Dear Friend, How should we treat people who are in our country illegally? What should be our response—as Christians—to the immigration debate? Let me be clear: immigration is a complex and difficult issue. America is a nation of immigrants with a long and storied history of being compassionate to those who come from other countries. Yet it is also true that we are a nation of laws—and of borders. How do we respond when these two values seem to be in conflict? Here is some biblical teaching that may help. The Bible tells us that God created three institutions to carry out His purpose for the world: | - The family. In Genesis 1–2, God created the family. He established the family to be the foundation of society.
- The government. In Genesis 9, God created the government. God’s purpose for government is to keep order in society by protecting citizens and punishing evildoers.
- The church. In Acts 2, God created the church. The purpose of the church is to be the representative of Christ on earth. We’re to reflect the love of Jesus Christ and point people to Christ by what we say and by how we behave.
| Each of these God-made institutions has a different purpose to fulfill. Occasionally those purposes intersect, but most of the time they are distinctive. Romans 13:1–7 reminds us that the governing authorities are ordained by God. The government exists to protect the innocent, punish wrongdoing, and maintain order—including through just and fair enforcement of a nation’s borders. God’s purpose for the church is altogether different. Scripture declares every person is created in the image of God, and the gospel of salvation is for everyone. As the church, we are to be compassionate and loving to people—regardless of their nationality, background, or legal status—as we point them to Jesus Christ. This is not a contradiction. As followers of Christ, we are called to honor each God-ordained institution. We stand for both truth and grace—unwavering in biblical conviction yet overflowing with compassion. That’s why I invite you to participate in the Salt & Light Matching Challenge. This matching challenge is an opportunity to help shine the light of the gospel across America together through our teaching ministry. Right now, every gift to Pathway to Victory will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to one million dollars. Your gift will make double the impact in bringing biblical truth to a nation desperate for clarity. When you give, your support will help: | - Equip Christians to respond to immigration and other cultural crises with biblical truth—not fear, confusion, or political rhetoric
- Broadcast messages that address God’s design for law, compassion, and justice—teaching believers how to speak with wisdom and conviction
- Reach those on both sides of the issue with the message of the gospel, reminding them that lasting change comes not through policies alone, but through the transformation of the human heart
- Provide bold, biblical resources to families, churches, and individuals seeking to live out their faith in a world that is morally and spiritually adrift
- Strengthen the influence of Pathway to Victory in prisons, digital spaces, and countries where biblical teaching is scarce but deeply needed
| Make your matching gift today: https://secure.ptv.org/shine-the-light-generous-gift-1 When you give, I’ll send you a copy of my brand-new book, Shine the Light. This resource is designed to equip you with the biblical courage, clarity, and conviction needed to be a light in this time of cultural chaos. Please consider making a generous gift today. Together, through this matching challenge, we can shine the light of God’s Word on the most urgent issues of our time. Sharing the Truth of God’s Word,
Dr. Robert Jeffress | | | |
