A Christian Perspective on Immigration
The Permanent Things: Reflections on Tradition, Culture, and the Good Society
When discussing immigration and national borders, Christians of good faith can and do arrive at different conclusions. The Bible provides principles of justice, mercy, and stewardship, but applying these principles in the context of modern nation-states requires discernment. That’s why I have titled this A Christian Perspective on Immigration rather than The Christian Perspective - recognizing that this isn’t necessarily what all, or even most, Christians believe. However, it is what I believe to be the most faithful application of biblical teaching regarding ordered charity, national sovereignty, and responsible governance. My goal isn’t to dismiss differing views but to present a thoughtful, biblically grounded argument for why securing borders and prioritizing the well-being of one’s own community isn’t only compatible with Christian love but a necessary extension of it.
Compassion, Order, and the Immigration Debate
Discussions on immigration are often charged with strong emotions, particularly among Christians who desire to balance compassion with wisdom. Some argue that a strong stance on border security is uncharitable or even un-Christian, insisting that true Christian love means an open-door policy without significant restrictions. However, this perspective overlooks key biblical principles - particularly the concept of ordered charity, which teaches that love and responsibility must be rightly prioritized in concentric circles, beginning with those closest to us and extending outward.
Scripture calls us to love the stranger (Leviticus 19:34), to care for the least of these (Matthew 25:40), and to practice hospitality (Hebrews 13:2). But it also teaches that charity must be exercised with wisdom, sustainability, and order. Christians are commanded to care for their families first (1 Timothy 5:8), to tend to the needs of the local church (Galatians 6:10), and to seek the welfare of their own communities (Jeremiah 29:7). These principles apply not only to individuals but also to nations, which, like families, must steward their resources wisely to ensure they can serve both their own people and those in need beyond their borders.
A biblical view of immigration doesn’t dismiss the suffering of foreigners, but neither does it demand an indiscriminate, boundless obligation that ignores practical realities. True Christian love acknowledges both compassion and order, ensuring that we do good effectively rather than being overwhelmed by unsustainable burdens.
Concentric Circles of Responsibility
Christian charity is not chaotic or indiscriminate; it follows a divinely instituted order. Throughout Scripture and church history, we see a pattern of concentric circles of responsibility - beginning with the family, then extending to the faith community, the broader society, and ultimately, to all of humanity.
1. First Duty: Family and Household
Paul makes this priority explicit in 1 Timothy 5:8:
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Before we attempt to solve the problems of distant nations, we’re obligated to care for those within our own household. This principle doesn’t apply only to biological family but extends to the household of faith and, by extension, to the political community in which we live.
Just as a father’s first responsibility is to provide for his children before taking in a stranger, a nation must prioritize the well-being of its own citizens before extending resources to outsiders. This isn’t selfishness; it’s wisdom. A father who neglects his family to care for others isn’t virtuous but reckless - just as a government that neglects the well-being and security of its people in the name of unlimited compassion is not demonstrating virtue, but irresponsibility.
2. The Church and Local Community
The next circle of charity extends to the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 teaches:
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The church has always been a community of mutual support, ensuring that no member is left destitute. In Acts 4:32-35, early Christians voluntarily shared their resources out of love for Christ and their fellow believers, not under government mandate or coercion. This was a Spirit-led generosity, not an imposed redistribution with punitive consequences for noncompliance. Unlike secular collectivist systems that enforce wealth redistribution through state power, the early church’s model was rooted in personal conviction and freewill charity. Furthermore, this sharing was directed toward the household of faith, not an indiscriminate provision for all, reinforcing the biblical principle that while Christians are to show kindness to all, they have a primary responsibility to care for their own faith community before extending aid beyond it.
A nation, too, must care for its own members first. Prioritizing the well-being of fellow citizens - especially the poor, the unemployed, and those struggling within our own borders - is a moral responsibility that should not be neglected in favor of an abstract, limitless duty to all people everywhere.
3. The Nation: Seeking the Welfare of One’s Own People
In Jeremiah 29:7, God commands his people:
Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Nations, like families, have a God-ordained responsibility to seek their own well-being. A strong and stable nation is better able to provide for both its own citizens and for those in need abroad. Just as a broken family cannot effectively help others, a nation in chaos cannot offer meaningful aid to the world.
The Bible repeatedly affirms the importance of maintaining social order, securing borders, and ensuring justice. Nehemiah, for example, led the Israelites in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem - not out of hostility to foreigners but to protect and strengthen the community so that it could thrive (Nehemiah 2:17). Boundaries and governance aren’t antithetical to Christian love; they’re necessary for it.
4. The Foreigner and the Needy Beyond One’s Borders
The outermost circle of charity extends to those outside our immediate communities and nation. The Bible does call for kindness to the stranger:
When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself (Leviticus 19:33-34).
However, biblical commands to care for the stranger assume a context in which the foreigner integrates into the community, respects its laws, and doesn’t overwhelm its resources. The biblical model is not one of borderless inclusion but of structured, compassionate integration.
