A Christian Defence of National Borders, By James Reed

National borders, far from being a human invention contrary to God's will, align with His design for creation, governance, and human flourishing. Scripture reveals a consistent pattern of boundaries—personal, familial, and national—as part of God's order.

Scripture affirms that God Himself delineates nations and their territories. Acts 17:26 states, "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place." This reflects God's intentional design: nations are not accidents but divinely appointed entities with distinct geographical limits. These boundaries serve to preserve cultural and ethnic diversity, as seen in Revelation 7:9, where a multitude "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages" worships God—distinctions that endure even in eternity.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:6-9) illustrates God's rejection of a borderless, homogenised humanity. When mankind united in pride to "make a name" for itself, God scattered them, creating linguistic and national divisions. This wasn't merely punishment but a safeguard against tyranny and unchecked power. Open-border ideologies risk reversing this divine act, promoting a globalism that echoes Babel's hubris rather than God's redemptive plan for diverse nations.

Even in God's ultimate kingdom, boundaries exist. Revelation 21:27 declares, "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." If the New Jerusalem—God's perfect realm—has guarded gates (Revelation 21:12), then earthly nations reflecting this principle through controlled borders are not antithetical to Christian values but consistent with them. Jesus as King doesn't abolish boundaries; He perfects them with righteous judgment.

Leviticus 19:34 instructs, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." This call to compassion, however, is paired with Leviticus 24:22: "You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born." Foreigners in Israel were welcomed but expected to abide by God's laws—circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, and civic obedience (Exodus 12:48-49). Hospitality didn't mean open lawlessness; it meant integration into a bounded, covenantal community. Modern nations can mirror this by offering refuge while maintaining legal entry processes.

1 Timothy 5:8 teaches, "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This principle of prioritised care extends beyond the family to the nation—a collective "household." Just as a father locks his doors to protect his children, a nation secures its borders to safeguard its citizens. Romans 13:4 reinforces this: rulers are "God's servant for your good," wielding the sword to punish wrongdoers and protect the innocent. Open borders, if unchecked, can undermine this duty, exposing people to harm.

Deuteronomy 19:14 commands, "You shall not move your neighbour's boundary mark, which the ancestors have set." Private property, a Biblical norm, presupposes defensible limits. National borders are the macro-level extension of this principle, ensuring a people's inheritance and identity. The Jubilee (Leviticus 25), often misapplied to justify universal property grants, actually restored land to covenant-keeping Israelites within God's defined nation—not to outsiders or lawbreakers—underscoring the sanctity of boundaries.

Open borders, when they bypass lawful processes, flirt with the "mystery of lawlessness" (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Scripture condemns rebellion against rightful authority (Romans 13:1-2), and nations without controlled entry risk chaos—crime, economic strain, or cultural erosion. A Christian ethic doesn't reject compassion but insists it operate within order, not anarchy.

The church's mission to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and care for the needy (James 1:27) differs from the state's role to "bear the sword" (Romans 13:4). Pastors may feed undocumented migrants, reflecting Christ's love, but civic leaders must enforce laws, reflecting God's justice. Conflating these jurisdictions distorts both—turning the church into a policy advocate and the state into a charity. Borders uphold this separation, allowing each sphere to function as God intended.

A Christian defence of borders isn't about exclusion but stewardship, mirroring God's balance of mercy and justice. Nations can welcome immigrants—legally vetted and integrated—while protecting their citizens, just as ancient Israel did. This isn't "anti-compassion" but pro-order, ensuring resources and safety for all under God's design. Open borders and mass immigration are exactly the opposite.

https://www.theblaze.com/abide/why-borders-are-biblical-no-matter-what-the-left-says