A Christian Approach to Immigration - Bible Study

 A Christian Approach to Immigration

Adult Bible Study - Faith Lutheran Church, Beaufort, SC

October 19, 2025

As of 2025, immigrants to the United States make up about 15% of the population.

This is slightly higher than 1870 when the immigrant population was 14.5%. The

immigrant population dropped to almost 2% by 1960. Immigration has played an

important role in this country! Currently illegal immigrants make up 4.2% of the US

population or about 27% of all immigrants. (Information from MS Copilot)

 

1. How is legal immigration a blessing for our country?

     Legal immigrants bring many workers and creative thinkers into our country.

     (Levi Strauss, Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Irving Berlin, Arnold Schwarznegger, Julia Child, Jonas Saulk, Elon Musk, Sonya Sotomayor)

 

2. How is illegal immigration a problem for our country?

     Felons make up 8% of the US population. If we allow ten million undocumented people into our country, we are allowing at least 800,000 criminals into our country. This has increased the problem of human trafficking, drug smuggling, murder, rape, etc. in our country. 

 

3. What role did immigration play in the Bible? Can you identify the immigrations mentioned in these chapters?

 

     Genesis 12.1ff Abraham is told to migrate from the land of his fathers to the land of promise.

 

     Genesis 37-50 Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt. Later Jacob moved his family to Egypt because of famine.

 

     Exodus-Joshua Moses led one of the greatest migrations in history when he leads the children of Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.

 

     Ruth 1 Ruth, the Moabitess, immigrated to Israel.

 

     2 Kings 24.14 The captives of Jerusalem were carried off to Babylon. Jeremiah promised 70 years of captivity in Babylon and tolds Israel to get used to it. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abenego were migrants.

 

     Ezra 1 Ezra and Nehemiah led the migration of Israel back to Judah to rebuild the temple

 

     Matthew 3 Joseph, Mary & Jesus fled to Egypt and then returned to Israel.

 

     Acts 11.19 The Jewish Christians were scattered because of persecution. The went as far as Phoenecia, Cyprus and Antioch preaching the Gospel.

 

     Acts 13 Paul and Barnabus were sent on the first missionary journey.

 

4. Immigration played an important role in the Bible. How do these verses address both the blessings of immigration?

 

     Leviticus 19.33-34 Israelites were required to treat foreigners justly.

     Matthew 22.29 Christians must love their neighbors as themselves.

     Philippians 3.20 & Hebrews 13.14 Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. Therefore we ultimately work for that "divine immigration process."

 

5. What do we mean by illegal immigration?  Why is the following Naturalization Oath important? 

 

     I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

 

6. Does God give a country the right to ask for such an oath? Must Christians respect immigration laws? When would they not?

 

     Romans 13.1-7 & 1 Peter 2.13-17 God establishes governments to punish evil doers.

     Acts 5.29 We must obey God rather than men when men command us to disobey God.

 

7. What should a country do about illegal immigration? 

 

     Seek the Wisdom of God's Word. (Proverbs 3.5-6).

 

     Avoid the Opinions of Men that Contradict God's Word (Colossians 2.8).

 

     Respect the Limitations of God's Word (Matthew 15.9)

 

     Work for Peace (Romans 12.18-21; 14.19) 

 

     Pray (1 Timothy 2.1-4) 

 

For Further Study: CTCR Bible study — ‘Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing
Immigration Issues’ as well as the Report by the same name. Available for free online.