Why politicians' fearmongering on immigration is not biblically sound | Opinion

Recent polling from NPR/Ipsos has found that over half of Americans now believe that there is an “invasion” of immigrants at the southern border of the U.S. Not surprisingly, the belief is held more strongly by Republicans (76%), but Democrats (40%) and Independents (46%) are also far more likely to frame immigration as “an invasion” than they have been in the past.

The NPR poll also exposes the fact that much of the national discussion on immigration is based on false or misleading information. The most egregious falsehood is the belief that immigrants are more likely to commit crimes than the U.S.-born population. In fact, studies have shown the exact opposite. A comprehensive study from the libertarian Cato Institute showed that in Texas, the criminal conviction rate of undocumented immigrants was 45% lower than that of native-born Americans.

Yet the very idea of speaking of an “invasion” of people is, itself, also incredibly disturbing. The aspect of this new trend that has bothered me the most is the fact that many of the politicians and pundits constantly dehumanizing immigrants claim the Christian faith, but their fearmongering is in direct opposition to our call as believers to love and welcome strangers.

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What the Bible says about immigration

As a Christian, I, and everyone else who claims to follow Jesus, have a responsibility to speak against any assertion that immigrants and refugees are anything other than fellow humans made in the Divine image, regardless of one’s beliefs about immigration policy.

A clear theme throughout the New Testament and Hebrew Scriptures is the necessity of God’s people to welcome the stranger and love and care for those who are fleeing violence. For instance, in Deuteronomy, God tells God’s people that “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Even Mary and Joseph had to flee with Jesus as an infant as refugees to Egypt, obeying what God revealed to them to do in a dream.

And if those aren't clear enough, the Gospel of Matthew paints a clear image of divine judgment based on an idea too many would often rather overlook:

"For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’"

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Choose good politics and policy

To be clear, people of conscience and goodwill can have reasonable debates about immigration policy.

In fact, I think it’s imperative for politicians to stop fearmongering in order to have that complicated and necessary discussion.

However, repeatedly broadcasting obvious disinformation about the reality of immigration on our border and dehumanizing people made in the image of God is not “good politics” and isn’t close to actual policy.

It is a direct refutation of Scripture and flies in the face of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the love of God, can Christians not agree on that?

If not, then it seems politics truly does trump Gospel.

Rev. Dr. Andrew R. Polk is a member of the Southern Christian Coalition and the author of "Faith in Freedom: Propaganda, Presidential Politics, and the Making of an American Religion." He is a religious historian at Middle Tennessee State University and can be reached at andrew.polk@mtsu.edu

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why politicians' fearmongering on immigration is not biblically sound