Honoring All People as Made in God's Image

A Series on Pursuing Good: Discerning Well-Crafted Policy

An election year can quickly become about candidates. But, we often forget that those candidates and the people who will serve under their administration will run on a platform of policies that affect real people—our kids’ teachers, the clerk at the grocery store, our friends in healthcare, and our aging parents. Avoiding partisan talking points and seriously thinking about these policies from a biblical perspective is paramount to our call to be salt and light. This series of articles will assist you in what to look for and consider as you weigh policies dealing with life, religious liberty, marriage and family, human dignity, and foreign affairs. Together, we can use our voices and our votes to pursue the good of our nation.

Life policy
Religious liberty policy
Marriage and family policy
Foreign affairs policy

Principles for compassionate and effective immigration policy

Immigration is one of the most important issues for American voters in the 2024 election.1 And according to recent data from Lifeway Research, the majority of evangelical Christians say it’s important for Congress to pass significant immigration reforms this year.2

Prioritizing Human Dignity

In the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration policy, it’s crucial to anchor discussions in the inherent dignity of every human being. Scripture is clear that all humans are created in God’s image and have innate worth, regardless of our race, ethnicity, citizenship, language, or socioeconomic status. Thus, everyone should be treated with respect and compassion. Upholding this principle requires policies that prioritize human flourishing and safeguard against exploitation and dehumanization.

In the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration policy, it’s crucial to anchor discussions in the inherent dignity of every human being.
Chelsea Sobolik

Christians have a responsibility to hold every issue up to the light of Scripture rather than political partisanship, and allow it to shape us and our beliefs. In turn, we must be truth-tellers and accurately represent to the world what God’s Word says on the issue of immigration.

Principles of Immigration Policy

Scripture doesn’t give us our immigration policies. However, it does offer a number of important principles that we can apply to our policymaking and our rhetoric on this topic. As we navigate the intricate landscape of immigration policy, the Evangelical Immigration Table, which exists to encourage distinctly biblical thinking about immigration and provide discipleship resources, has outlined six guiding principles for immigration engagement. These principles serve as a framework for crafting policies that are both compassionate and effective:

Respects the God-Given Dignity of Every Person: Policies must strive to protect and uphold the rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, ensuring they are treated with dignity and fairness throughout the immigration process.

Protects the Unity of the Immediate Family: Family unity is a cornerstone of healthy communities and societies. Immigration policies should prioritize keeping families together, minimizing unnecessary separation, and facilitating reunification for those who have been separated due to immigration processes.

Respect the Rule of Law: Upholding the rule of law is essential for maintaining order and stability in society. Immigration policies should be grounded in legal frameworks that are transparent, consistent, and equitable, ensuring that the rights of both citizens and non-citizens are protected under the law.

Guarantees Secure National Borders: Securing national borders is vital for maintaining sovereignty and safeguarding against security threats. Immigration policies should include measures to strengthen border security while also addressing the root causes of migration such as poverty, violence, and persecution.

Ensures Fairness to Taxpayers: Immigration policies should be fiscally responsible and ensure that taxpayers are treated fairly. This involves implementing mechanisms to prevent abuse of public resources while also recognizing the economic contributions that immigrants make to society.

Establishes a Path Toward Legal Status and/or Citizenship: For individuals who qualify and wish to become permanent residents, immigration policies should provide a clear and accessible pathway to legal status and, ultimately, citizenship. This pathway should be fair, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of immi-grant communities.

Immigration policy can be complex, but these principles provide a roadmap to crafting compassionate and effective legislation. As this issue will likely remain at the top of our newsfeeds and be of great interest to many voters, may our words be seasoned with salt, grace, and truth.