives" are to be mistreated by individuals or rulers. 2 Kings 6:22; Malachi 3:5; Deut. 23:7. Proper treatment of these people still does not do away with nations or boundaries. Also, the Great Commission instructs Christians to go and make disciples of all the NATIONS...allowing them to maintain their unique identities...while they learn to observe Christ's commands. One's home land is no different since we are to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and "to the ends of the earth". (Acts. 1:8). So whether American Christians go to Mexico, or Costa Rican Christians go to America, citizenship/nationality is maintained.

Jesus teaches that the role of government is to be different from that of the church in Matt 17:24 and 22:17. This is also taught when David overstepped his purpose from secular to sacred (when he sacrificed instead of the prophet - Samuel?) Mark, I can't remember where this is

Individuals and families (the church) are to care for the poor - not the government.