By: Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders
At World Impact, we believe God’s grace forgives and transforms. We are called to love God fully and others selflessly. Our faith shows in our care for one another, our compassion for those in poverty, and our pursuit of justice for the oppressed. Rooted in the Bible, strengthened by the Spirit, and sustained in prayer, we follow Christ by sharing and demonstrating the gospel with our words and lives.
We believe the church’s response to immigration must be shaped by Scripture and meaningful relationships, not by political rhetoric or media narratives. However, a 2022 Lifeway Research study found that 80% of self-identified Christians rely on media, not the Bible, to form their views on immigration. This disconnect threatens our mission of establishing healthy churches in communities experiencing poverty, because when politics outweigh Scripture and relationships in shaping our response, the Church’s witness is undermined.
Many of those we serve are immigrants whose lives and churches are deeply affected by current federal policies. Our response must be rooted in a biblical, compassionate understanding of immigration. Only by returning to foundational Christian principles can we offer a credible public witness and address this crisis faithfully.
It starts with moral clarity. When Scripture and proximity, not political talking points, shape our response, we’re less divided by partisanship. People find relief knowing their convictions stem from faith and experience, not media outrage. That clarity eases anxiety and internal conflict.
We also need freedom from fear-based narratives. Political discourse on immigration often stirs fear. Scripture and proximity foster courage and trust. We gain emotional freedom, leading to less reactivity, greater discernment, and steadier responses to complex issues.
Proximity to the vulnerable spiritually shapes our souls. It is impossible to be close and not be spiritually formed in one way or another. Those who are closest often grow in humility, compassion, and dependence on God, not just as ideals, but as practiced virtues.
If we let politics guide our response to immigration over Scripture and genuine relationships, we compromise the church’s witness. Therefore, I urge you to take two steps before the end of February. First, read The Bible and the Borders by M. Daniel Carroll (Rodas) to ground your understanding in a biblical framework.
Second, connect personally with the issue if you have not already. Volunteer at a local community-based organization that serves immigrants or seek out opportunities to build relationships with immigrants in your area. By reading the recommended book and actively engaging with your local community, you will develop a deeper, more credible faith.
Letting politics outweigh Scripture and relationships in our response to immigration is like trying to care for a neighborhood by watching the news rather than engaging our neighbors: it may inform us, but it distances us. The gospel advances through faithful presence and active love, rooted in Scripture and lived out with those around us. Let us not sit on the sidelines during this critical time in history.
