The Stranger at the Gate: A Christlike Response to the Immigration Crackdown”

– Pastor Chris Galarneau

In recent weeks, images have flooded our screens: immigration raids, families detained, protestors marching in the streets, and debates flaring across dinner tables, churches, and social media feeds. The immigration crackdown underway in the U.S. is not just a political or legal issue—it is a deeply human one. And for those of us who follow Jesus, the question is not merely, “What is legal?” or “What is politically expedient?” but “What does it mean to be Christlike in this moment?”

This blog is not a political manifesto. It is not a defense of open borders or of harsh enforcement. It is a pastoral plea—a call for Christians to think biblically, act compassionately, and walk humbly as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5:20) amid the tensions of earthly politics. As citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), we live in the world but are not of it. We navigate government policies and societal shifts with the posture of Jesus: full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

So how should we, as American Christians, respond to this immigration moment?

1. Begin with a Christlike Posture: Justice, Mercy, and Humility

The prophet Micah offers a timeless starting point:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, NIV)

Justice (mishpat), mercy (chesed), and humility (hatznea) are not political talking points—they are moral imperatives from the heart of God. In any issue—especially complex ones like immigration—we must hold these together.

  • Justice reminds us that governments are ordained by God to uphold order (Romans 13:1–7). Borders, laws, and enforcement are not evil in themselves. But when enforcement becomes unjust—when it dehumanizes, separates families without cause, or ignores due process—Christians have a responsibility to speak.

  • Mercy calls us to see the immigrant not as a problem to be solved but as a person to be loved. Many come fleeing violence, poverty, or hopelessness. Compassion asks, “What would I hope for if I were in their shoes?”

  • Humility prevents us from thinking we have all the answers. It guards us from self-righteousness—whether from the right or the left. It says, “Lord, teach me to see as You see.”

A Christlike response will be marked not by fear or outrage but by costly love, the kind Jesus shows to every outsider who draws near.

2. Remember: We Were All Strangers Once

One of the most repeated commands in the Old Testament is this:

“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)

God reminds His people again and again that their story is one of migration and mercy. Abraham was a wanderer. Israel was a refugee nation. Jesus Himself, as a baby, became a refugee in Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15).

This isn’t just historical trivia. It’s theological foundation. When we forget our own story—of being outsiders, of needing rescue—we become hardened toward those who now stand where we once stood.

The early church understood this well. The 2nd-century Epistle to Diognetus described Christians as “sojourners” in every land. The church fathers saw hospitality not as optional, but as essential. St. Benedict’s Rule declared, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”

In today’s immigration debates, this call resounds louder than ever: “Welcome the stranger, for in doing so, you may be welcoming Christ Himself.” (Matthew 25:35–40)

3. Honor the Law—But Let Mercy Triumph

Romans 13 calls believers to submit to governing authorities. It’s clear:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1)

This is not a loophole; it’s a command. Christians should not celebrate lawlessness. But neither should we forget that Paul’s command to obey Rome came with the full knowledge that Rome was not always just. Submission does not mean silence in the face of oppression. It means orderliness, respect, and peaceful dissent when conscience requires it (Acts 5:29).

We are not called to undermine the law, but neither are we called to enforce it on behalf of Caesar. That is the state’s role. Ours is to love our neighbor—even when that neighbor has broken a law. That’s not permissiveness. That’s the gospel.

As James reminds us:

“Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)

In practice, this means we can:

  • Support secure and humane immigration laws

  • Respect the rule of law

  • And still feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, defend the oppressed, and advocate for justice—even when the person receiving mercy doesn’t “deserve” it.

Because that’s exactly what Christ did for us.

4. Learn from the Global and Historical Church

It is telling that most non-American Christian voices—past and present—speak with remarkable clarity on immigration, not from the lens of legality, but from the lens of hospitality.

  • St. Augustine taught that the earth is a common homeland for all people and warned against arrogance in how we treat immigrants.

  • John Calvin, himself a refugee, insisted that Geneva welcome persecuted immigrants and even disciplined those who mistreated them.

  • Global South theologians remind us that Christianity is, at its heart, a migrant faith—a story of wandering people met by a God who journeys with them.

  • In Uganda, South Africa, Mexico, and Indonesia, churches regularly welcome migrants, refugees, and the displaced—not as threats but as neighbors and potential brothers and sisters in Christ.

If the global church can do this—often with fewer resources and greater hardship—how much more should we?

We must resist American exceptionalism in our theology. Jesus is not an American, and His kingdom is not bound by any border. When we forget this, we shrink the gospel into something tribal. But when we remember that we belong to a global body, we begin to see immigrants not as them, but as us.

5. What the Church Can Do Now

So what do we do—practically, tangibly, locally—in this moment of fear, tension, and division?

Here are some ways Christians and churches can live out the kingdom amid the chaos:

A. Check Your Heart

Begin in prayer. Ask God:

  • “Have I grown cold or callous to the suffering of immigrants?”

  • “Have I spoken about them with more fear than love?”

  • “Have I treated laws as more sacred than lives?”

Let the Holy Spirit bring repentance where needed. Revival often starts here.

B. Build Relationships

Don’t generalize about immigrants—get to know some. Invite a neighbor over. Attend a multicultural worship service. Volunteer at a local ESL class or food bank. Listen to real stories. Empathy grows when names replace labels.

C. Serve Tangibly

  • Provide meals or clothing to newly arrived families.

  • Support Christian immigration legal services or English tutors.

  • Offer rides to court appointments or help navigate schools.

Mercy doesn’t require a green card—it requires a willing heart.

D. Speak with Grace

Online and in conversation, resist dehumanizing language. Avoid slurs like “illegals” as a noun. Use terms that honor the imago Dei in each person. Be willing to gently correct misinformation. Let your speech be “full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

E. Pray and Advocate

Pray for immigrants, for just laws, for compassionate leaders. Call your representatives when a law violates human dignity or endangers vulnerable families. Advocate as a Christian, not for a party, but for the stranger at the gate.

F. Open Your Church

Ask: Would an immigrant feel welcome here? Are there translation resources? Fellowship opportunities? Could we host an ESL night, or partner with a local immigrant church?

The sanctuary should be the safest place for the hurting. Let your church be a refuge of grace, even when the nation is not.

6. Keep Your Eyes on the Kingdom

At the end of the day, we must remember that we are ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our allegiance is first and foremost to King Jesus, not to any flag or policy.

Jesus said:

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35, 40)

This is not sentimentalism. It is discipleship.

In welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ. In defending the vulnerable, we reflect the justice of our God. In loving the one our culture fears, we show that perfect love really does cast out fear (1 John 4:18).

Final Thoughts

The immigration crackdown and the protests it has sparked are not merely social disruptions. They are opportunities for the church to show the world what the kingdom of God looks like.

  • Not blue or red.

  • Not open borders or closed hearts.

  • But open arms. Wise minds. Merciful hands. And justice that rolls like a river (Amos 5:24).

This is not about being woke. Or weak. It’s about being like Jesus.

He who had no place to lay His head.
He who crossed every border to come find us.
He who welcomed the least—and made them sons and daughters of the King.

So may we walk in His footsteps now.

Amen.