Security & Immigration: What is the State's Duty under God?
Mark Tooley Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
—I Peter 2:13-16
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
—Romans 13:1-5
Christians have long understood that God ordained the state chiefly to uphold order, enforce the law, provide security to its people, ensure the common good, and punish the wicked. But in recent immigration policy pronouncements from some church groups, security and law enforcement have been minimized or even derided.
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