God’s Establishment of Borders
Scripture consistently affirms that national boundaries are part of God’s design for human civilization, demonstrating that order, distinct identities, and governance aren’t merely human constructs but divinely established principles. Deuteronomy 32:8 provides a foundational statement:
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
This passage underscores that God himself established national distinctions, setting boundaries to ensure that peoples and nations could develop according to his sovereign plan. Far from being an arbitrary human invention, borders serve a God-ordained purpose in structuring societies, allowing them to govern themselves, cultivate their own lands, and fulfill their unique callings.
One of the most striking examples of God affirming the necessity of boundaries occurs in Genesis 11:8-9 at the Tower of Babel. Humanity, in defiance of God’s command to “fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1), sought to unify under one language and one city, elevating themselves rather than submitting to divine authority. In response, God confused their language and scattered them across the earth, thereby ensuring the formation of distinct nations and cultures. This dispersion wasn’t an act of judgment alone but of divine wisdom - establishing boundaries that would prevent unchecked human pride and centralized tyranny.
Furthermore, God reaffirmed the legitimacy of territorial boundaries when he led Israel into the Promised Land. In Numbers 34:1-12, God explicitly defined the borders of Israel, instructing Moses and the people to settle within those divinely allotted lands. These territorial boundaries were meant to preserve Israel’s national and religious identity, ensuring that they could serve as a holy people distinct from the surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 7:6). Even within Israel, property boundaries were considered sacred, with God commanding, “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which the men of old have set” (Deuteronomy 19:14). This shows that God values not only national boundaries but also personal and familial ones, reinforcing the idea that respecting borders is part of upholding justice and order.
The book of Acts also provides an important theological affirmation of national distinctions. In Acts 17:26, Paul declares:
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.
This passage affirms that God is sovereign over both time and geography, intentionally establishing nations and their borders as part of his providential order. It also suggests that boundaries serve a purpose in God’s plan for human flourishing, preventing lawlessness and enabling structured governance.
Thus, from Genesis to Revelation, we see that God not only acknowledges but actively ordains borders as a means of maintaining order, promoting justice, and enabling nations to fulfill their God-given purposes. A nation without borders is akin to a house without walls - vulnerable to instability and incapable of sustaining those who dwell within. To oppose the concept of national boundaries is not only to ignore the biblical witness but to reject a fundamental principle established by God for the good of mankind.
Nehemiah and the Walls of Jerusalem
The book of Nehemiah provides one of the clearest biblical affirmations of the need for national security, demonstrating that boundaries and ordered governance are vital for the well-being of a people. Nehemiah, serving as a godly leader, recognized that Jerusalem’s lack of fortified walls left it vulnerable to external threats, social disorder, and disgrace. Seeing the city’s defenseless condition, he took decisive action to rebuild its walls, rallying the people with the call:
Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision (Nehemiah 2:17).
This effort wasn’t about hostility toward outsiders or an unwillingness to show hospitality. Rather, it was a matter of prudence, stewardship, and the preservation of the community God had entrusted to his people. Jerusalem was a covenant city, called to be a light to the nations, but it could not fulfill that role if it was constantly exposed to invasion, disorder, and exploitation. A city without walls was a city without security, and without security, neither worship, commerce, nor daily life could flourish.
Nehemiah faced fierce opposition from figures like Sanballat and Tobiah, who mocked and sought to sabotage the rebuilding effort (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Yet, Nehemiah and the people persisted, knowing that protecting their home was essential to their survival. They worked with weapons in one hand and tools in the other (Nehemiah 4:16-18), embodying the principle that vigilance and order are necessary for both justice and prosperity.
The parallel to national sovereignty today is clear: a nation without borders is like a city without walls - defenseless, chaotic, and unable to sustain its people. The purpose of borders is not to reject the stranger but to ensure that order, security, and justice are maintained so that true hospitality and charity can be exercised effectively. Without borders, lawlessness prevails, and the very foundation of a society crumbles. Just as Nehemiah’s leadership restored Jerusalem’s strength and dignity, responsible governance today must uphold the security and integrity of a nation to provide for its people and allow them to thrive.
The False Charge of Un-Christian Coldness
Many critics of conservative views on immigration argue that restrictions on immigration are unloving or contrary to Christian hospitality. They claim that a firm stance on border security, national sovereignty, and legal immigration is rooted in fear rather than faith, exclusion rather than compassion. However, this is a misunderstanding of biblical charity. True Christian love isn’t sentimentality; it’s wisdom applied to mercy. Biblical love doesn’t call for reckless emotionalism but for ordered, sustainable generosity that serves both justice and compassion.
A Christian approach to immigration must recognize that caring for one’s own community first isn’t a failure to love the stranger – it’s the necessary foundation for being able to help the stranger in a meaningful way. Just as a father isn’t unloving for prioritizing his own children’s well-being before extending help to his neighbors, so too a nation isn’t unloving for first ensuring the stability of its own people before opening its doors indiscriminately. In fact, failing to do so can lead to disorder and suffering that ultimately harms both citizens and migrants alike.
