Bible Supports Concept of Secure Borders
by Chad Groening and Fred Jackson
June 16, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Christian business consultant and writer in the Phoenix area has recently published some commentaries that deal with what the Bible says about illegal immigration and a nation's response to that. He says he has found in his study and research that it isn't just about compassion.
Steve Marr's online commentaries are called "Business Proverbs." His syndicated radio program by the same name is heard on 1,000 radio outlets worldwide. According to Marr, the Bible supports the idea that nations have the right and responsibility to secure their borders.
Marr says many Christians, when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration, argue that compassion should rule the day because those immigrants have come simply seeking a better life. But the former president and CEO of a large import-export firm says even illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. for years and have built otherwise productive lives are still illegal aliens.
"To me it's an issue of justice," Marr shares. "And if you break a law -- whether it's a drug law, whether it's an immigration law or whether it's robbing a bank -- if you get caught, whether it's in a day, a year or ten years, I think justice has to run it's course."
He offers a theoretical example. "If somebody held up a bank 20 years ago and walked off with $100,000 cash and didn't get caught; and we caught them today, and they were convicted, and they've had a tremendously sterling life since then, does that mean that we allow them to escape justice?" he asks. "I think justice still has to work its course. We can't walk away from that, regardless of the length of time."
And Marr says he does not buy the argument that a labor force of illegal immigrants is good for the economy.
"I don't even care whether it's good for the economy or not. The point, to me, is we're leaving our border wide open, which is biblically not wise," he says. "And secondly, we're ignoring the rule of law. And we know, once we start ignoring the rule of law, it just goes on and on and on. Where do you stop?"
In a column about the effect of illegal immigration on business, Marr makes it clear he does not support any type of amnesty for illegal aliens, believes driver's licenses should not be issued to undocumented workers or those with a criminal record, and that when illegal immigrants are stopped for traffic violations and found to be undocumented they should be deported -- not simply released.
In contrast, U.S. Catholic bishops meeting in Los Angeles this week said all illegal immigrants currently in the country should be allowed to stay. Reuters quotes the bishops as saying all of those individuals -- estimated to be between 12 and 20 million -- should be given a "viable and workable path to citizenship," regardless of how long they have been in the U.S.
The bishops also believe their extensive lobbying campaign, as well as the protest marches in recent weeks, have helped to reduce opposition to such an amnesty plan.
Bible Supports Concept of Secure Borders
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