Matthew 25:44-45

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

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What would Jesus say about borders?

First, I believe Jesus would be more concerned with loving thy neighbor than loving thy borders.  However, that does not necessarily mean that he would be against it.   Borders can be beneficial in governing parts of his creation.  Without borders and without some kind of governance in the world, it would be absolute chaos and I don’t believe that is something he wants.  So when it comes to the border, I don’t think Jesus would have an issue with controlling the border.

All that said, the issue before the USA right now and likely for the foreseeable future is not controlling the border.  Most of public opinion now agrees the border and immigrants coming to the USA needs to stop.  And it has recently stopped for the most part.  But the USA is left with deciding how do we deal with those that are already here.

Some immigrants have brought their family here with temporary status.  For some, that status has expired and they never left.  Some immigrants were never documented and crossed the border illegally to work, or to flee a bad situation in their home country.  The USA has allowed this for decades and turned it’s head.  As a result, you have countless cases of undocumented immigrants that have lived here 20+ years without status.  Many have wives, children, and grandchildren that are US Citizens.  How would Jesus deal with this issue?  Would he say to the undocumented father you have to be separated from your family and return to your homeland?  Is that having compassion for the father?  Is it having compassion for the family?  Is that what grace looks like?

Close the border, no problem.  But find a compassionate way to deal with those already here.  What about documenting who they are (you don't have to give citizenship), allow them to stay.  Find a solution that Jesus would say to you, “well done thy good and faithful servant. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 

 

Does creating fear and chaos to enforce immigration laws seem Christlike?  Is that a great way to win people over to the hope of Christ?  He died for you, yet you are not willing to tolerate your undocumented neighbor.  Instead of “well done thy good and faithful servant,” he may instead say “I never knew you. When I was hungry, you did not feed me.  When was sick, you did not take care of me.  When I was naked, you did not cloth me.”