Three Key Principles of True Christian Charity
1. Caring for one’s own people first is not selfish - it’s responsible stewardship. Scripture teaches that those who don’t provide for their own families are worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8). This principle extends beyond the household to the broader community and nation. Just as a responsible household doesn’t bankrupt itself by taking in more people than it can provide for, so too a nation must ensure its own citizens’ security, economy, and cultural stability before opening itself to newcomers. A nation that fails to care for its own will ultimately fail to care for others as well.
2. A border isn’t a denial of hospitality – it’s an ordered structure for sustainable compassion. Biblical hospitality isn’t the same as unregulated access. In the Old Testament, while Israel was commanded to treat the sojourner with kindness (Leviticus 19:34), this was always within the framework of law, covenant, and national order. A foreigner living among the Israelites was expected to integrate, obey Israel’s laws, and respect their customs (Exodus 12:49). Hospitality isn’t about eliminating distinctions between citizens and non-citizens; it’s about extending welcome in a way that’s structured, intentional, and sustainable. An open border doesn’t equate to biblical hospitality any more than leaving one’s front door unlocked equates to biblical generosity.
3. Helping wisely is more loving than helping recklessly. A truly compassionate immigration policy must take into account long-term consequences. If immigration policies result in economic strain, rising crime, social fragmentation, or an overwhelmed welfare system, they aren’t acts of love but of negligence. The Bible warns against taking on burdens beyond what one can bear (Galatians 6:5), and wise governance recognizes that unregulated immigration can destabilize a nation rather than enrich it. Policies that burden the poor, strain public services, or erode national cohesion are not acts of Christian kindness – they’re irresponsible leadership decisions that create more suffering in the long run.
Love and Prudence Must Go Hand in Hand
Christians are called to be both loving and wise. The Good Samaritan helped the injured man on the road, but he didn’t bring every needy person into his home indefinitely. He provided practical assistance within his means - paying for the man’s immediate care but not assuming a limitless obligation. Likewise, a nation can be both generous and prudent, extending aid and opportunities to migrants in a manner that’s ordered, legal, and sustainable. This principle of wise compassion is seen in the early church as well. In Acts 6, when the apostles saw that the daily distribution of food was becoming disorganized and leading to disputes, they appointed deacons to oversee the ministry of mercy. This ensured that aid was distributed fairly, efficiently, and without neglecting the church’s greater mission. The lesson here is that charity, to be truly effective, must be structured and wisely administered - not indiscriminate and chaotic.
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, but he also recognized the reality of moral and social boundaries. He didn’t tell the rich young ruler to give away his wealth recklessly, nor did he command his disciples to abandon wisdom in their charity. Instead, Scripture calls us to practice discernment in how we give, recognizing that real compassion doesn’t mean abandoning order, security, or responsibility. Just as the apostles structured aid in a way that maintained justice and harmony within the church, so too must societies ensure that their generosity is exercised with prudence. True Christian love is neither reckless nor naïve – it’s thoughtful, intentional, and sustainable.
Loving the foreigner and protecting one’s country aren’t mutually exclusive. The charge that conservative immigration policies are “un-Christian” is based on a false dichotomy, one that ignores the biblical principles of ordered charity, stewardship, and justice. True Christian love, far from being reckless, is deeply rooted in wisdom - ensuring that both citizens and migrants alike can flourish in a society that’s stable, secure, and just.
Ordered Love is True Love
Christian charity isn’t an abstract concept divorced from practical reality. It’s an ordered, structured love that begins with those closest to us and extends outward as we’re able. Just as a father cares for his children before extending help to a neighbor, and a church prioritizes its members before helping strangers, a nation must secure its own people before addressing the needs of the world.
The Bible doesn’t endorse open borders as a moral imperative. Instead, it affirms the legitimacy of national sovereignty, the necessity of laws, and the wisdom of boundaries. This isn’t a rejection of compassion; it is its proper application. A strong nation with well-ordered charity is in a far better position to bless others than one that’s overwhelmed, chaotic, or financially strained.
Some may object that the biblical examples of borders and national boundaries applied specifically to Israel as a theocracy and, therefore, don’t apply to modern nations. But this line of reasoning is inconsistent. If we reject biblical principles on governance, order, and stewardship simply because we don’t live in a theocracy, then we would have no biblical basis for justice, laws, or even morality itself. The Bible is full of timeless principles that transcend any one historical context. While nations today aren’t bound by the exact territorial commands given to ancient Israel, the underlying principle remains the same: boundaries, security, and ordered charity are necessary for the well-being of a people.
How this principle is worked out in modern nations is a matter of prudence, debate, and policy. Different countries will apply these truths in different ways depending on their specific circumstances, but the principle itself remains sound. As Christians, we must genuinely care about ordered charity - not as a way to exclude the foreigner, but as the only means by which we can love both our fellow citizens and the stranger effectively. A truly biblical approach to immigration recognizes both the command to love the stranger and the necessity of prudence. We’re called to be compassionate, but we’re also called to be wise. Ordered love, not reckless sentimentality, is the key to both national stability and Christian faithfulness.